“The launch of Zune pitches Microsoft into direct competition with Apple but few think that, initially, it will have the clout to upset the dominance of iTunes and the iPod,” Mark Ward reports for BBC News.
“At launch Microsoft will only be offering one Zune player – a 30GB model with a 7.6cm colour screen and FM radio that comes in black, white or brown. Also at launch the Zune service will only offer music and associated art. Movies and TV shows will come later,” Ward reports. “‘They put a big screen designed for movies, but there are no movies for it,’ said analyst Rob Enderle. ‘That is a design mistake.'”
“Built in to every Zune device is a wireless music sharing system. The short range data swapping system lets Zune owners beam tracks, playlists and images to other Zune players nearby,” Ward reports. “Tracks shared in this way can be listened to three times or kept for three days before they disappear. This ability to share is at the heart of Microsoft’s ambitions for the player and the way it hopes to differentiate itself from what it dubs the ‘closed’ world of Apple’s iTunes.”
Full article here.
Microsoft has made their usual mistake. They looked around for something to differentiate themselves from Apple and hit upon “sharing.” That doesn’t mean it’s a desired feature by consumers. Ask yourself how many times you wished you could beam a song to a friend. Probably a few times, right? An odd time here or there for most, right? It gets worse. Now ask yourself how many times you wished you could beam a song to a friend that they could only listen to three times or keep for three days before it disappeared from their iPod. Never, right? Typical Microsoft: they do it because its possible – technology for technology’s sake – not because it’s a particularly useful feature and then they don’t do it very well at all. How do real humans share? It’s called “iPod jacking” and it’s decidedly less techno, but done far more often: you unplug your headphones from your iPod and plug into your friend’s iPod to hear the song. Done. Sharing accomplished. Now get off my iPod!
For this reason, and many others, Microsoft Zune will fail because Microsoft, as is their modus operandi, doesn’t know and/or care what the customer wants or what features would be good for the use.
Related articles:
BBC online poll asks ‘Will Microsoft’s Zune be a success?’ – September 15, 2006
Microsoft hypocrisy exposed with Zune: What ever happened to ‘choice?’ – September 14, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft Zune with fake scroll wheel ‘hardly an Apple iPod killer’ – September 14, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft Zune won’t spoil Apple’s biggest iPod Christmas ever – September 14, 2006
Microsoft unveils Zune 30GB player, Zune Marketplace; declines to disclose prices – September 14, 2006
Microsoft sees room in music player market for ‘Zune’ to challenge Apple’s dominant iPod – September 06, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft’s Zune an ‘underwhelming’ repackaged Toshiba Gigabeat; no threat to Apple iPod – August 30, 2006
Microsoft confirms brick-like Zune to be made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
Microsoft Zune is chunky brick made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
Microsoft to spend hundreds of millions, several years on Zune trying to catch Apple iPod+iTunes – July 27, 2006
Zune: Apple cannot lose. Microsoft cannot win. – July 26, 2006
The zune logo is the ugliest logo I have seen in years. It is also reminiscent of the old SGI logo, only done poorly. The old SGI logo was awesome.
A British company is developing computer chips which store music, to be implanted in women’s breasts. This is viewed as a major breakthrough as up until now, women have complained that men were staring at their breasts and not listening to them.
I gotta disagree. I’ve been hoping iPod would implement something similar to the Wi-Fi sharing model for years. Not beam-a-song (though I like that too), but the ability to make your music “available” wirelessly (or not, your choice) so that anyone within range could listen in on what you’re listening to, and if they like it, flag it for lookup and possibly purchase on iTMS.
I’ve seen so many people sharing a pair of earphones that the ability for anyone in your vicinity to just “tune in” and hear what you’re hearing would be great. And fun to “eavesdrop” on (willing) people on the bus, in the park, etc.
The MS version is different, but moving in the right direction, I think.
Zunes gonna suck!
iTunes has network sharing, which seems the more logical way of sampling other people’s music.
this i s bad but the zone mp4 player the wheel like apple is really low. not comfortable for my finger.
why no one talk like about this? the wheel too low! not comftable to hold in 1 arm and use the musics on it.
Wait for it: similar to people stealing info from your cellphone using bluetooth won’t be long before some kid with a laptop nearby sucks up your photos/songs. Of course,all bets point to Microsoft not addressing this weakspot…
@maybe
what… no “trusted computing” post macdude?
It comes in BROWN. That’s the biggest design mistake!!
Enderle is a classic. Speaking out two mouths at once. Read this:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-0609150150sep15,1,7931851.story?coll=chi-business-hed
“They designed it from the start for people to talk to other people,” said analyst Rob Enderle of the Enderle Group. “It could be very powerful.
[What does he mean by talking to other people?]
“But the device is a problem,” he added. “It’s not very stylish.
[True, diarrhea brown isn’t a great color. iPoop or iTurd? If it talks to other – Dingleberry?]
“And that’s what people are buying right now. With [Motorola’s] Razr, people bought it because it looked great, not because it was a great phone. And the Nano is a big seller for Apple because it’s thin and sexy, not because it’s the best iPod.”
[What is the best iPod?… I guess depends on what you need.]
Enderle, who held a Zune player during a recent meeting with Microsoft, said it looks better in person than it does in photos. “And it’s a much sturdier device than the iPod. It won’t break if you drop it.”
[I guess it the iBrick, now.]
How do real humans share? It’s called “iPod jacking” and it’s decidedly less techno, but done far more often: you unplug your headphones from your iPod and plug into your friend’s iPod to hear the song. Done
—————
LOL!!!!!!!! BRILLIANT MDN
HAHAHAH…
In the video they show two Zunes beaming.. wait a sec.. why not.. um.. here, give me your zune, i wanna hear that song!..
Wait, how about.. speakers..!
MDN gets it completely!! Technology for technology’s sake – so true. Technology is great, but we’re all humans first. Just because technology makes it possible, doesn’t mean we want it!
Here’s let me share this personally encoded song and pictures with you…a song I encoded myself…one that I just happened to add this teensy tiny little executable to…now, when you get home, be sure to sync it with your PC. OK?
MDN magic word – “open”. As in open yourself up to yet another virus vector.
Don’t underestimate Microsoft of the Zune. Microsoft is notorious from coming from behind and taking over an entire market.
They’ve done it before with:
– Microsoft Word
– Windows
– Internet Explorer
– PocketPC
– XBox
It’s very possible that Microsoft will eventually (not at first) take over the iPod. They are willing to spend BILLIONS to take over this market.
If I were Apple, I would be scared. Not because Microsoft is BETTER than Apple (that would NEVER be the case), but because Microsoft will OUTSPEND Apple to make sure that they are #1.
Apple’s been waiting to use the low-power mode of 802.11n, which of course awaits the ratification of that standard. 802.11b and g are power hogs for a handheld device.
MS, having decided it could no longer sit around and let Apple cement its stranglehold on the handheld player market, is rushing the Zune to market. Having cast around for a differentiator such as sharing, which unlike MDN I believe is a valid idea, it is rushing to use whatever technology it can, rather than wait for the right balance of technologies for the identified use case; the balance being between the device size, battery life, screen size, features, and price. And rather than fight to make sharing something desirable for the customer, it has bowed down to the music labels and accepted the ridiculous 3-play, 3-day constraint.
Have we heard of this before? Here are some prior examples of MS doing this same thing: Media Center, Media Center Extender, Origami, and maybe even the Tablet PC. (Does anybody talk about the Tablet PC anymore?) And there’s more on the software side because of Google. Anyway, these were all good and valid ideas that were poorly balanced in the initial MS product, which created a bad first impression in the eyes of the user, and thus, allowing for no realistic second chances.
I don’t jack my iPod. I’m
afraid it would get sticky.
Wireless sharing of songs with the 3 play/3 days limitation is not as personal as “iPod jacking”. It’s like sending an e-card instead of Hallmark. The wireless aspect takes away the personal interaction. And the 3 play/3 days limitation is idiotic. Does anyone remember a few years back there was this thing called Cybriko that does the social networking bit? Where are they now? Granted it’s bigger than the original Gameboy and doesn’t exactly play music; but the similarity is there. The best form of social networking is still person-to-person.
There is nothing wrong with the concept of a wi-fi enabled iPod, or the ability to share files. As the MDN take points out, it is how the concept is implemented by Microsoft that is a bit lame. If Apple ever releases an iPod with wi-fi, there would have to be some compelling reason for it at overrides the need for a bigger battery bigger size. Here are some reasons I keep hearing.
Wirelessly sync your iPod – That would make syncing a bit more convenient. But you still have to recharge your iPod (especially one that has wireless), so why not sync at the same time. Not that useful in real life.
Wirelessly share your music – That would be fun. But instead of running into this 3x DRM barrier all the time with Zune, Apple would probably make shared songs available (as many times as desired) only while the other iPod is within wireless range. That’s a restriction that makes sense to the user. It would be “iPod jacking” without the need to switch the headphone jack. Maybe not “compelling” but useful.
Wirelessly access to the iTunes Store – This would be compelling only if the wireless connection was the type used by mobile phones, not wi-fi. Apple could really open up its market for iPod if the iPod user did not need to use it with a Mac or PC. There are probably millions of folks who love music but not computers. Perhaps that’s what the long-rumored “iPhone” will do.
MacBill,
Xbox is still second by a lot. And though PocketPC killed Palm, the reconfigured Windows CE has yet to knock off Symbian for cell phones.
But I’d add Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint to your list. There are many other things where MS recovered to be in a competitive position, though not a dominant number 1.
to “BustingTheSkullsOfIdiots”
are you having a recursive moment?
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
…anyway I predict SJ will come up with a similar points system – it makes quite a bit of sense.
Should those that love the Zune be called “zoonotics”? Should their affection be called “zoonosis”? Try looking up the definitions of both.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
The wireless beam feature is stupid. How often is someone with one of these bricks going to be within a few feet of another poor fool who bought one?
maybe wrote:
“true, but it’s also the age when some sharp marketing can quickly change the game. not saying Microsoft can pull it off, but certainly there’s a big opportunity for them.”
errr, Microsoft and “sharp marketing” are Oxymorons
when was the last time you saw a great Microsoft ad?? whether print or TV?
take for example those inexplicable TV ads they’re running pushing “people_ready” business performance. just what the heck is that about?
compare and contrast (take your pick) of any Apple iPod or Mac ad.
case closed
It’s not the music and Zune is not the answer; Zune is the Trojan horse. What M$ are trying to do is repackage/rebuild the media PC idea that they’ve failed with so far. M$ are very scared that Apple will cement the living room with iTV and they will be locked out of that market, so they have to release something — even the half baked Zune system. It’s the whole system, not the device.
Apple should be worried.
And so should we. If M$ ever takes over the living room, it’s Monkey Boy dictating your rights to watch, listen, lease, *but not own* your entertainment.
“Resistance is futile!” M$ are going to outspend everyone to win this time. XBox is just a warm-up and Zune is just a place-holder.
No. Zune won’t do quite well.
It will bomb. Big time.