Microsoft ponders creating an iPod killer

The problem with Micro$oft is that it wants to dominate the world, all markets. So, it has a huge line of products: from hair dryers to jet turbines. The problem is that, if you want to produce the best product in one area, you have to concentrate and specialize in that area.

Imagine a guy that wants to be the best football player, the best singer, the best magician and the best actor of the world. Odds are that he will become mediocre in all areas.

That's what happens with M$. In its path to world domination it discovered a way to do it: start producing mediocre one size clothes that are intented to be weared by all size of people.

M$ is on its way down (thank's God!)

I actually think the only one able to f*ck the iPod is M$. I'm a huge Apple fan since the 80s and all, but MS is able to do the one thing no one is willing to do: create a piece of crap that plays PFS and sell it with a 100$ loss for the next five years, just to take over the market, even if they loose... some 4,9 Billions?

Apple would still sell well, loosing a big chunk on profitability, but they would stop being the one boss. All other DAP-makers are of course going to crash down and die busting in flames, but MS loves that, don't they? fair competition is not on their dictionary.

Quicksilver -

I never insinuated that Apple was the first. But Apple is hands down doing it 'best.' They are at the top of the market for a reason. Now that the iPod is a runaway success we are beginning to see the halo effect. Because the iPod is so renowned, people are slowly getting their feet wet with more of Apple's hardware. Mac sales are up. And Apple's market-share is expanding. This has Microsoft scared to death.

It's a classic story. Apple begins gaining ground, and then Microsoft tries to shove them away by making grossly similar products. Happens all the time. Most new features in every new Windows iteration have already been utilized in one form or another in an OS X build years before.

Microsoft knows that if they don't do something to stifle Apple's largest market, and steal the spotlight away from them, then Apple will eventually start gaining ground with their hardware. However; I'm not worried, because of the iconic status of the iPod it would be difficult if not impossible for Microsoft to steal the spotlight unless they actually innovate with their DAP product -- and we all know that Microsoft and Innovation have never really been all that congruent.

iPods will only die if Steve is stupid enough not to license FairPlay and the Apple dock connector to third parties. Such "iPod/iTunes compatibles" would guarantee Apple a piece of the pie for the digital music player business until the next hot thing comes along in 10 years. As hardware prices come down and more and more enter the market, it will become less and less profitable for Apple to continue to make iPods. Licensing is the answer -- they can still make iPods, and perhaps still have a 25 percent share of a much LARGER market (meaning more absolute sales), but they would be high end. Low end "iPod compatibles" would be made by others, with a nice little "Apple tax" on them ala the "Windows tax." If Steve doesn't pursue such a course in the next year or so, Apple's stockholders ought to sue.

Thanks for the laughs, effzehn. One, you messed up the link to your iPod killer. Two, you should know by now that if the hardware specs were crucial, the iPod would have been killed off a long time ago.

iPod/ITunes/ITMS is a solution. The MBOX is a piece of hardware.

elfzen, I just read the newtechspy page. Are you kidding? That thing looks like a figging juice box. It reaffirms my first comment - HA!

In my opinion, Microsoft missed out on a HUGE opportunity when it launched the Xbox 360. If the hard drive for the system was a removeable audio player, it would have been in every sytem that shipped, and xbox live could have been utilized as a music service as well. Basically, if you bought an xbox, you'd have this device as an audio player, and would most likely use it since it was alredy there, as opposed to shelling out another $400 on an iPod

The iPod KILLER can be seen here: http://www.newtechspy.com/articles06/mbox.html
This is it! Goodnight, Apple!

"...has worked out fairly well..."

Heh. Yeah, and the Pacific Ocean is fairly damp.

MS is between a rock and a hard place. If they bring out their own device, they will instantly doom Creative and all the other MP3 player mfrs, which will result in a lot of bad press and bad karma. If they don't bring out their own device(s), their attempts to sell content (music, movies, etc) are doomed, because integration is key, and currently only Apple can pull it off.

If MS does bring out an integrated device/service, they can license it, but that won't help all the mfrs recover their current investments.

In some ways, I feel kinda sorry for poor ol' MS. But the feeling will pass. Heh.

Just wanted to say that that iPod image is the most frightening thing I've seen in a long time. ;)