News
Mix: Blu-Ray, Ballmer, Airline music, Apple stores
Business 2.0 speculates that Apple could be asking Sony and other studios to include iPod-ready versions of movies on Blu-Ray disc releases alongside the full, high-definition versions.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that the new generation of mobile phones will “outclass” today’s iPod as portable devices to play music. “Portable music is not just the iPod,” he said.
Over a third of airline passengers would download songs from iTunes if they were available in seat-back in-flight entertainment systems, a recent poll by aviation media portal FlightGlobal.com found.
Apple’s SoHo retail store in New York City had its 5 millionth customer on Tuesday. The store opened in July 2002. In related news, the grand opening of the Fifth Avenue retail store in New York City will be on May 6th at 10:00 a.m.
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1
Who cares what Ballmer says?
Posted by The Raven on April 27, 2006 at 9:26 AM (PDT)
2
Yep i agree… who the hell is he anyway… until someones can develop something that can truely eclipse iPod, any sniddy comments from the competitors are truly irrelevant.
Posted by floridante2k on April 27, 2006 at 10:16 AM (PDT)
3
Unless they’re going to start putting 60GB hard drive in phones soon, they’ve got a LONG way to go to outclass my iPod Photo. And then there’s the incredibly piss-poor battery life in current multimedia phones…
Posted by Fangorn in Texas on April 27, 2006 at 10:32 AM (PDT)
4
Ballmer looks like Mrs. Doubtfire with no hair, huh.
Posted by NSA247 on April 27, 2006 at 10:38 AM (PDT)
5
Newsflash: Steve Ballmer is my dad and he recently bought me a 60GB iPod. He told me that Microsoft will never come close to producing anything as great as the iPod so they should stop trying…
Posted by Ballmer's Demon Seed on April 27, 2006 at 10:51 AM (PDT)
6
Who cares what Ballmer says?
Uh…um…let me guess…...Ballmer?
Posted by flatline response on April 27, 2006 at 10:56 AM (PDT)
7
Ballmer says they will “outclass”
How do you outclass an iPod?
I mean the POPE owns one.
You’re not gonna see the pope in the popemobile sitting around listening to music from his slow, crappy interfaced, PlaysForSure phone…
Hahahaa, this is almost as funny as the Nintendo Wii
Posted by evil22furby on April 27, 2006 at 11:08 AM (PDT)
8
Every few months someone from Microsoft comes out and says they’re going to beat the iPod. Maybe they think if they keep saying it it might happen.
I somehow doubt it.
Posted by stadidas on April 27, 2006 at 12:08 PM (PDT)
9
Hey, Apple asking Sony…:D
(I’m an Apple and Sony fan!!)
Also, Microsoft say that all the time, they must still be worried….after all First the iPod and now PS3…it’s gotta hurt to be Microsoft.
Posted by Paul on April 27, 2006 at 12:24 PM (PDT)
10
Does Ballmer ever get tired of saying the same thing over and over again with the same result? Isn’t that the definitely of insanity??? First his Mafiosio of Mediocre Music Machines failed to gain any share, now he’s on the cell phone kick. Cell phones need to work on reception before they think of taking over the iPod. Oh yeah, and the $3 per song pricing isn’t going to help either. GIVE IT UP STEVE!!! Ballmer that is…
Posted by Frank Z on April 27, 2006 at 12:36 PM (PDT)
11
That Fifth Avenue line is going to be very long.
Posted by sshafer on April 27, 2006 at 1:22 PM (PDT)
12
I think even Ballmer doubts Microsoft. Look at his words, “today’s iPod”. Yeah, by the time Microsoft comes out with a phone to beat today’s iPod, Apple will already be ahead of the game with a newer iPod.
Posted by Nobody on April 27, 2006 at 1:53 PM (PDT)
13
This is gonna be great since DVDs will come with iPod ready versions! But for now, HandBrake is good enough for me!
Posted by hoho on April 28, 2006 at 3:23 AM (PDT)