Digital Home Thoughts: Microsoft, Partners to Challenge Apple iPod Says Gates

"Microsoft Corp. and its hardware partners will continue to develop new digital media devices aimed at challenging the dominance of Apple Computer Inc.'s (AAPL.O: Quote, Profile, Research) ubiquitous iPod music player, Chairman Bill Gates said on Friday. "I don't think what's out on the market today is the final answer," Gates said, speaking to a group of minority students. "Between us and our partners, you can expect some pretty hot products coming out over the next few years." The Microsoft founder praised Apple's iTunes music store and said the software giant was talking with hardware partners to create media devices that can be less expensive and easier to connect and can handle pictures and video better."

I think this is what they call "soft news" in the journalism industry. :lol: Microsoft has been hiring designers and people focused on the whole user experience in the past couple of years to shape Vista, so they're behind the curve but learning fast. Between what I've seen (much of it under NDA) of Windows Vista and Photon (the code name for the next version of Windows Mobile), design and the end-user experience is not only factored into the Microsoft experience, but is in fact leading it in many ways. The next few years will tell the tale, but I'm hopeful that Microsoft will help their hardware partners to focus more on design and a killer user experience.