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Microsoft: iPod to face increased competition
Microsoft says that the iPod will face increased competition from new portable devices before this year’s holiday shopping season. The company is helping electronics makers such as Philips, Samsung and Creative Technology design and test digital music players that will take direct aim at the iPod.
“Come this fall there is going to be a number of devices that get close to competing with Apple’s iPod,” said Erik Huggers, the head of Microsoft’s Digital Media Division. By the second quarter of next year “there is going to be a whole lineup of products that can compete with Apple in industrial design, usability, functionality and features.”
Jupiter Research analyst Michael Gartenberg, however, says Microsoft has a steep uphill battle. “It’s going to take a lot to dethrone Apple,” said Gartenberg. “Apple won’t sit on its laurels and I expect we’ll see another iteration of the iPod for the holiday. Unless Microsoft is really willing to spend the time and effort to get behind a player or a select group of players, it’s not going to happen.”
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I’m all for having healthy competition, but I’m not in any way convinced that Microsoft (and anyone working with Microsoft) will cut the mustard. They could have the coolest gadget in the world, but it still wouldn’t keep Protected WMA from being a pain in the ###. I’ve tried it, and I’ve had terrible experiences with it, and no intentions on going back.
You know, I also had problems with iTMS when I first got my Shuffle, but via the Apple boards (and the greater Mac community) I was assured it was being looked into. With Microsoft’s WMA, it’s amazing how quickly their “partners” and affiliates become scapegoats.
Posted by Thom on August 11, 2005 at 9:58 AM (PDT)
22
increased bass response
The shuffle’s bass is way better than any of the “grown-up” iPods. Overall, the shuffle’s sound is just “richer” than the other iPods. And the shuffle is the only iPod with technology that isn’t designed and implemented by PortalPlayer. I wonder if there’s a connection?
Posted by Demosthenes on August 11, 2005 at 10:48 AM (PDT)
23
the iPod does not need more features to compete. The iPod plays music, and it does it extremely well. The problem with the Creative and other products is they try to do too much. As long as the iPod just continues to play music well, it will be the leader.
And, don’t get me started on my video iPod rant… I sure hope it doesn’t happen.
Posted by m. sherman on August 11, 2005 at 2:36 PM (PDT)
24
If the digital camera business is anything to go by, the competition won’t come from a direct, head-to-head iPod equivalent, it will be when every phone and every PDA comes with a free built in music player. If they all standardise on WMA instead of AAC then Apple risks becoming the Betamax of the digital music world - everyone knows it’s better, it’s just not convenient.
Posted by Andrew C (UK) on August 14, 2005 at 2:17 AM (PDT)
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