Tokyo-based research firm BCN reports that Sony's devices too 47.8% of the portable music player market last month while Apple's devices took 44%. This is the first time Sony has overtaken Apple in its home market since BCN began publishing its survey results in 2001.

The figures do not include the iPhone within Apple's total sales in the market. Apple has just unveiled a radical overhaul of its iPod Shuffle, Nano and Touch devices in time for the Christmas market. ...