Hot Rumors From Microsoft: ‘Free Music’ and More on the ‘iPod Killer’

Microsoft shot way up the buzz meter when blurry pics of the “iPod-killer” surfaced on the net. Of course, we know better than to believe rumors. But there’s an intriguing twist to the story. We know that if Microsoft intends to come up with a rival to the iPod, the company has to find a way to break Apple’s stranglehold on the music store market. Ergo, it has to get around the iTunes lock-in. We’ve heard that a “trusted insider” who’s privy to some of the Microsoft discussions with potential content partners has revealed more exciting information about the new portable audio and video player. All this would complement the dizzying pics that we posted a couple of days ago.

First off, the source said that the new device will have a bigger screen than that of the iPod video. And as expected, it’s supposed to come with built-in Wi-Fi for easy content download. This is a basic feature really, but with WiFi, the possibility of Xbox Live-style interaction becomes more apparent. The new social network has a tag line of “Connected Entertainment“.

Well, that’s a feature that would certainly set it apart from iPod services. But what’s going to get you all excited is that Microsoft is going to let you download songs for “free”, provided these songs were already bought from the iTunes Music Store. Microsoft will pay the rightsholders for the songs.

Sure sounds like Microsoft’s really taking the fight to Apple. IF it’s all true, of course.

Via TechDirt

Microsoft shot way up the buzz meter when blurry pics of the “iPod-killer” surfaced on the net. Of course, we know better than to believe rumors. But there’s an intriguing twist to the story. We know that if Microsoft intends to come up with a rival to the iPod, the company has to find a way to break Apple’s stranglehold on the music store market. Ergo, it has to get around the iTunes lock-in. We’ve heard that a “trusted insider” who’s privy to some of the Microsoft discussions with potential content partners has revealed more exciting information about the new portable audio and video player. All this would complement the dizzying pics that we posted a couple of days ago.

First off, the source said that the new device will have a bigger screen than that of the iPod video. And as expected, it’s supposed to come with built-in Wi-Fi for easy content download. This is a basic feature really, but with WiFi, the possibility of Xbox Live-style interaction becomes more apparent. The new social network has a tag line of “Connected Entertainment“.

Well, that’s a feature that would certainly set it apart from iPod services. But what’s going to get you all excited is that Microsoft is going to let you download songs for “free”, provided these songs were already bought from the iTunes Music Store. Microsoft will pay the rightsholders for the songs.

Sure sounds like Microsoft’s really taking the fight to Apple. IF it’s all true, of course.

Via TechDirt