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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."
Apple Computer: (n) A primary source of ideas for Microsoft's research & development groups. See also: Muse
Trolling is a art,
I'm not sure with that high of a price (about $670-$810 US) and the additional size (3X as thick, twice as long!) that this thing qualifies as an "iPod killer" in any real sense; they're playing for an entirely different market segment. It seems like a very small niche to me.
Give 'em a couple of versions, maybe they'll get it right and the market will materialize. I wouldn't bet on it though. "More TV, more often" isn't a big hole in my life, anyway...
There's a typo in the article. "N-Gage Killer" is misspelled.
Obliteracy: Words with explosions
I don't think the ipod needs to worry about any competition from this. People buying an ipod aren't going to pay a lot more for a device that is alot heavier, bigger, and plays movies in microsoft's proprietary format. Not to mention I have yet to see microsoft come out with anything that is elegant and easy to use.
//m
an ipod killer would have to be cheaper than an ipod.
It seems that MS is using the same tactics that failed for all the gameboy competitors. Try and add a billion features, and price yourself right out of the market.
I like my iPod because it packs a lot of storage in a small package and I don't want to watch video on a stinkin' handheld, that is why I tote my powerbook around. This idea seems plain old dumb to me, but I guess if it is competition it is good for consumers but just strikes me as a dumb idea that I'm not going to consider buying, especially at twice the price of an iPod.
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree. -Martin Luther
Who gives a $700-$800 Christmas gift? I know a few people might get their spouse or children somethign like that, but the vast majority give gifts far smaller than that.
And besides, for that price you could get a laptop.
At 2X the price and 6X the volume the only way it'll be an iPod killer is if you use it like a brick to smash an iPod. This sounds like the Saturday Night Live skit where the hipper you were the bigger your cellphone was.
Chris Kuivenhoven is a thief, beware
it's already been done in a smaller package. the Archos av320 is already available and works pretty well.
Why read the article when I can just make up a snap judgement?
They will play MP3s as well as audio and video recorded in Microsoft's digital format.
What Microsoft apparently doesn't realize is that customers aren't going to spend $7-800 on a device only to have to convert every divx and xvid movie they have over to microsoft's proprietary format. Time really is money in this case, and it's just not worth it to have to spend days/weeks converting movie files.
I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.
It's not quite in the same target market, as it plays movies, stores photos, and most importantly it is FATTER than iPod (roughly three times as thick as an iPod and roughly twice as long ).
It's like callling an elephant a pet killer because it can carry luggages, push start your car etc, which your normal domestic pets like dogs, cats cannot do.
Rock that crushes, Paper & Scissors that don't matter.
The "Ipod Killer" is just a Microsoft employee named Ted who steals people Ipods.
Then stomps on them.
Any sufficiently well-organized Government is indistinguishable from bullshit.
I know a guy who knows a guy, and I managed to get one leaked photo.
The idea itself isn't a totally bad one - at a lower price, I could consider getting one for my kids for long drives or some such. (Then again, by the time they're old enough for me to do that, an iBook at nearly the same price will have the same effect.)
But my questions are these:
1. It plays movies in WMV and audio in WMA. So where am I going to get the WMV movies? WIll I be able to stick a DVD into my computer (assuming I want to get a Windows box, of course) and have it ripped to a format that the device can use? Or am I relying on having some other system (like a Tivo) to record TV shows and let me get that video on my device that way?
And if I have to rip the movies myself with an unofficial DVD, will I still go to jail/get fined?
2. Battery power? I'm seeing 3 hours - seriously? iPod killer with 3 hours of battery power? That's like the Sega handheld devices that were going to kill the Gameboy with 3 hours battery power.
3. TV out? Suppose I do pick it up and put movies on it so when I'm at a friend's house we can watch something. Can I have a TV-out so we don't have to scrunch around a tiny little screen?
Just a few thoughts. I'm sure there are more. Again, I'm not saying this is a bad idea, but I have serious reservations before spending $500 - $800 of my cash. I already spent $300 on an iPod....
52 Weeks, 52 Religions with John Hummel
I'd like to have a portable video-playing thingie as much as the next guy, but they are trying to squeeze into an incredibly small niche here: people who are willing to spend $800 on something larger than an iPod, but who don't want to spend the same amount of money on a DVD-playing laptop. Any larger than an iPod and you're quickly getting out of the fits-in-the-pocket category. What are they aiming for, the fits-in-a-glovebox market?
Dear Slashdot: next time you want to mess with the site, add a rich-text editor for comments.
Ha ha, yeah, right. Just like how IE was going to be "the Netscape Killer"... feh...
Why would I spend $700 for something that is bigger and heavier than my $300 Sony Clie?? It plays MP3s and videos. (I love showing people Golem accepting the MTV award.)
I can get several CDs on an 128MB memory stick and play them in my car using an RF adapter. The MS product does provides more disk space for video, but with the recent advances in micro drives, it's only a matter of time until they start becoming more common in PDAs.
I thought MS was supposed to be better at creating loss leaders <cough> XBox </cough >
I rarely read replies, it's my opinion and if you thought about your opinion a little more, I'm OK with that.
For the price of this thing, why not spend a little extra money and buy a laptop with a Centrino or equivilant processor??
It's not like the "iPod Killer" will fit nicely in your pocket anyway, so why not splurge and have all the features of a ultra-mobile laptop.
My 2 cents
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.
These things appeal to a different market (entirely!). Apple decided to make the iPod mini to take aim at the market that wanted a player even smaller than the iPod. They want an mp3 player--not something that will slice bread. This thing is huge and expensive when compared to other mp3 players--which is the only market that the iPod attempts to compete in.
Call this a "portable movie player" that's "aiming to repeat the iPod's success in a different market," but calling it an "iPod Killer" is a horrible misnomer. I seriously doubt that anyone would consider one of these things in lieu of an iPod.
Integrate Keynote and LaTeX
When will these guys get it through their thick skulls that people don't want to watch pre-recorded news programs on TV. They have to stop trying to get it to be a "TV newspaper".
If a job's not worth doing, it's not worth doing right.
The only iPod killer the boys from Redmond could come up with would be a Microsoft-branded claw hammer (retailing for $149.95 most likely).
Slashdot is more a point-of-view than a news gathering organization. This story originated at Reuters, which is a news gathering organization.
Slashdot is more like your local newspaper: it takes stories from a variety of locations (often wire services) which are relevant to you (determined by geography in the case of your local newspaper, or technical interest in the case of Slashdot). Yahoo does the same, but it's pretty catholic in its tastes. Slashdot gets its stories from a variety of sources: wire reports (often via other media), journals, blogs, press releases, and sometimes just people finding out interesting web sites (though that hardly counts as nes most of the time)
In all likelihood, the story originated as a press release from Microsoft, rewritten by Reuters into a news article, and then rewritten again as a Slashdot story. Slashdot adds very little: a bit of commentary, and sub-categorizations (Microsoft, Music, Business, Media).
The commentary is biased, but you wanted it biased: you came here for the Slashdot-esque view of things. You could read the Reuters feed yourself, but you'll probably read a lot of stuff you don't care about. You could even subscribe to get the press releases directly, but you'd really hate that.
No wireless. Larger and more expensive than an ipod. Lame.
Good news is Apple is working on a "Ted Killer".
It's a big guy named Steve who stops Ted.
Seriously MS is smoking something when they call their new bomb an Ipod killer.
It won't have firewire, it will have excessive DRM lockdowns and won't handle Ogg.
Oh and it costs more. great.
DJMD - The fourth man - Planetary
So, it only costs twice as much as the Archos players that are already out and that already have the same capabilities! I can't wait!
"Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
Apple Computer : "Proudly going out of business for twenty-seven years"!
In fairness, I see nothing in the article to indicate that Microsoft itself is the source of the term "iPod Killer." Yes, the phrase appears in quotation marks, but only in the reporter's text. It does not appear in the verbatim quotes from the Microsoft representative. The term may be be the reporter's own invention. Microsoft's marketing department is usually more sophisticated than this, since the term obviously sets them up for a fall.
Not at $700-$800. I can buy a smallish laptop that does the same thing for less. Heck - I could go hit eBay for a Toshiba Libretto and probably fare better than that.
While the economics probably aren't in their favor on this, if they wanted to make it an "iPod killer", the price would have to be significantly less than the iPod just to make up the difference from Apple's name recognition, and the size of this beast.
Sell the exact same piece of hardware for $150, and we'll talk about iPod slaying.
That green slime had it coming.
For $778, you could have gotten a Dell notebook with a 40GB drive ($699 for 20GB).
"Freedom means freedom for everybody" -- Dick Cheney
According to an Apple Insider article, Apple is already ahead of this game. They will deliver sooner, at a lower cost, and very likely a better product. Guesses (aren't they always with Apple?) include an intro around April 28 for the first anniversary of the iTMS.
Sources: Apple readying 4th-generation iPod
(snip) While sources could not pin-point a specific day or month of introduction, they said the soon to be released player would boast a 50GB hard disk capable of holding 12,500 songs and carry an approximate cost of $499.
Unlike the recent capacity-centric revisions to the iPod line, the 4th-generation iPod will host a number of architectural advancements and new features. Most apparent, sources say, is the presence of a 2-inch color screen for displaying photos stored on the pod, from the palm of your hand.
The player will reportedly also adopt a video output jack that will allow users to connect their iPods to television sets, sources said. Meanwhile, no mention was made in regards to an output jack capable of relaying audio to a home entertainment center. (/snip)
Forgive my ignorance, but how are you supposed to copy video onto this device if all DVD's have copy protections anyways? And if it's not a commercial movie you want to download onto it, why would you want to download, say, your home movies which would interest no one except yourself? And if your home movies DO interest other people (maybe you are the porn star next door), how exactly do you go about adding Microsoft DRM so you can play them on your "iPod Killer". Methinks Microsoft spends alot of time talking up lip service to a new device under the assumption that ANY press is better than NO press. Tablet PC anyone?
blue
If AppleInsider is anything to go by, then Apple also seems to be developing an iPod with these sort of features. See story: Apple readying 4th-generation iPod. Apple already learnt their lesson, circa 1990, whereby standing proud, simply give the competition time to catch up - in that case it was MS catching up, and bypassing, with MS-Windows. If Apple is smart, they will keep one step ahead of the game.
Jumpstart the tartan drive.
I personally use 160bit AACs for most everything.
It's either on the beat or off the beat, it's that easy.
I moderate therefore I rule!
--
it will have excessive DRM lockdowns and won't handle Ogg. Oh and it costs more.
Just like the ipod?
40GB iPod = $500
DRM
No Ogg support
I think it flops.
There are so many things wrong with this device I can't name them all. Sorry, it's not an iPod killer.
Clippy, "Hi, it looks like you are trying to carry this device. Do you want to 1. lift some weights, 2. buy a backpack, or 3. sell this thing on ebay?"
For some months now I have been contemplating purchasing either a Creative Labs MuVO or an Apple iPod
I've now decided, definitely the iPod. I don't want to contribute to yet another Microsoft monopoly. I can't imagine the horror of being forced to use WMP to access my mobile device and being locked to a single platform.
I have been a user for about 10 years. This ends Feb 2014. The site's been ruined. I'm off. Dice, FU
He's bald and jumps around screaming "iPODS!!! iPODS!!! iPODS!!! iPODS!!!" with sweat stains in his arm pits right?
Get paid to code OSS
Redmond, WA - Microsoft's new Pr0nMaster gives you pr0n on demand. Bring your pr0n with you - on the train, on the bus, at 12.000 meters - everwhere. It's large capacity drive means you won't have to explain what you're doing with "all those DVDs" when you pass through customs. The big screen means you won't have to squint while you watch. And it's small enough for you to bring it to the restroom or other enclosed space so you can "do your business."
The Pr0nMaster also comes in a sport enclosure, because "accidents happen" when things get exciting on-screen! Plus its handy video out lets you plug into the A/V equipment at your destination - so you can share the wealth!
The Microsoft Pr0nMaster - a peepshow in your pocket!
A music player that doesn't handle OGG is like an automobile that doesn't make toast.
Hey freaks: now you're ju
The iPod has no built-in DRM. Or didn't you know that you can play m4p's from iTMS on any iPod you want?
This is Slashdot. Without knowing whether you're an emacs user or not we can't tell whether you think it would actually be appropriate for an automobile to also make toast..
Actually, the iPod *does* have DRM.
The m4p files are still encrypted on the iPod, they are just encrypted with the iPod's key instead of the PC's key. Yes, you can copy files to any iPod from anyone's iTunes collection (so long as that song is registered with that copy if iTunes), but have you tried to get such an m4p file back off the iPod again? Even if you could just copy the m4p back off, it'd be encrypted with the iPod key instead of the PC key.
-Serp
I think the iPod killer won't be softwarre, but hardware. Specifically, i think it will be a windows update that "accidently" makes ipods no longer work on that system. This update will also be bundled with all the security updates so you have to chose between secure and iPod.
Here's a story about the REAL ipod killer