British developer Starbrite is selling a pPod, a virtual iPod for Pocket PCs, may not be available for very long.  The pBop software emulates a Pocket PC's screen with an image of the iPod. The Pocket PCs touch-sensitive screen enables users to control pBop via the virtual iPod's scroll wheel, allowing users to navigate iPod-like menus with their fingers.  The pBop's interface is exactly similar to the iPod's, with songs arranged in a series of nested menus, which can be browsed by genre, artist and album.   The software works exactly the same way, except it only costs $20!

However, the pBop only plays MP3 files and does not support Apple's digital music format of choice which is AAA.  Nor does it support WMA.

As expected, Apple is not happy with the software and Starbrite has received a letter from Apple claiming the $20 software was a rip-off of the iPod.  Starbrite has since renamed the software to pBop, which was originally pPod.

The latest update on this issue:

Information on pPod / pBop.