Several days ago, a bunch of news outlets reported a finding of the technology research group ABI Research--that 58% of iPod users would consider switching to Microsoft's new Zune mp3 player (or more accurately, WMA player).

I didn't report it, because it was so obviously BS.

Many questioned it, but nobody could provide any hard refutation, because very few people were willing to pay ABI Research the $3,000 it would take to get the full text of the study report.

Apparently AOL bloggers have a little more cash to work with than the average blogger (duh), because AOL's bloggingstocks reports ABI's methodology as follows:

...the number was reached by showing participants a picture of the Zune media player and then "other competitive media players" and being asked if they would pick the Zune. The specific mention of an iPod is not in the language.

That's right--nobody was actually asked if they would abandon the iPod. There was no discussion of features. All that it really shows is that Microsoft's product doesn't look like crap on the surface, at least to 58% of iPod users.

Perhaps an alternate headline should have been:

42% of iPod users think Zune looks like crap

 

Great news--the stylish RED iPod nano is now available in the 8GB capacity. Same price as other colors.

 

FreeiPodGuy expects the next free iPod to be given away around November 20, give or take. Get your entries in!  

This <5 minute video does a thorough job of demonstrating just how small this thing is. (They could have done the same thing in 1 minute, but what the heck.)  

The new iPod shuffle is now available from retailers. Though it has no display, the new iPod is about the size of the displays on the nano.

The next FreeiPodGuy.com drawing will feature this iPod.