iPod to get Windows audience
![zd-defaultauthor-matthew-broersma.jpg](https://www.zdnet.com/a/img/resize/a30f39eb99f892a693af92ff5e8b18635cc91e06/2014/12/04/a5951898-7b6c-11e4-9a74-d4ae52e95e57/zd-defaultauthor-matthew-broersma.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&frame=1&height=192&width=192)
That may change soon, however, with software maker Mediafour planning software to link the iPod with PCs running Windows operating systems.
The software, XPod, would let people with a Windows PC and a FireWire port connect to the device. Mediafour announced this week that it is at work on an XPod beta, but did not give a launch date.
The iPod has won praise for combining the high storage capacity of players like Creative Labs' Jukebox with the pocket-sized form of more traditional digital music players. It costs US$399 and is available from Apple's Web site.
There's one catch, however: Many Windows machines, unlike recent Macs, don't come with FireWire built in. FireWire add-on cards are available, for around US$100.
Mediafour, based in West Des Moines, Iowa, makes cross-platform Windows-Mac software, such as Macdrive, which lets Windows boot Mac discs.
Staff writer Matthew Broersma reported from London.