Zune, Soapbox, Blah, Blah, Blah

Today Microsoft announced what they hope will be their YouTube killer. According to Information Week (who know about such things) Microsoft’s Soapbox is designed to be “a video-sharing service that would challenge the popular YouTube in the fast-growing market for online amateur and professional video.”

This follows Microsoft’s big announcement last week that they were working on “an i-Pod killer,” called Zune. News Factor says that Microsoft will be market ready in time for Christmas.

Zune, which will be available in time for the holiday season, will have a 30-GB hard drive, enough to store about 7,500 songs. The device, which can also store and display video and pictures, comes with a 3-inch liquid-crystal display screen. It will have an FM tuner and come in three different colors: black, white, and brown. Microsoft didn't disclose pricing for the gadget.

So, OK: a YouTube killer. Check. An iPod killer. Snap. Do you see a pattern here? It’s starting to feel like Microsoft hasn’t had an original idea since 1995.