Microsoft Xbox 360 and the compatibility with Apple iPod

Microsoft Xbox 360 and the compatibility with Apple iPod

Microsoft and Apple are not exactly best of friends. Both the company develops software applications for each other’s interfaces but that is it. Apple uses proprietary DRM standard for encoding songs sold on the iTunes music store, which only supports iPod. And Microsoft recently announced that their upcoming next generation gaming console Xbox 360 would come with support for MP3 players including the legendary Apple iPod.

However, the support for iPod for the Xbox 360 is not approved or authorized by Apple. In fact, Microsoft claimed that they tried to get Apple involved in the process but the Macintosh maker rejected the proposal. As a result, Microsoft decided to leverage standard protocols such as USB mass storage to enable iPod support.

Microsoft claims that the Xbox 360 would detect a supported music device like an iPod as soon as it is plugged in the gaming machine. Apple is expected to be displeased at such a move considering the Xbox 360 would let the gamers control the music loaded on the device. Market analysts are even claiming that the company would soon going to release an update for the software on the iPod to disable any kind of support for the Xbox 360.

Apple started a “Made for iPod” program for this similar approach to improve interoperability of their iPod with other gadgets available in the market. However, they collect royalties from the maker of any accessory device that interfaces with an iPod through its “dock connector”.