View this article at: http://dev.macnn.com/articles/06/01/09/microsoft.takes.on.apple
Monday, Jan 09, 2006 5:40pm

MS takes on Apple\'s iPod v...

Microsoft today launched three new portable media centers designed to compete with and dethrone Apple's video iPod. Microsoft, along with LG Electronics, Toshiba, and Tatung unveiled the players today at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where Microsoft group product manager John Starkweather told Marketwatch that "in terms of features, I'd say that the video iPod is going to compete with these." The players are expected to be available in February and March, with Toshiba's 30GB model priced at $300 and a 60GB version costing $400.

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."