Microsoft calls iPod rival reports "speculation"
Microsoft Corp. has responded to reports that the company is planning a digital media player to rival the iPod, saying those reports are based on "speculation and rumors."
In speaking with the BBC on Friday, representatives for the world's largest software maker stopped short of flatly denying the reports, saying only that the company did not "have anything to announce at this time".
Over the past week, unnamed music industry executives have told the both Reuters and the Associated Press that they have received briefings about the product.
Both reports said the proposed device would play digital music and video files and carry wireless technology that would enable users to download content without the need to connect to a computer.
Microsoft is also said to be developing a software rival to Apple's iTunes that would form the foundation for its own integrated system of digital media players and online download service.
Nate Elliott, digital home analyst at Jupiter Research, told the BBC that if Microsoft were planning an digital media player it would be because of "frustration."
"Microsoft and its partners have made no significant headway into Apple's dominance of the market," he said. "Microsoft is not a hardware company but they have shown that when they really want to make a success of something they are willing to do it themselves."
In speaking with the BBC on Friday, representatives for the world's largest software maker stopped short of flatly denying the reports, saying only that the company did not "have anything to announce at this time".
Over the past week, unnamed music industry executives have told the both Reuters and the Associated Press that they have received briefings about the product.
Both reports said the proposed device would play digital music and video files and carry wireless technology that would enable users to download content without the need to connect to a computer.
Microsoft is also said to be developing a software rival to Apple's iTunes that would form the foundation for its own integrated system of digital media players and online download service.
Nate Elliott, digital home analyst at Jupiter Research, told the BBC that if Microsoft were planning an digital media player it would be because of "frustration."
"Microsoft and its partners have made no significant headway into Apple's dominance of the market," he said. "Microsoft is not a hardware company but they have shown that when they really want to make a success of something they are willing to do it themselves."
Comments
Originally posted by wilco
my shoes hurt.
Yours and my eyes will hurt when we see this thing because no doubt it'll be ass-ugly.
Originally posted by AppleInsider
Microsoft is also said to be developing a software rival to Apple's iTunes that would form the foundation for its own integrated system of digital media players and online download service.
Developing? Isn't WMP 10 their supposed iTunes rival?
Originally posted by solsun
Developing? Isn't WMP 10 their supposed iTunes rival?
Exactly what I thought. Confuse us then you know fo-sho the Windows folks will be
saying those reports are based on "speculation and rumors."
stopped short of flatly denying the reports, saying only that the company did not "have anything to announce at this time"
Isn't this the typical reply when a rumor is leaked. "speculation....yada yada yada" "just rumors...yada yada yada" and then six months later SURPRISE the "mPod, our new revolutionary device...and no one saw it coming"
Originally posted by crees!
Exactly what I thought. Confuse us then you know fo-sho the Windows folks will be
It was supposed to be there, but the iTunes rivalTM feature as well as many others, was delayed to future releases or to be added later on as a service pack.
Originally posted by SpamSandwich
I'd bet Apple already knows what MS' offering will be due to their tight relationships with music industry people.
Actually no, they wouldn't. If that were true, microsoft could sue whatever music industry executive leaked the news into bankruptcy. I'm sure if microsoft was planning something, everyone had to sign confidentiality agreements or else microsoft general counsel should be fired.
Originally posted by crees!
Exactly what I thought. Confuse us then you know fo-sho the Windows folks will be
You guys aren't newbies, so you should know what this is. It's MS's standard approach.
MS, believe it or not, has their die-hard fans like Apple does. Only they also have this image as the market leader in anything they do (whether that's warranted or not) and business people and like-minded folks love to be on that side. MS knows this and they use it for leverage.
The thinking goes like this: "Psst... don't get too wrapped up in that iPod and iTunes thing. We have a killer music app coming up soon. No seriously. Real soon. And you know us... MS is the best in everything we do and you sure want to be on our team, right? So, just sit tight and wait until we're done with our vaporw--er, our new jukebox app. No really. Just wait til you see it!"
They've done this in the past to good effect.
I think this won't work in this case, however, because Apple is much bigger than many of the companies MS has pulled this stunt with previously. Apple is also #1 in digital music downloads and has the whole market leader image on their side this time so it's a little doubtful whether MS can pull this off.
Anyway, we'll see. But I think by this time next year, we'll still be seeing reports of MS's iPod/iTunes killer coming out soon... no seriously, any day now...
Originally posted by Ireland
I think you guys should change the name of this site to Microsoftinsider.com (If the name wasn't taken).
Totally!!!11