iPod rivals ready for prime time at last?

Cnet ^ | 01/06/2006 | John Borland

[Panerai]

A shadow shaped like an apple is looming behind many of the star-studded speeches and product announcements at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

Even though Apple Computer is likely saving its biggest news for its own Macworld conference in San Francisco next week, there's little doubt that the Silicon Valley tech pioneer is on the minds of many at CES.

Apple's iPod has dominated the portable audio market so completely over the past few years that giants like Sony and Microsoft have been reduced to also-rans. Now, four years since the first iPod was introduced, the question remains: With new product lineups and services, can the iPod's rivals finally start reeling in the market leader?

Optimistic iPod competitors dot the Vegas convention halls this week. But even the biggest companies concede they've got a long way to go to catch the most successful consumer electronics product of the past decade.

"We've got a lot of work to do," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in an interview with CNET News.com. "On the PC, our stuff is still the most popular stuff out there. It's not true in the portable device space, and I think we have to do some stuff to simplify the experience."

If there is hope for Apple's rivals, it may lie in the swiftly changing nature of the digital-media market. As consumers warm to online music, they're beginning to look for more choices, and different kinds of devices, Apple's rivals argue.

Part of the iPod's success, of course, is due to its seamless links to Apple's iTunes music store and software. Apple CEO Steve Jobs' bet that consumers would respond to a simple offer of 99 cent songs that can be easily downloaded to his iPod device has paid off handsomely.

[CarrotAndStick]

With on-the-go removeable, replaceable, battery.

[BADROTOFINGER]

Call me crazy, but I think that the iPods biggest competitor is somewhat of a sleeper candidate for that title. Once the PSP has more memory capacity, it will definately challenge iPod. Heck, there is already a 4 gig HD out for them...JFK

[martin_fierro]

	iPod
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[coconutt2000]

There is only one device that can challenge the iPod.

It is a nonexistent device that is compatible with every competitors' music store or preferred delivery system. It will be licensed out to every single competitor on the basis that can only change the appearance and they cannot impose any blocks against use of the device with any other music service.

Let's see... It will come in three varieties, tiny, medium, large. The largest will have video capabilities, with a Windows only transfer application for the video features.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The iPod ain't 'all that.'.

The iRiver H10 is one hell of a unit for up to $100 less than an iPod and it has no proprietary file format bunk to deal with. And I think it is better looking than the iPod.

[kingu]

The wife has her Zen Nano, I've my Zen Micro, and our daughter her Zen Touch; glad to see that Creative didn't rate even an 'also ran' in the article. Especially since the Zen Vison: M got Best of Show at CES.

But then again, the media seems to believe that MP3 players didn't exist before the iPod.

[big'ol_freeper]

Well once you allow Windows to corrupt it, it will definitely suck, like anything else associated with that operating system.

[kingu]

It is a nonexistent device that is compatible with every competitors' music store or preferred delivery system.

iRiver, Creative and RCA make players that are compatible with iTunes, YahooMusicEngine, Napster, Rhapsody, etc. The problem is that the music providers aren't making things compatible for the Mac people.

[coconutt2000]

Be nice. It isn't Windows that causes PC stuff to suck.

It is the utter lack of discernment and taste on the part of PC users... ;-)

[aft_lizard]

Its not capacity for the PSP its the cost for it. 500 dollars for 4 gigs of memory just wont cut it.

[aft_lizard]

My bad 4 gigs has dropped to 289 dollars, still when you can get complete devices with 40 gigs for that amount its way to much to ask.

[Dont Mention the War]

If these companies had any brains, they'd be developing iPod accessories instead of iPod competitors, and they'd clean up.

[BADROTOFINGER]

I dont know what site you are looking at, but I am finding the HDs for about 180, plus s+h. Plus, the PSP plays great games, has a much larger screen, and a Wireless LAN card built in. All it needs is more memory and it is a fantastic carry-around tech device. A little big, but thats quite alright by me...JFK

[Casloy]

At 5GB it isn't even close to an Ipod. If I want that kind of limited capacity I'll just go with the Nano.

[LeeHarvey]

We love our iRiver H10, as well! Even better with the configurable FM transmitter accessory. And, it even works with the XBOX 360 too.

But it sounds like I'm preaching to the choir. IMO, the iPod is highly overrated from a price:performance perspective; but it is sleek looking, like most Mac products. Looks ain't everything, though.

[aft_lizard]

I just checked on them, if you can find a Memory Stick for less than 289 go for it. Either way versatility or not the price compared to other devices even with your price is still out of whack.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

At 5GB it isn't even close to an Ipod.

They come in 10Gb and 20 Gb models as well. All include an FM tuner with presets and a voice recorder which will record to the limit of the storage...and record FM broadcasts. Very handy feature.