Microsoft’s New Strategy for iPod’s Market Share

Today’s NY Times has an interesting article (registration potentially required) about a suspected new strategy from Microsoft to take on the Apple iPod.

As I suggested back in March when SanDisk announced their intention to do the same thing, any competitor to Apple is going to need something more than a device with better technology. They are going to need a better experience.

The iPod experience is not just the device. It’s also the iTunes software, the iTunes Music Store, 99-cent songs (and now $1.99 videos), the Apple stores (where you can get super-genius geeks to help with any problem or question), and the fashion statement that Apple has created. (People love to show off their iPod…)

John Markoff, the article’s author, hints at this a little:

“If Microsoft does decide to challenge the iPod directly, it may try to gain an advantage by creating a player that matches Apple’s ease of use but, unlike current iPod models, is not dependent on a personal computer.

“Today, almost all media players must be connected to a PC to transfer files. But several start-up firms, including Music Gremlin and Zing, are now offering or developing services that are built around players with wireless capabilities.

“A person who works closely with one of the music labels said that the Microsoft device would permit users to play songs wirelessly from other Microsoft players in the vicinity. Users could “tag” music that looked interesting and then play it one or more times without paying for it, this person said, adding that the exact terms of the music rights had yet to be worked out.”

I think it’s going to take a lot more than just tagging and wireless play. (Though, both of those would be very cool. It’s hard to imagine Apple isn’t working on those things right now.)

If the NY Times is accurate, I don’t think Microsoft understands this experience design thing yet.

Now, if they can add lightning-repellent to the device, that might do it.

Update: The BBC reports the rumors of the iPod’s impending death to be greatly exaggerated.