Apple's continued success as a music service provider will depend on how well iTunes works in Windows, and its ability to offer all the features of the iPod at the right price. Mike McGuire, research director at GartnerG2, told E-Commerce Times: "Apple's user interface must be as good on the Windows platform as it is on the Mac, which could be difficult as Apple will be acting as a third-party software developer." Bryan Chaffin, of The Mac Observer, said: "Apple's biggest challenge will be ensuring QuickTime, AAC and iTunes work well in Windows. Many Windows users have a poor opinion of QuickTime because of its performance on a PC. Apple must ensure iTunes runs transparently on Windows."
Chaffin added: "By not making its music platform, with AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) and its own patented DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology, FairPlay, available to third-parties Apple will be pitting itself against Microsoft and every vendor of online music and MP3 player. Microsoft controls the Windows Media Player (WMA) platform, but is more than willing to license it out." Chaffin says this means every MP3 player bar the iPod will eventually play WMA, files while none will play Apple's AAC files. He said: "This isn't a problem as long as iPod maintains market dominance, but a hot new MP3 player could be a huge problem for Apple." Chaffin, however, suggests Apple is on the right side of the standards divide: "WMA is not an open standard, while AAC is.
News source: MacWorld | UK
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