Thoughts on SmashMyiPod

Posted by Mark Harrison Categories: Portable Audio / Video

Much has been made of the going ons over at SmashMyiPod.  For those of you not in the know, it was a scheme whereby readers contributed money in order for the site owner to purchase a new iPod with the intent to smash it.  Some folks claim that this was a scam in order to score a free iPod from some suckers online.  Others decried this as just another example of American extravagance.  People have pointed out that with all of the natural diasters that have plagued the world recently, the money for this endeavor would have been better spent on helping those in need and no destroying a consumer electronics device.  I can’t say that I disagree with that sentiment, but it isn’t the worst thing to come of this…

After much discussion over this, the video of this “event” was finally published on the ‘net for all to see.  I must say…what a waste.  And I don’t mean a waste of an iPod.  After all, iPods are just about everywhere today.  Nor did this event actually hurt Apple at all.  Apple sold an iPod and now is getting some free publicity out of this.  It seems like a win-win to me.  The problem I have with this entire thing is that it was hyped up to be an enjoyable view.  Ladies and gentleman, this was supposed to be entertainment.  In the end, this isn’t about scamming, or a lost opportunity for altruism, or anything else.  It was about rewarding those who donated their hard earned money with an entertaining video of an iPod being destroyed.  In reality, it was the most half-assed attempt to do anything like this I’ve ever seen.  I can think of a dozen more entertaining things right off the top of my head.  The video I watched when the iPod nano first came out and some people just wanted to see how durable it was was far better then this tripe.  Unfortunately, I will never get the nine, or so, minutes I spent viewing this video back. 

Fair reader, do not make the same mistake I did.  Do not waste your time on this.  The dissatisfication I feel can only be likened to how I felt after seeing Star Wars Episode I.  Well, maybe not nearly so bad as that…but the principle is the same.