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MEDIA CENTER PC NEWSJuly 7th 2006 Microsoft Plans 'iPod Killer'
According to a wave of blogging Microsoft is planning a new portable music player in time for Christmas. There are no specs, there are no pictures, but there is one key fact (or rumour) that gives the Microsoft device a stick with which to beat its Apple rival. WiFi. Yes, the Microsoft music player may have built in WiFi allowing the exchange of music files with a PC without having to connect it via a wire. What little detail there is has come from leaks following private briefings given by Microsoft. Those in the know claim that the screen on the new device is stunning, better than the iPod and close to the standard set by the Sony PSP. Why would Microsoft dare to stray into Apple's unchallenged territory?The iPod commands 77 percent of the US$4 billion US market for digital music players and iTunes controls 72% of the music download market. Bill Gates has never made any secret of his jealousy of Apple's success in this area, credited with dragging Apple back from the brink at the turn of the century. Microsoft software already runs on portable music players from other manufacturers, but they don't have the power of the Apple brand and Gates obviously feels that only a Microsoft branded device has any chance of gaining significant market share. Let's return to WiFi. Apple will shortly hold another one of its product launch press events. It is well known that Apple's development labs have 101 iPod enhancements up their sleeves and it is inconceivable that WiFi isn't among them. Even if Apple was not planning on introducing WiFi in the near future, the latest rumours may convince them to bring it forward. If Microsoft had its USP shot down before their player even made it to market then it's game over. |
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