In a surprise move, Roxio declares the iPod "Gadge

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In a surprise move Friday, Roxio declared that Apple's iPod is Roxio's "Gadget of the Year" for 2003. The declaration was seen as a stunning blow to Roxio's Napster download service and Napster-branded mp3 player, which has served as one of the iPod's primary competitors up until this point. In an exclusive interview with billpalmer.net, Roxio CEO Chris Gorog was candid in his company's reasons for endorsing the iPod over its own product: "You gotta admit, the iPod is just better than our crap. I tried using a Napster mp3 player and after four days i gave it to my nephew and bought a 40 GB iPod from the local Apple Store. And it wasn't even a nephew that I liked very much."

While it's not uncommon for a company executive to secretly indulge in competitors' products, the practice is seldom done in public, and outright endorsements of competing products in press releases is unprecedented. When asked if his iPod purchase meant that he also switched over from Napster to iTunes, Gorog responded, "Napster? I wouldn't be caught dead using that bloated piece of cheese. I've been using iTunes from day one."

When asked what kind of a strategy his company was pursuing by publicly dissing its own products, Gorog said, "Who really cares at this point? We've already lost that battle. I mean, we're signing endorsement deals with beer companies, for God's sake. And that's only because we got turned down by RC Cola. In fact, we're even thinking of offering free iTunes gift certificates with the purchase of every Napster player. We've got to do something to cash in on the overwhelming popularity of the iPod, you know?"

Today's comments from the Roxio chief seem particularly off-putting considering that a mere five weeks ago, he declared that "we will take marketshare from Apple". When asked to clarify his previous statement, Gorog admitted that "what we really meant to say is that we will take Mark and Cher from Apple, the two stellar employees in the Apple mailroom that we've been eyeing for some time." So did Roxio manage to land Mark and Cher? "No. I mean, would you want to work for us?"

Finally, we asked Mr. Gorog if he uses any of his own company's products at all: "Well, I tried Toast once, but it's kinda complicated, and then I found out that iTunes can burn CD's more simply. Plus, Toast costs money, and they're not paying me much around here these days."

Don't worry, we're just as confused as to why the CEO of Roxio would be paying for Toast as you are.

Original Source: BillPalmer.net

My Source (Ipodlounge)

:happy: :shifty:

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