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Friday, June 16, 2006, 10:00 am
Reuters: Microsoft readying Apple iPod rival
Microsoft Corp. is laying the groundwork to compete against Apple Computer's iPod digital entertainment device and iTunes service, sources familiar with the plans told Reuters on Friday.The world's largest software maker reportedly held licensing discussions with the music industry to create its own music service.
At the meetings, an entertainment device that plays videos and music was also demonstrated, according to Reuters' source.
Microsoft has previously denied having aspirations of entering the digital music business, currently dominated by Apple in the United States.
On Thursday, the Redmond, Washington-based company announced a two-year transition process that will ultimately end with the departure of chairman Bill Gates.
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Previous Comments View All
Woo! Lower Audio prices!!
APPLE IS DOOOMED!!!!
sorry, I had to be the first to say it.
I think Microsoft should focus on their core business. They are trying to dabble in too many areas, while their flagship product is already an old cow before it ever Vistas the day of light...
For Apple's sake, I hope they do just as good a job with the MP3 player as Creative
Um... what kind of an article is this? Doesn't Microsoft already *have* licensing agreements and its own music service? Um, you know? http://music.msn.com/? Which was the primary store in Windows Media Player before this URGE non-sense?
And Microsoft just denied working on an iPod rival (the whole Japan mistranslation fiasco). Either something's fishy here, or Microsoft is so schizo, one hand of the company doesn't know what the other is doing.
ALL 
, NO ACTION!!
I think Microsoft should focus on their core business. They are trying to dabble in too many areas, while their flagship product is already an old cow before it ever Vistas the day of light...
For Apple's sake, I hope they do just as good a job with the MP3 player as Creative
Yeah like the iPod is responsible for Apple's unwillingness to jump ship to another CPU platform and is the reason we're still stuck with sucky G4's and flatlined G5's ..... hey!
MS are up to something interesting stuff these days. Read: chaos!
I've had some time with Vista betas and I can assure you they are shamed by Panther, yet alone whatever Leopard will bring.
ALL
, NO ACTION!!
I've had some time with Vista betas and I can assure you they are shamed by Panther, yet alone whatever Leopard will bring.
They're shamed by Panther? Or Tiger? I think they're shamed by both, just clarifying.
No worries.
If MS builds it, it will be 5 years late and look like this:
No worries.
If MS builds it, it will be 5 years late and look like this:
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Those sneeky bastards....
They claimed URGE was it.
They claimed MP3 players on the whole suck and only a cell phone is the way to go (an idea I loathe).
And now they want to make both.
Damnit Bill, just step your ass down already and let your company run into the ground.