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Sony plans iPod competitor

updated 09:15 pm EDT, Mon May 1, 2006

Sony preps iPod killer

Sony is hoping to dethrone the iPod with its next-generation music player. A new report claims that Sony is prepping a new music player that it hopes will rival the success of the iPod. Due within the next year, Sony says the next-generation player will focus on design and long-battery life. The company has tried unsuccessfully to unseat the iPod as the defacto standard for music players, according to the report: "Sony has tried to unseat Apple in that market before with little success, and its recently launched A-series Walkman digital music players are on sale only in Japan and Europe.... The new player will be lauched within the current fiscal year, which ends in March 2007, Yuhara said. He wouldn't be more specific, but acknowledged that the holiday sales period between the US Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays is an important time for consumer electronics products. Sony sold 4.5 million digital music players in the year to March, and expects this to rise to 5.5 million in the current year."

 
Previous Comments

Title should be...

05/01, 09:35pm reply

The title should read "Sony plans second attempt to dethrone iPod"

unity@mac.com

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2005

0

Second?

05/01, 09:48pm reply

Sony has tried to steal the iPod's market for years and hasn't been able to make a dent; and based on 5.5 million units forecasted for the next year, they don't sound like they are too encouraged about their chances.

TailsToo

Mac Elite

Joined: Jun 2004

0

Really...?

05/01, 10:37pm reply

Isn't that what Sony has been "planning" all along. The only way Sony can make an impact is to be creative and provide something that the iPod/iTunes/iTMS from Apple trio does not offer. Unfortunately (for Sony), creativity is something that has been lacking at Sony in recent years.

In fact, the only way to challenge iPod at this point is not to be "the next iPod" or "the better iPod," but instead try for something that is significantly different from iPod (so the "focus on design and long-battery life" is not going to cut it).

kw99

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2001

0

buy cd's

05/01, 10:57pm reply

as much as aac is better than mp3 & i applaude apple, if cd's stop production the quality of audio will be lost... So will rights as downloads are competing at the moment...

Voice an opinion with your wallets!!! It's the only language suits understand...

bobolicious

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Joined: Aug 2002

0

bobolicious...

05/02, 12:37am reply

...what have you been smoking?

davedawgnyc

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 2005

0

Title should be...

05/02, 05:31am reply

Sony forging ahead with next failure, and prepared to lose millions, again!

ZinkDifferent

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2005

0

"Only"?

05/02, 05:47am reply

"…and its recently launched A-series Walkman digital music players are on sale only in Japan and Europe"

Hmm, so what's that, like ?60% of the world wide market?

Clive

Mac Enthusiast

Joined: Jan 2001

0

all i have to say is....

05/02, 07:20am reply

again????

dwishbone

Grizzled Veteran

Joined: May 2002

0

Yawn...

05/02, 08:19am reply

Everyone will try to dethrone the ipod...but it is just too "expensive" for the average user to say, time for a new music player. Plus, all their existing songs, and comfort with iTunes...

Have you ever switched/upgraded iPods? One of the easiest things in the world. It will just take your existing playlist and put it on your new iPod (something Apple does not mention frequently enough). Also, consider please all the additional peripherals!

As long as Apple continues to make a good solid product with decent support, it will take a lot to usurp its market position.

dynsight

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: May 2005

0

How about this?

05/02, 09:05am reply

I herby plan iPod competitor. Late May 2006 this emerging entrepreneur will embark on a market research trip to the Tokyo area. This news release includes "forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements regarding my expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies regarding the future. These statements are subject to many assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

iolaire

Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2001

0

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