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mPod rumors persist
Jun. 17, 2006

Microsoft is reportedly well along the way in preparations to compete head-to-head with Apple's iPod and iTunes. The company is currently engaged in "licensing discussions" with key players in the music industry, and has already demonstrated working devices, Reuters reported on June 16.


2003 Media2Go prototype
Microsoft is no newcomer to the portable multimedia player marketplace. At the January 2003 Consumer Electronics Show, Bill Gates demonstrated a prototype of a Windows CE-based audio/video device, codenamed "Media2Go" (pictured at right). Media2Go was productized and renamed to "Portable Media Center" (PMC) later that year, and devices began to arrive on retail store shelves in the fall of 2004. So far, market acceptance of PMCs has been less than spectacular, although devices are available from Creative, iRiver, Toshiba, and others.


Creative, iRiver, and Toshiba PMCs
(Click each image for device details)

This new project reportedly is different, though, in that Microsoft is expected to manufacture, market, and support its own device -- complete with a music and video download infrastructure. It also seems likely that the cost pressures of a device aimed at widespread consumer acceptance will prevent it from having the resources needed to run Microsoft's existing Windows Mobile Portable Media Center software platform, so the company has probably developed a new OS -- perhaps a stripped-down version of Windows CE -- to run the device.

Robbie Bach, who currently is president of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices Division -- the group that is responsible for Xbox -- is "overseeing" the new project, Reuters reports.

Reuters adds that Microsoft has already "held licensing discussions with the music industry, and is already demonstrating the entertainment device.

Writing in San Jose Mercury News in March, Dean Takashahi reported that Microsoft's new entertainment device would probably be powered by a Transmeta processor, based on word that Transmeta had assigned 30 engineers to work on a "secret project" with Microsoft. That project was focusing on reducing power consumption to increase battery life in handheld devices, according to Takahashi. Microsoft has partnered with IBM for the processor that powers the Xbox.

Takahashi further suggested that part of the reason for Microsoft's reorganization of its Home and Entertainment Division last September was to bring several Xbox veterans, including Greg Gibson, J Allard, and Bryan Lee, together under the direction of Robbie Bach -- now the group's president -- to pursue the project.

The complete Reuters news item is available here.



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