Competition Spurring Innovation

I've always rooted for the underdog- unless I feel very strongly about a team or product or brand. I've waited for a long time for something to challenge the mighty iPod. Not because I don't like it, but because I like healthy competition. There's been a few MP3 players that have created a little talk, but nothing that has said, "iPod, get ready for a challenge".

Zune, the MP3 player Microsoft is working on, has incorporated the iPods simple and easy design, but has added some handy and enticing features. Besides playing audio and video, Zune is supposed to be WiFi enabled allowing users to download from MTV's Urge service straight to their MP3 players, and it also lets Zune users share their music with each other. It is also rumored to have gaming capabilities, and some say it may even offer Sirius or XM radio.

Sounds like worthy competition. Now maybe both will try and outdo themselves, possibly add GPS capabilities so it works as a navigation system as well. But more and more cars are coming with nav systems anyways, so that may not be a good idea, but it would be handy.

How will the Zune do, considering more and more people are downloading and listening to music on their phones? You can even play sudoku on some phones. Will the next generation of the iPod or the Zune be the answer to the much wanted convergence of technology? Or will the cell phone take over and soon erase the MP3 player? If the iPod can facilitate communication between you and your shoes, why can't your cell phone do it? Will the iPhone do it? Will it be too much for the cell phone to handle? Or will we just be paying a little more for the super cell phone which combines your digital camera, MP3 player, nav system, PSP, personal computer and more? It sounds like a lot, but nothing's impossible- hopefully anyways. :)