Microsoft Unhappy With HP's iTunes Decision

Microsoft Unhappy With HP's iTunes Decision 1020

Posted by timothy on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:46PM from the limiting-choices-incorporated dept.

rbrandis writes "The general manager of Microsoft's Windows digital media division David Fester has suggested that iTunes' emerging dominance would be bad for consumers, because it would limit them to the iPod, as opposed to limiting them to Microsoft based products. In a moment of what must have been an attempt at ironic humor he said, 'Windows is about choice - you can mix and match software and music player stuff. We believe you should have the same choice when it comes to music services.'"

Microsoft Unhappy With HP's iTunes Decision

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choice? (Score:4, Funny)

by stefanmi ( 699755 ) * writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:48PM (#7958936)

ROFL! Talk about naked FUD. Choice, choice, choice. Yeah, that's the Microsoft Way, isn't it? NOT. What hypocrisy!

Terribly, terribly grateful (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:50PM (#7958952)

I am ever so grateful that once again Microsoft is looking after my best interests. We can all sleep well.

David Fester? (Score:1, Funny)

by R33MSpec ( 631206 ) * writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:50PM (#7958956) Homepage

Shave the hair off [bbcworld.com] and you'd swear it was Uncle Fester!

HP kills DRM (yay Carly) (Score:5, Funny)

by corebreech ( 469871 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:51PM (#7958966) Journal

It has always been questionable as to whether they would get DRM to work in the first place. Now along comes HP, trying to make what are essentially incompatible DRM systems work together, and still protect content. The closest analogy I can think of is trying to have make a marriage work with two spouses at the same time.

Anybody who has installed any kind of media player on Windows knows what I'm talking about... it's almost impossible to assign specific file types to Window's Media Player, QuickTime, RealPlayer, Winamp, etc., without all of these applications trying to steal the right to handle these file types out from one another. Now the same thing is going to happen, but with DRM in the mix?

It's going to be a zoo. Nobody is going to stand still for this, especially when people start losing the right to access content they've already payed for.

And just wait till this shit starts happening to everybody's porn collection. People will be running amok in the streets.

Re:choice (Score:5, Funny)

by ZackSchil ( 560462 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:51PM (#7958967)

Wait.. what? I would fill up the gas in my car if my sister wasn't a lesbian.

Re:i do have a choice (Score:5, Funny)

by Cornelius the Great ( 555189 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:56PM (#7959023)

"We believe you should have the same choice when it comes to music services."

Does anyone else cringe when you see/hear the words "choice" and "Microsoft" in the same sentence?

Re:Bad for consumers? (Score:5, Funny)

by glenebob ( 414078 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:57PM (#7959046)

You must be new... that's what it has ALWAYS meant.

Choice! (Score:4, Funny)

by chunkwhite86 ( 593696 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @10:59PM (#7959066)

Windows is about choice - you can mix and match software and music player stuff. We believe you should have the same choice when it comes to music services.

Do not laugh at our choice. Microsoft is all many choices. We have so much choice it is silly. You must not listen to the apple! We will crush the infidels with all the choice that we are having!

Sincerely, Microsoft Information Minister

Re:....just out of curiosity (Score:4, Funny)

by FatRatBastard ( 7583 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:00PM (#7959074) Homepage

"HP Windows boxen" (when did that become plural for boxes?)

About the same time "moosen" became the plural of moose (as in "I see a flock of moosen").

(props to Brian Regan)

this and that (Score:5, Funny)

by sstory ( 538486 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:01PM (#7959081) Homepage

Windows IS about Choice.
Also,
Slavery is Freedom
and
War is Peace
If I remember my Orwell right.

Somebody has to say this too... (Score:5, Funny)

by jigyasubalak ( 308473 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:02PM (#7959090)

You can have any color as long as it is black!
- Henry Ford

Re:Terribly, terribly grateful (Score:5, Funny)

by webslacker ( 15723 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:03PM (#7959112)

It was awfully, awfully kind of you to say so.

Had to say it... (Score:3, Funny)

by chunkwhite86 ( 593696 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:04PM (#7959121)

All your choice are belong to us!

Lewis Black (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:13PM (#7959193)

"If it weren't for my horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college."

every zealot's wet dream! (Score:5, Funny)

by Stevyn ( 691306 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:15PM (#7959227)

Microsoft said they were about choice! Now the linux zealots can all flame them on slashdot and go to sleep happy. The apple users can chime in their love for ipods and itunes. The windows fanboys can chime in how wma is surperior and that it will take over and crush apple and linux. Once the rubble has settled the 1862 ogg users can tout a new media format world order and reign for the next 1000 years. Good times a commin'!

If microsoft did this once a month, IT productivity would go up 10%.

Re:Easier to let it be (Score:2, Funny)

by cooley ( 261024 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:15PM (#7959229) Homepage

You mean like when Henry Ford said "You can get the Model T in any color you want, as long as you want black".

naked FUD? (Score:5, Funny)

by martin-boundary ( 547041 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:19PM (#7959263)

Cripes, when did this happen? I'm out of it for a little bit, and Microsoft becomes a spamming outfit! Naked FUD, Enlarge your CHOICE, end-user license SECRETS, listen to music FROM YOUR HOME...

Re:ch01c3 (Score:3, Funny)

by Deraj DeZine ( 726641 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:20PM (#7959276)

Has anyone made a joke about siphoning the gas to her?

Re:choice? (Score:5, Funny)

by LostCluster ( 625375 ) * writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:22PM (#7959298)

Microsoft offers choices...

- Your free web-based e-mail account can end in either msn.com or hotmail.com... your choice!
- You can browse the web with either Internet Explorer or MSN Explorer... your choice!
- You can read your e-mail with Outlook Express or Outlook... your choice!
- You can use Windows XP Home or Windows XP Pro... your choice!
- You can use WMA files with any music player that has paid the appropriate fees to Microsoft, plenty of choices available in the market!
- You can get WMA files from any music service that has paid the appropriate fees to Microsoft, plenty of choices available in the market!

Re:i do have a choice (Score:4, Funny)

by NanoGator ( 522640 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:25PM (#7959324) Homepage Journal

"Does anyone else cringe when you see/hear the words "choice" and "Microsoft" in the same sentence? "

I might if I were low on karma. :)

bizarro world (Score:5, Funny)

by spanklin ( 710953 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:40PM (#7959441)

Does this mean that Microsoft is now beleaguered?

Microsoft's superior Windows Media Audio format (Score:3, Funny)

by PetoskeyGuy ( 648788 ) writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:42PM (#7959459)

The quote originated on Connected Home Magazine. The news editor is Paul Thurott. Paul also runs www.winsupersite.com and www.winnetmag.com/windowspaulthurrott/ as well as a few other MS Fanatic sites.

From one of the sites... ...Paul is also the author of WinInfo Daily UPDATE, the Windows Informant, a daily news and information newsletter for Windows users, and the News Editor for Windows & .NET Magazine, where he writes a weekly editorial for the popular Windows & .NET Magazine UPDATE newsletter and a monthly news column called Need to Know for the print magazine. Paul is also the News Editor for Connected Home Magazine, ...

So we know it's biased already - no need to re-state to obvious.

Microsoft sucks, but don't forget... (Score:2, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Monday January 12, 2004 @11:53PM (#7959525)

SCO are still a bunch of litigious bastards [sco.com]!

Re:is Windows Media Player a virus (Score:3, Funny)

by chunkwhite86 ( 593696 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:00AM (#7959574)

I seem to me that any program that takes over your computer when used, and opens up browsers and pop-up windows should be called a virus.

It's not a bug - it's a feature!

Re:n002 fl45h!!!!!!111 (Score:4, Funny)

by LinuxGeek ( 6139 ) writes: <djand.ncNO@SPAMgmail.com> on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:09AM (#7959633)

Now it's my understanding that pdf is a shortened form of the word pedofile. Is this incorrect? It always worried me when I was younger that corporations would only give me product information in pdf format...

Younger!?! Please don't tell us that you are old and still this stupid.

It never occured to me to associate pdf files with Michael Jackson.

Re:n002 fl45h!!!!!!111 (Score:4, Funny)

by mhesseltine ( 541806 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:17AM (#7959693) Homepage Journal

The correct abbreviation for pedofile[sic] is "pedo" (as you will see very quickly if you happen to stumble upon alt.sex.stories). PDF is "portable document format".

--

gnaughty [sourceforge.net] - easy free porn

The correct abbreviation for pedophile coming from someone who's pimping his own porn gathering software. Now I've seen it all.

Uncle Fester (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:20AM (#7959712)

Choice..snicker, almost blew coffee all over my PowerBook. Funny little man...

Have a nice day all,

Me

Re:....just out of curiosity (Score:5, Funny)

by germanbird ( 710853 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:22AM (#7959725)

Don't iPods already work with Windows?

Well, they did, but Microsoft will have a critical patch out soon to fix that problem.

where do these funny points come from? (Score:2, Funny)

by Boss Sauce ( 655550 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:27AM (#7959765) Homepage Journal

makes no sense

Re:Betamax vs. VHS (Score:2, Funny)

by Jayzz ( 540605 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:38AM (#7959845)

I'm sick of this Betamax vs. VHS analogy. Not because I've heard milion times, nor because it's simply not true (Betamax was not better), but because this has been pointed out almost every time it's mentioned, yet I'm still reading the same crap again and again. This makes me understand why people spread FUD. Once misinformation gets into the mass, there is no way you can completely clear it up.

Re:MS = Choice = BAH! (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @01:08AM (#7960019)

Except then you have too much choice!?

How do you know which one is better?

mp4? Sorenson? MJPEG? Microsoft makes its easy, one choice!

I agree with Microsoft (Score:4, Funny)

by Cyberllama ( 113628 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @01:13AM (#7960046)

It's a bad idea -- not because it somehow promotes an Apple monopoloy, but because no one wants WMA playback on thier ipod.

Re:choice? (Score:5, Funny)

by Malcontent ( 40834 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @01:23AM (#7960095)

The only thing worse then an evil bastard is a whining evil bastard.

Re:i do have a choice (Score:4, Funny)

by ruiner13 ( 527499 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @01:32AM (#7960137) Homepage

"We believe you should have the same choice when it comes to music services."
Does anyone else cringe when you see/hear the words "choice" and "Microsoft" in the same sentence?"
Now where exactly does it say microsoft in that sentence?

Re:where do these funny points come from? (Score:5, Funny)

by Justin205 ( 662116 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @01:59AM (#7960281) Homepage

Little elves in the sky. Very tiny ones. They sprinke the funnyness all over, and it land on every post, but only sticks to the funny ones. Same with the Insightful Angels, Interesting Sprites, Informative Fairies, Troll (what else) Trolls, Flamebait Devils and Redundant Redundant Redundant Orcs.

Microsoft's unhappy? (Score:2, Funny)

by IllogicalStudent ( 561279 ) writes: <jsmythe79NO@SPAMhotmail.com> on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @02:14AM (#7960341)

I thought the Slashdot populace was feeling warmer and fuzzier than usual. One man's sorrow is another man's joy, indeed.

MICROSOFT IS NOT A MONOPLOY. (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @02:30AM (#7960420)

It's just a /. rant.
An industry leader, yes, but not a constrictor.

May lightning strike me down if I' *|b147a [No Carrier]

Gollum! (Score:5, Funny)

by finelinebob ( 635638 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @02:41AM (#7960461) Homepage

MS: Where would you be without me? (gollum gollum). I saved us. It was me. We monopolized because of me!

HP: Not anymore.

MS: What did you say?

HP: Apple looks after us now. We don't need you.

MS: What?

HP: Leave now and never come back.

MS: No!

HP: Leave now and never come back!

MS: Arrrgh!

HP: LEAVE NOW AND NEVER COME BACK!

[HP is panting and looking around and realises MS is gone.]

HP: We told him to go away! And away he goes Preciousss. Gone, gone, gone, HP is free!

Re:NEWS FLASH! (Score:5, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @02:57AM (#7960537)

If you buy Mac OS X and don't want iTunes, simple. Drag the iTunes app to the trash and it is gone. No registry mess, just a clean simple removal. Try that with Internet Explorer. I'm betting you can't.

I just trashed Internet Explorer, now I'm sending this message from the public library while I reinstall Windoze. Doh! ;-)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:5, Funny)

by hype7 ( 239530 ) writes: <u3295110.anu@edu@au> on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @03:41AM (#7960719) Journal

"We believe you should have the same

choice when it comes to music services."

Microsoft keeps using that word... I do not think it means what they think it means.

-- james

Re:NEWS FLASH! (Score:4, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @04:11AM (#7960824)

I'm still quite irritated with Apple for choosing to remove the Internet PrefPane, and wish more people would e-mail Apple about this.

They would, but they are unable since removing their Mail.app.

Announcing Microsoft Choice(tm) (Score:1, Funny)

by Anonymous Coward writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @04:23AM (#7960865)

Microsoft today announced its new software user enablement scheme called Choice(tm). Computers equipped with Microsoft Choice(tm) will be able to use any software that the user chooses, as long as the software has been certified for use with Microsoft Choice(tm) systems. Microsoft Choice(tm) Certified software is certified to not impede or harm any Microsoft Initiatives, now and in the future. In this way Microsoft ensures that Microsoft Choice(tm) users experience Only The Best (tm) software that the world has to offer.

Currently, Microsoft Choice(tm) certification is offered to Microsoft Premium Select developer partners as well as all Tier 1 hardware vendors. Note that all Microsoft Choice(tm) certified software is subject to the standard Microsoft non-compete EULA, as amended.

Re:i do have a choice (Score:5, Funny)

by Yokaze ( 70883 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @05:01AM (#7960990)

Just with a different emphasis, it makes perfectly sense:

"We believe you should have the same choice when it comes to music services."

The difference between Apple and Microsoft? (Score:3, Funny)

by CountBrass ( 590228 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @08:25AM (#7961543)

Apple calls their MP3 player the iPod.
Microsoft calls their MP3 player the much snappier "Mobile Entertainment Device".
'nuff said.

I'm suprised at the lack of backlash... (Score:2, Funny)

by bucket74 ( 712690 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @09:41AM (#7961874)

...to this statement in the article:

"The company will be working with Apple to add support for Microsoft's superior Windows Media Audio (WMA) format to the iPod by mid-year."

As an iPod user I am now furious that Apple has been oppressing me with an inferior audio format for so long. Dude, I shoulda' got a Dell.

Re:choice? (Score:5, Funny)

by sdcharle ( 631718 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @10:33AM (#7962219) Journal

Wow, I could sure go for a Coke now.

Crybabies (Score:2, Funny)

by medazinol ( 540033 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @11:24AM (#7962602)

I'm so sick of MS being such a crybaby. Looks guys, face reality, there are some very good competitors out there who would like to make some money in a market that you don't dominate, yet. So, cry a bit, try to buy something you can rush to market, lock it in to Windows so your user base DOESNT have a choice and the others will come up with something new and the whole merry go round can start all over again. Get over it.

Re:i do have a choice (Score:3, Funny)

by cygnus ( 17101 ) writes: on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @11:31AM (#7962674) Homepage

He means that with a Microsoft OS you can choose where to buy your processor, where to buy your motherboard, your video card, etc, etc.

verywell! i choose to buy them all from Apple!
...but for some reason it won't boot. maybe Sun? :)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:2, Funny)

by neuro.slug ( 628600 ) writes: <neuro__@hotmaPOLLOCKil.com minus painter> on Tuesday January 13, 2004 @12:05PM (#7963037)

In Soviet Russia, there were these propoganda ads telling the public how much choice they had when they went to the store. -- n

There may be more comments in this discussion. Without JavaScript enabled, you might want to turn on Classic Discussion System in your preferences instead.

choice? (Score:4, Funny)

Terribly, terribly grateful (Score:5, Funny)

David Fester? (Score:1, Funny)

HP kills DRM (yay Carly) (Score:5, Funny)

Re:choice (Score:5, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Bad for consumers? (Score:5, Funny)

Choice! (Score:4, Funny)

Re:....just out of curiosity (Score:4, Funny)

this and that (Score:5, Funny)

Somebody has to say this too... (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Terribly, terribly grateful (Score:5, Funny)

Had to say it... (Score:3, Funny)

Lewis Black (Score:2, Funny)

every zealot's wet dream! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:Easier to let it be (Score:2, Funny)

naked FUD? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:ch01c3 (Score:3, Funny)

Re:choice? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:4, Funny)

bizarro world (Score:5, Funny)

Microsoft's superior Windows Media Audio format (Score:3, Funny)

Microsoft sucks, but don't forget... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:is Windows Media Player a virus (Score:3, Funny)

Re:n002 fl45h!!!!!!111 (Score:4, Funny)

Re:n002 fl45h!!!!!!111 (Score:4, Funny)

Uncle Fester (Score:1, Funny)

Re:....just out of curiosity (Score:5, Funny)

where do these funny points come from? (Score:2, Funny)

Re:Betamax vs. VHS (Score:2, Funny)

Re:MS = Choice = BAH! (Score:1, Funny)

I agree with Microsoft (Score:4, Funny)

Re:choice? (Score:5, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:4, Funny)

Re:where do these funny points come from? (Score:5, Funny)

Microsoft's unhappy? (Score:2, Funny)

MICROSOFT IS NOT A MONOPLOY. (Score:1, Funny)

Gollum! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:NEWS FLASH! (Score:5, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:5, Funny)

Re:NEWS FLASH! (Score:4, Funny)

Announcing Microsoft Choice(tm) (Score:1, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:5, Funny)

The difference between Apple and Microsoft? (Score:3, Funny)

I'm suprised at the lack of backlash... (Score:2, Funny)

Re:choice? (Score:5, Funny)

Crybabies (Score:2, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:3, Funny)

Re:i do have a choice (Score:2, Funny)

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