Engadget: Microsoft’s Zune software: ‘It sucks’

75 Comments

“When it comes to the hardware, we’re pretty much set; we all now know the Zune inside and out. But how it interacts with the software, the marketplace, etc. — that’s where the magic happens. Or doesn’t. We really wanted to give the Zune the benefit of the doubt. We hoped installing the Zune software and getting our player running would be as seamless and painless as getting iTunes and an iPod running on your machine, since that is, after all, what it’s up against. (Granted, not even iTunes is bereft of major problems on major releases.) Unfortunately, the reality of our experience with the first version of the Zune software this afternoon is much like that of many version 1 software experiences. It sucks. Read on to see what happened,” Ryan Block reports for Engadget.

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “RadDoc” for the heads up.]
We didn’t have any problems with iTunes 7. But, of course, we don’t bother trying to use Windows PCs, we use Macs.

Related articles:
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75 Comments

  8. Has anybody seen the ZUNE commercials yet? I saw one during the football game yesterday night (American Football, for those of you foreigners who don’t understand that .com websites are for those of us in the USA and would get confused about the football reference), and it was disguisting. For serious. Other than a really short clip of a brown one at the beginning, it didn’t even show a zune. It just showed some idiot playing music at a concert.

    The Zune is going to flop worse than anything.

    word

    Reply

  10. It’s really sad that the best the largest software company in the world can come up with to attempt to compete with the iPod/iTunes Store/iTunes is a stinking POS.

    As a consumer, I like when Apple gets good competition. That’s when we really see The Steve and co. rock hard!

    As a shareholder of AAPL, I will have to satisfy myself with more growth.

    Rock on Steve!
    ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”raspberry” style=”border:0;” />

    Reply

  14. I read the linked article, and THAT is incredible. The release of Zune tomorrow is going to be a “comedy of errors” indeed.

    I thought Microsoft was the “software” company and Apple was the “hardware” company. The truth is, Apple relies on great sofware to sell its hardware, so it is compelled to create amazing software. On the other hand, Microsoft relies on its Windows monopoly to sell its software, so it has no compelling reason to do anything great.

    I thought Apple would have trouble dealing with countless Windows PC configurations, after it released the Windows version of iTunes (not to mention QuickTime) a few years ago. Amazingly, Apple appears to do a significantly better job of writing Windows software than Microsoft.

    Reply

  17. Wow. That is both sad and hilarious at the same time.

    All of those screenshots remind me why I hate installing Windows – lots of unnecessary dialog boxes to click though. And requiring your phone number to register your Zune is just over the top.

    Reply

  19. > Engadget’s Zune will work tomorrow when the Zune Marketplace goes live.

    The software and Zune crashed the whole PC (numerous times). And these reviewers are so-called technology experts. Imagine relative computer novices with barely adequate malware-impaired PCs and dialup connections trying to install their Zune software. I think Tuesday November 14th 2006 is going down as the most embarrassing day in Microsoft’s history.

    Reply

  24. I can see “zuned” getting into people’s vocabulary, but in a very negative way – ie. in the same sense as “ripped-off”, “screwed” etc. etc.

    Man that bastard zuned me …
    He saw you coming. You were zuned.
    I can’t believe I got zuned even once by that prick – I won’t be zuned again.

    Reply

  31. Oh and for those thinking the Zune is like some kind of tough Russian tank ready to advance, well, it isn’t.

    It’s more like a Mr Whippy that my dog does after eating the wrong things ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”shut eye” style=”border:0;” />

    Reply

  32. I wonder what happened to the feature where MS would ‘buy’ or at least transfer your purchased iTunes songs to the Zube?

    It seems that MS wants to make more money out of selling your personal data from Zube registrations than they will make on the device itself. Add to this the salami factor of excess Zube points.

    Apple knew they had a hit because all the musicians who touched it said they really wanted one and were prepared to pay for it. Is it the same for the Zube? Not that I’ve heard.

    Also, I can now understand where each of the three iPod designs fits with very different consumer needs and why not all features (screens, movies, HD) are in all models, but where does the Zube fit?

    Its too big to fit in your pocket, the HD makes it unsuitable for jogging, it can’t plug into the TV, it has no podcasts useful for car trips. It seems to compete more with the Nano than the video iPod, but is more expensive and too bulky for a student. I want Apple to have competition, but this is not it.

    Magic Word ‘last’ as in “Will it…?”

    Reply

  33. Coule..

    Fucking brilliant. They used the Windows strategy for about 5 years and got NOWHERE.. and you’re saying.. watch out, they might use the Windows strategy….

    Get it?

    Windows doesn’t win because of quality, it wins because it runs on anything. That matters to corporate customers. (vendor lock-in)

    If anything this Zune thing will be the polar opposite of Windows’ success.

    Reply

  34. Hey the Zune software is actually pretty cool. It’s got this feature where it instinctively chooses usernames to suit what kind of person you are based on your age, address, name and phone number. If you scroll down a bit on that page you can see the editor, Ryan’s suggested ZuneTags:

    * TwinightRyan (sp)
    * UprightRyan
    * GrizzlyRyan
    * PraisedCloud
    * ScapularWorm and
    * HangingCheetah
    * PricyRacketeer
    * GutlessStudent
    * WontedSum
    * PeeweeDust

    Personally I think he should have gone with UprightRyan because he’s an upright kinda guy but don’t get me wrong ScapularWorm is pretty rockin!

    Reply

  36. Mike:

    They used the Windows strategy for about 5 years and got NOWHERE…

    90% of the desktops is NOT = NOWHERE in my humble opinion.

    MS has an own Zune, WindowsMediaPlayer and soon a decent (?) Webstore.

    Sounds to me they are following the Apple strategy…a cheap imitation then, as usual!

    Reply

  38. I’m watching CNN (6:25 am), Soladad O’brien introduces the business guy.

    He says “today we’ll look at Microsofts wannabe ipod killer, Zune. We’ll see (doubtful look on his face) if they got it righty…”

    Miles Obrien interupts “…doesn’t Microsoft have a history of doing that, coming in late….”

    Soledad: “…. I just got the little ipod thingy (holds fingers up to the camera, indicating holding somethingthe size of a book of matches)….”

    Business guy: “Oh, the ipod shuffle?”.

    Soledad: “Yes, and I LOVE IT”.

    Reply

  39. man this thing sucks *ss.

    i just want a photo of ONE person going into a shop and buying this steaming pile of crap.

    I just cant think who would do that, who would buy this dog turd wannabe?

    bring on the comparisons between iTunes/iPod and this thing.

    maybe people will start to see how far ahead Apple are in terms of software development and design.

    we cant even compare the hardware because microsoft didnt even have the balls to create their own. (whats new?)

    Reply

  40. All this attention given to a crappy device. Zune should not even be compared to the iPod. It should be compared (probably unfavorably) to the also-ran MP3 players. As soon as Zune can match up with a Sandisk, maybe it will become worthy of comparison to the iPod. All this Zune vs. iPod gives Zune undeserved status and free marketing.

    Reply

  44. re: They used the Windows strategy for about 5 years and got NOWHERE…

    90% of the desktops is NOT = NOWHERE in my humble opinion.

    MS has an own Zune, WindowsMediaPlayer and soon a decent (?) Webstore.

    Sounds to me they are following the Apple strategy…a cheap imitation then, as usual!

    —-

    THIS IS NOT THE CORPORATE SECTOR!

    The Consumer sector is A TOTALLY DIFFERENT beast to the corporate sector.

    Corporate needs:
    – Low cost pcs
    – Functionality (does it connect to my server etc)
    – Narrow minded IT vision
    – Style/looks and ease of use totally irrelevent

    consumer Market:
    – Style: is it desirable?
    – Is it ‘cool’?
    – Does it work
    – Is the cost competitive

    Being successful in the ‘grey’ corporate sector means fuck all in the comsumer sector.

    You cannot market a product in the same way hoping you will get the same success in the consumer sector as the corporate sector.

    THIS is Microsoft’s failure – they are thinking too narrow and think the consumer market is the same as the corporate market.

    Consumers are not idiots – they consider a purchase VERY carefully, wheras in the corporate sector ‘low price’ is normally the deal decision maker.

    Reply

  45. I thought the running commentary was rather funny. Later in the piece, someone commented that the ZUNE was “still better than…”, to shich I replied, comparing what the ZUNE is still better than is akin to comparing which breed of dog-crap is better to step in!

    MDN Word, corps, which is certain to be a typo for corpse (AKA ZUNE)

    Reply

  46. Zune= Toshiba Gigabeat + Aero Interface. More lipstick on a pig. Throw in the Zuney software and you have yourself a problem.

    Columbus Dispatch had article on the Zune going up against the iPod in the business section this morning. Basically an AP piece that the local people added a few paragraphs to. The typical Enderle quote, etc. They talked to the local Micro Store manager who said that they have had no interest or people asking about Zune. No Surprise there.

    Welcome to the Social(ly Inept)

    Reply

  54. Zune is the start of something big. You’ll see. Points instead of actual money, generous and flexible WiFi sharing, and Microsoft’s legendary focus on customer needs will push this thing through the roof.

    Continued excellence from Redmond. Thank you Microsoft!

    Reply

  56. Hmmm, after reading the Zune install process efforts, I just have to say that these MS lovers are just crazy.

    Restart,
    reload,
    reboot
    reboot
    re-set up
    reboot
    reconfigure

    Hey, they seem to like it.” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” /> Maybe brown is a good color for them. Just like a dog eating shit, it likes it Mikie!! LOL

    But for me, I just can’t figure it out. 🙁

    N.

    Reply

  58. WTH is with all the pictures throughout the installation process? it’s like some lengthy M$ handjob, only to find out at the end it’s been a build up to a swift kick in the junk.

    @chuck U Farley: you got it.

    MW: “love,” as in, “i’d LOVE to see this latest M$ abomination tank.”

    Reply

  59. Always Right & CNN PANs…

    Just watched the CNN news video about the zune…wow. Did Apple pay for that?

    CNN Anchor: after the tech reporter describes the only cool feature, (other than the Radio), wifi, and getting negative responses to what the wifi is capable of, the anchor sums it up: “Alot of fine print, there then”

    Other comments by the Anchors: “who do they [MS] think is going to buy this?”
    and “why would I buy that?” by the female anchor when she pulls out and attaches, her “oh my god” iPod shuffle to her lapel, with adjectives like gorgeous.

    The piece end with: “why dont they [MS] get some decent design people?”

    Apple can’t buy this kind of marketing and advertising.

    Reply

  62. “Zune Privacy statement online” … uh huh … right there I’d have a problem. “Zune account creation” … what’s it doing? “it looks like you can use your Zune Tag as your Xbox Live tag, and vice versa” … uh huh?

    Then after all of that…

    “But now we need a Windows Live ID too. Thankfully we had that in the form of a Hotmail account. Seriously though, how long is this going to go on?”

    Until you put in “Account Information,” including your phone number so Ballmer can scare you at night!

    And all the while crashing, crashing, crashing … until …

    “the icing on the cake is the crash our computer took after we hit this, causing our RAID 5 array to crap out and spend a few hours rebuilding.”

    Welcome to Hell!

    Reply

  63. Just watched the CNN piece. Actually, it seemed pretty honest and realistic for a ‘news’ show trying to inform its viewers, rather than be mindless mouthpieces for MS crap. Sure, Apple couldn’t have paid for better PR, but you can’t really fault the basic facts as delivered. For Apple, the truth is the best advertising.

    Reply

  64. There are still plenty of morons out there who will buy one of these (Funny one…) and then proceed to appoint themselves the resident Zune apologist.

    Happens with every crappy product.

    There are always those handful of clueless fools who buy anything made by MS, and actually believe that Windows is the superior OS.

    Reply

  65. Something just struck me.

    MS could be engaging in a set up.

    What if the Zune’s biggest feature (sharing… squirting?) has been incredibly hobbled with the intention of setting it free with a firmware update? What if this is part of the device fee deal MS has with Universal.

    MS pays a device fee in exchange for allowing Zune owners to freely and without any encumberence, share Zune store purchased Universal music.

    If this same arrangement were offered to other labels, Apple mught find itself in serious trouble, or at least in that part of the markey composed of people purchasing their first digital music player.

    Of course, Apple could then just offer to license FairPlay DRM to all the other music stores.

    MDN word: seemed. As in: Offering Universal a device fee seemed like a good idea.

    Reply

  67. When my 13 year-old daughter saw the Zune on the Today show this morning, she visibly shuddered at how ugly it is.

    I can’t believe MS was stupid enough to allow NBC to use a brown one on the air. It looked like a turd.

    MW = “state” as in “state of revusion” ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />

    Reply

  68. I’m hoping that Zunes don’t catch on fire, severely burning a kid’s face, or possibly burning down a retirement home, killing all of the Microsoft lovers who live there. I hope they don’t use the same batteries that Dell uses on their laptops. This would be a very poor start for such a product. Wouldn’t it?

    Reply

  69. “Engadget’s Zune will work tomorrow when the Zune Marketplace goes live.”

    It already did on a different PC. A 50% rate of installation success is amazing, though.

    “What if the Zune’s biggest feature (sharing… squirting?) has been incredibly hobbled with the intention of setting it free with a firmware update? What if this is part of the device fee deal MS has with Universal.

    MS pays a device fee in exchange for allowing Zune owners to freely and without any encumberence, share Zune store purchased Universal music. “

    They already say that they MIGHT, but the fine print says no guarantee. In other words, you’ll have to buy the 2G.

    While I’m sure that some WiFi features might be enabled in the future, Universal and Microsoft getting rid of DRM?!?!?! Are you mad? 3 plays over 3 days probably has the bean counters at Universal wringing their hands already.

    Reply

  71. I just came back from the future with a snippet from Engadget’s review of the upcoming Zune car connection kit:

    “…with all of the proper wires and hardware now connected, let’s plug in our Zune and head down the road…”

    “…okay, we only got halfway down the block and turned on our Zune when the car suddenly crapped out on us. Let’s try and safely pull over and restart the car…”

    “…okay, car started, let’s pull back out onto the road. Turn signal on…mother f-ing S#!T…okay, coast to a stop and try to restart car again…”

    Reply

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