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Microsoft Developing iPod, iTMS Competitor

Software writes "Reuters reports that Microsoft is developing an iPod and iTunes Music Store competitor. Few details are available, but it's known that Robbie Bach (the man behind the Xbox) is heading up the project." From the article: "Most iTunes rivals charge monthly fees to access a catalog of entertainment, but some allow consumers to buy individual songs for about $1 each. Microsoft's service will emphasize the pay-per-download, or a la carte, model, the sources said. A subscription component will also be offered, according to early accounts of the planned service. One source, who has seen a demonstration of the service, said it was an improvement over iTunes."

6 of 304 comments (clear)

  1. Winning in this market will be easy... by Osrin · · Score: 5, Funny

    All a new commer has to do is to talk Apple's customers into give up their iPods and around $2bn of purchased content, after that they can sell on the basis of better devices and new sales/subscription models.

  2. one source ... by floppy+ears · · Score: 4, Funny

    "One source" [cough]Robbie Bach[/cough]", who has seen a demonstration of the service, said it was an improvement over iTunes."

    --

    "If I could live to be several hundred
    I could take a walk and really wander, really wonder."
  3. Bach by jasonla · · Score: 4, Funny

    "...Robbie Bach (the man behind the Xbox) is heading up hte[sic] project." So that means the controls will be unecessariliy large?

  4. It won't sell. by GregChant · · Score: 5, Funny

    No wireless. Less space than an iPod. Lame.

  5. In other news... by LihTox · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...today Microsoft announced their plans to open a chain of discount retail stores to compete with companies like WalMart and Target. Tentatively called "WinMart", the new stores will carry a large assortment of grocery, clothing, and electronics items, including all the latest Microsoft software releases. "Businesses have to expand to survive," said a Microsoft spokesperson. "As we already control the operating system and productivity markets, we felt a need to expand into a completely unrelated field. Plus, WalMart seems to be very successful; we'd like to put them out of business as we have done to so many other successful companies in the past."

    Microsoft will seek to promote synergy between their software and retail arms. "Using a complex algorithm, our exciting new operating system Vista will be able to learn all about its users tastes and habits, through analysis of their websurfing and other computer activities. We can then send our customers personalized circulars containing exciting and valuable coupons for the things they need to buy most. Plus, if they have a webcam connected to their computer, we will be able to store their likeness in our centralized database, and store greeters will be able to welcome them by name as they enter the store."....

    (OK, enough of that. :)

  6. Re:It'd have to be an unmicrosoft solution by RichardX · · Score: 4, Funny

    That would be Microsoft Bob

    --
    Curiosity was framed. Ignorance killed the cat.