News Archive for 06/02/27

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Samsung to launch Z5

02/27, 10:00am

Samsung turns to iPod designer for Z5

Samsung's forthcoming Z5 portable MP3 player was designed by one of the original iPod software designers. Looking to develop a player and software to rival Apple's iPod, consumer electronics giant Samsung turned to a little-known Silicon Valley software start-up, according to The New York Times: "The result of that partnership is Samsung's newest Z5 portable MP3 player, which will appear on store shelves March 5. The software inside the player was forged at Iventor Inc. by a small team of programmers led by Paul Mercer, 38, a veteran Apple Macintosh software designer. Samsung's decision to hire Mr. Mercer is significant because Apple, in designing the original iPod four years ago, turned to Pixo Inc., the company Mr. Mercer founded after he left Apple in 1994 to create software for hand-held devices." The Pixo software was used as the basis of the software for Apple's original iPod, according to the report. The new software reportedly features high-end transparency effects.

MS Origami project

02/27, 9:00am

MS Origami to take on iPod, Apple?

A new Microsoft project code-named Origami may help the company dethrone the iPod. The portable entertainment device, designed as more than just a music player, would help the company and its partners stem the growing influence of the iPod and Apple in the digital music and video industries. Origami involves various partners to build services and software for a new portable entertainment device, according to The Wall Street Journal. Though the project is styled after Microsoft's Tablet PC, the 'ulta-portable' PC-like device would be geared toward consumers, rather than business users. "Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has been a huge promoter of the Tablet PC, which is geared more toward business users than consumers and hasn't sold in high volumes. The Origami project appears to be an extension of the Tablet PC into the consumer market." [registration required]

Video download service

02/27, 8:40am

Apple prepping video download service

Apple is preparing to launch a film download service that could launch as early as this week, according to a new report. Following the sale of its billionth song last week, the company will push its strategy to "network computing and entertainment products around the home so music and video can be wirelessly streamed from one device to another. Films downloaded on to an Apple computer from iTunes could be transferred through an Apple Airport wireless connection to a digital television or stored on a video iPod," according to The Business. "There is also talk that Apple is planning the launch of an Apple-branded hi-fi that will enable iPod users to dock their iPod music player into a device that will then turn the compact digital music player into a fully-fledged hi-fi that will enable them to share their music collection in the living room, the kitchen or at the beach."