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Comment by joubert | Hacker News Reader

"On Android’s upcoming over-the-air music download capabilities versus Apple’s tethered syncing: “We discovered something really cool, it’s called the Internet.”

huh? did this guy even say that with a straight face? itunes (i.e. music, movies, tv, podcasts, audiobooks and iTunes U) is available on the device.

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Do this fun experiment: Go buy an iPad and try to figure out how to use it WITHOUT another computer to sync it against.

That's what they're talking about.

Yet…people keep forgetting that Apple can enable a lot of this stuff. They currently choose not to, but they can. Given their history, they certainly will when they feel that it's an appropriate time to do so (technology, usability, user experience, and necessary competitive advantage).

Apple is experimenting with its closed model, and there's a lot of people who don't like it, but it's always easier to open a closed model than to close an excessively opened one (see also "Windows viruses").

True, but I'd rather have features I like enabled now rather than when the company I just forked over money to decides it's good for their bottom line.

many people have used ipods, iphones, and I presume ipads without syncing with a computer.

You must sync a new iPad (on a computer with iTunes) before first use. I don't know if that still applies for the iPhone (though it probably does, for activation). The iPod is worthless if you don't have a computer, for how would you get music on there otherwise?

You are right, this is stupid.

Apple will do this for you at the store, but I imagine for updates you still need a computer. You do for the iPhone.

From what I understand they'll sync it to one of the computers in the Apple store before you leave if you would like so that you don't need a computer to use it.

He meant that you can sync your music library to an Android device without physically connecting the phone to a computer.

so they're going via the internet to sync your music library with a computer? why not just using the local network?

because sometimes, with my android smartphone, I find myself out of range of my local network

so you can sync your music library between your android smartphone and your computer as long as you have an internet connection?

I think he was using the term internet loosely.

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