Xbox 360 offer partial support for iPod

Apple presently has no direct competition with this component. Embracing even marginal compatibility with the XBox 360 (which will most likely be extremely popular with an important age group) would only serve to propel the ubiquity of the iPod to greater heights. Apple has everything to gain and nothing to lose by making protected AAC files play through this thing. This obsructionist-type decision making from Apple simply makes them appear spiteful. And that's the last thing it needs now during a string of unwelcome litigation.

What the XBox 360 or any other game machines have anything to do with any MP3 players at all? Every device has own purpose. As far as connectivity then you can use your iPod with either Mac or PC (Microsoft OS). Why would you need the Xbox to play your music through? If you are a music lover anyway you would use the iPod with some kind of fancy receiver-amplifier to listen to your music.

There is no way the iPod and Xbox incompatibility would make the iPod less popular.

I love 'em but they drive me crazy sometimes. Why not support the Xbox? How would it hurt marketshare. The fact that the Xbox team are such huge fans of Apple's iPod (read the ign.com article) and would go out of thier way to support the iPod, well Apple will wish they would have later. The Xbox is going to win the next console market because of it's forward thinking and interoperability. Yes, I know it's MS and they're the devil but the Xbox team thinks different, which is how they landed Bungie.

I suppose Apple could make the iPod compatible with the Pippen :) The only way I think this move makes a bit of sense is if Apple has some deal with Sony and the PS3. However, I would like to see full cooperation between the two and maybe have Apple desing the GUI for the PS3 and have built in iTunes. Not some half assed partnership like Apple Motorola had on the ROKR. But even then it may be too late. The xbox 360 is the future of gaming. Whether you like MS or not. I happen to know a lot of Mac faithful that own Xbox's. Ironic, but it speaks to how the Xbox team differs from the Microsoft team.

First, "Made for iPod" isn't a royalties initiative, it's a developer support program. It is JUST like Apple Developer Connection in that way, you pay a fee to get support directly from Apple.

Now, what I don't get is, I can't see any reason for Microsoft to have not gone this route and and put a dock connector on the XBox 360. Maybe it doesn't fit with their plans, but it might have been the "official" route rather than some other way they tried.

And I don't think Apple will sue. There are a number of more legally ambiguous utilities on the that will actually extract music from the iPod to your computer. The XBox 360 is only going to play music from the iPod. The article seems to imply they are using it more like an external hard drive than an iPod truly. As long as they don't decrypt protected AAC (like Real did) I don't see Apple's legal department pursuing this.

I hope this doesn't lead to an iPod/Apple backlash.

Gamers are a wierd breed. A group that Apple has never understood or adopted. Hardcore gamers are trend setters in a way. If Apple's not cool for being so arrogant and closing off their system, then it might have an effect. The gaming industry is bigger than Hollywood and the xbox figures to be the leader in the next wave of players.

The xbox 360 builds a gamer community very well through xbox live. It just looks like Apple doesn't want to be a part of it.

Microsoft is marketing the Xbox 360 as a media/communication device, so it is not just for games.

But besides this the 360 can pay your own music off an iPod during any game you want to play. Xbox owners are also a key demographic in the iPod market. I was considering getting an iPod for my 360 but now I probably wont. Apple comes off as the bad guy, especially if they sue, as MS has extended the Olive branch.

I agree, this is a mistake..