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Microsoft developing Microsoft-branded competitor to Apple iPod?

Thursday, December 8, 2005 · 10:39 pm · 33 Comments

“SG Cowen reiterated a positive investment opinion on Microsoft, citing increased confidence in the company’s revenue acceleration in fiscal 2006 and 2007. ‘We see upside relative to the market of 15% or more over the next six to 12 months,’ SG Cowen analyst Drew Brosseau wrote in a note to investors,” David Ng reports for Forbes.

“The research firm said Microsoft’s revenue is poised to accelerate starting in the December quarter on the back of two key product cycles, the Xbox 360 and SQL Server 2005,” Ng reports.

Ng reports, “SG Cowen added that Microsoft could be developing a branded competitor to the Apple Computer iPod.”

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews reader "heymike" for the link.]
PlaysForS–t? If true, one has to wonder how Microsoft’s loyal WMA-supporting “partners” like Creative, iRiver, Sony, Archos, etc. would react to the news. And, even if released tomorrow, wouldn’t such a product from Microsoft be way too late in the game?

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Comment Feed

33 Comments

1 2 Next »

Chunky Monkey

Thursday, December 8, 2005 - 11:57 pm · Reply

“Could” be developing. Wow. Way to go out on a limb, there.

I “could” be developing colitis right now, too. Or I “could” be developing some film in my darkroom (remember those?).

Or I “could” not be giving a shit what Microsoft’s doing in this market space, because as MDN has pointed out and as they say down in Texas: “Son, that dog won’t hunt.”

This ship has sailed Microsoft. And we’re all better for it.

Stick to your stupid soon-to-be-second-place XBOX crap.
Tommy Boy

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:07 am · Reply

Second place? Pffft, the Xbox will always be first in my book in fire starting heat generation, #1 in crashes, and I’m quite sure will be the first game console to contract a virus.
J Page

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:09 am · Reply

Microsoft could be developing a branded
“competitor” to the Apple Computer iPod

Cowen’s got to know his definitons right

competitor- One that competes with another, as in sports or business; a rival.

Since when has Microsoft been a Music rival?
Maybe he meant this definition?

competitor n : the contestant you hope to defeat;

Change “hope to defeat” to “visciously slaughter” and you’ve got it. Hey since Microsoft
loses money on xboxes and stuff, maybe actually gaining a percent or two in market share will actually drive them out of buisness?
qka

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:10 am · Reply

a branded competitor to the Apple Computer iPod

OUCH! That branding had to hurt!
iSteve

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:12 am · Reply

yeah, it will have a color screen — BLUE!
Less is More

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 12:52 am · Reply

It’ll be LIVE when you try to recharge it; make sure you’re properly earthed. But this is something truly worth waiting for: just to see how many buttons the sucker will have; what formats it’ll handle; how much unnecessary information it’ll deliver (wmv-like); what’ll it be named…. Boy oh boy … I’m sallivating already. MDN should offer a prize (nano) for the poster who guesses the release name. My guess: “mBox.”

As for S.G.Cowhen, this highly speculative piece is one reason why you should not pay them for advice since they apparently already get paid from the other end. Either that or they are culpable of reckless endangerment when it comes to your funds. It’s a cinch to figure it out: most analysts don’t move unless they are confirming an existing move … or have a “position.”
Sol

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:01 am · Reply

iPod is the market leader and everything else comes a distant second. I do not think this situation will suddenly change if Microsoft brings out a WMA player.
dogfriend

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:04 am · Reply

LOL at the “Artist’s conception of the rumored Microsoft portable digital music player”

Perhaps it would be even more realistic if it was shown catching the carpet on fire.
Colonel Panic

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:05 am · Reply

BAD_POOL_HEADER

Lol!!
iPodluvr

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:10 am · Reply

The real question is why? Why can’t Apple be allowed to win this one for a change? Is it really knawing at the other tech companies a$$es that much that they are willing to pi$$ away money like that? Why do that when this whole iPod thing is just such a passing fad anyway?:) By the time M$ ships this platform it will all be over. No, M$ fix your friggin’ OS, that’s what really on your plate. You know, Apple is succsessfully taking your eye off the OS ball with this iPod phobia. And we’re all going to laugh our butts off when you strike out with both of these pipe dreams.
LordRobin

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:25 am · Reply

When is Microsoft going to get through their thick collective skull that their “brand” is $#!+? The XBox has what little success it has in spite of the Microsoft brand, not because of it. The word “Microsoft” doesn’t evoke an image of cool. The image it evokes is of boring office software and an OS that people tolerate rather than enjoy.
Bandit Bill

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:26 am · Reply

Why bother Microsoft…

It doesn’t matter if someone develops another iPod like product, even if it is better than the iPod. Apple’s won this game.

This is great. Apple is in the same position with the iPod, that Microsoft has been in with operating systems for the past 10 years.

One big difference though… the iPod is a good product.
SteveJobs

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:34 am · Reply

Microsoft needs to work on Windows, period!!
"could be?"

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 1:56 am · Reply

I HOPE so, because THAT would be funny

Someone on Spymac once made an even better mock-up of an MS iPod. This is all I could find:

link

If anyone has the full size image, it’s hilarious.
sMac

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 3:18 am · Reply

Another original idea from MS, whats next, 1800MSINVENT
M.X.N.T.4.1

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 5:17 am · Reply

Microsoft may see Apple as a music rival but Apple probably see Microsoft as an amusing monkey, or irritating fly making a little buzzing noise which is easily drowned out by their iPod.
Jerry T

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 5:55 am · Reply

I wouldn’t buy an mp3 player from MS or anyone one else other than Apple.

But I do find it funny that there are so many people here saying give up, Apple owns this market. Do you say the same thing about Apple on the OS front? MS obviously owns that market. If you can’t apply the same logic to both arguments…well then, shut the f**k up! You only sound stupid.
DBS

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 6:17 am · Reply

The artist conception is so close to the truth is TOO funny
Thank you artist,
Emil

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 7:06 am · Reply

found it
http://www.groupereflect.net/IMG/jpg/image_blog5.jpg
spyinthesky

Friday, December 9, 2005 - 7:24 am · Reply

Hang on surely the argiment about MS having the OS market and Apple the Mp3 market are exactly the same arn’t they? Few people seriously expect Apple to aquire the overwhelming domination in that field that they have in music players. A larger share yes maybe a a root change could make a big impact but replacing the MS hegemony no i don’t think anyone expects that in the forseeable future. We may wish it but thats a differenent matter thats the same realm as Ms thinking that a MS branded player will make a big impact.

As others have said they are under the delusion that the Microsoft brand actuallt sells outside of the business environment. It doesn’t in fact it is a distinct disadvantage beyond the geek community and even they (and tis is slowly changing even) only defend it because they like the stupid complexity and because of habit. When they grow up most start to be more objective while the new kids are all now seeing Apple and others as the brand to follow. I remember similar hopes for the MSN music download service and where is that now it has had virtually no impact at all even amongst other WMA based services despite all its potential advantages over them.

MS will attempt to leverage support for it off the back of the xbox and that is certainly something Apple (and Sony) will have to look at. it is why they (Apple) are not keen to have the iPod linked into it because if it becomes popular to do so not only will it help sell the xbox but what do you know, MS will bring out their own player and make it and its ‘partners’ exclusive with xbox or have special privaleges at a later date.Thats why when people shoot at Apple for being exclusive they just don’t understand the war they are in. Yes there are potential dangers but unless MS goes through a sea change in style and management (can’t see it) I can’t see them making any real impact in the foreseeable future.