Pixo founder helps Samsung

Every time someone comes out with an iPod that looks adequate, the media proclaims that it is an iPod killer. So far the iPod is alive and shows no signs of impending death. Samsung, taking a cue from Apple, has hired Paul Mercer's new company to build the UI for their latest MP3 player called the YP-Z5 (oh that's catchy).

Who is Paul Mercer, and why should you care? Well, he started a little company Pixo, after working for Apple. If you aren't familiar with Pixo it is the company that Apple hired to design the UI for the iPod (and it has since been bought by Sun). What does this all mean? Maybe, just maybe, the YP-Z5 won't have a horrific interface.

Will it kill the iPod? I doubt it, but you can never tell in this crazy tech marketplace.