James Delahunty
13 Feb 2006 14:16
According to Bill Gates, Microsoft and its partners in digital media will continue to develop products aimed at dethroning Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod music player. He made his comments speaking to a group of minority students. "I don't think what's out on the market today is the final answer," he said. "Between us and our partners, you can expect some pretty hot products coming out over the next few years." He did however decide to bite the bullet and praise Apple's iTunes music store.
Praise isn't enough to stop him from thinking about competition of course. He said Microsoft and its partners will focus on creating devices that are less expensive and easier to connect and can handle pictures and video better. He said that the share of portable players compatible with Microsoft software is about 20%, a figure he admits he's unhappy with.
Microsoft has just sat back and watched companies make devices that are compatible with it software and then promoted them as being better for consumers. According to an article in BusinessWeek, Microsoft is mulling its own media device in an effort to cut into Apple's nearly 70% U.S. market share. Gates declined to comment on the article however.
Source:
News.com