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Microsoft Argo: iPod Killer?

Evangelion said:
Not if you tie the iPod to iChat. "Videoconferencing, on the go".
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I see where you are getting at but who would want to use an ipod for video conferencing when the business user which it is aimed at rather use a phone like the Razr V3x, a pda or that new 4.5in Sony tablet pc.
 
know-it-all5 said:
1. HELLO, the current ones are old already, they are bound to have better batteries. Its been a year. a year ago that was the best apple could do. Its not the best anymore.

2. If this is a VIDEO IPOD... 2hrs-3hrs of battery life for videos, sure as hell wont cut it. the current ipod makes video as more of a cool feature as opposed to MAIN feature. music was most important.
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I see what you are saying however there were PMP's that came out the same time as the 5G iPod that gets 5 hours out of video from a removable battery with a 4in screen. When the iPod color came it had the same battery life as the monochrome ipod. So if history is a good indication of the past then the next ipod will have similar specs out of a larger screen machine? But I could be wrong.
I think for Apple to be competitive in the pmp market against the best currently out now they need to do a few thing. The main thing this is have a player that gets 5 hours or more of video with 25hours of audio. Then they need to have video recording if they want to compete with the likes of the Cowon A2, and Archos AV500 series. And then there is the open source Digital Cube V43 with its touch screen and linux/unix based.
 
bloodycape said:
I see where you are getting at but who would want to use an ipod for video conferencing when the business user which it is aimed at rather use a phone like the Razr V3x, a pda or that new 4.5in Sony tablet pc.
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What makes you think that it's aimed at "business users"? Seriously? Is VOIP and/or video-conferencing solely meant for just businesses? Mere mortals need to stay away from it?

I guess we can forget that "video-conferencing for the rest of us" then?
 
jeriqo said:
It's would be fun if Microsoft released this player and Apple introduced the rumored full screen iPod a few days later..

800px-1fullipodav.jpg
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Or a few days earlier.....
 
Squareball said:
God if those pics are right, I say... welcome to 2002 Microsoft!

It looks like a mix between a Rio MP3 player and a 3rd gen iPod
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it's prototype.. unless it's a a fake of course. If they manage to seamlessly integrate this into Windows they've a good chance to beat the **** out of the iPod (so far, all the hardware that Microsoft produces is great.. I'm using a Microsoft Natural keyboard as well as a Microsoft Bluetooth mouse with my Powerbook).
 
phoenix9744 said:
Sounds a bit like the CEO of Sony when the Xbox was released...lets just hope microsoft doesn't do to this industry leader what it did to Sony
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Hmm.. I think the XBox 360 didn't really have any impact on the sales of the PS2, since these two products don't necessarily compete (the XBox 360 is more a highend product, where PS2 stands for affordable entertainment). However, I believe that the Xbox will pretty much kill the PS3 sales.. if there are two platforms whose power isn't even tickled by currently available games, why buy the more expensive one?

As for the MicroPod: We've yet to see if Microsoft manages to come up with a simple enough product.
 
It turns out the iPod already has some tough competition in the form of the Toshiba Gigabeat S, the Creative Zen M: and V/V plus and the Samsung YP-Z5 seeing how they have so far beaten the iPod in head to head battle on cnet and that site tends to be a little bias towards the ipod specially editor James Kim.
 
povman said:
I hope microsoft has the name 'iBox' trademarked.. wouldn't want apple to ever make an iBox...
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I know that's facetious, but I agree. I'd rather avoid brand confusion. I still remember having a hard time convincing an elderly friend that her piece of crap computer was not an Apple iMac, it was an eMachine.
 
Steve promises Steve's promises.

netdog said:
They will. Microsoft doing this will definitely cause Apple to be less stingy with the R&D and get some great small products to market.

God, I really hope that Leopard is more of an upgrade than Tiger was.
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Are you referring to the tons of "exciting new products" Steve promised all those months ago?

Seriously though, what the hell happened to all those new products and updates? Where is the Mighty Mouse BT or the new ipod Video? Does anybody still remember those rumors about the iPhone? Or even those long overdue updates of the Airport Express and Airport Extreme, which would allow for video and higher speeds?

There are now fewer Apple products in the market than 2 years ago... :confused:
 
iNeedtoSwitch said:
Before this comes out, Apple is going to have to let consumers know that they make the iPod. Not Microsoft.

Some people may think it's the new iPod, judging by the picture on engadget, and this thread/article posted earlier saying that most people don't know the iPod is made by Apple.

If people think this 'Micropod' is the new iPod it could be over for Apple, unless they release something at the same time.


BTW, about the picture posted on engadget, the buttons look '3G iPodish'. Maybe Microsoft is going to try and play catch up with MP3 players now :p edit: missed bcharna's post
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OK, and were not on planet earth hehe... If people are that stupid then the worlds definitely gone for sure!
C'mon, apple will adhere to wireless USB technology and you can have your WIFI... could you imagine how long it will take to get high def audio files into it? I listen to 16 bit AIFF's @ 48 Khz and they are big files, this would take forever on a WIFI protocol. This is for the kids man!
 
As someone making the switch from the PC to Mac world because of the iPod, I'd say Apple is on the upswing here. At least 3 friends of mine have made the switch as well.

I'd say plenty of people are beginning to realize there is a world besides Microsoft out there and the iPod is the ambassador of all of this. Speaking for myself but maybe others, once I go over to Mac, I'm not going back. So as long as Apple and the iPod stay relevant, I think you're going to see iPod users stick with their iPods and also buy Macs next time around.

iPod Killer? Not even worth the time to put it down. For this arena, the tables are turned, and the person trying to preach the gospel of some Microsoft music player will sound like the Apple nuts I used to scratch my head at in 1998. Microsoft would have to do something complete revolutionary to change these dynamics, and I think they're too much of a behemoth to pull that one off.
 
Padraig said:
Don't know how true this is, but if correct demonstrates MS determination to take losses to dominate the market. From Engadget,

But it gets better. To attract current iPod users Microsoft is going to let you download for free any songs you've already bought from the iTunes Music Store. They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and then automatically add those to your account. Microsoft will still have to pay the rights-holders for the songs, but they believe it'll be worth it to acquire converts to their new player.
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If this is true, it will allow those considering a switch to be a no brainer.

Good marketing for Microsoft.
 
Microsoft is denying it is true. Being that they need the record labels to sign off on their music store, I doubt they'd infringe on already set licenses and risk a music business revolt.
 
sushi said:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Padraig
Don't know how true this is, but if correct demonstrates MS determination to take losses to dominate the market. From Engadget,

But it gets better. To attract current iPod users Microsoft is going to let you download for free any songs you've already bought from the iTunes Music Store. They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and then automatically add those to your account. Microsoft will still have to pay the rights-holders for the songs, but they believe it'll be worth it to acquire converts to their new player.


If this is true, it will allow those considering a switch to be a no brainer.

Good marketing for Microsoft.
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:eek:

YAH !!! Great JOBs MS between their new music store, hemorrhaging Box, and brilliant marketing of constantly diluting their installed base with new solutions that don't solve anything and overpriced licensing they will be in the poor house in no time.

Remember when DELL was a big company, they will simply fade away with a whimper just like DELL did !!! :cool:
 
Bluetooth - only known "bug" in Mac OS

Evangelion said:
Huh? Bluetooth absolutely kicks ass! I have used it extensively with my laptop and my cell-phone, when making data-calls through the phone. No need to have any wires, no need to even take out the phone. Just turn on Bluetooth on the computer and dial. And it just works. Granted, few years ago Bluetooth had all kinds of problems. But it works very very well these days.

Now, it might be that operators in USA cripple Bluetooth (I have heard that they do that). Luckily in Finland they don't do that, and things work very well indeed.
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I'm happy that it works well for you.

However: the only reason that I have to reboot and restart any Mac computer in my house is because of this abomination; when Bluetooth is disabled, no problems. Unfortunately, I must use it occasionally with my iBook, and, as such, deal with its dire consequences.

End of story.
 
this microcrap "zuno" thing looks like it's made from cheap plastic, you know the kind that dell moniters use where the "silver" color wears off the buttons shockingly fast. also maybe they should redesign their media player software to look like they player design that they pick. that would help the integrated feel their shooting for.
 
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