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Monday, August 23, 2004, 12:00 pm
iTunes-like Microsoft music store due this week
Microsoft Corp. is expected to announce its long-anticipated foray into the online music business this week, reports San Jose Mercury News.The company will quietly launch the MSN online music store along with the new version of its Windows Media 10 player.
Early-release versions of the player look like knock-offs of Apple's iTunes Music Store, complete with brushed nickel finish. A button in the upper right corner of the player will take consumers to the download store.
Microsoft has reportedly told entertainment executives that it expects to introduce as many as 130 million people to the service when it prompts users to update their Windows Media Player software later this week. These estimates do not include an additional 300 million potentials who drop by the MSN site on a daily basis.
The company also claims that the music store will be compatible with nearly 60 digital music players, but not Apple's popular iPod.
Several slightly dated screenshots of the new media player are available across the web through Windows enthusiest sites such as www.jcxp.co.uk (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
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Previous Comments View All
Not too bad in terms of how it looks, but then Apple did show them how to do it (nothing new there). The question will be how well it works and if it is compatible with XP SP2. 
Had to laugh at the "Rip" and "Burn" tags on the screen. Old Bill G must love Steve J - seems he gets all his inspiration from Steve and the good folks at Apple.
After using MP10b for a while on my mule PC, I have to just say that iTunes is 1000 better as a jukebox. I can't believe how simple it seems in iTunes and how cumbersome it seems in MP10... or is it possible that I am stupid?
After using MP10b for a while on my mule PC, I have to just say that iTunes is 1000 better as a jukebox. I can't believe how simple it seems in iTunes and how cumbersome it seems in MP10... or is it possible that I am stupid?
Nope, you're not stupid. I used to have my whole collection in a MP9 library. Switching to iTunes was like a breath of fresh air - so much easier to find and organize music.
Someone has to say it, so I will: I just hope iTunes Music Store comes to Canada before Windows Media store does!
Sure, it might be crap, but its skinnable! That means its gonna rule!
Sure, it might be crap, but its skinnable! That means its gonna rule!
Skinned crap is still crap.
I was worried when I read the thread title, but after seeing the screenshots I can only shake my head in disbelief.
1) You are MS and have vast, but not unlimited, resources to throw at a product that is a key for the home computer user in the future.
2) You have Net access at work and at home and can read the fawning reviews of iTunes. You can easily narrow down the endless number of "I never knew managing my music library could be so simple" stories of new iTunes/iTMS users into the key UI elements in the applications that enable that simple power and elegance.
3) iTunes is freely downloadable, so you can play with it until you know every tiny detail of the product from the UI all the way down to the database.
And all they can come up with is some UI elements that look vaguely like iTunes. Microsoft users would flock to a blatant ripoff of iTunes/iTMS. Don't even try to hide the fact by calling it mTunes/mTMS and in six months peecee users will be claiming it's the best music player/store app and that MS was the one to invent it.
And all they can come up with is some UI elements that look vaguely like iTunes. Microsoft users would flock to a blatant ripoff of iTunes/iTMS. Don't even try to hide the fact by calling it mTunes/mTMS and in six months peecee users will be claiming it's the best music player/store app and that MS was the one to invent it.
Microsoft will likely flex its monopoly muscles and grab the people that haven't made the switch to iTunes.
Once Microsoft brings this out, Apple's only hope will be the iPod.
No matter how good iTunes is, Microsoft will win because it will bundle WM10 with Windows and users will just use it instead of an alternative.
No matter how good iTunes is, Microsoft will win because it will bundle WM10 with Windows and users will just use it instead of an alternative.
Of course it will help a -little- if those of us who are musicians keep making CDs for our windows friends with music encoded as AAC and including a copy of iTunes.
That probably works out to be about two drops in the bucket...
Mendosi
Microsoft will likely flex its monopoly muscles and grab the people that haven't made the switch to iTunes.
Once Microsoft brings this out, Apple's only hope will be the iPod.
No matter how good iTunes is, Microsoft will win because it will bundle WM10 with Windows and users will just use it instead of an alternative.
Possibly, but...
If Apple is smart, it will make as many strategic partnerships as it can. The one with HP is a great example. Lots of consumers will soon buy an HP that has iTunes preinstalled on it.
Another thing is that it is all about the message. Apple has been pushing the iPod and iTunes on both platforms for awhile now. It has almost sunk into people's heads. Heck, the iPod is now becoming a status icon from what I have been reading.
Apple has a strong momentum going with its music strategy. Let's hope they continue to keep making it stronger.
Mike
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hmmm... do you think apple will unlock that wma-compatibility with the next version of itunes software, if indeed the microsoft store proves to be a success?
i could see rob glaser now jumping off the roof of real headquarters, screaming steve's name all the way down...