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Microsoft Plans Music Player for Christmas

Thursday, July 6th, 2006 at 7:45 AM - by

Microsoft may be working to release a portable MP3 player to compete with the iPod in time for the Christmas buying season. According to Bloomberg, the player will include a Wi-Fi wireless network connection so that songs can be downloaded from the Internet without requiring a computer, and a better screen than the iPod.

The stars behind the Xbox, Robbie Bach and J Allard, are said to be heading up the project, and music industry executive, Chris Stephenson is working to strike deals with music and movie companies.

Microsoft will also roll out a new service to deliver the content Mr. Stephenson secures - a move that will put the company in direct competition with its music subscription service partner MTV. The two companies currently are working together on the Windows-only Urge music service.

Last month, Microsoft denied reports that it was co-developing a multimedia device to compete with the iPod in the Japanese market. Earlier in the year, however, Microsoft's Steve Ballmer said the company will do "what it takes" to take market share from the iPod.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Jul 06, 2006 8:46 am

Will they have an iTunes killer to manage the music player? Otherwise it is just another MP3 player.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:45 am

Announced for Christmas? Which year?

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Jul 06, 2006 11:48 am

Guest wrote:
Announced for Christmas? Which year?

The first Christmas after the new OS

They better have something good. The iPod is well entrenched and it could be overtaken, but not easily.

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A guest said: (hide)

Thu Jul 06, 2006 6:19 pm

And so far they have done nothing, and I doubt this will be any different. Many have already claimed to have a better bigger screen but the problem is do they have a better easier user interface? If it's Microsoft I can almost guarantee they don't! People who use the iPod don't care if the screen is bigger or better. What people do care about is how they can find there songs and playlists easier and organize them the way they want. Microsoft seems to have a problem with this philosphy. They make it where the device controls the user instead of the other way around causing the user frustration rather than making it fun and easy to use. This will again fail.

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A guest said: (hide)

Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:11 am

I love Microsoft and I SUPPORT THEM IN WHATEVER THEY DO. You see my friends, Apple developed a great operating system "Mac OS". I don't deny that. Microsoft however, used that idea and created the excellent operating system "Windows", teamed up with pc manufactures and sold it at a great price. Perhaps thats why there are more Windows users than Mac. Then Apple came along and created a great music player known as the "ipod". I owned a 2nd, 3rd, and 5th generation ipod all of which I must say had defects from the screen to the hard drive. However, it was a great music player. The drawback was that only itunes purchased songs would be compatible with the ipod. Now Microsoft will use that idea and team up with music companies to create an awesome music player that will support sevaral music stores and sell it at a great price and of course it is pretty obvious that Microsoft will once again steal the market from Apple.

MICROSOFT IS A PUBLIC-CENTERED AND CARING COMPANY THAT LOVES TO WORK WITH OTHERS TO PRODUCE LUXURY PRODUCTS AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. THEY BASE THERE PRODUCTS NOT ON WHAT THEY THINK IS RIGHT BUT ON WHAT THE CUSTOMERS THINK IS RIGHT.

YOU SEE PEOPLE, WE ARE THE MONEY FOR COMPANIES AND WITHOUT OUR PURCHASES, THEY WOULD BE NO WHERE. COMPANIES THAT RESPECT THAT AND BUILD FROM THAT ARE THE ONES THAT ARE LIKELY TO SUCCEED.

YOU SEE GERMAN AUTOMAKERS ARE THE FIRST TO COME UP WITH TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES WHICH COME AT A HIGH PRICE. THEN JAPANESE AUTOMAKERS USE THOSE IDEAS AND COMBINE THERE IDEAS TO MAKE A BETTER ADVANCE AT A MUCH LESS PRICE.

I LIKE TO THINK OF APPLE AS A GERMAN AUTOMAKER AND MICROSOFT AS A JAPANESE.

BOTH RELIABLE YET ONE OFFERED AT A REASONABLE PRICE.

ROCK ON MICROSOFT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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