The device and online store are expected to be available in time for the winter holidays, but Apple is expected to release new models by then as well.
Apple has dominated the handheld MP3 player market since shortly after they released the iPod in 2001, and erstwhile competitors have failed to make a dent in Apple's marketshare, one after another. Most of those competitors have been based on Microsoft's WMA technology, but now Microsoft reportedly plans to step into the ring itself. Will Microsoft manage to succeed where its 126 licensed devices have all failed? I'm skeptical, but competition is always a good thing.…
Article comments
26 - Adam
I win.
27 - iWonder
I wonder if the new "iPod Killer" from Microsoft will be designed on a Mac like X-Box was?
28 - steve
...not to mention that apple stole their beloved interface from creative in the first place...
29 - appleHater
ipods = idiots
apple is successful becase people with less than pigeons brain like being spanked by apple again and again and again..
they are so ignorant that don't even know other mp3 players exist. its because of mass advertisements by apple. do u see any other mp3 players advertising so much? apple knows ipods are just pretty looking, that's all there is to it, so they must find a way to fool people and that is keep them in the dark, and excessive ad campaign.
its faken annoying everyone bashes msft for bundling IE and WMP. but nobody has problem when apple forces people to buy overpriced hardwares from apple. even when they force people to buy music from itunes and ituens only. apple should be tried in crminal court before microsoft. at least MSft is not forcing people.
die apple die.
ipods are pathetic excrements for people like trying-to-find-"ANY KEY"-to-press.
30 - Robin Shehyn
I bought an Archos AV500 and an 30GB ipod video. I had them for about two months to see how I would use them. I just sold the Archos. For me, it's all about pixels. The ipod has a smaller screen but has a better picture than the Archos. I use the ipod more. I like to download right away. Who wants to record in real time? That takes forever. The hard drive dvr units need to come up to dvd standards. I was never interested in audio ipods as I always used a tiny 1GB flash drive that I wear around my neck. I don't think anyone can do better than the current video ipod because with a bigger screen there requires more battery power. Also the size of the unit becomes bigger and heavier. I want to carry it with me but not know it's there.
31 - Ken Edwards
Really the only iPod killer is the next iPod. You may want to brand that an arrogant way of thinking, fine. It is true. Not one has yet touched the iPod.
I doubt Microsoft can. The only way I will pick up a Zune is if it will be part of Live Anywhere and play (Xbox Live) Arcade games.