“Microsoft’s iPod-rivaling Zune digital media player – still rumoured to eventually include games capabilities – won’t launch in the UK until at least the end of 2007, a year after the US launch,” Andrew Wooden reports for MCV.
Wooden reports, “Although the device is on track for release in the US on November 17th, it will miss the lucrative Christmas market in the UK and Europe this year and possibly next. One reason for the delay is reported to be that Microsoft has had no one to head up a UK and European launch.”
Full article here.
So much for world domination. And, come on, “iPod-rivaling?” Our sainted aunts. We can give you 68 million reasons why Zune is not “iPod-rivaling” … 69… 70…
The more we learn abut Zune – the half-baked hardware, software, and business plan – the more we become convinced that Microsoft really wants Zune to fail for some reason. Perhaps they think a Zune failure will help to somehow force Apple to open FairPlay or maybe they need a tax write-off? Then, again, Microsoft does show all the signs of classic mismanagement with a pure bozo running the show, so it is quite possible that they are just amping up their suckage level to new heights.
Related articles:
JupiterResearch: Apple’s iPod will dominate for foreseeable future; Microsoft’s Zune insignificant – October 25, 2006
Ellen DeGeneres Show gives away Microsoft Zunes, studio audience goes berserk – October 23, 2006
More Microsoft Zune myths explored – October 20, 2006
Five more Microsoft Zune myths – October 18, 2006
Microsoft Zune intensifies chaos in Apple iPod+iTunes also-ran market – October 16, 2006
Newsweek Q&A: Apple CEO Steve Jobs discusses iPod’s impact, Microsoft’s Zune, and more – October 15, 2006
Microsoft’s Ballmer: Zune device not money loser, wishes Apple’s 30GB iPod was $299 instead of $249 – October 11, 2006
Microsoft’s consumer electronics track record: long string of failures – October 11, 2006
MP3.com founder: ‘Zune will be an expensive failure for Microsoft because consumers aren’t stupid’ – October 06, 2006
Microsoft fails to secure key Zune domains – October 04, 2006
Microsoft rigs Zune with tricky pricing and proprietary money schemes – October 03, 2006
Why Microsoft’s Zune won’t kill Apple’s iPod – October 03, 2006
10 Apple iPod vs. Microsoft Zune myths – October 02, 2006
Analyst: Zune could lead to ‘civil war’ between Microsoft and Windows Media partners – September 29, 2006
Thurrott on Microsoft’s Zune: ‘The makings of a disaster, what the heck are these people thinking?’ – September 29, 2006
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
Apple’s taken iPod+iTunes to an entirely different level; iPhone will be like supertrain – October 21, 2006
AP: Apple’s new iPod, iPod nano, iPod shuffle ‘clearly worth the wait’ – October 19, 2006
Apple announces iPod nano (PRODUCT) RED Special Edition, iTunes (PRODUCT) RED gift card – October 13, 2006
Apple iPod games reviewed – October 06, 2006
Mossberg: Apple’s new iPod+iTunes are ‘better products at better prices’ – October 04, 2006
The Washington Post: ‘New competitors can’t measure up to Apple’s iPod’ – September 30, 2006
Computerworld review: ‘Apple’s new iPods are better than ever’ – September 27, 2006
Review: Pac-Man for iPod – September 27, 2006
PC Magazine’s 19th Annual Readers’ Choice Awards for MP3 players: Apple iPod line – September 25, 2006
Thurrott reviews Apple’s iTunes 7: ‘the best software-based media jukebox I’ve ever used’ – September 22, 2006
USA Today reviews new Apple iPod nanos, updated iPods, iTunes 7 (each earns 4 stars out of 4) – September 21, 2006
CNET Editor’s Choice: Apple fifth-gen updated iPod – ‘best, most attractive iPod to date’ – 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
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV model ‘the gold standard for the digital home of the future’ – September 12, 2006
What’s new in Apple’s iTunes 7 – September 12, 2006
Analyst Gartenberg: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV ‘will be hard for other players to match’ – September 12, 2006
Apple debuts iTunes 7 – September 12, 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
I’ll hold my breath until then.
Another year of iPod and iPhone sales in Europe will make Microsoft’s job so much easier.
We Europeans don’t like that shitty brown, Microsoft knows that.
They are investigating how to make other colours.
Looks like I’m gonna have to wait until 2008 then, I don’t want an iPod because they don’twork on the top of Everest.
My prediction is that they will get to the UK earlier than that. They have to ship those unsold US Zunes to somewhere.
To be fair, the iPod is NOT a big thing here in Europe. Mobile phones with a couple of Gb worth of storage are much more common. The market of ignorants is wide open to M$’ advertising.
@ Emil: I don’t know where you live, but right here I see a lot of white earbuds.
idiot! you think Zune will work on the top of mountain? every single device has limitation in term of temperature, altitude, pressure, etc. Zune is not rule out. so go ahead to wait for stupid browny shit! then I will grab new video ipod then.
Hey, what happens when you throw a Zune at Ballmer?
The shit hits the only fan…
Problem is MS and its leaders believe their own hype and/or press releases!
Emil talks crap. Go on the London Underground in rush hour and half the people have iPods. Apple’s sales for iPod and Macs in Europe are huge and growing fast (40% of Apple’s sales are outside USA).
Saying that, UK is by far Apple’s strongest country in Europe; the French, Germans, Italians, and Kazakhstanis are behind.
The UK is the most important European market for MP3 players, iPod is currently leader (by a long way), and Microsoft aren’t planning to launch ZUNE until Q1-2008. Why?
Apparently it’s because Microsoft can’t hire anyone to spearhead ZUNE’s UK and European launch.
Microsoft has 71,000 employees and can’t find someone (from inside or outside the company) to lead the launch of a copycat consumer product?
This means one of two things. Either (1) the Zune is so bad that nobody is willing to ruin their career by having it on their resume or (2) Microsoft is actually expecting this thing to be a complete failure and aren’t willing to put much money into launching it on a global scale.
The other thing to consider is how long it took Apple to negotiate rights with record studios for foreign markets. Microsoft may not be able to offer any coontent overseas for another year.
edward,
I think it was sarcasm….
But I may be wrong, but I highly doubt it.
Take it easy edward, Jim was beeing cynical and referring to an earlier article from some ‘real’ idiot complaining about just that, the iPod not working on top of Everest. The article actually finance by iriver. So cool down.
@ Emil: idem for me, white earbuds are common in France
Got a trade magazine right here that says they have internally appointed a head of Zune International who will be looking at finding someone to fill this role.
Another problem is that they “haven’t yet selected a music store provider to build Marketplace in the UK, which means we’re a way off launch” said Dene Schonknecht, Microsoft Media and Entertainment Alliance Manager.
Peterson had to wait once!
Looks like the U.K. got lucky.
I just made a Space Shuttle-rivaling paper airplane.
MW: ‘placed’ (directly into landfill)
MDN: Love the new photo of Ballmer.
<sarcasm> It’s the most intelligent looking picture of him yet! </sarcasm>
In other news, Microsoft’s earning and revenues increased more than predicted. I thought MDN would have flagged that one since there definitely seems to be an obsession with Microsoft on this web site.
Well, so much for Microsoft’s impending demise.
Kazakhstan in Europe now is it? Talk about continental drift
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Unless Apple licenses FairPlay, the Zune will gain traction in Europe despite being the steaming pile it is. All our media streaming services are being wrapped in Windows DRM. TV show downloads from the channels likewise.
And thanks to Apple’s US-only attitude, once again UK and European Mac users are being left out in the cold.
American Mac users don’t realise just how frequently Apple shits on its international users.
Does anyone think the Zune is actually going to last that long? I doubt even Microsoft is willing to loose that much money!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />
“Microsoft Zune unlikely to hit UK until 2008”
lucky them.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”blank stare” style=”border:0;” />
I’m with Kazman — Zune will never get there because it will fail long before then.
Damn only another year for Apple to bring out another generation of ipods……….
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”smile” style=”border:0;” />