Sony to take on iPod

Consumer electronics giant Sony is set to lock horns with Apple as it launches a digital music player to rival the omnipresent iPod.

Hoping to steal some of the popular iPod’s thunder, the Japanese company confirmed yesterday it is launching its first portable hard disc player.

The 20GB Network Walkman HD1 will hit the shops across Europe this summer. Sony said that the disc player will be capable of storing 13,000 tracks.