Microsoft To Construct iPod/DS/PSP Killer 318
Karsten writes "According to The Mercury News Microsoft is developing a PSP/DS/GBA/iPod-killer. J. Allard is leading the project." J. Allard is the man behind the Xbox, and from looking at the article it sounds like it's at least a year before this device, if it hits daylight, would be coming.
killers (Score:5, Funny)
Re:killers (Score:2)
Re:killers (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:killers (Score:2)
Re:killers (Score:2, Funny)
Re:killers (Score:3, Funny)
Re:killers (Score:3, Funny)
Re:killers (Score:3, Funny)
Steve Ballmer's going to fucking kill Goog^H^H^H^HiPod^H^H^H^HPSP^H^H^HDS^H^HTHE WHOLE WORLD!!!
Re:killers (Score:5, Funny)
No need to. On some of my systems, Windows is quite adept at dying all on its own.
Re:killers (Score:5, Funny)
They did. His name was Clippy.
killer... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:killer... (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm confused. I thought that's what Origami--er, sorry, "Ultra Mobile Personal Computers"-- were supposed to be? So Microsoft is now going to invalidate UMPCs with another handheld gadget. That is, if it ever sees the light of day. Microsoft has been promising digital media competition
Everything is a 'Killer' (Score:5, Insightful)
I've said it before [slashdot.org] and I'll say it again--for the love of god, please stop printing mindless headlines of the form "[insert company name here] is [planning/making] a [insert industry-wide leading product name here] killer."
Replace 'Killer' with 'Competitor' please (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Replace 'Killer' with 'Competitor' please (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Replace 'Killer' with 'Competitor' please (Score:2)
Yeah, WE don't but MICROSOFT does!!
Re:Replace 'Killer' with 'Competitor' please (Score:3, Insightful)
if microsoft was prepping a true handheld, the rumor mill would have been abuzz. the only handheld gameconsole MS is concerned w/ is the UMPC for now at least.
with lackluster sales of the x360, i
Re:Everything is a 'Killer' (Score:5, Insightful)
I think that the "* killer" tag has pretty much become one of those laughable buzzwords; where when a PR guy says it, you know he's got no idea about what's really going on, and when someone knowledgeable uses it, it's in a sort of sarcastic mocking tone. Basically, any time I see a slashdot headline talking about a "killer", I can be confident that the comments will 95% be people stating lots of reasons why it obviously won't work that way. Let the marketing people have their cute little terms, no one besides themselves is fooled.
PSP died in the womb. (Score:2)
Re:PSP died in the womb. (Score:2)
It's the end of the world as we know it. (Score:3, Interesting)
Oh well. Back to trying to get windoze to work.
Why do I get the impression that if Microsoft invented sex then your genitals would simply exlode if you became aroused?
Obligatory (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Obligatory (Score:2, Interesting)
And this is why we (had) monopoly control laws (Score:5, Insightful)
Monopolies are damaging because they can leverage their overwhelming advantage (=money) into new markets, conquering one product segment after another, erecting barriers to entry to new competitors, and most importantly, monopolies can prevent new technologies from dislodging their old tech by using extortion in all sorts of ways (in the classic case, "put Linux in your boxen, in any way, and say good-bye to your Windows discount, hell, good-bye to your Windows boxen).
Microsoft is building "killer" after "killer", using their infinite cash from their Office and Windows monopolies to simply underprice their products in new businesses like game machines and portable media players until their competitors, who don't have monopoly cash, fold. Then, classically, they raise their prices in their new monopoly, then use the cash to move into a new monopoly. This is why we busted the trusts after the Guilded Age. Inevitably, one company will own everything. Microsoft wants a media tax worldwide, wants a piece of every media streamed and stored. Then they'll inevitably move into media creation; hell, that's what they're doing in video games. Vertical lock.
Re:Obligatory (Score:3, Interesting)
I'm a little older and not really in the gaming community anymore (yet) but I don't see how the xbox is a status symbol. Maybe it is but I don't see it.
In my day, Intellivision was a status symbol just because it was more expensive, new, and had better graphics but the controller and games sucked. At the end of the day, if you had an Intellivision, everyone opted to play Atari instead and your console collected dust.
What Palm vs WinCE proved is that people want
Re:Obligatory (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
But this is /., so the actual facts stated in the article are irrelevant to any discussion of the article.
Re:Obligatory (Score:2)
hmm... no (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:hmm... no (Score:2)
Re:hmm... no (Score:5, Funny)
Come on, we're not talking about a tiny hardware company like Apple, or a rowdy upstart like Google. We're talking about Microsoft, a hard working bunch of people who have, through sheer innovation and stringent quality standards, created the technological paradise which most of us live in every day. Show a little respect to the company that gave us marvels such as text editors, web browsers, and beautiful graphical interfaces.
If the Xbox has taught us anything, it's that Microsoft's hardware will be at least as slick as their software, and all of their products share an impressive efficiency in terms of resource usage. The future truly is now, and you're lucky to be alive during these exciting times.
Re:hmm... no (Score:2)
But without that extra functionality, I don't see enough value in a device that "kills" only three industry-leading gadgets.
Adding a SureShot-killing 8 MP camera with integrated 20x optical zoon and a Fender-killing electric guitar would also be nice. The AIDS drug killer function mentioned in the parent could be nice too.
It slices! It dices! It juliennes! It plays MP3s! It has integrated
Re:hmm... no (Score:4, Informative)
You CAN do that. but only if you add one more thing.
Make it 100% open and remove DRM.
People will flock to it like insane rabbits. If you can play ANY of your music on it, allow Wifi share-playing (music that other can listen to on your device but they cant copy) and all the other goodies without all the useless and worthless DRM and secrecy that simply limit a device as well as annoy users.
Then it will kill everything in it's path.
The chances of it existing? -12.4% Center of this planet must solidify first.
Re:hmm... yes - gp2x (Score:2, Informative)
Sure, no wifi, but the rest of it rocks.
Re:hmm... no (Score:5, Insightful)
No DRM just like you said - and somehow people aren't flocking to it in droves. Could it be that you really would like a product without DRM, but you're a little out of touch with what the masses want?
Re:hmm... no (Score:3, Funny)
The killers.. (Score:2)
Re:The killers.. (Score:2)
That's why the iPod's dead.
No... wait. That can't be right.
Re:The killers.. (Score:3, Funny)
Somebody told me, that you had a handheld, that looked like a Newton, that I had in february of last year...
I'm sorry, it's early and wouldn't leave my head. Will it be stoning, or am I to be drawn and quartered?
Re:The killers.. (Score:2)
Maybe it's just wishful thinking from people who actually enjoy music. Let's face it, the iPod has done for digital audio players what the eight track did for hi-fi. Would it have killed them to spend a little extra development time to deliver gapless playback, a real equalizer, and Ogg Vorbis support?
Help me, Rockbox [rockbox.org], you're my only hope.
I don't think so (Score:2)
Might not be 'killers'... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Might not be 'killers'... (Score:2)
It's good enough that the other companies lose, at least in the short run. Given your endless flow of cash, you may gradually squeeze off their air supply. Even if this doesn't happen, you don't want anybody else to have a cash cow in the barn where you keep your cash cow, because you understand the power that owning the cash cow brings.
Re:Might not be 'killers'... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:I don't think so (Score:4, Informative)
Re:I don't think so (Score:2)
Home Depot already have one (Score:5, Funny)
Time to... (Score:5, Insightful)
Seriously though, with Xbox and Xbox Live MS has shown that they are capable of doing interesting, cool things with both consoles and gaming generally. I'll be interested to see what they come up with.
Don't think I want... (Score:4, Funny)
I can feel the pain (Score:5, Insightful)
My experience with MS in handhelds is terrible. I've owned about 30 PDAs in my life (I tend to use them for 3-4 months and then sell them to friends or family or give them away). All my Newtons were my favorite (from the original MessagePad through the 2100). I feel terrible that I sold all my Newtons years ago -- I think I'd still be using the beasts today.
Microsoft doesn't know how to downsize anything. The big complaints about Windows from the geek crowd is more appropriate for Microsoft in the small-PC crowd. I had a Microsoft car radio once -- Worst. Thing. Ever. My current PDA is Microsoft based and it works very well wirelessly -- yet I have to reboot it about 10 times a day to get it to run fast.
I have no faith in Microsoft in terms of an iPod killer. The X-Box is mostly a fluke to me -- a lot of money spent, very little profit made -- which means the item is NOT a success in terms of market viability. For me, the best products are those that make a profit, giving the manufacturer real reason to keep upgrading and supporting it.
If the Microsoft 'iPod' killer is another spend-a-ton-and-earn-none fluke, it won't last. Microsoft needs a happy customer, and a happy customer pays a happy profit. Without that incentive, Microsoft will be fighting battles on too many fronts, and we know what happens to the imperialists that have done that in the past.
Re:I can feel the pain (Score:2)
Re:I can feel the pain (Score:2)
It's even better if the compliment has no possible association with facts; speculation on a world without Microsoft might be fun, but it's certainly impossible to prove anything.
Re:I can feel the pain (Score:2)
e-sassination device (Score:2, Funny)
Y.A.K. (Score:2)
Ballmerstein? (Score:2)
Too little too late? (Score:2)
MS making an attempt at the handheld market was inevitable, though. Sooner or later they had to do it.
*YAWN* (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:*YAWN* (Score:3, Interesting)
the DS is less t han 1/2 the price of a PSP and the games as well are near 1/2 the price as well.
This alone will guarentee much higher market share.
the PSP is a really nice device, it's pretty, elegant, and cool.
but adults make up a small portion of the Handheld games sales. preteens make up the bulk and parents would rather have little Jimmy break a $139.00 device than a $270.00 or more device. Parents will shell out $19.
Re:*YAWN* (Score:2)
They're there, active, and successful nontheless.
Re:*YAWN* (Score:2)
Dishnetwork is selling a Video IPOD killer but it only work with certain DISH-DVRs. [pocketdish.com]
They can try... (Score:4, Insightful)
A behaviour is exceptionally hard to change, especially if it is based on an already well working service.
What it takes to kill an iPod (Score:2, Insightful)
Someday there might w
Re:What it takes to kill an iPod (Score:3, Insightful)
Hype
Plain and simple, what the iPod has is a lot of marketing and hype. As you stated there already are portable digital players with hell more features than the iPod (personally I preffer the iRiver series since I got my frist cd-mp3 player imp-300 a long time ago).
I can think of at least one reason [youtube.com] why Microsoft is not the
MS missing the point of iPod yet again (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:MS missing the point of iPod yet again (Score:4, Insightful)
Then again, I still use a Palm V because I want a PDA to be a simple, small cheap PDA. So I'm probably not the target demographic.
i'd be tempted to get one... (Score:2)
I'd be tempted to get excited about this, if they would simply add "cell phone", "refrigerator", and "automobile" to the list of things this product kills.
That's the kind of hype I could actually get behind!!!
Re:i'd be tempted to get one... (Score:2)
And he was like.. and she was like...
She's all.. he's all.. we're all....
I can't get behind any of that!
MS business plan (Score:2)
Let's do the vapourware boogie (Score:2, Interesting)
Despite any pretences this thing is going to be 3 years late, the size of a shoebox, and it will be a slightly reconfigured WinVista PDA. It's primary function will be to "deliver" windows DRM. The ability to play some games will be secondary. MS will shore it up with an i
Microsofts Linux/OSX/BSD/AIX killer (Score:4, Insightful)
Sure a lot of killing going on.... supposedly.
Re:Microsofts Linux/OSX/BSD/AIX killer (Score:2, Funny)
Early Ad Sneak Preview (Score:5, Funny)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3609953966 5548298 [google.com]
The terrifying thing about that video... (Score:4, Informative)
Why not just go the whole nine yards? (Score:3, Funny)
Also, they should be sure to implement a fold-out cutting blade, screwdriver, corkscrew, can opener, toothpick and nail file so it can kill swiss army knives as well.
This is the product the global marketplace has been waiting for.
Re: (Score:2)
Another one for the Ipod Killer Museum ... (Score:2, Funny)
Move along please
Don't tell me... (Score:3, Funny)
Not THAT ridiculous. (Score:3, Insightful)
That leaves "iPod killer" as the only questionable assertion. Well, here's how I read it: the system will have either a hard drive or a decent amount of flash memory. This would be great on a portable for all sorts of reasons (e.g., you could download the games to the system rather than carrying around 50 tiny cartridges). A WMA/MP3 player would only be one fairly simple app on such a system, so they may as well stick it in there and add another tick on the checklist.
Will it be a better MP3 player than an iPod? No, but who cares? The PS2 is a pretty terrible DVD player (low quality, clunky controls, noisy as heck), but it was that feature that convinced me to buy it over a GameCube.
Sony already tried (Score:5, Insightful)
If Microsoft wishes to do the same thing as Sony, making a "gaming" handheld that does everything but actually play games, they'll get the same results.
Granted, they may make a better movie player than the PSP (depending on the specifics), but Microsoft is already losing the format wars with Apple over music formats (much like Sony) and if they aim for squeezing the "latest and greatest" in graphics and sound technology into the gaming function, it certainly isn't going to be as small as the iPod (like Sony). And, finally, like Sony, there'll be little more than "portable" (i. e. watered-down) versions of console games (read "Halo Lite").
It's already been done... (Score:2)
Competition is good! (Score:2)
But seriously, my only worry is how the portable's over-heating-giant-power-dongle-on-a-cord (borrowed from the 360) will fit in my iPod wristband...
Did MS forget the mobile phone? (Score:2)
Or is MS stopping it's mobile phone activities?
Yanno (Score:2, Funny)
Why can't Apple just enjoy a success? (Score:2)
If MSFT would focus on building quality software that lasted for years, instead of trying to push people into product activation forced upgrades they wouldn't need to try and intrude into the home entertainment market.
MSFT reminds me of a manure spreader. Desperately flinging shit in the air every direction trying to find something
The /. post right below this one.. (Score:2)
Prophetic?
"The power to innovate" (Score:2)
Microsoft killed SPAM (Score:3, Funny)
*YAWN* (Score:2)
Oh Roffle. (Score:2)
iPod/DS/PSP Killer? (Score:3, Funny)
Core competency (Score:3, Interesting)
Apple's core competency seems to be design. Their hardware and software products in general are aesthetically pleasing, easy to operate, and fun to use.
Could it be that MS, in trying to be all things to all people, has lost sight of its core competency?
Is leveraging their Windows/Office hegemony Microsoft's true core competency? If not that, what? It used to be marketing, but that's not true any more. What is the core competency of a company that has been riding on the dominance of its desktop OS and office software for over a decade?
Neutrality? (Score:2)
Anything that's more than a year away from market simply can't be an anything killer, yet. At least a prototype should be ready before anyone judges whether it'll be a killer product or tank.
Duh! (Score:2)
It'll also kill cell phones, PDA's, and errant fingers and toes.
Stop it. Just stop it. (Score:2)
ipod killer is easy - free advice (Score:5, Interesting)
Make what the mac people are crying for.
The device must be the same, exact form factor as the current gen ipod.
Make it out of aluminum or titanium with a matte or beadblasted finish.
The screen should be the entire front of the device.
It's only user input; the touchscreen and perhaps a single scroll wheel. NO MORE. Think about inertial input in a second release. MAYBE.
Put a video and headphone jack on it.
Put 802.11 on it and stop being a bitch to the media industries.
Make it with open programmable interface and a real OS.
The only user interface and application options should be just what the ipod has - a video player, audio player, and basic little apps like the ipod has.
Let the market fill in the gaps.
Sell millions. When you do, buy me a ferrari, ok thanks?
The only 'killer' products ... (Score:3, Insightful)
Easy to do! (Score:3, Interesting)
Just do these 6 things:
1. Make it out of real metal and indestructible. Brushed Aluminum, or even Titanium, or Stainless steel. Real Glass for a cover.
2. Make the battery last and charge over a standard USB connection.
3. Give it plenty of capacity. (hopefully with no moving parts).
4. Make an interface that doesn't completely blow. I like the Sony Ericsson interface, kinda, but it's a tad slow.
5. Avoid load times on anything. Lose all the crappy shortcuts to features people almost never use.
6. Avoid all DRM. Just use mp3s (or even ogg!), and divx (or xvid!). Fuck aac, wmv, all those.
If you do those 6 things, everyone will buy it and use it. I'll be first in line.
Eventually somebody WILL make these, and sony/ms/apple/etc. can all kiss their non competing product lines completely good bye.
Again though, I seriously doubt MS will do it, as they are so married to wmv, and all their other own crappy ideas that nobody but porn spammers really like to use ever.
rhY
Batteries mean you can only "kill" once. (Score:2, Insightful)
I like my DS being separate to my phone because, I can play it and not worry about killing my battery and not being able to receive calls.
I can listen to songs on my mp3 player as I sight-see, and not have to worry that I'm going to kill the battery before I get to the big sights I want to take photos off.
If a business man is on the tube, he likes his blackberry an iPod to be separa
Re:Hopefully (Score:2)
Would that matter if they screw up usage with copious about of DRM and the 'we will only play DRMed' audio approach that Sony tried using,.