The MP3 market shakes because of the Apple war - Microsoft

Unable to sit still and watch Apple make a big hit in the digital music market, Microsoft has officially declared war on Zune, a versatile multimedia player / entertainment device, scheduled to be released this year.

Not to be outdone, Apple immediately responded by hinting at the iPhone project - a mobile phone "king of digital music."

Zune - The brave defender

Instead of attacking directly on the iPod, Microsoft has chosen a safer but more ambitious approach: While iPod's design and marketing campaigns are primarily aimed at consumers, Microsoft has embraced gender. artist.

Source: aurum3

Record labels are obviously "shaken" by Microsoft's plan, and this promises a huge potential for Zune.

" If the artists are excited about Zune, consumers will also be enthralled. If the whole community is crazy about Zune, the witch Steve Jobs alone (Apple CEO) doesn't make it. nothing, "analyst Rob Enderle of Enderle Group said.

Microsoft has a lot of money and it is willing to accept initial losses to enter the digital music market, similar to the case that Xbox has done with the video game market.

Microsoft is rich to borrow familiar tactics from the mobile village, which is to blame for attractive phone models in exchange for service subscription contracts for many years.

And yet, Microsoft has enough power to implement alliances, bringing MP3 technology into cars, phones, video games and home computers. Obviously, Microsoft owns a weapon that Apple cannot reach, it is the game platform with Xbox and Xbox Live.

Most importantly, remember that Microsoft's software is running over 90% of the world's computers. Just a simple connection action with these available resources, Microsoft's digital music service has been able to sublimate.

" They (Microsoft) are recalculating all their advantages. They are entering the digital music market in a different way. Microsoft is turning Apple from a giant into a small rival in every respect, considering according to potential and resources ".

iPod - The master defender

However, first of all, Microsoft has to overcome an inherent, historic weakness in hardware design and marketing - two areas in which Apple has proven itself to be masters.

The decisive factor in the battle for Apple and Microsoft is not what Bill Gates can do, but how Steve Jobs will react.

For a long time, Apple officials had anticipated Microsoft jumping into the realm of iPods. "We do not sit still," said CFO Peter Oppenheimer, who has just confirmed before such a shareholders' meeting.

And the truth is there is a long line of iPod inventions waiting in line. Apple has been prepared for Microsoft's landing.

Microsoft was not the first rival to bring down the iPod. Earlier, Sony, Samsung also once voiced challenges to Apple, but have all failed, or have not succeeded. "Having a lot of money is not necessarily a gold guarantee. The road will be very tough, consuming a lot of energy and money," Enderle said.

According to Enderle, Apple could react so far to completely replace the iPod with a brand new device later this year. They can even expand their influence with iPhone phones.

When asked about the success of Sony's Walkman series, Apple Chief Financial Officer Oppenheimer answered confidently, " We are fully confident in our competitiveness in the market, and we are excited about What is in the intended.

I don't think the current phones are commensurate with the title of the best iPod music player. But over time, this may change, and please confirm that we won't sit still! ".

Thien Y