Microsoft To Release 'iPod Killer' at Christmas?

ShellFish writes "According to a report from Engadget, Microsoft is poised to finally take on the Apple iPod this holiday season. Tired of uninspiring offerings from its hardware partners, Microsoft is getting into the ring itself. The new media player from Microsoft will feature a bigger screen than the iPod Video, have built-in WiFi for downloading music without a PC, and Microsoft will work with music and TV content providers to build an iTunes Music Store competitor. In what may be the crucial competitive stroke, Microsoft will also allow you to download from its store any song that you've purchased from Apple, unlocking users from iPod's vendor lock-in."

Comments

Re:Woah

[RealSurreal]

From TFA : "They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and then automatically add those to your account. Microsoft will still have to pay the rights-holders for the songs, but they believe it'll be worth it to acquire converts to their new player."

Personally I don't see how this will work. I can't imagine Apple being too keen on it.

Re:Not only that...

[steveo777]

Well, you've got a few good points there. Except for the vendor lock-in format. What do you think WMA, WMV are? Think MS is going to let you use MP3's right on there? (I read TFA, I didn't see anything about it). And Apple learned from its mistakes, now you can use USB 2.0 or FireWire.

Proud owner of iPod Nano. But when it's time for replacement, I'll give this product a look-see.

Re:Woah

[sdpuppy]

Possibly:

"...But it gets better. To attract current iPod users Microsoft is going to let you download for free any songs you've already bought from the iTunes Music Store. They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and then automatically add those to your account....[MS has to pay rights-holders...they'll lose money to win converts] "

From: http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/microsoft-plann ing-wifi-enabled-portable-media-player-working-o/

Survey of High Schoolers: iPod not built to last

[AHumbleOpinion]

"It'll be built with the reliability and simplicity you've come to expect from Microsoft."

If you want something that's built to last, get an iPod. ;)

Business Students at a local university surveyed a bunch of local high schools. They found that Apple scored low on reliability. Apple also scored low on features, the kids really thought the lack of AM/FM was a negative(*). However, iPod was the most common player. Apple did win on ease of use. Many iPod owners admitted they traded functionality/reliability for "status symbol"/fashion. The kids were fairly well informed since there was a lot of comparing and contrasting of the various players they had.

(*) I expect Apple has similar research of their own and it probably inspired the Radio Remote. I'd wager future models will have it built in.

Re:OK, kudos to that

[Ford Prefect]

Whoever came up with that movie is fricken brilliant. That is all.

... It was Microsoft.