Strategy shift by Microsoft to fight iPod

Microsoft's interest in making its own handheld music and video player ramps up its battle against Apple's iPod.
The New York Times

The story "Strategy shift by Microsoft to fight iPod" published July 6, 2006 at 10:35 AM is no longer available on CNET News.

Content from The New York Times expires after 7 days.

[qwerty75]

For MS to have a chance..

..they will have to do a few things that are completely foreign to them.

1. Actually innovate. Not their normal MO of copying others work, but develop something new, unique and useful.

2. Make it look good and perform well.

3. Actually compete on a level playing field.

They have their work cut out for them. Not only is Apple far ahead of them, they actually have a great product and a large mindshare. Their normal method of half-assing it and using marketing to cover for the deficiencies will not work here. Nor do they have the ability to leverage their monopoly.

The only way they can catch up in this area is by true innovation and honest hard work. Can they pull it off? Not likely. The XBox may be a big player but it is not that profitable, and Sony dropped the ball. Apple is far more intelligent that Sony.

[Tanjore]

Microsoft needs to be in this space

Microsoft needs to be in this space. Whether they will succeed or fail depends on how consumers react. Xbox users will probably like some kinda music attachement to xbox (personally don't know why ,.. but have heard the need. They would love to attach IPOD to xbox..and apple is not gonna allow.)

IPOD is slowly getting into video space, and who knows IPOD may be a portable dvr!! and if that happens all the microsoft investment in microsoft TV may not be worth anything.

Microsoft has a need to get a hold into users family rooms and I am sure they will put all the effort to make it happen and from this they may be a formidable competition to apple.

[rcrusoe]

the PC industry. . . is maturing?

Maturing? Microsoft is never going to have a bigger share of the PC market than it does today. Macs are gaining some marketshare. Linux on the desktop is being adopted by some corporations and governments. And probably the worst news for MS is, thin clients from ISPs are probably not too far off.

A no hassle thin client, combined with software like Google Spreadsheet and Writer, Gmail, etc. and some decent games could put a major dent in the home market. The average home user would probably love something to replace the spyware ladened virus magnet they currently own.

MS does need to find other markets because they are king of a slowly shrinking hill.

Unfortunately for their stockholders, they have proven again and again they don't understand the entertainment market. Apple does.

[john55440]

the PC industry. . . is maturing?

>Macs are gaining some marketshare.<

With a stagnant 3.x% market share, Macs are certainly no threat to Microsoft.

>spyware ladened virus magnet<

I have been using Intel PCs since the pre-Windows days of DOS, and have never had a successful virus or worm attack against me. Not one. No spyware problems either. I keep my Norton antivirus and firewall subscriptions current, and sometimes sweep my system with Spy Sweeper.

[rslc]

Think again

Microsoft previous strategy failed
only partly because of its hardware partners.

Other main reasons are the lack of a good iTunes competitor, and lack of marketing for Playforsure.
Microsoft did a rather bad job in WMP.

I suspect, Microsoft is twisting facts
to their own advantage and betraying its hardware partners, when Microsoft itself is not doing the
right stuffs in WMP all along.

Now that it is releasing WMP11, it take the
chance to release a hardware as well, and blame
its partners.

These said, I do not expect Microsoft ipod killer
product to do well.
It would probably be like the PocketPC. Too expensive to reach mass appeal.

However, its may serve as an "awareness" for its new WMP11 and 'playforsure'.
In some ways, that may help its hardware partners.

[Llib Setag]

Same Old News...

Brand New Day & Title...

Didn't C|NET report this very story before?

( "Microsoft's challenge to the iPod
By Jeff Leeds
The New York Times
Published: July 5, 2006, 3:35 PM PDT" )

Let me get this straight about the new MSMTV-Urge-Pod-iPod Killer-dujour:

1. Much better than any iPod or any MP3 player ever made in history.
2. Large screen video / movies / photos.
3. Wireless downloads of music from "The Urge To Purge" MTV Music Online Store.
4. Mini XBox-XPod gane console.
5. small, lightweight, portable with a "really way *******' street cred design & interface" that Microsoft is famous for (not).
6. Long battery life.

Did Microsoft take the red pill instead of the blue pill?
Did Microsoft invent a new battery that is better than all the other batteries in the world?
Does Microsoft think that Apple will take it's 90% market share with all the Pod People on PCs & Macs?

Apple did not invent the MP3 player & there are many MP3 players manufactured for people to choose from, a lot of them who are "partners" within the MS Eco-System.

How will Microsloth be last to the MP3 Party & yet out do everyone in the market including Apple without alienating it's existing iPod/Windows customers & all of it's existing third party hardware partners in the process IN ADDITION TO inventing a totally new MP3 device that is better than anything ever seen before...???

Right... If this is the type of Post-Citizen Gates-Logic that is prevailing at Jurassic Park One, Microsloth is becoming senile in it's dinasour old age.

[Des Alba]

Microsoft must improve on iPod

The new design should not have any moving part, be expandable, and wireless. The base memory should be no less than 8GB, and use common Flash cards for expansion. There are already several manufacturers in Asia who are testing the waters with their designs. I may give up my old mp3 player if Microsoft has a better product.

[ChazzMatt]

let me guess

Like Windows Vista and Mac OSX -- the "new" Microsoft device will LOOK much like an iPod but won't work very well.

Microsoft's never had an original idea in their life, but their copies never work as well as the real thing. They win by businees tactics -- many of which have been proven to be unfair and illegal -- but they've never won on quality and good design.

[ChazzMatt]

let me guess

Like Windows Vista and Mac OSX -- the "new" Microsoft device will LOOK much like an iPod but won't work very well.

Microsoft has never had an original idea in their life, but their copies never work as well as the real thing. They win by businees tactics -- many of which have been proven to be unfair and illegal -- but they've never won on quality and good design.

[Sil3nt71]

..

quit yer yappin. if this doesn't improve on the iPod, then it won't sell. it's as simple as that.

[chuck_whealton]

Re: let me guess

I guess I'd have to agree that they are better at business tactics.
Everytime I see articles like this it makes me feel ill because
they're already big enough. They make enough on a yearly
basis, they have billions in the bank.

As you said, this isn't them coming up with an "innovative idea",
it's them trying to take yet another market from people that did
practice some innovation.

On the other hand, there are some good things about some of
their products, but I'm not into starting a flame war over it.
When it comes to music/video portables, they'll have to do
something EXTREMELY spectacular to get me to even think about
it. I'm happy with my iPOD. There's a reason why those first to
the market with a QUALITY product tend to win in the end.

Charles Whealton
Chuck Whealton @ pleasedontspam.com

[grdaven]

This could be even worse for M$ image

With the joke that is called Vista. A Failure in a Ipod killer would
really tarnish their image even more! Why they would take such a
risk is beyond me. The Ipod is and will continue to be the standard
which all are judged. There are better players on the market but
what Apple created is a whole experience. Great hardware with
easy to use software and the best marketing. M$ cannot get this at
all. Even the other player manufactures still do not get the formula.
Why would M$ think they could do it better?