CES: Microsoft Music Service and Entertainment

[iSaint]

Bono as Apple's iPod man vs. Timberlake as MS Urge man? Are you kidding me? Even the parents of the 13 year olds realize a credible and usable system in the iPod and iTunes, no matter the efforts of MS to bring in a popular no-talent to draw them away. This is really funny. Gates, in a short interview on CNN HN, seemed to be reaching for something to better Apple. He also made some reference to the XBox shortages in saying 'wait until next holiday'.

 

[Machead III]

second that 😱 ...than again, i have to agree the smartphone market is still a niche market and will never be for everyone. But it's growing fast...

Smartphones will eventually be up there with laptops in terms of portable computing, a lot of people are going to use them and the market will grow and grow over the next few years. However, this is just the sort of area Apple has historically fallen behind, nay, completely ignored.

It now has the R&D, the scope and the brand recognition to get involved, though, and should do so as soon as possible.

 

[mpw]

Rational comment, it isn't. You are not the typical average person.

I'd like to see old men and ladies shopping Rodeo drive fiddling around with a smart phone. And those who use smart phones are not using it in the gym to listen to music. More features does not translate to more success against something iconic like the iPod....

Current 'standard' cellphones already have more features than most people want let alone need let alone use. Many people already struggle with their cellphones, but I think it's inevitable that cellphones will continue to gain features and today's smart phones are tommorows standard.

Hopefully the interfaces will become easier to use as they mature and it seems that MS are winning the battle for market share as they did with the desktop.

In a years time what will the iPod offer that most phones won't? Will the average person really want an 80Gb HDD or will they be happy with the 8Gb flash available to them in their phone? iTMS?

I want a smart phone that will handle my Outlook/Entourage duties, surf via WLAN, play some music and view edit basic Word/Excel/PDF/JPEG etc. on top of being a phone and that sync seamlessly with my desktops at work and home.

Other than seamlessly syncing with my Macs an iMate K-Jam pretty much covers all those bases which is why unless an Apple compatible alternative arrives in the next 6months or so my next computer purchase will be made so it's compatible with that cellphone and it won't be a Mac.🙁

 

[Machead III]

I watched Gates's Keynote via live stream ( hey Steve!! hello?? ) and the theme of the whole CES is gadgets connecting to a PC for everything under the sun..
That's great..But

The Windows world is still trying to figure out how to connect the livingroom to the PC..

I believe come next Tuesday we will see how the livingroom IS the PC.

And that my fine friends will define the difference between us and them.😉

Haha! Very well said!

When Apple decides to pioneer a new concept, it sees that it's realised before it moves on to the next one. M$ is starting to look desperate, jumping from one half-baked idea to another.

Don't worry, on a long enough timeline, the survival rate for a company as incompetant as M$ always drops to zero.

 

[iMeowbot]

Vista's search icon is almost an exact duplicate of the OS X spotlight icon.

Both have been using a magnifying glass as a search icon for a long time. I think they used a magnifier in Win95, and Sherlock was, 1997ish? So it's like whatever.

 

[Peace]

Both have been using a magnifying glass as a search icon for a long time. I think they used a magnifier in Win95, and Sherlock was, 1997ish? So it's like whatever.

I know..
But it's even the same colour!

 

[ethelred]

Itunes is ok for me!

I find everything is great with itunes

 

[rolandf]

I agree

On a different note, as MWSF gets nearer I find myself getting increasing edgy about the whole Intel thing. Now even more so since Microsoft have introduced their iTunes rival - 2million tracks sounds llike rather a lot to me - what's the iTunes count at the mome?

Also, with Intel openly embarking on the Viiv platform, a potential iMac/MacMini media centre equivalent, the whole Windows/Vista/Mac/OSX thing is all starting to blur into a nightmare mish-mash that could well damage the credibility of the Mac Platform.

Wintel and Mactel machines will be running the same processors, effectively the same hardware and all that may differ between the two will be the design and, dare I say it, the price, with the Mac being the premium product!

I think I preferred the two completely separate platforms opposite each other which at least made the Mac a <superior> platform in itself.

Yes, the new machines are no doubt and exciting Mac transition, but I'm concerened about the long-term effect of all of this. I just hope The Boy Jobs has got his sums right...

As I emphasised several times, it is not wise for Apple to give-up the PowerPC platform. Certainly in the long run the switch to Intel bears no
potential of differentiation for them.

Only the combination of dedicated hardware and cutting edge software solutions will be able to generate long-term growth.

Also, sooner or later it makes no sense to have an iPod, as these functions will be naturally integrated into mobile phones.

 

[50548]

WMP is awful but lots of Windows users hate iTunes too. On Windows it's slower and quicktime 7 is slow too. Plus it looks so out of place and has some weird interface glitches left over from it's OS9 days.

Actually, thinking about it, it's pretty weird on OSX today too.

Apple need to overhaul iTunes, throw out the old style interface and improve the performance, especially on Windows. Plus, with iTunes now managing iPods, podcasts, videos, radio, music... it's a wonder they can cram it all in and still be useable.

Sorry, iTunes has no contenders in the dig jukebox arena...its interface is close to perfect and I need no freakin' skins (that's the main complaint from ex-WinAmp users)...and yeah, it's been working perfectly so far...it's surely THE BEST iLife app out there...

 

[50548]

Current 'standard' cellphones already have more features than most people want let alone need let alone use. Many people already struggle with their cellphones, but I think it's inevitable that cellphones will continue to gain features and today's smart phones are tommorows standard.

Hopefully the interfaces will become easier to use as they mature and it seems that MS are winning the battle for market share as they did with the desktop.

In a years time what will the iPod offer that most phones won't? Will the average person really want an 80Gb HDD or will they be happy with the 8Gb flash available to them in their phone? iTMS?

I want a smart phone that will handle my Outlook/Entourage duties, surf via WLAN, play some music and view edit basic Word/Excel/PDF/JPEG etc. on top of being a phone and that sync seamlessly with my desktops at work and home.

Other than seamlessly syncing with my Macs an iMate K-Jam pretty much covers all those bases which is why unless an Apple compatible alternative arrives in the next 6months or so my next computer purchase will be made so it's compatible with that cellphone and it won't be a Mac.🙁

Again, most people already have problems DIALING numbers on their phones...people like you are NOT the average, and do NOT count in terms of mass marketing...you guys must realize that phones are for CALLING...apart from address book, alarm clock and maybe some pics/music, NO ONE wants another "do-it-all" gadget...it's failed before, it's gonna fail forever, or at least until everyone becomes a Borg-like citizen...

 

[Sunrunner]

Sorry, iTunes has no contenders in the dig jukebox arena...its interface is close to perfect and I need no freakin' skins (that's the main complaint from ex-WinAmp users)...and yeah, it's been working perfectly so far...it's surely THE BEST iLife app out there...

Yup. There is a reason everything else is just an emulation. iTunes is a great app.

 

[MacinDoc]

Ok.... I'm going to say this so I don't get another private message or something saying the same thing. I didn't start a "WIndows v/s OS X" fight. What I originally stated, and you CAN go back and check this, was simply my opinion about the market validity of OS X and it's ability or lack OF to become a mainstream player. My statement was taken out of context by the typical abused-mac-zealot and used as some insane defensive b.s.

...edit...

Well, princess|prince (which ever is valid) I am a trader currently heavily invested in Apple and contemplating on purchasing a Mac (which I doubt I will, this may be childish but, just based on the s*** nature of some posters I'd rather burn my balls with Sno-Bowl than plunk down cash just to try something different) If you or any of the others who have literally bombed me with comments like yours would have taken the time to read the little profile and, most importantly, pay attention that almost every post was related to the market aspect of Apple/OS X/Mac/ I WOULDN'T HAVE TO RANT LIKE A MAD MAN!

Most posters on MR enjoy a good debate, but it would be nice if everyone could keep it respectful and well thought out. For a good example of this, see the many posts made by AidenShaw. Although I don't always agree with him, his posts are always carefully considered, thoughtful, respectful, and often witty. And because he posts in this way, although he gets many contrary replies, he rarely gets flamed in a disrespectful way.

 

[aristobrat]

urge will fail. yet another "ipod killer" from microsoft? just like all their other "ipod killers", the ones that did their job so well.

Microsoft doesn't make iPod killers -- they make the software that guarantees that music will play on other manufacturers MP3 players.

At my local Best Buy today there were the usual iPods on display, but all of the other players (10+) were grouped into this special area with "Window Media Plays For Sure" logos all over them ... a little cute one on the device, a bigger logo on the shelf price tag, and a fairly huge display explaining how "Plays For Sure" guarantees that the music you download will play on the device, if the place you download it from has the same logo.

It was very impressive, and as an iPod/iTunes lover, a little scary to see.

Microsoft doesn't need one iPod killer to take over the market. Having its software run on 10+ different inferior MP3 players (each with it's own small marketshare) is all it needs.

Oh, and content sources. DirecTV recorded shows -> a Windows Plays For Sure device is definately going to swing a lot of people who are on the bench trying to decide between an iPod or a Windows powered device.

 

[Nepenthe]

I liked the comment from the slashdot post:

"from the fewer-clones-will-die-in-this-one-i-think dept."

 

[whatever]

I agree that the iPod is only the leader in the MP3 player world. In the world of media to go they aren't ahead by much and in many cases are way behind. If they don't debut a Movie service soon and an iPod or some other device that is portable, plays music, movies and has wifi they are in serious trouble. People want their content to go and wanna be able to get content on the go. Apple must deliver.

I think they will!

For starters the average person does not want their media to go just yet. The average person; which is none of us here because an average person does not post or Web Forums; is just finally accepted the iPod. The example I'll use is my gym. In everyday I see more and more white iPod headphones. I would say that 90% of the people at my gym now uses an iPod, the remaining 6% use portible CD players (can you believe that) and the rest use a non-iPod player.

These average people no longer use words such as MP3 Players, they call them iPods and they talk about iTunes not MP3 files. They do not consider the music on their iPods as computer files, but as songs!

I know that for us, this doesn't matter, but to them it does. It means that there is a standard and it's controlled by the iPod and Apple.

The portable video device that more people will be using will be the iPod, why, because they bought them without thinking about it when they bought their music players.

Remember, the iPod was not the first player out there, it was just the best.

Whatever

 

[SiliconAddict]

Speaking of icons..
Did anyone watch Gates's keynote?

He was "showing off" Vista's search capabilities and I tell you what..

Vista's search icon is almost an exact duplicate of the OS X spotlight icon.

I've seen early (I'm talking internal MS releases here.) alphas of Vista that came out about when the developer preview of Tiger came out. If MS copied them it was the fastest copy job on the face of the planet. Sometimes a steering wheel is a steering wheel

 

[Surreal]

since this seems to be about CES as well


HP dropped itunes for rhapsody
http://www.toptechnews.com/news/HP-Ditches-iTunes-for-Rhapsody/story.xhtml?story_id=0110013UITFH

 

[SiliconAddict]

Actually it goes something more like this...

Win 95 = Win 4.0
Win 95B = Win 4.1
Win 98 = Win 4.5
Win 98B = Win 4.6
Win ME = Win 4.9

There is a WIn 95C in there somewhere. FYI to add to the mix...

Windows NT 4
Windows 2000 = 5.0
Windows XP = 5.1
Windows 2003 = 5.2

Windows Vista = 6.66 😀

 

[SiliconAddict]

since this seems to be about CES as well


HP dropped itunes for rhapsody
http://www.toptechnews.com/news/HP-Ditches-iTunes-for-Rhapsody/story.xhtml?story_id=0110013UITFH

Yah this was rumored about, what?, 2-3 weeks ago. Too bad. Apple really doesn't know how to sell itself to other companies. 🙁

 

[dicklacara]

I watched Gates's Keynote via live stream ( hey Steve!! hello?? ) and the theme of the whole CES is gadgets connecting to a PC for everything under the sun..
That's great..But

The Windows world is still trying to figure out how to connect the livingroom to the PC..

I believe come next Tuesday we will see how the livingroom IS the PC.

And that my fine friends will define the difference between us and them.😉

One of the more astute posts...

... and the home (house/apartment) is the Network

 

[BlueRevolution]

Ok.... I'm going to say this so I don't get another private message or something saying the same thing. I didn't start a "WIndows v/s OS X" fight. What I originally stated, and you CAN go back and check this, was simply my opinion about the market validity of OS X and it's ability or lack OF to become a mainstream player. My statement was taken out of context by the typical abused-mac-zealot and used as some insane defensive b.s.

we're bad that way. Mac fanatics can be dangerous creatures indeed when provoked. 😀

still, referring back to your original post:

Apple, actually, tries to "score the cash". When a new iMac comes out, Powerbook.....what have you... Apple KNOWS Mac users are going to sell off that 4 month old computer. Not a bad move, very good business. Charging such a high price for the same system over and over and over KNOWING that; bad ethics. There is a line when it becomes greed and not innovation. Maybe this is simply a personal opinion but reading other Mac forums it's placed more-so in fact.

that is what struck me as an attempt to get another argument started since more than anything it calls into question the sense and free will of Mac users. and while I'm sure there are some that behave in that way, if you look around the forum you'll see that a lot of us are using computers that are several years old.

look at iPods. it's not uncommon to find someone here still using any of the 1G-3G iPods around here, but at school I have not seen anybody with an older iPod than the 4G iPod Photo since about 6 months after its release. so I'd say that means Mac fanatics are less likely to jump on the "ooh Steve Jobs told me to" bandwagon then the general population.

If you or any of the others who have literally bombed me with comments like yours would have taken the time to read the little profile and, most importantly, pay attention that almost every post was related to the market aspect of Apple/OS X/Mac/ I WOULDN'T HAVE TO RANT LIKE A MAD MAN!

I have never bashed you or contacted you at all via PM. mine was a genuine question, which you have answered. I am satisfied.

 

[VanNess]

I don't see any major differences in (SPL)urge and MS's initial failed music download service. Urge takes on MTV networks' branding with the likely addition of downloadable music vids, which is mostly just playing catch-up with iTunes. Other than that, it looks like the same old same old (except for the deafening silence on what purchased music (with and without subscriptions) will cost you for the "new" service).

Well, it didn't work for Microsoft before, and there isn't enough new or remarkable here to seriously deter anyone's attention away from iTunes. Unless you like the rather novel idea of buying an expensive remote control, err..."extender" (Xbox) for it.

Hear no iPod, speak no iPod, see no iPod.

 

[AidenShaw]

I've seen early (I'm talking internal MS releases here.) alphas of Vista that came out about when the developer preview of Tiger came out. If MS copied them it was the fastest copy job on the face of the planet. Sometimes a steering wheel is a steering wheel

Due to Longhorn's long gestation, several other things that were first seen or talked about in Longhorn ended up shipping first in OSX 10.4.

Of course, none of the OSX features were copied from the plans for Longhorn...

 

[mpw]

Bare with me on this tangent and sorry if it's already been mentioned if I've missed it.

The name 'Urge', I wonder if it just a coincidence or whether it's a deliberate marketing ploy or just a case of using the same focus groups that Nissan's latest concept car apparently inspired by the gamers, games of and including the Xbox 360 is also named the 'Urge'?

 

[decksnap]

I don't know how long all the Vista stuff has been up on Microsoft... so forgive my ignorance, but... that's really the interface they're going with?!? All this time I thought it was just a quick and dirty used for the betas. Uggggh! 😱