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MSFTs "iPod Killer" Readied for Europe

rocketjam writes "Reuters reports that the first hardware to run Microsoft's "iPod Killer" software will be available in Europe in the second half of 2004. MS has been working with several manufacturers, and is expected to introduce a device which will play movies and songs as well as store digital photos through Microsoft's yet-to-be-unveiled Portable Media Center software. A spokesman said 'We think this is going to be one of the hot devices for Christmas 2004,' The players are expected to sell for between about $700 to $800. They will play MP3s as well as audio and video recorded in Microsoft's digital format. The player will be significantly larger than the iPod in order to accomodate a video screen. A Jupiter Research analyst, Mark Milligan said 'By definition, (the devices) just don't have widespread appeal', and he doubts the devices would change the consumer electronics landscape in any way."

4 of 580 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Nice but not quite "innovative" by oscast · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Thankfully, theres nothing wrong with the iPod's battery life as has been illustrated time and time again in these forums.

  2. Re:Nice but not quite "innovative" by ednopantz · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The only "iPod killer" is going to be something that looks as cool as an iPod, holds as much, but is smaller and cheaper.

    I'd take cool, holds half a much but is smaller and cheaper. Really, who needs 10 kajillion songs on one piece of fragile, battery operated hardware?
    Oh, and I hate that little wheel thingy. Since when does clockwise mean down and counterclockwise mean up? What, is there a little rope in there that connects the knob to the menus?

  3. Re:Nice but not quite "innovative" by DurendalMac · · Score: 1, Flamebait

    No, try $50 every 2 years or so. The guys at iPodsdirtysecret are tards. I've cracked open several ipods. It's not difficult. I have a first gen 5 gig model that still gives me 6 1/2 hours of juice. Not the original 10, but still adequate, and I could grab a new battery for $50 from a third party developer, not the $90 battery from Apple. No battery lasts forever. Try again, dumbass.

  4. Re:Nice but not quite "innovative" by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I see. Apple is innovative because it only took them a year to copy Archos?