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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...
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.
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?
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.
I know a guy who knows a guy, and I managed to get one leaked photo.
Ha ha, yeah, right. Just like how IE was going to be "the Netscape Killer"... feh...
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
Apple Computer : "Proudly going out of business for twenty-seven years"!
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
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?"
A music player that doesn't handle OGG is like an automobile that doesn't make toast.
Hey freaks: now you're ju
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..