http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2006/tc20060126_148049.htm?campaign_id=rss_tech Could we see something from microsoft to go up againt Ipod, PSP, DS in one swift blow?
there's always been talk about something like this, although, with M$ placing their strength behind the 360, i don't think we'll see something soon... Ryan
when i was doing a report for school on corperations i read how microsoft awhile back was intrestead in making a music device with sony to combat the ipod, and sony was actually intrestead since their mp3 players were performing horrible and wanted to spread their special format. However with the psp being released now, it seems the idea might have been dropped.
Here's the problem. Microsoft already has a platform for mobile games. It's the Pocket PC. Microsoft would piss a lot of companies off by going out and making their own handheld. Instead, people should be looking at microsoft to extend DirectX to the Pocket PC platform. Imagine a game you could buy through the live arcade, download to your PDA, and take it with you on the go... Not that i have any inside information or anything....
Not in dreams, if there's something that the xbox project has proven is that no matter how much money you trow at something it may not succeded. The elitist bastards of apple already have the MP3 market, going against them would be like goin against nintendo in 1988, is a complete waste of time. I think that M$ should develop a new kind of product, like the ipod was at the time it was released. Something that would kick ass is a Tivo+X360 console/service: you get the system for free and it records tv shows and download games. Before you say phantom, I tell you that was what SEGA did with the sega-channel (but in a way lower scale) and what they tried to do with SegaNet (minus the tv part)
Here's the real problem = all the MP3 players on the market suck cock. Why can't one of them make one, just one that: 1: Is compatible w/ a monthly charge for unlimited music (Creative, etc.) 2: Doesn't have ridiculously sluggish navigation (Creative) 3: Doesn't have shitty battery life (iPod) 4: Doesn't have really expensive peripherals (iPod) There is not one product out there that makes me want to pull my pants down. I'd love to find one, but as far as I'm concerned, they all suck.
problem is they are all trying to compete with the ipod now. Apple pretty much dominates the market. Though i feel sony made a big mistake by not having a proper storage format for psp(ie a mini hdd).
It would be way too expensive, and after the experience with HDloader is like asking to be modded. I think the PSP is for playing games, both emulation, videos and MP3s require an aditional effort from the user, when other devices do it way better (Archos, GP2X, ipod).
Also, remember that Sony is (after the BMG purchsase) the largest (or close to the largest) record company in the world. Sony have hated the idea of the "MP3 Player" since they were invented and have never released a portable device that plays stock MP3 files, all of them need either ATRAC files or some special "modified" MP3 files as far as I know.
The specially modified MP3's are atrac's. Newer players can play straight MP3's though, its only their older ones which were particularly shit.
