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iPod Owners Who've Unwillingly had to Say 'Cheerio' (Bye) to Their
Music Players Want Apple's Direct Help in Recovery Process

by Joe Leo, Columnist

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For a company that creates an innovative device that sells like hotcakes sizzling on a griddle, customers and consumer advocates feel it is Apple's responsibility as a good company (not to mention they're only the ones who make said product) to help in the process and create an innovative solution akin to the innovative products they make.

One person who's girlfriend's iPod was stolen while in his possession, and subsequently started a website "StoleniPods.com" in order for customers to share their experiences and give them a place to rant and, well, rant, couldn't have said it better.

"Apple needs to recognize that they've created a device, a product that is so incredibly successful that it's become a commodity... [In finding a solution/providing help, Apple needs to] be the pioneer that they've always been. Think different!"

Hansen reports that Apple declined to comment and/or participate in Dateline's investigative report. Despite the silence? "Even Apple admits the problem is serious..." Other than law enforcement--of course--Apple is the one fielding calls about stolen iPods and are finding it hard to deal with it.

An NYPD investigator comments, "Due to overwhelming numbers of iPods they create and sell each year, they can't create a database on stolen iPods."

Should Apple be responsible for recovery? Customers think so. Dateline points out--bringing back the positive spin for Apple PR--that Apple's competition in the iPod arena, "...apparently don't do anything more than Apple does to track missing machines." But the PR is short-lived.

Hansen says, "But it's not uncommon for high-tech companies to help when some products are lost or stolen. If you lose your cell phone, some wireless companies will shut it off and flag the phone as stolen if it's ever brought in for service." Further pushing the customers' agenda against Apple (that other tech gadget providers help people whose devices are swiped).

But just as fast as it was on the other side of the fence, another glowing review for Apple Inc. "And although Apple declined our requests for interviews and comment regarding this report, the company--which consistently ranks at or near the top in customer satisfaction surveys in the tech world--might well turn out to be the hero in our story after all," Hansen says.

All's well that ends well, right? In the end, we even hear about a new patent in progress from Apple--yet another in the ever growing world of new technologies and innovations coming from the Cupertino-based Inc.--in regard to a way (in Hansen's words, "an ingenious solution") to prevent thieves from recharging their iPod if verifiable proof is not provided.

Now what good is an iPod without the juice? "Ingenious" indeed. Thieves may be able to snatch your Apple-branded mp3 player, but if they can't charge it up, they can't use them... which makes stealing them in the first place, a wasted effort. That'll surely leave a bad taste in their mouths.

(Like your crunchy breakfast cereal, say, Apple Jacks sitting all soggy in milk? Cheerio!).

SOURCES:
Dateline NBC, 8/2/07-- "To Catch an i-Jacker" (from notes taken while viewing broadcast on-the-air)
Article Link on MSNBC.com-- ID no. 20078671

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