“Reportedly surprised by Apple’s recent iPod price cuts, Microsoft this week announced that its upcoming Zune MP3 player will be priced at $249.99, the same price as the iPod model it most closely resembles. Microsoft also said it now plans to ship Zune in the US on November 14,” Paul Thurrott writes for WinInfo.
Thurrott writes, “Microsoft will be bolstering the device with a new online service called Zune Marketplace, where Zune users can browse and purchase songs for about 99 cents each. Unlike Apple’s iTunes service, however, Zune Marketplace will also offer a $14.99 monthly subscription called Zune Pass that gives subscribers access to all Zune Marketplace content.”
Over on Internet-Nexus, Thurrrott remarks on his own WinInfo piece. Incestuous narcissism notwithstanding, Thurrot’s comment is short and to-the-point, “This has the makings of a disaster. $14.99 a month is too much for a subscription service. The Zune is incompatible with both iTunes and every single WMA-based service on the planet. What the heck are these people thinking?”
Full article here.
Even if Zune was beautiful to look at, offered double the capacity of iPod at half the price, and actually offered some compelling feature that the iPod doesn’t have (and no, ridiculously-limited viral DRM Wi-Fi “sharing” with a Zuneless world and a crappy built-in FM radio don’t cut it), the Zune cannot win.
Steve Jobs holds all of the cards. He can welcome other companies of his own choosing into the iPod+iTunes ecosystem if they’re ever needed. Also-ran device makers would jump at the chance to play iTunes Store content and also-ran online media services would likewise line up for the chance to sell content for iPods – they would have jumped at the chance even before they were hung out to dry by Microsoft (Zune doesn’t support PlaysForSure, only Zune Marketplace).
Even though he almost certainly will not need to go so far, the option is there if he needs it. At any time he wishes, Steve Jobs can relegate Zune to nothingness, regardless of Microsoft’s efforts. This isn’t like the Mac, where we loyal Mac users simply would not let the platform die: there are no Zune users and there is no established Zune ecosystem to keep it alive if Apple decides to snuff it out. The Mac came well before Windows and built an ecosystem and a following that kept it alive despite small market share and through tough times. The Zune is coming late, far after the iPod. Imagine if Apple tried to launch the Mac today, with Windows firmly established: it just wouldn’t work at all, no matter how superior the product. And Zune isn’t superior: it’s bulkier and uglier with a fake click wheel, it costs slightly more than the same capacity 30GB iPod, and Zune’s features just aren’t compelling enough.
The fact that Microsoft is even trying this Zune thing in such a manner only highlights how desperately the company needs new management, focus, and direction. Why not just make a giant pile of money up there in Redmond and have a bonfire instead? You dopes would accomplish the same thing in the end.
There are some random articles floating around that simply don’t get it or don’t want to get it. Here and here are some articles to which you can apply this same “Take.”
Note to Microsoft: you should not launch faux “Zune fan” websites until after the product is actually released if you want anyone to think they’re really inspired by your product/service.
Related articles:
Analyst: Microsoft Zune’s as good as dead on arrival – September 28, 2006
Microsoft sets 30GB Zune price at $249.99 – September 28, 2006
How Microsoft’s Zune can kill Apple’s iPod – September 21, 2006
Microsoft’s Zune insanity – September 21, 2006
The Microsoft Zune 1.0 dud – September 20, 2006
Microsoft’s underwhelming Zune a ‘viral DRM’ device – September 18, 2006
SanDisk teams with RealNetworks against new common foe: Microsoft Zune – September 18, 2006
Creative does Apple’s dirty work by immediately attacking Microsoft’s Zune – September 17, 2006
Motley Fool’s Jayson: Microsoft’s ‘just plain ugly’ Zune a meager offering, not an iPod killer – September 15, 2006
What’s in a name? ‘Zune’ a French-Canadian euphemism for penis or vagina – September 15, 2006
Crave at CNET: ‘Microsoft Zune, all the excitement that brown can bring’ – September 15, 2006
Microsoft’s Zune underwhelms – September 15, 2006
Enderle: Microsoft Zune ‘a design mistake’ – 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
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
Computerworld review: ‘Apple’s new iPods are better than ever’ – September 27, 2006
PC Magazine’s 19th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards for MP3 players: Apple iPod line – September 25, 2006
USA Today reviews new Apple iPod nanos, updated iPods, iTunes 7 (each earns 4 stars out of 4) – September 21, 2006
Time Magazine’s Gadget of the Week: Apple iPod 80GB – September 21, 2006
CNET Editor’s Choice: Apple fifth-gen updated iPod – ‘best, most attractive iPod to date’ – September 20, 2006
Disney’s remarkable 1st week iTunes movies sales should have studios clambering aboard Apple train – September 20, 2006
Disney sells 125,000 movie downloads via Apple’s iTunes Store in first week – September 19, 2006
PC Magazine review: iTunes 7 ‘Apple’s best effort yet’ (4 stars out of 5) – September 15, 2006
CNET Editor’s Pick: Apple’s new 2G iPod nano – ‘sure to be top choice among wide range of users’ – September 14, 2006
Apple debuts new iPod in 30GB and 80GB with Hollywood movies, games and new lower price – September 12, 2006
Apple intros new iPod nano with new aluminum design in five colors and 24-hour battery life – September 12, 2006
Apple unveils new iPod shuffle: world’s smallest digital music player – September 12, 2006
Apple debuts iTunes 7 – September 12, 2006
Thanks for the credit MDN. Agreed it was us Mac Faithful who held up the Apple world until Steve returned.
It’s true, that without us hanging on tooth and nail to our Macs in the lean, near disaster years without Steve, Apple would not have survived. And it is also to our credit that while Apple was (and still is) busy advertising everything BUT the operating system (and iLife), the Faithful were (and still are) out there showing it off and influencing switchers as they are amazed over the OS and then want it for themselves.
Next month I’ll create yet another switcher, in fact it’s a business (which counts as a double M$ whammy!)
It’s those “Himalayan piles of cash” that allows Microslop the opportunity to just fart around and come out with crap, if it flies, great, if it sucks, oh well, it gets folded. There is no culpability. And in the case of Zune, little compatibility. Still, folks who know absolutely nothing geeky will be duped into buying a Zune.
Windows was not a well thought out design, Bill saw a chance and stole the keys to the car. Office was an early entry and became a defacto standard, but that too could change.
Microslop has been trying hard to find a new cash cow, and they’ll even try to buy one if they can.
I wouldn’t count out Sony or even Nintendo yet on the games front. WoW proves you don’t need a snazzy piece of hardware to soak up a huge pool of gamer eyeballs. I know a lot of gamer kids who have not bought new X360 machines and don’t really seem to have an interest in them yet.
Steve Jobs is the master. It must be like a big chess game to him. He has baited Microsoft into competing in the marketplace. Now he launches new product right before their launch with price breaks. As soon as the device ships in November, he will probably offer subscription based services. Microsoft stands to lose millions of dollars. And the blood letting will be worse if and when Apple opens iTunes store to selected players. Steve Ballmer will lose his job for sure when this is all done. The shareholders will demand it. And Bill Gates (on the board) will recommend it.
The Zune will be great for watching tallscreen movies.
Apple is revolutionary.
Microsoft is reactionary.
>>Apple better watch out, the Zune’s “wifi” ability and interface is a dead giveaway there are bigger plans for this device.
You give Microsoft WAY too much credit….
I think it’s far too early to declare Zune a failure or success. I don’t know why so many people are rushing to judgement about it. Obviously the Mac-friendly sites, such as this, have their own agenda in poo pooing any would-be challengers. Zune does look like an interesting device and future platform. No, it’s not an iPod, it’s not plays for sure friendly, and it’s more or less a total departure from their former strategy. But let’s at least see what they’re trying to do and judge things when the dust settles.
iPod needs a legitimate competitor. We should be trying to encourage competition. Not shoot it down before it even gets out of the gate with crap like “Even if Zune was beautiful to look at, offered double the capacity of iPod at half the price, and actually offered some compelling feature that the iPod doesn’t have (and no, ridiculously-limited viral DRM Wi-Fi “sharing” with a Zuneless world and a crappy built-in FM radio don’t cut it), the Zune cannot win.”
“Subscriptions don’t work…”
Yea, tell that to Comcast, Sirius and the countless others who get you to pay $$$$ each month. America is built upon repeat business, and subscriptions for entertainment is a classic way since at the end of the day you haven’t actualy got anything when the service is disconnected (compared with magazine subscriptions for example)
Zune’s model will appeal to a certain type of people, perhaps people who think they get a lot for very little outlay. And it’ll appeal because it’s not Apple.
I think MS have a reasonable shot at the iPod with this device. Apple misstepped with the latest release of iPods. I’m sure the full screen iPod is held up due to technical problems. But in the lastest round, the screen should have been bigger at least (yea, yea, Zune’s screen is only .5″ larger but still why give competitors an edge?) and this FM radio thing – would it really kill them to include one? I would love to have one in my iPod, even if it’s just to give me something else to listen to occasionally.
Remember that endorsing of Microsoft by BBC? Well, the headline “Microsoft announced Zune pricing” is hanging surprisingly presistently on my BBC RSS feed, even when newer stories are already dropped off it.
Hmmm…
As I understand it, Zunes’s ability to share music is limited to “promotional” tracks. In other words… only those tracks that record companies allow to be shared. So you can forget about sharing that great oldie, bluegrass, or whatever track that will never be available as a “promotional” track! Another Micro$oft “innovation” that is stillborn!
I’m surprised MS has not made Zune a baby version of Windows, something like Windows MM (Multi Media or Mobile Media) and empowered it with a START button, you know, some of the pillars of Microshit rolled into this little pocket sized player. Oh sorry, I guess that might have been clever.
It’s a fine line between clever and stupid.
I gotta say it will be fun watching Zune not even beat sandisc.
Some thoughts on the article at ComputerWorld…
“The initial version will sport a 30GB hard drive, peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connectivity, a 3-in. screen,… an FM tuner… and a built-in nonreplaceable lithium-ion rechargeable battery (that) won’t last as long as the iPod, but it will charge faster.”
Sorry, I’m more interested in how long it plays than how long it doesn’t. And with all of the chargers (computer, home, car)… charging time on an iPod is not a problem, the important thing is how long will it play.
“Zune will connect to an iTunes-like music store called the Zune Marketplace…”
To call it iTunes-like is a bold statement, lots have claimed such a site, no one has delivered.
“Best of all, Zunes will be able to connect to one another wirelessly…”
So if you happen to come across another Zune user someday, y’all can share Star Trek clips. How many people who are going to buy this square turd have the same taste in music as you?
“At least in the initial release, Zune’s Wi-Fi won’t connect to a network. It’s peer-to-peer only.”
In other words, this is absolutely useless for loading or updating.
“The Zune PC connection software requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or Windows Vista, so Macintosh owners can’t use it.”
Neither can Linux users, I’m guessing. Talk about a closed system. On the other hand, which Macintosh user would want to? (Except maybe Bill Gates.)
“Zune will import songs from Apple’s iTunes “as permitted by the online service from which it was purchased,” according to Microsoft.”
Which is to say that it will not be capable of playing songs purchased from iTunes.
“Microsoft will sell three Zune bundles: a $79.99 Zune Car Pack will ship with a car charger, a $99.99 Zune Home A/V Pack will come with cabling and wireless accessories for connecting to televisions and stereo systems, and a $99.99 Zune Travel Pack will feature high-quality earphones, a remote, a carrying case, and a cable for PC synchronization.”
Are they serious? Please tell me I’m reading this wrong. They want $250 for the brick and then they want you to shell out between $80 and $100 for the charger, sync cable and headphones? Whatever they smoke in Redmond is Good Stuff.
“Compared with Apple’s latest iPod, the Zune is a slightly larger, slightly heavier, slightly less elegant device.”
I would take exception to the “slightly” part, but otherwise, I’ll let this go as he wrote it.
“Microsoft will make the movement of media between Windows, Soapbox and the Zune natural and seamless.”
Sure, Microsoft will make the communication between two things it made “seamless”. Come on, who remembers “Plug & Pray”?
“Tweens, teens and twentysomethings have acquired the habit of feverishly sharing videos and songs.”
Too bad for Microsoft they haven’t acquired jobs that allow them to blow $350 on a second rate player when Daddy can buy them an iPod (you know the cool one) for as little as $80 and a way cool nano for $200, if they need video (and who doesn’t?) Mom can pony up $250 for a 30GB iPod and buy a case, and speakers without spending the extra $100 Microsoft will milk from them.
“Zune is actually pretty cool.”
If he had just stated this earlier, I would have dismissed him as being out of touch with reality and not bothered to read the rest.
“Apple has been relatively successful at winning converts from Windows to Mac OS X, for example, in part because its whole product line basks in the glow of iPod’s success, hipness and ubiquity.”
Apple has been successful because Windows SUCKS and Mac OS is amazing. The iPod had the halo effect Steve predicted and made people notice. This article states that Microsoft can reverse this effect and draw people to Zune, but if iPod works amazingly great and everyone loves it, the conclusion is flawed.
Just some quick thoughts… His piece was labeled as opinion, so I figured mine could be too.
~M
the computer world ‘take’ written by a windows mag editor is pure tosh.
Zune needs vista – not available or XP Pro & SP2 – not exactly what young jimmy has on his home PC.
It has wireless peer to peer connectivity – wow. so does the PSP and the PSP has a much much bigger screen. And I’m always bumping into people on street corners swapping or sharing files pictures and video. If it can’t connect wirelessly to a network its next to useless.
When Apple finally release their true video ipod the Zune will be killed stone dead – if it isn’t already dead by then.
anyone believe Apple is going to keep quiet until the end of the holdiay season just to watch MS bleed to death – because they are set to loose on everyone they sell or to watch it bomb?
I can’t wait until they start breeding… chubby little Zunelets, scampering around with their funny little broken clickwheels, hoisting themselves up on their little FM antennae to see if there’s another Zunelet nearby… chattering excitedly on their wireless for 5 minutes or so until their batteries die and they collapse in a heap.
MW club — gonna be fun clubbing these things to death like the helpless little baby seals they are.
FUDsucker Proxy,
Why don’t you… drop by the Yacht Club?
Mmmwwwwaah? Mmmwwwwaah?
The hotel is booked, please stop inquiring for room. Almost nothing can be ascertained at this time. Ask again later. A clown shedding tears may wind up in arrears. Zune to be revealed as poseur.
Mmmwwwwaah?
“Jobs can relegate Zune to nothingness, regardless of Microsoft’s efforts. “
This might be true if most people where not just loading their players up with stuff sourced from places other than the iTunes store.
“it’s bulkier and uglier with a fake click wheel, it costs slightly more than the same capacity 30GB iPod, and Zune’s features just aren’t compelling enough.”
That remains to be seen. It’s not sufficiently larger to be right off the pace, and does have that nice big screen. I think you’ll be surprised by the effectiveness of the wireless part. I for one can’t wait until somebody creates a wireless vehicle adapter for the Zune, and a wireless connection to your home stereo (Carry the Zune around like a remote). Plugging an MP3 player in to the vehicle or docking it on a mini boombox will be so last year.
And you can bet that this first effort is a “get something out there now” effort. The next versions will be smaller, lighter, higher capacity.
“Imagine if Apple tried to launch the Mac today, with Windows firmly established: it just wouldn’t work at all, “
And even being there now, it’s not going to work long term. Like it or not, Apple is taking step after step to becoming a Windows PC vendor.
“It’s not sufficiently larger to be right off the pace, and does have that nice big screen.”
The Zune is 44% bigger in volume than the 5.5G iPod, and is also much heavier. Since when a 3″ screen is considered big? 2.5 or 3″… it’s all small screens to me. The most popular iPod is the nano which is a fraction of the Zune’s size. People will take a 4 Gb iPod over a 30 Gb (at the same price) just for the form factor. Most people don’t care about video, most don’t care about Wi-Fi either.
” I think you’ll be surprised by the effectiveness of the wireless part.”
Do you work for Microsoft? How do you know it’s effective? We already know how limited it is. It imposes severe limitations on sharing even on tunes you own the copyright for. The Zune will act as a small prison for tunes you share, and those will be given a death sentence after 3 days or plays. And don’t try to rescue those tunes, the Zune will be a secure vault.
” I for one can’t wait until somebody creates a wireless vehicle adapter for the Zune, and a wireless connection to your home stereo (Carry the Zune around like a remote). “
Remember that turning on Wi-Fi on the Zune will reduce the battery life to something like 2 hours. Also, Wi-Fi could not stream audio directly to a car radio, it would need a special dongle.
“Plugging an MP3 player in to the vehicle or docking it on a mini boombox will be so last year.”
This is ridiculous, tell me why do you really need wireless connection for your vehicle, it’s not like it’s going anywhere else than inside of it… Essentially, you’re too lazy to plug it?
You talk like Apple never thought about adding a wireless connection to iPods…
Apple already has patents for synching iPods wirelessly. The reason why Apple doesn’t do it now is that the technology is not ready.
1. It would add too much bulkiness to iPods (44%?)
2. Wi-Fi usage reduces battery life by a large amount, you’d drain your battery up while synching, which is the opposite of a wired synch, which charges the battery.
3. The majority of the population is not interested in sharing music wirelessly, they are pretty content with having their own music on their iPods.
“Since when a 3″ screen is considered big?”
It’s very big in comparison. The ratio difference is about the same as the difference between a 14″ screen and a 17″ screen. Tell me that a 17″ doesn’t seem significantly bigger than 14″ to you…
“People will take a 4 Gb iPod over a 30 Gb (at the same price) just for the form factor”
Sure, and that’s great for them. Others will buy the Zune for the extra features.
For me, either would be slimmer than my 60GB iPod photo, which is 0.76″ thick, and by the way, which I’m not racing to replace with a slightly thinner 5G one.
“Also, Wi-Fi could not stream audio directly to a car radio”
Hence the need for a wireless vehicle adapter.
“Essentially, you’re too lazy to plug it?”
I don’t feel a need to plug it if I dont have to. Same as I like not having to plug my notebook into a hub to use the network.
Same as I really don’t feel a need to plug in a cellphone (Blackberry, WinCE etc) to synch mail, contacts and calendar to it. It just happens.
“wired synch, which charges the battery”
Personally I’m as happy to drop a device into a charging cradle that doesn’t have to be cabled to anything other than the wall and have it synch up wirelessly.
I can also see the potential that any other device on a home wireless network could use it as a music server should it choose to.
I can imagine walking around the house with it in my pocket, streaming music to the stereo system, with a full user interface on the “remote”.
“the Zune will be a secure vault.”
Now suddenly Microsoft can make something that’s secure?
“why Apple doesn’t do it now is that the technology is not ready.”
Perhaps Microsoft just made it ready.
And perhaps you are full of crap.
Why do people (who yak endlessly about the next iPod killer) continue to think that Apple is standing still on improving the iPod?
If they can innovate and improve in the vacuum that lack of competition provides, stands to reason they will continue to do so.
Actually, vacuum is apt, since Apple has been able to cut off the air to several would-be contenders already!
“The ratio difference is about the same as the difference between a 14″ screen and a 17″ screen.”
LOL. Ratio difference?? Inches are size, ratio is same for both diagonals.
Let’s look at the specs:
iPod: 2.5″ QVGA, 320 by 240 pixel resolution
Zune: 3″ QVGA, 320 by 240 pixel resolution.
So, the Zune has a bigger screen by 0,5 inch, but then it has the same amount of pixels, so you won’t be able to put more information on it.
“I can imagine walking around the house with it in my pocket, streaming music to the stereo system, with a full user interface on the “remote”.”
Apart from the fact that the Zune doesn’t have that functionality, I can imagine draining your batterie pretty quick.
“ratio is same for both diagonals.”
The ratio of the length of the diagonals.
“So, the Zune has a bigger screen by 0,5 inch, but then it has the same amount of pixels, so you won’t be able to put more information on it.”
So a 20″ HDTV has the same number of pixels as a 70″ one. Yet nobody (except you)would contend that the 20″ HDTV gives as good a media experience as a 70″ one.
A 17″ laptop screen of 1280×1024 resolution is still better then a 14″ one with the same resolution.
Enjoy your Apple equivalent of the 20″ TV.
“Apart from the fact that the Zune doesn’t have that functionality,”
Actually it does. It’s called “Another Zune”, although I’m not sure I’d want to buy two just to use it in the way described.
Microsoft also has a thing called Xbox which, with a little software could receive such audio, as would building a piece of software for any Windows PC. Furthermore, building a small standalone reciever would be cheap and easy to do. Not a huge leap.
Zune can play new Video files fine. The only problem is when the Video needs lots of resources, so the CPU of Zune is not capable of playing it. Then the PC software transcodes the videos and uploads it to the Zune device.
You canf find the official answer on this on http://www.zunester.com at the: “Zune’s transcoding feature – ‘splained!” thread.
[url=http://www.Zune-Online.com]http://www.Zune-Online.com[/url]