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Microsoft Confirms New Music Player

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the it's-on dept.

Udo Schmitz writes "It's official now. Reuters confirms the rumors that Microsoft wants to take on Apple's iPod and iTunes. From the article: 'Microsoft Corp. said on Friday it plans to release a new music and entertainment player and accompanying software under the "Zune" brand this year, in a belated attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod player ... Microsoft sources said Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, is working with J. Allard, vice president of its Xbox team, on the digital media player/software project.'"

4 of 415 comments (clear)

  1. Naming Convention by 0xABADC0DA · · Score: 5, Interesting

    In keeping with each system's naming conventions:

    Apple:
    iTunes

    Microsoft:
    My Zunes

    In other words, Microsoft is even ripping off the name, but making it crappier.

  2. What does it say about market confidence by geekoid · · Score: 5, Interesting

    when MS announce they are going to compete with apple in this market, and Apples shares go up?

    And it is not a media device, it is a lifestyle device...sheeesh.

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  3. Its Wikipedia article by Jugalator · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There's already a Wikipedia article covering this a bit, including a prototype picture. Not only is it very iPod-looking, but given that prototypes tend to be slick artist concept work often looking better than the end product, I'm not really impressed. :-/ Comparison picture as a reminder of what they're dealing with. Sure, it's just a prototype, but it simply can't look anything like that. :-p

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  4. Re:Tacospeak by WheresMyDingo · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Apple needs to get Bonjour playlist sharing on iPods like it works on iTunes on a laptop when you wander into a wireless network with other people with iTunes sharing on. Forget video, iPods sharing with each other would be the killer feature to take iPods to the next level. Think of the social impact too-- a girl on a subway giving you a little smile and pointing to her iPod as she listens to your shared playlist (I guess that's for version 2.0 when you can fit a base station in an iPod for an ad-hoc wireless network, but still).

    I hate to see Microsoft get there first and mess it up, but if it gets the iPod team moving on this, competition is good...