How Could Microsoft and Apple Use Their New-found Power?

A Good Conection

How could Microsoft and Apple use their new found power?

The FaithfulApple and Microsoft have two handhelds out now and both are capable of some kind of portable gaming. The question remains, is a portable-console connection even worth it for either company?

In the past, companies like Nintendo and Sega kept mindshare by having a portable platform to keep their company name on the lips of AA battery addicted children. The tiny GameBoy screens that played 8 bit knock offs of NES games and Sega's Nomad and Game Gear were all the rage in the 80s and 90s. Nintendo eventually carved out a market with fresh new games that were both complex and fun while Sega's expensive machines paved the way for the portable concoles of today, the Nintendo DS and PSP. Each system connected with their respective consoles. Sega allowed players to use their own Genesis carts while Nintendo added console specific functions in the GBA software much later. Nintendo's approach allowed the company to offer a value proposition to owning both the portable and console. Sony rose to take Sega's place in the handheld gaming industry's race for best portable soon after its Sega's Dreamcast was canned; however, like freckled face twins, Microsoft and Apple have placed their quarters down and are also ready to join the fray. 

Apple iphone

Oh those were the days...Apple has been more covert in their strategy to undermine Sony's position on portable gaming with its motion sensitive controls and sophisticated touch screen. Games like Super Monkey Ball handled well on the platform, better than the Wii version with dedicated motion controls. The only thing that Apple has not addressed is a console connection. What could be done by Apple to assure market-share this year? 

- For starters, 

connect to a console. Understand that being connected to AT&T cannot be Apple's permanent solution to network capability and that Apple will need to connect to some service soon after its contract with AT&T is up. There are many consoles the iphone could attach itself; Xbox, the PS3, Wii, PC / Mac. With Apple's move to the App-store on itunes, the PC / Mac route is the most probable. So Apple will do more this year to make either the Mac or PC the central hub for the iphone (ipod touch). 

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Making the Mac brand stand out as a separate entity than the PC, allows Apple the flexibility to solidify a base and optimize hardware. Marketing campiegns will ramp up, displaying the iphone and Mac together and associating itunes with the iphone.

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Closing the development community might be a side effect of conflating the iphone and Mac brands. Ensuring security will be in Apple's best interest. Making sure that the Apps are not harmful programs for the Mac might become the long Certification process Microsoft seems to have. 

Have you seen this man?

Microsoft Zune

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The Zune hardware must be retooled. Unlike the Xbox 360, the Zune’s ability to play games seems like a fancy work around. The tech demos and candid interviews point to a very recognizable problem, the Zune isn’t meant for gaming. If Microsoft were to make the Zune apart of their winning strategy they would need to relaunch the Zune with updated graphics hardware. They would also need to come up with a distribution method of Zune software, the most obvious choice being Xbox Live Arcade. They would then need to create development tools that took advantage of the new Zune hardware and future Zune/XBLA games would have to be certified and optimized for the Zune and Xbox 360. Doing so would add countless hours onto already pressured development cycles.

Seriously, no....- If retooled,

Zune services will flood Xbox Live. This would be an awesome time to own a 360. One feature missing from both the PS3 and Xbox 360 is the ability to download music. Since Microsoft keeps a record of what is downloaded from its servers, Zune/Xbox owners could easily use the 360 as a hub station for the Zune. Songs could also be played from the Zune’s library as well.

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Live Anywhere would finally exist. Imagine customizing your Avatar on your Zune and scheduling downloads as well using the Zune as a remote 360, streaming video or playing XBLA compatible titles. Developers could add extra content to games to support the Zune or the Zune could be an instant voice messenger (it doesn't take much to turn a speaker into a microphone, you know)

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Microsoft and Apple have a lot to gain, but not without scrafices. But who knows, maybe Nintendo will ruin everything by announcing a portable Gamecube or the next DS. Let us hope that Microsoft and Apple are not irresponsible with their portable devices by using them to gouge out the eyes of the consumer base with high priced services and useless features.