Comment 2003 internal Microsoft Media Player Discussion (Score 1) 125
For the original go herehttp://www.iowaconsumercase.org/011607/8000/PX 08636.pdf
From: Jim AIIchin
Sent: Thursday', November 13, 2003 10:D3 AM
To: Amlr Majld~mehr
CC: Will Poole; Michele Freed; Pieter Knook; Harish Naidu; Chris 3ones (WINDOWS); Linda
Subject-" RE: sucking on media ptayers
i think I should talk with Jobs. Right now, I think I should open up a dialog l~or support of the
iPOD. Unless something changes, the iPOD will drive people away from WMP.
jim
From,' Amir Majidimehr
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 10:01 AM
To: Jim Atlchm
CC:-" Will Poole; Michele Freed; Pleter Knook; Harish Naldu; Chris Jones (WINDOWS); Dnda
Averett
Subject: RE: sucking on media players
Now you feel our pain ~ We have been unsuccessful in the past to convince these vendors to
open their eyes and accept that there is better software out there than what they ship with these
things. Of course, some are betler than others but none are a match forApple. For good or bad,
the message ~s finally getting through 9with retailers threatening to sell iPod) but we are not
weihng for that. Tomorrow, we have an entire crew descending on Creative and after that,
Samsnng and Rio to get them motivated to build the "right" device. We are putting incentives on
the table in the form of cash, technical support, direct interface to developers, early access code
for 9.1, etc. In other words, we are going all oul and hoping that at least a few will listen If none
do, then it is lime for us to roll up our sleeves and do our own hardware ®.
We are also pushing them on ID. Interestingly enough, some have devices lhat are pretty much
clones of iPod in all respects but worTy about challenges from Apple. Still, we are giving them
motivation to try harder.
As you allude to below, we also have work to do on our end to make synchronization better. But
to do that, we need to have devices that suppor~ our new MTP protocol so we don't quite have
anything to give you just yet. Our target is to unveil the synchronization capabilities at CES in
eady January. So we may be able to give you a sneak peak sometime in December. We would
lave to have your feedback dudng that process.
BTW, while the Dell is not substantially better frem usability side, il is at least prettier than the Zen.
Finally, while not a substrtute, we hope that Portable Med~a Genter will be a well executed device
with support for meladata which is very useful given its color screen (there are some complicated
rights issues that we have to sor~ out first). Some of the UI design elements appear to be even
better than iPod (as far as cascading menus is concerned).
Amir
From: Jim AIIchin
Sent: Thursday', November 13, 2003 10:D3 AM
To: Amlr Majld~mehr
CC: Will Poole; Michele Freed; Pieter Knook; Harish Naidu; Chris 3ones (WINDOWS); Linda
Subject-" RE: sucking on media ptayers
i think I should talk with Jobs. Right now, I think I should open up a dialog l~or support of the
iPOD. Unless something changes, the iPOD will drive people away from WMP.
jim
From,' Amir Majidimehr
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 10:01 AM
To: Jim Atlchm
CC:-" Will Poole; Michele Freed; Pleter Knook; Harish Naldu; Chris Jones (WINDOWS); Dnda
Averett
Subject: RE: sucking on media players
Now you feel our pain ~ We have been unsuccessful in the past to convince these vendors to
open their eyes and accept that there is better software out there than what they ship with these
things. Of course, some are betler than others but none are a match forApple. For good or bad,
the message ~s finally getting through 9with retailers threatening to sell iPod) but we are not
weihng for that. Tomorrow, we have an entire crew descending on Creative and after that,
Samsnng and Rio to get them motivated to build the "right" device. We are putting incentives on
the table in the form of cash, technical support, direct interface to developers, early access code
for 9.1, etc. In other words, we are going all oul and hoping that at least a few will listen If none
do, then it is lime for us to roll up our sleeves and do our own hardware ®.
We are also pushing them on ID. Interestingly enough, some have devices lhat are pretty much
clones of iPod in all respects but worTy about challenges from Apple. Still, we are giving them
motivation to try harder.
As you allude to below, we also have work to do on our end to make synchronization better. But
to do that, we need to have devices that suppor~ our new MTP protocol so we don't quite have
anything to give you just yet. Our target is to unveil the synchronization capabilities at CES in
eady January. So we may be able to give you a sneak peak sometime in December. We would
lave to have your feedback dudng that process.
BTW, while the Dell is not substantially better frem usability side, il is at least prettier than the Zen.
Finally, while not a substrtute, we hope that Portable Med~a Genter will be a well executed device
with support for meladata which is very useful given its color screen (there are some complicated
rights issues that we have to sor~ out first). Some of the UI design elements appear to be even
better than iPod (as far as cascading menus is concerned).
Amir
