Posted on 02/13/2006 7:08:46 AM PST by stainlessbanner
REDMOND, Wash.--Microsoft and its hardware partners will continue to develop new digital media devices aimed at challenging the dominance of Apple Computer's ubiquitous iPod music player, Chairman Bill Gates said on Friday.
"I don't think what's out on the market today is the final answer," Gates said, speaking to a group of minority students. "Between us and our partners, you can expect some pretty hot products coming out over the next few years."
The Microsoft founder praised Apple's iTunes music store and said the software giant was talking with hardware partners to create media devices that can be less expensive and easier to connect and can handle pictures and video better.
Gates said the market share for digital music players compatible with Microsoft software is around 20 percent, a figure that is lower than he would like.
Microsoft's strategy has been to allow various device manufacturers to create players that would be compatible with its software, arguing that it offered consumers more options.
However, BusinessWeek reported last week that Microsoft is mulling its own media device in an effort to cut into Apple's nearly 70 percent U.S. market share. The company declined to comment on the article at the time.
Gates did not disclose any plans for a Microsoft-branded device on Friday and alluded often to working together with partners for future media devices.
And by 'hot' they mean they haven't worked out those cooling issues yet. ;p
Aside from iRiver, I don't know any commercial players that do support OGG out of the box, but you can do iPod Linux and play OGG.
If you have the space, there's Apple Lossless, which takes IIRC about 300 MB per CD. Caveat, the format is closed proprietary, but third-party codecs are in the works.
They don't manufacture the Neuros or Neuros II any more, because they're working on the next one. The 80GB ones are available at a terrific price on closeout though, and I may just buy another one just because. :-)
Not to mention to win snowboarding Gold medals. You can't BUY that kind of marketing.
sure I was, I think way more are wearing I pods, and are wearing them for longer periods more frequently. Walkman needed AA batteries.
I bought the Creative Zen Sleek 20 GB.
1. Because it was a better value at 250.00 than the 4GB iPod at 250.00.
2. Because it doesn't put one red cent in commie Jobs' pocket.
I've used my friends iPod, and I'm extremely happy with my purchase, works every bit as good as the iPod, AND I can use the Napster subscription service to take music to go. So I don't have to purchase music @ 99 cents plus tax a pop.
An SD card in your PDA will do the same thing as an Ipod.
Ipod is good DESIGN not technology. The Ipod is 100% marketing and packaging.
That said, COMPETITION IS GOOD!
FYI: they said the same thing about the Sony Walkman.
(they also said nobody could ever compete...)
so apple is trying to patent a stripped down Tablet PC?
With computers getting thinner and thinner and laptops eventually merging with tablet PC's. That seems too limited a product.
I don't have an iPod yet--my sister has one. And I don't think she'd be too happy if I threw Linux on it. 8^)
Better late than never .... this could pass as Microsoft's vision statement
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LOL. The strategy seems to have worked pretty well for him, doncha think?
Nope, it's Apple's own linear prediction compression algorithm, in an mp4 container.
If you want an Ipod that crashes and calls home to tell Microsoft what you're listening to and if any of the files are pirated, then get the Microsoft version.
When is Jobs going to market a killer gaming machine...
Mr. Softy, Bill Gates, hasn't had an original idea in his life. I'm surprised he isn't Chinese. All he can do is copy the ideas of others and then try to run them out of business. That's why Microsoft stock has been moribund for the past five years.
Why does this remind me of the plot to Steve Martin's, "The Jerk"?
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