Microsoft executive's gaffe reveals iPod love?

Senior executives are rarely heard promoting a rival's product, which is why it seemed odd that Microsoft would offer an iPod as a competition prize.

On the first day of the AusCERT conference, Microsoft was holding a question and answer session at which delegates could grill four of its senior executives.

The best three questions would, the vendor said, attract a prize each: a mobile phone, an Xbox and an MP3 player.

After the Q&A finished without major incident, Microsoft Australia's chief security advisor, Peter Watson, stood up and said it was time to reveal the questions determined the best by AusCERT's general manager Graham Ingram.

He took the mic and summarised the prizes on offer.

"Lets see who has won the mobile phone, Xbox and iPod," said Watson.

At this, Ingram's face lit up and he stared at Watson for clarification. Was Microsoft really giving away an iPod?

Watson realised what he had said and, as his face started turning a rather exotic shade of red, corrected himself: "MP3 player, I mean MP3 player."

The delegates laughed loudly at Watson's gaffe and Ingram rubbed salt into the wounds, "I would have been surprised if you were giving away an Apple product," he remarked.

Of course this was ignored by the beetroot-faced Watson, who is obviously a fan of Apple's ubiquitous music machine.

But then again, he isn't the only one.