Microsoft confirms 'iPod Killer'

CNN ^ | July 21, 2006

[MichiganConservative]

Is the iBra a Bluetooth device or does it have a USB port somewhere? Do the cups also double as speakers?

[Lonestar_50]

"It's a telling sign that Microsoft is spending its time looking backward and trying to undo years of Apple's dominance. They should be working on developing the next iPod-like "must-have" technology. I'm sure Apple is."

It is the foundation of what Microsoft is to copy the superior products Apple makes. The best they can do is say me too and try to out market them.
Granted, they have been successful. I for one don't want to give any money to Bill Gates. While Steve Jobs may be a lib....The Mac at it's core represents American entrepreneurship at it's finest

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I hooked my iPod up to my existing OEM stereo head unit through an Audiovox Inline FM Modulator. Cost me about $50. I mainly use it to listen to Rush's podcast during my 35 minute commute. I thought about changing the entire stereo, but my OEM Ford unit has very good sound, much better usability than Japanese replacements, big buttons and great integration with the steering wheel controls. Sound quality is not as good as a direct iPod connection to the head unit, but MUCH better than cassette or wireless FM adapters. With all the road noise in a car, it's fine. Google Audiovox FMM-100A FM Modulator/Adapter or BizRate.

[freedumb2003]

Why would any technology firm take on the iPod now? The thing's been around for years!

MicroSoft is like Sauraon's eye. You really don't want it on you.

To their credit, MS has a solid track record in coming from behind. I.E., Xbox, PocketPC, etc. have shown that if MS really wants your market, they will eventually get it.

[theFIRMbss]

>Is the iBra a Bluetooth device or does it have a USB port somewhere? Do the cups also double as speakers?

Every time I try to investigate closely, I get my face slapped!

[rawcatslyentist]

Soft hardware, or hard software?

Kif we have a conundrum, Search them for paper... And bring me a rock..

[Jameison]

"No, because the iPod installed base is far too large and people have too much invested in iTMS purchases."


Nintendo had a huge installed base too, before the XBOX took the Gamecube out in Market share.
And before that so did Wordperfect was the dominant word processor, before Microsoft word took em out.
Same thing with Lotus 123 b4 Microsoft Excel took 'em out.
And the iPod itself took out other portable music players from Creative and others, that came before the iPod.

You don't have much of a point.

[Jameison]

"To their credit, MS has a solid track record in coming from behind. I.E., Xbox, PocketPC, etc"

Yup.
I remember when Palm totally dominated the PDA market, not that long ago.
Today Pocket PC easily clobbers Palm in market share.

[Richard Kimball]

The Apple music file format is not compatible with PC CD burning. The songs can be burned to a CD, but the disc isn't playable on a car or home system.

This is something anyone should know before spending a lot of cash on an Apple Ipod.

What they should know is that you can't operate a software package. iTunes will burn CDs in the standard CD format. You just select the type of format you want to burn. The only thing it won't export to is the Windows Media format, and that's because MS made it proprietary. You don't have to purchase any additional software. Just go to Preferences-Advanced-Burning select the type of CD output you want (you have the choice of CD, MP3 or data), put the CD in and burn.

[Jameison]

"It is the foundation of what Microsoft is to copy the superior products Apple makes."

Like the XBOX, Pocket PC, Microsoft SQL Server, Exchange Server, Microsoft Business Solutions, the superb Microsoft Mouse Mouse and keyboards, and the superlative XBOX Live, I suppose?

"The Mac at it's core represents American entrepreneurship at it's finest"

Hah Hah!

[TruthWillWin]

LOL

Does your screen name have a tie in with that post?

[Spktyr]

All of those examples you gave are of something being overtaken by the next generation. The problem is that what Microsoft is going to make ISN'T next generation, its the same thing as an iPod, whereas Apple is already working on the next-gen iPod.

Microsoft's iPod equivalent is at the same stage in its development as the current iPod's replacement is at Apple. That's not how you take a market away from someone. Remember, MSN was supposed to destroy AOL, and it's been a flop for much the same reasons. Microsoft Passport? Yeah, that didn't work out so well. Microsoft's Actimates (where they took on Mattel) were a complete and utter failure. Microsoft has a track record of making this exact same mistake (designing to the existing competition instead of designing for the next generation) over and over when trying to make hardware or do something not related to their core competencies.

And FYI, Nintendo didn't have much of an installed base of current-gen consoles after SNES. They pissed it away with N64. And now that the next-gen consoles are coming out, it's pretty clear that the xBox was overrun by Sony's PS2. The xBox360 isn't doing so hot, either.

[Mr. Blonde]

At least all of their other products have good names. I just can't imagine teenagers clamoring to get a Zune.

MS is nicely placed to copy the ease of use that has made the iPod/iTunes model so successful. Where others only made the players, MS also has the jukebox and the store also. Mix and match just doesn't work as well as everything coming from one source.

[Jameison]

"All of those examples you gave are of something being overtaken by the next generation"

All those examples I gave had nothing to do with Microsoft "stealing" anything from Apple, because up to today , Apple still doesn't have any of those products or their equivalents on the market.





"Microsoft's iPod equivalent is at the same stage in its development as the current iPod's replacement is at Apple"


Now how would you know that?
From everything I have heard, Microsoft's iPod killer is of an order of magnitude more advanced than anything Apple has in the market.


"Remember, MSN was supposed to destroy AOL.and it's been a flop for much the same reasons"

Is that why MSN has greater web traffic worldwide than AOL?
And AOL is a pale shadow of it's previous self?

"Passport? Yeah, that didn't work out so well"

MSN Hotmail is the biggest email provider on the planet by far.
And MSN messenger is the #1 provider of instant messages on the planet.
Not bad for a "failure" is it?

[Spktyr]

I didn't say anything about stealing stuff from Apple. You must have me confused with another poster.

From Microsoft's own descriptions, it appears to be nothing that's not already on the market, or that Apple doesn't have in an iPod (except maybe the mostly useless wireless stuff).

MSN does not have more *subscribers* than AOL, which is what counts.

MS *bought* Hotmail, they didn't invent it, and is rapidly losing marketshare to Google's Gmail.

MSN Messenger is only the leader there because it comes on every PC.

[InterceptPoint]

Here is a photo comparing it to the iPod. No guarantees that it is accurate:

[Jameison]

"MSN does not have more *subscribers* than AOL, which is what counts. "

Nope.
Dial up subcrsibers is a dying business, and its the backbone of AOL's subscriber base.
Today, its all about wen traffic, and MSN easily clobbers AOL in that.


"From Microsoft's own descriptions, it appears to be nothing that's not already on the market"

That's not what my own impression is.


"MS *bought* Hotmail, they didn't invent it,"

Hotmail had about 6 million users when Microsoft bought it.
Today they have over 400 million users worldwide.

and is rapidly losing market share to Google's Gmail"

Google's Gmail?
How many subscribers do they have again?
They are irrelevant.
Same as Google talk.

[Jameison]

"MSN Messenger is only the leader there because it comes on every PC."

Hah Hah!

[HAL9000]

The Apple music file format is not compatible with PC CD burning. The songs can be burned to a CD, but the disc isn't playable on a car or home system.

Kimball is correct. iTunes burns standard Red Book audio discs that play in car and home CD player systems.

Some of the older home and car CD players have trouble playing burned CDs - regardless of the software used to create the disc.

[bcsco]

Again:

1) I have all kinds of music I've downloaded from MSN, ITunes, and elsewhere. The only music file format that doesn't provide a playable disc at home on in the car is from ITunes.

2) My settings in ITunes have been checked and are proper. I have not changed them since the software has been installed.

I'm happy others have been successful burning ITunes music. I have not. Nor am I happy with my Ipod. That's not going to change. Sorry. Can we now get on with our FReeping?