Microsoft's challenge to the iPod

Looking to take on Apple's iPod, Microsoft is developing a handheld player expected in time for the holiday season.
The New York Times

The story "Microsoft's challenge to the iPod" published July 5, 2006 at 3:35 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from The New York Times expires after 7 days.

[benjiernmd]

WOW!!! Really?

Let me see, let me see. Ahh, what features do I have to expect from
this again? Will it work?

[benjiernmd]

WOW!!! Really?

Let me see, let me see. Ahh, what features do I have to expect from
this again? Will it work?

[ServedUp]

I Can't Wait.

Will it run Microsoft Office too? Lol

[ServedUp]

I Can't Wait.

Will it run Microsoft Office too? Lol

[Earl Benser]

Does anybody really care?

It's just another MS semi-unctional design

[Tanjore]

Definetly not you

Definetly not you. You don't like anything microsoft except for the office products.

[Earl Benser]

Does anybody really care?

It's just another MS semi-unctional design

[Tanjore]

Definetly not you

Definetly not you. You don't like anything microsoft except for the office products.

[Peter Bonte]

Bloated peace of crap

Can we expect more? Yeah, more features. Wireless transferring
music and movies, are they dumb or what? I can see it working with
cellphones, that would be a big plus over the iPod.

Is they MS selling iPod killer the at a loss?

[Tanjore]

This is exactly what people said...with windows ce

When windows ce was launched against plam os, people were telling, why do i need graphics, battery power is important etc. Now look what has happend microsoft dominates this area.

I am not saying this device is a IPOD killer, never under estimate microsoft marketing!!!.

[Peter Bonte]

Bloated peace of crap

Can we expect more? Yeah, more features. Wireless transferring
music and movies, are they dumb or what? I can see it working with
cellphones, that would be a big plus over the iPod.

Is they MS selling iPod killer the at a loss?

[Tanjore]

This is exactly what people said...with windows ce

When windows ce was launched against plam os, people were telling, why do i need graphics, battery power is important etc. Now look what has happend microsoft dominates this area.

I am not saying this device is a IPOD killer, never under estimate microsoft marketing!!!.

[lingsun]

I'm surprised it's not an "iPod killer"

It seems like every new player is over-hyped as being an "ipod killer", which is really an insult to the product.

[lingsun]

Laugh all you want...Microsoft will dominate

Laugh all you want. Microsoft started slow in other markets and dominates today. Do you think Lotus Development and Wordperfect are still laughing at Office today? Do you think Sony and Nintendo are still laughing at the idea of Microsoft having their own gaming console? In time, if Microsoft wants to spend the money, they will have an awesome music player.

[lingsun]

I'm surprised it's not an "iPod killer"

It seems like every new player is over-hyped as being an "ipod killer", which is really an insult to the product.

[lingsun]

Laugh all you want...Microsoft will dominate

Laugh all you want. Microsoft started slow in other markets and dominates today. Do you think Lotus Development and Wordperfect are still laughing at Office today? Do you think Sony and Nintendo are still laughing at the idea of Microsoft having their own gaming console? In time, if Microsoft wants to spend the money, they will have an awesome music player.

[john55440]

Don't underestimate...

Don't underestimate Microsoft's ability to eventually get things right, or Apple's ability to "blow it".

Whether it's Microsoft and/or some other player, iPod's market share will eventually fall. We're still very early in the game.

[ServedUp]

Track Record.

I've just realized its a gimmick. Its another way for Microsoft to
gain back public mindshare from Apple. What better way for
them to do it then compete in Apple's own backyard, right?

Now whether not Microsoft gains back some popularity remains
to be seen. Not everyone has the money to spend on another
device after buying an Ipod and there are millions of people out
there with Ipods. Not to mention the Macbooks are gaining in
popularity now that it can run Mac OS X & Windows side by side.

How is Microsoft expected to make any money? I just dont' see
it. Even looking ahead I just dont see how they can turn a profit
here, there are just to many competitors. The only way they
possibly can do it, is probably if they drop a bomb on one of
Apple's main R&D buildings at Infinite Loop to deter them from
innovating cause this isn't the weak Apple of old. They are a lean
mean heavyweight looking for the title and given Microsoft's
delay record with Vista & Office 07 all indications point to Apple
again to gain some hit points when it comes to innovating.

Future scenario - I've just come from work using MS Office all
day not to mention Windows Vista which is turning out to be
even buggier than XP, now I have to hop on a subway home to
listen to my MS Jukebox thingy majiggy...

I just dont see it happening. Microsoft just doesn't have the
brand popularity or cultivating sense to be able to pull this off.
Anything with the Microsoft logo just screams "don't buy me"

You know what I mean?

[john55440]

Don't underestimate...

Don't underestimate Microsoft's ability to eventually get things right, or Apple's ability to "blow it".

Whether it's Microsoft and/or some other player, iPod's market share will eventually fall. We're still very early in the game.

[ServedUp]

Track Record.

I've just realized its a gimmick. Its another way for Microsoft to
gain back public mindshare from Apple. What better way for
them to do it then compete in Apple's own backyard, right?

Now whether not Microsoft gains back some popularity remains
to be seen. Not everyone has the money to spend on another
device after buying an Ipod and there are millions of people out
there with Ipods. Not to mention the Macbooks are gaining in
popularity now that it can run Mac OS X & Windows side by side.

How is Microsoft expected to make any money? I just dont' see
it. Even looking ahead I just dont see how they can turn a profit
here, there are just to many competitors. The only way they
possibly can do it, is probably if they drop a bomb on one of
Apple's main R&D buildings at Infinite Loop to deter them from
innovating cause this isn't the weak Apple of old. They are a lean
mean heavyweight looking for the title and given Microsoft's
delay record with Vista & Office 07 all indications point to Apple
again to gain some hit points when it comes to innovating.

Future scenario - I've just come from work using MS Office all
day not to mention Windows Vista which is turning out to be
even buggier than XP, now I have to hop on a subway home to
listen to my MS Jukebox thingy majiggy...

I just dont see it happening. Microsoft just doesn't have the
brand popularity or cultivating sense to be able to pull this off.
Anything with the Microsoft logo just screams "don't buy me"

You know what I mean?

[Llib Setag]

iPod Clone for the Holidays???

We'll see...

Mac OSX 2001 Clone (astalavista 2007?/08?) for the holidays? No-Go.
You have to wait a little longer for that one partner.

What MS fail to get is this...No matter WHAT they do (if anything), it will still be "an iPod Copy" in the minds of the public.

Too many people have iPods & have seen iPods everywhere with THOUSANDS of partners & accessories "Made For The iPod"...

You can't be a follower & a leader at the same time Citizen Gates.

Microsoft: always late to the party & then they become a big party pooper.

[Llib Setag]

iPod Clone for the Holidays???

We'll see...

Mac OSX 2001 Clone (astalavista 2007?/08?) for the holidays? No-Go.
You have to wait a little longer for that one partner.

What MS fail to get is this...No matter WHAT they do (if anything), it will still be "an iPod Copy" in the minds of the public.

Too many people have iPods & have seen iPods everywhere with THOUSANDS of partners & accessories "Made For The iPod"...

You can't be a follower & a leader at the same time Citizen Gates.

Microsoft: always late to the party & then they become a big party pooper.

[ewelch]

Here is a video of how they're market it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pXL5_RvGrs&search=iPod%
20Microsoft

[ideletejunkemail]

I Concur!!!

I Concur!!!

[ewelch]

Here is a video of how they're market it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pXL5_RvGrs&search=iPod%
20Microsoft

[ideletejunkemail]

I Concur!!!

I Concur!!!

[ewelch]

Here is a video of how they'll market it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pXL5_RvGrs&search=iPod%
20Microsoft

[Tui Pohutukawa]

Hilarious

and spot-on.

[ewelch]

Here is a video of how they'll market it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pXL5_RvGrs&search=iPod%
20Microsoft

[Tui Pohutukawa]

Hilarious

and spot-on.

[ianlee74]

They already have one...

Microsoft already has an "iPod Killer", they just haven't solved the battery problems. A Windows Mobile 5.0 device with Media Player and Microsoft Voice makes a device that blows away the iPod. I've been using my Verizon XV6700 Smartphone for this purpose since it was released and it's makes for one device that does it all...phone, media player, email, contacts, calendar, and any other software I want to install. And forget the silly iPod dial... All I have to do is speak to it "play Rolling Stones" and BAM! I get the Rolling Stones. If someone could just take this device and imbed a 60GB drive in it and figure out how to make the battery last longer than one day we would have the ultimate device. Oh, and throw in GPS functionality... ;)

[ianlee74]

They already have one...

Microsoft already has an "iPod Killer", they just haven't solved the battery problems. A Windows Mobile 5.0 device with Media Player and Microsoft Voice makes a device that blows away the iPod. I've been using my Verizon XV6700 Smartphone for this purpose since it was released and it's makes for one device that does it all...phone, media player, email, contacts, calendar, and any other software I want to install. And forget the silly iPod dial... All I have to do is speak to it "play Rolling Stones" and BAM! I get the Rolling Stones. If someone could just take this device and imbed a 60GB drive in it and figure out how to make the battery last longer than one day we would have the ultimate device. Oh, and throw in GPS functionality... ;)