Is it coming sooner than expected?

Ed Oswald from BetaNews seems to think that the new Microsoft so-called "iPod killer" could be unveiled as early as late next month. It would make sense if Microsoft wanted to "catch the wave" of shoppers for the holiday season.

In part, Ed had the following to say:

The entire initiative falls under the name "Project Argo," and insiders believe Microsoft is working on at least two portable players. Zune, which first surfaced in June, is believed to be the iPod-like device that would include wireless connectivity in a design very reminiscent of the Apple iPod.

You can read Ed's article here


Followup:
Another very interesting article appeared on Engadget last night by Stephen Speicher
Zune, it's all about the ecosystem

Stephen says:

While all of the above may be true, repeat after me: It's not about the player. Don't get me wrong -- the iPod is a nifty little machine. In classic Apple style, the iPod is sleek and stylish; its clean lines and rolled edges ooze class and quality. Heck, the iPod is nearly lickable. However, while going to market with such a device certainly doesn't hurt your chances, it's not the root of the iPod's success. The secret to Apple's success in the online music market has always been the ease of a) buying music and b) getting music onto the device. It's really that simple. In short, it's all about the ecosystem.