Early this year, news quickly spread through the tech grapevine that Microsoft was working on its own version of a portable mp3 player to rival the iPod. The rumor was that what Microsoft had in the works was meant to surpass the success that the iPod has achieved in such a short span of time. Enthusiasts fondly – or maybe satirically – called it the iPod killer.
It was only in late July this year that Microsoft chose to break its silence and confirm that they were indeed working on a portable mp3 player with the aim of rivaling the iPod. They announced that the new family of devices is to be called Zune. They also are working on software to make downloading easy to go with the hardware.
Though Microsoft formally acknowledged the project in the making, they did not offer any details as to the features and specifications of the product. Again, speculation is that it is going to have wireless capabilities and even connectivity features, which of the course the iPod doesn’t have – yet.
The question which remains to be answered is this: will Microsoft be able to come up with something to beat the iPod? Or maybe, the better question is: would they be able to come up with something that can even come close to the iPod?
iPod fan that I am, I seriously doubt it. Read my last post, the iPod is the BEST. Everyone says so. The beauty of the iPod is not only in the design but its simplicity as well. If ever someone – not just Microsoft – comes up with something even close to the iPod, I am sure the people at Apple will just come up with something better. iPod killer? Nah, there’s no such thing.