Saturday, June 17, 2006
Microsoft Takes Aim at ITunes
Microsoft is laying the groundwork to compete against Apple's iPod and iTunes service, sources familiar with the discussions and plans said on Friday.
The rich and famous have had a great year -- and a terrible one. Movie attendance dropped 8 percent last year as fans retreated to their home theaters, complaining of, among other things, high ticket prices. Can-do-no-wrong actors such as Nicole Kidman delivered the year's biggest turkeys (Bewitched, anyone?). As a result, box office receipts fell 5 percent to $8.9 billion. [read more]
Microsoft is laying the groundwork to compete against Apple's iPod and iTunes service, sources familiar with the discussions and plans said on Friday.
Microsoft has held licensing discussions with the music industry to create its own music service, they said.
The developer of software that runs most of the world's PCs is also demonstrating an entertainment device that plays videos and music, the sources said. It is unclear when Microsoft plans to launch, they said.
Itunes anxiety: European competition officials are wary of proposals to crack open Apple's iTunes web store to other music players, despite concerns shown by consumer advocates. The French parliament is debating a new copyright bill that would require Apple to permit iTunes music to play on devices other than its iPod. [read more]
