Changes in store for digital music

[KiwiCoromandel]

If the rampant speculation over the digital music plans of Microsoft and Apple Computer are to be believed, the digital music landscape is about to change radically in the very near future.

Both companies are said to be readying portable digital music players in time for the holiday sales season that significantly raise the bar on features and functionality previously unavailable in their respective product lines.

That Microsoft may actually introduce an MP3 player at all has generated the largest amount of buzz. Such a development would mark a major shift in the company's strategy. To date, the Xbox game console is the only product Microsoft makes itself. Historically, the company's model has been to license its technology to those creating the hardware and services, fostering an ecosystem of developers.

But in the digital music market, neither the MP3 player manufacturers nor online music retailers using the company's technology have proved capable of successfully competing with Apple's iPod and iTunes Music Store. Introducing its own combined device and service essentially is a vote of no confidence in the very ecosystem the company has been trying to create.

Microsoft has not commented to date on the rumours.

more..........

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cf...jectid=10391665

[DudeAsInCool]

Meanwhile, Apple is not expected to stand idle. The company is rumored to be working on a Wi-Fi-enabled iPod. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster notes that Apple, which normally releases two new iPod models every 12 months, has yet to unveil a new product in the series this year. He expects Apple to introduce a wireless version of the iPod this fall.

Other Apple patent applications point to interest in text-to-speech and speech-recognition capabilities that would enable the iPod to "speak" song titles and allow users to give voice navigation commands. Additionally, there's the "real" video iPod featuring a touch-screen display, plus the long-rumored iPhone.

[CTC Command]

Meanwhile, Apple is not expected to stand idle. The company is rumored to be working on a Wi-Fi-enabled iPod. Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster notes that Apple, which normally releases two new iPod models every 12 months, has yet to unveil a new product in the series this year. He expects Apple to introduce a wireless version of the iPod this fall.

Other Apple patent applications point to interest in text-to-speech and speech-recognition capabilities that would enable the iPod to "speak" song titles and allow users to give voice navigation commands. Additionally, there's the "real" video iPod featuring a touch-screen display, plus the long-rumored iPhone.

they should skip straight to the iTricorder.