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| Microsoft to release handheld PSP / iPod alternative? |
| Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 21:30 by Andy Holliday |
There have always been rumours in the past of Microsoft releasing a portable gaming device, however this time around there is more than a little substance behind them following an announcement by Xbox boss, Peter Moore that if a device were to go into development it "wouldn't be just our version of an iPod", and "the brand is an opportunity".
This is a far cry from "We definitely won't be releasing a handheld" which was often the rebuttal when asked in years gone by.
Microsoft have even set up a team to specifically look at this area. After all, it would be inconceivable that a company the size of Microsoft would not even explore the idea especially after seeing the poplarity of Sony's PSP and the phenominal success of Apple's iPod.
So far Microsoft's ventures into the handheld market have been software only - with handheld editions of Windows being healthily distributed to manufacturers.
For this one to work it would surely it would have to offer something different (and better) than the iPod. The iPod is soooo sexy looking that looks would be hard to come close to, as for functionality, well the iPod is mainly just a music player (or photo or video for the more premium versions). The word on the street is that it will be a gaming machine as well, which would have to significantly beat the PSP or Nintendo's DS in all departments otherwise it just wouldn't sell.
If Microsoft are to release a handheld device and for it to succeed, it would have to be something truly special to rival Sony, Nintendo AND Apple.
As always, we will be keeping a close eye on any developments and bring you the latest news as soon as it happens.
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| Bound to happen, MS usually get on the second wave of technologies.
Ever since MS took an interest in gaming hardware they have let Sony / Sega / Nintendo release something, pick out the good / bad points and release their own version couple of years later. |
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| it will just be a pocket PC... |
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| As mentioned MS will of course learn from other developers mistakes. They are good at taking ideas and improving/using them outright. Every product they have released does exactly that. IE, XBox, even Windows are now all formed on improvements other people thought of.
Chances are the product will couple with windows or a media manager software built into windows (ala iTunes) but also rival the PSP in terms of capability and power (expect big numbers with regard to power like the 360). The device will be the ultimate in portability capability and even make your coffee.
Then after all that, they will shoot themselves in the foot with some dumb-ass DRM and copy protection crap to screw you over.
It'll be another technological marval you cant use the way you(and i suspect the developers) want to.
Free company/product predictions, im here all week. :p |
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