01/09/2006, 5:40pm, EST
Monday, January 9th
MS takes on Apple's iPod video
Starkweather said users will be able to listen to more music from many different stores, and claimed that at least one of the new players has twice the battery life of Apple's iPod video.
Users can reportedly transfer music purchased from the iTunes Music Store to the new players, however there has been no licensing of Apple's Fairplay DRM (digital rights management), nor has there been any public announcement of such.
"Any music that you own will actually convert, and you can [play it] on one of these devices," Starkweather said.
The manager stated that Microsoft has more than 100 content partners today, including MTV's "Urge" service and Starz new "Vongo" service.
When asked how Microsoft is going to take a bite out of Apple, Starkweather replied: "you know, people get tired of eating apples. People want variety and we really believe in providing a 'fruit plate' if you will."
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I have to assume the guy was talking tongue-in-cheek, but even with that, the statement is a joke. People want variety in music -- but they want just one music store to go to. Nobody wants to try to remember what song they bought from which store, or which store is better with one type or another of music. iTunes has the largest selection and the most consistent rights setup.
And once you've got all that music, how about a player that let's you find it easily, rather than an interface that gets in your way?
"Users can reportedly transfer music purchased from the iTunes Music Store to the new players"
Sure, if you're willing to break the DMCA...and go through the hassle and drop in sound quality.
""Any music that you own will actually convert, and you can [play it] on one of these devices," Starkweather said."
It's sad that he can't just come out and say, "Of course it's not compatible with iTunes or the iTMS". But that's a little like saying that it's not compatible with virtually any accesories because it lacks an iPod port and won't integrate with any new car being sold.
Mommy...I want an iPod for my birthday...Ok, Billy here's a brand new "Tatung" MP3 player....Billy: Oh, man am I going to get beaten up at school tomorrow.
Plus, it doesn't say anything about converting over the videos you buy.
It must really burn Microsoft, that no one cares about their digital media solution. Biggest problem is these things costs EXACTLY THE SAME as a Video iPod, and won't have a scroll wheel (Apple Patent.) The scroll wheel is the true killer feature. No other input device for an MP3 player even comes close without one of them.