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June 1, 2006

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Soon to arrive: the iPod…killer?

Posted Jun. 1, ’06, 3:03 PM PT by Scott Silverman
Category | Apple » News

200606011234In one of the biggest organized efforts to hit the portable music player market in a while, Microsoft is teaming up with Toshiba, Victor Co., mobile phone operator NTT DoCoMo Inc. and five other companies to produce an iPod killer. The portable music player will be released in the Japanese market.

Aside from the fact that Microsoft will be developing the software, Toshiba and Victor will be producing the units, and DoCoMo will be offering a mobile phone compatible with the software, no details were released.

I was actually slightly concerned as to the future well-being of the iPod, until I heard Microsoft will be developing the software for the device. I also found it humorous that it takes a collaboration of nine companies to compete with a product released by one company.


2 Comments

Matt Hoult said:

While I find this interesting, I just don't see it working. Sure, launching in Japan is a good idea as Japan isn't exactly Apple or Mac laden and the market will be much easier to penetrate, but that's hardly going to be conclusive is it?

Still, if the pathetic efforts of MS' new collaboration with MTV are anything to go by it's not going to do much damage. Perhaps they should name it the "MS iPod Killer", that would get some good spread.

Toshiba however are a very together company who release good quality hardware at a cheap price that always sounds great. Problem? Their exterior design always sucks.

June 1, 2006 4:28 PM
Dan said:

It just won't work.

Microsoft is busy making 80 seperate, but wholey crappy, software applications to compete with iTunes.

June 1, 2006 6:07 PM

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