iPod assassin to strike in October?

Posted by T3 Online on Fri 21 Jul 2006

Microsoft's stab at the MP3 player market may slash into Apple's iPod market share quicker than expected.

Media rumours are flying around like evil winged monkeys, shrieking their message of an October launch.

If the stories are credible, we could get our professional hands on one by late August, with the general public exchanging money for goods in October.

The same deep throat sources also claim there will be more than one model to battle it out with the range of iPod formats.

Microsoft's Zune Wi-Fi-compatible player will install itself in a hollowed-out volcano to become the iPod's newest arch enemy.

Its sidekick Pyxis - minus the usual minion's hunchback - will be picking a fight with Apple's iPod Nano by brandishing its video support in a rude way.

However, rumours of a third Microsoft device have so far only resulted in shrugged shoulders and uncertain glances.

The third codename that is doing the rounds is Alexandria.

This is the accompanying iTunes-style music service that Microsoft hopes - like Alexander the Great - will sweep all before it.

Apple isn't expected to make any changes to its iPod until 2007, although the Nano is expected to have a full makeover this year.

That might include the Nano bulking up on capacity and being adorned in different colours.