Microsoft Aiming to Launch Wireless Media Player and Service by Christmas
Posted by Emru Townsend | Wednesday, July 05, 2006 5:16 PM PT
Microsoft, or rather sources close to Microsoft,
revealed a few more details about its
forthcoming media player today. As expected, the company will offer not just a player but an accompanying download service, much like Apple's iPod/iTunes one-two punch, and they're aiming to roll everything out by Christmas to take advantage of the usual consumer feeding frenzy. There's also one new feature that the new service will have: the ability to download music and videos wirelessly.
It's said that the wireless capability will give the Microsoft player an edge over the iPod, but that presumes a couple of things: (1) that the player/service setup is as simple and elegant as iTunes, and that (2) Apple doesn't come out with its own wireless iPod by December.
More than one article has also commented on Jim Allard's involvement with the new player, seeing it as a positive sign because he previously worked with Microsoft's Xbox. But for all of Microsoft's marketing might, it took the Xbox some time to gain market traction (and, if you ask me, the later arrivals of the
PS3 and the
Wii were a big help for the 360); Apple has generally had a knack for instantly capturing the public's imagination. If Microsoft can't make their player the must-have device by December, they may be in for a long, hard slog. At least, that's my take. What are your thoughts?
The issue, as I see it, is not technology but marketing, the "story" that the product offers. The Ipod is not the technologically best music player in my book (no radio, no voice recording, short battery life, etc). However, Apple excels in creating a buzz about its products, there is a "coolness" factor about the Ipod that Microsoft will never match. And because a music player is a highly personal thing, I believe that MS will be very hard-pressed to unseat Ipod.
I agree with dave. I know from my own iRiver clix/ WMP 11 beta/ MTV Urge ecosystem that Microsoft is capable of helping create a satisfying out-of-the-box, and fully integrated (hardware/software/DRM'd store) portable-music user experience. The question is: Can they make members of the me-too generation(s) want something other than the iPod, which is already synonymous with that experience with a commanding market share? You can never count M$ completely out (can you say Netscape?), but it sure ain't going to be easy....
I am a high school student who uses my ipod in school to cure boredom. And my ipod battery barely lasts one day.
I guess that is smart of apple though. The battery dies after a day so what else do you do but buy the car charger? Then you go home and buy some songs of itunes. Then you decide that you want a cover for your ipod so you go out and buy one. Then you decide you want an upgrade so you return your ipod and buy the latest...
apple was very smart.