Microsoft 'iPod clone' makes an appearance

Allegedly

Is this the face of Microsoft's alleged own-brand iPod clone? That's certainly what a number of gadget websites are claiming. It's said to be codenamed 'Argo' and to have the go-to-market name 'Zune', but there's little else that can said about it.

There's not much to go on. Past rumours had said the machine has wireless built in and that it may offer some sort of Xbox-like mobile gaming facility - though some reports suggest that's not part of the programme. It may come in other handhelds.

There are hints it does video playback as well as music, but the portrait-orientated display may suggest otherwise. You could turn it through 90°, of course, but that's hardly an elegant solution, particularly when compared to today's video iPod, let alone the widescreen model Apple is said to have in the pipeline.

It's impossible to say how big the device is from the pic, but from the look of the controls we'd say it's bigger than an iPod. ®