We beat Apple, Mobility Today writes

Creating successful products is hard.

You need more than technology, you need an understanding of how to turn technology into products that people want to use. This is one of Apple's greatest strengths.

And the consumer market is all about "want." Business is all about "need."

You "need" to use a spreadsheet to keep track of expenses for your business and it "needs" to be in a format that your accountant can read. But you use a MP3 player because you "want" to.

The fact that MPTran exists or may have more features isn't enough. It has to be compelling and designed in such a way that people to 'want' to use it.

I think it's important to take victories where you can get them. If some obscure web site says you beat Apple then yes, shout it from the rooftops. :) This does, however, show an underlying problem within Microsoft. It's not quite an arrogance thing, but it is causing Microsoft to lose mindshare in emerging markets. Looking at the Origami hype disaster and then shouting about this just shows that Microsoft just doesn't "get" cool. It's just proving Apple right with their latest Mac/PC adverts.

So, MPTrain exists. Which of the two will be more popular? This is the crux of the argument as Microsoft has been telling us for years. Use Windows, it's more popular...so what happens now. iPod is more popular - does this mean Microsoft and their hardware partners in the music arena should crawl under a rock? No, I didn't think so.

MPTrain will be a good choice for the few people out there who own the kit to use it and who actually find it and get it working. It will be excellent for this fraction of the market. All six of them.

Well Mr H you must not visit my site! I review Mac products too! I own a MacBook Pro and I am a Microsoft MVP.. So tell me how is it that I am biased? I am not I will call Microsoft out when they screw up just as I will do for Apple.

David,

I don't think Apple is making a mountain out of a mole hill. They have a product which is geared more towards regular consumers... and know marketing a hell of a lot better than Microsoft.

MPTrain works on a Windows Mobile enabled mobile phone? I can see why Microsoft wouldn't market that widely. Most joggers would have an iPod before a mobile phone with Windows Mobile on it. What about people with mobile phones that don't have Windows Mobile? Chances are they'd probably have an iPod. And with the iPod setup I don't feel like I'm in hospital tied up to a machine with something accross my chest, this device is nicely tucked away in my shoe. Then there's sweet integration with iTunes.

It's all about a simple, easy product. You're going for joggers here, not geeks that love their Windows Mobile enabled phone. So they've got a regular consumer product, so market it, get together with the best well known sports shoe company and let it fly.

Who cares that Microsoft Research did this. They did nothing with it. They don't have Steve Jobs at the helm. They've got Steve Ballmer.. zzzzzz When are Microsoft getting rid of Ballmer anyways? Time to let Ray Ozzie take the wheel. ;)

Good try fellows, but Microsoft won't listen.

Interestingly, Apple relied on its SOS to achieve the Nike shoe.* Integration between software and hardware. In this case, TWO hardwares, the iPod and the shoe. Microsoft's effort probably works some of the time like Plays for Sure and MP3 players.

*Apple will sell a separate kit for non-Nike shoes.

Meh. Another biased review. BTW,

David Ciccone is a sales professional and a Pocket PC evangelist. He has been using PDAs for the past 10 years and enjoys maintaining his personal Web site, Daves iPAQ.
Email address: dave@davesipaq.com
Web site: http://www.davesipaq.com

Big surprise there. He evangalizes MS products and writes against Apple. Seriously Scoble, at least check the integrity of your stories before you post.

Heard about your mom. Real sorry dude.

Robert-

I saw this and thought to myself what is the big deal. Many people beat Apple to the mp3 player market before the iPod took off. Can you honestly say that MS device looks as cool as the Nike/Apple device? I am sure the Microsoft one does more and is better for the real runners but it doesn't look as cool. Cool sells.

Diego

Lets see, maybe because Apple loves to make a mountain out of a mole hill and memorialize EVERY STINKIN THING THEY DO!

Congratulations! But who cares? Who's heard of it, except now some people will because you blogged it. "It doesn't have any pizzaz." (trademark Microsoft) Put it together with someone like Nike, jazz it up a bit, tie it in with Windows Media Player and you'll be in the ball park.

Now, get Microsoft Research to help out putting podcasting support in WMP 11. :)