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Post by Porscheguy on May 4, 2014 11:37:23 GMT -5
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DYohn
Emo VIPs
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Post by DYohn on May 4, 2014 11:52:33 GMT -5
I bought one of the artist signed players through Kickstarter. I'm looking forward to it. As I've said before, it will either be a great sounding DAP or an interesting conversation piece, or both.
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Post by garbulky on May 4, 2014 13:23:01 GMT -5
I think it's delicious! I like their milk chocolate but my favorite is the dark chocolate bars.
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bootman
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Typing useless posts on internet forums....
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Post by bootman on May 4, 2014 13:32:43 GMT -5
It gets repetitive after a while.
...oh wait you said PONO. my bad, nevermind.
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2014 11:20:35 GMT -5
I did notice something interesting (although not at all surprising) in their FAQ - and it seems to support my expectation that "Pono" will mostly be re-sellng HD content from major commercial labels. In their FAQ - as part of the answer to the question: "What will Pono Music cost?", they said: "The record companies set their own digital music prices, label by label. High-resolution digital albums at Ponomusic.com are expected to cost between $14.99 -$24.99, and there may be exceptions." To me, this makes it obvious that they will be (at least mostly) reselling HD releases by the major record labels. Obviously THEY will be selling content that they purchased from the record companies - and NOT making their own. If they were doing their own production from the masters, then they would be setting the prices - right? Now, as I've said in other posts, I have no problem whatsoever with this; it's exactly the way HDTracks and Acoustic Sounds do it now. I also think it's cool that Pono will be selling and promoting a high quality portable music player - which there are all too few of at the moment. (Although, since their device plays open-format files, I'm not sure why I should care that they have "an ecosystem"; as far as I'm concerned "the App Store model" benefits the people running the store - and not particularly the customers.) The problem I have is with Pono's messaging. After reading their sales literature and news releases, and until I read that quote, I sort of had the idea that they were going to be acquiring licenses to masters, and then re-mastering them to exacting standards - as approved by the original artists themselves. They sure made it sound like the original artists would, at the very least, be involved in the re-mastering process. In fact, they made it sound as if all these artists who were endorsing them were just super-happy that they would finally be able to offer "their music - the way they want it to be" (not a quote from their literature - but close). They say stuff like that over and over again in their marketing literature. From what I can tell, all their talk about "joining a movement" and how "the versions of the music that they would be selling would help you make contact with the soul of the music", is really just "puff", and is intended to mislead you away from the truth - which is that they're opening another HD music store like HDTracks and friends. I WILL be eagerly waiting to see how their player turns out, and what music they have for sale, and at what prices. In the end, though, I'm getting tired of hearing about how many artists "endorse" them - whatever that means. So, at this point, I give them an "A" for marketing; I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that their player will actually be pretty good (but, then, we haven't heard it yet); and I'm waiting to see exactly what high-def content they have, and, more importantly, if it's any different than what the other similar stores are already selling - and if, maybe, their prices are a little better. If they're just going to have the same selection as HDTracks or Acoustic Sounds, then the only thing I'm really interested in hearing from them next is a list of available titles and prices. (I have zero interest in what artists think it's a wonderful idea, or who else wants to join the movement, or how wonderful their philosophy is. Been there; done that; many times already.) To me it's pretty obvious that they're trying to use the Kickstarter buzz for their little player to bootstrap the launch of their online store.... and I'm honestly getting tired of hearing about it. I wouldn't be harping on this stuff if I didn't find it a bit offensive just how hard they seem to be trying to bulls# t us about it.
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Post by ÈlTwo on May 5, 2014 11:57:26 GMT -5
I also think it's cool that Pono will be selling and promoting a high quality portable music player - which there are all too few of at the moment If you've got an Android phone, you've got a portable FLAC player. I can buy an older iPod with a Wolfson DAC, put RockBox on it, it will actually fit in my pocket, and I can still afford a case of Toblerone.
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Post by drtrey3 on May 5, 2014 13:14:26 GMT -5
I love that they are hyping better sounding music. I hate that they are bullshitting to do so.
Trey
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 5, 2014 13:19:54 GMT -5
No one knows if they are bullshitting. No one knows anything about the product or the files they will offer yet, because they don't exist. Speculation is silly until Pono is reality. Then we will see, but until then it's just farts in the wind.
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Post by jmilton on May 5, 2014 13:54:31 GMT -5
I heard that Emotiva is going to make a Pono type device. It'll be called DANO. (I'll probably get a lot of FLAC for that one....)
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geebo
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"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are driving taxicabs and cutting hair"
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Post by geebo on May 5, 2014 14:07:25 GMT -5
I heard that Emotiva is going to make a Pono type device. It'll be called DANO. (I'll probably get a lot of FLAC for that one....) Wasn't he on Hawaii Five-O?
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Post by ÈlTwo on May 5, 2014 14:21:37 GMT -5
I'll be booking my DANNO right away!
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DYohn
Emo VIPs
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Post by DYohn on May 5, 2014 14:22:13 GMT -5
I heard that Emotiva is going to make a Pono type device. It'll be called DANO. It uses a proprietary file format called BOOKEM.
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Post by drtrey3 on May 5, 2014 14:44:00 GMT -5
Should I wear my Hawaiian shirts while listening? Is that compulsory? Not that I would mind too much.
Trey
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KeithL
Administrator
Posts: 9,901
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2014 15:13:44 GMT -5
That sums up my sentiments much more succinctly than I did I love that they are hyping better sounding music. I hate that they are bullshitting to do so. Trey
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2014 15:25:45 GMT -5
I disagree - at least somewhat. I don't see any way to interpret that statement I quoted from the FAQ OTHER THAN that the people they buy the music from will get to set the prices - which quite strongly suggests that they will NOT be producing it themselves. Basically, they were asked "what will you charge" and responded "the prices will be set by our sources"; seems pretty plain to me. I'm HOPING that there will be at least SOME music actually licensed and re-mastered by them mixed in - in which case they will be adding actual content to what's available rather than just giving us another store to shop at for the same merchandise. (Now, if they had the same music, but for half the price, THAT would be exciting - but those prices they quoted looked like standard list prices to me. If they want me to get excited about "the Pono club", then they need to do something to justify it - like letting me buy the same stuff as I could buy on HDTracks, but at a significant "members discount".... but I haven't seen anything like that mentioned yet.) Let's try this differently..... If nobody knows anything about the products they will be offering, and they either can't or won't enlighten us, then why should we get excited about what they've been saying so far? (So far, it seems to translate, in plain English, to "we've got a bunch of cool guys on board and we're going to do something cool which you'll be excited about". Sadly, I've heard that claim before, and have generally ended up disappointed when the smoke cleared.) So, until they actually DO say something significant, I'd just as soon NOT hear the same tired and unsubstantiated hype (I'm not really interested in "being part of something" if I don't know what it actually is; are you?) No one knows if they are bullshitting. No one knows anything about the product or the files they will offer yet, because they don't exist. Speculation is silly until Pono is reality. Then we will see, but until then it's just farts in the wind.
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KeithL
Administrator
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Post by KeithL on May 5, 2014 15:26:35 GMT -5
Well said.... and what, pray tell, is the difference between bullshitting and farting in the wind? No one knows if they are bullshitting. No one knows anything about the product or the files they will offer yet, because they don't exist. Speculation is silly until Pono is reality. Then we will see, but until then it's just farts in the wind.
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on May 5, 2014 15:36:48 GMT -5
Well said.... and what, pray tell, is the difference between bullshitting and farting in the wind? One has more physical substance.
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Post by drtrey3 on May 5, 2014 23:03:21 GMT -5
You guys are great. That is really quite funny! Have a great week.
Trey
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2014 0:25:34 GMT -5
I heard that Emotiva is going to make a Pono type device. It'll be called DANO. (I'll probably get a lot of FLAC for that one....) Na, there is something better - it'll clean up any system and restore the fidelity of whatever is coming down the pipes, especially your BOTTOM end...
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hemster
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Particle Manufacturer
...still listening... still watching
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Post by hemster on May 6, 2014 5:33:48 GMT -5
I heard that Emotiva is going to make a Pono type device. It'll be called DANO. (I'll probably get a lot of FLAC for that one....) Na, there is something better - it'll clean up any system and restore the fidelity of whatever is coming down the pipes, especially your BOTTOM end... Please note that this product is not to be consumed internally. There are better ways to clean our one's bottom end... um... so I've heard!
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