“Last year, when Microsoft Corp. introduced its Zune music player to take on Apple’s iPod juggernaut, the software giant struck out,” Walter S. Mossberg and Katherine Boehret report for The Wall Street Journal.
“But Microsoft is nothing if not persistent, and this week, the company is back with a second, improved round of Zunes,” Mossberg and Boehret report.
“Unfortunately for Microsoft, Apple hasn’t been standing still, either. It now has its own large-screen, wireless model, the iPod Touch, with a radical ‘multi-touch’ interface like the iPhone’s. The screen on the Touch is larger than the one on the bigger Zunes and is much sharper. Its Wi-Fi allows you to browse the Web, watch YouTube videos and even buy music without a PC — none of which is possible on a Zune — though the Touch is $50 more and holds much less content than the new full-size Zune,” Mossberg and Boehret report.
“Microsoft’s new Zunes are directly aimed at the iPod Classic, Apple’s full-size, high-capacity model, and the iPod nano, its compact version. But, here again, Apple has been on the move. The 80-gigabyte Classic, which costs the same as the 80-gigabyte Zune, is slimmer than the Zune and has a flashy new interface, if a smaller screen. And the eight-gigabyte nano, which costs the same as the eight-gigabyte Zune, now plays videos and is much smaller — yet has a larger screen,” Mossberg and Boehret report.
“In addition, Apple has spiffed up its iTunes software, adding various features, including the addictive Cover Flow, which allows you to flip through all your albums with just a flick of the mouse. Cover Flow also shows up on the nano, the Classic and the Touch. Even the new Zune PC software has no interface as compelling,” Mossberg and Boehret report. “And Apple still trounces Microsoft in the selection of media it sells. The iTunes store offers more than six million songs, about double what the Zune Marketplace offers, and dwarfs Microsoft’s selection of Podcasts and music videos, as well. Plus, Zune Marketplace still doesn’t sell any TV shows, movies or audiobooks, while iTunes does.”
“Microsoft has greatly improved the Zune hardware and software this time. But it seems to be competing with Apple’s last efforts, not its newest ones,” Mossberg and Boehret report.
Full article here.
M$ thinks in the past, not the future. That’s okay!
The main problem seems to be that apart from not actually matching Apple’s products, they’re not even offering an overal solution that works. It’s still a hodge podge of ideas, it’s not coherent in the way iPod + iTunes have been since pretty much day 1. Apple have constantly improved on an already fully functioning set of systems. Microsoft (and others) haven’t pulled everything together in the same way.
Too little, too late as always.
Magic Word: “half”
“In the past, Apple has generally understated its battery claims, while last year, Microsoft overstated its claims.”
Nah…. Say it isn’t so. Microsoft- overstate???
So when Apple comes out with a full PDA will that be strike three for MS – and then will MS please go away – Please! Just go away… If you love MS products that’s okay by me, but could you please go away and use your product choices somewhere where I don’t have to be affected by your product choices any more – Please!
Why won’t MS just go away?
The zune blows
In other words, Microsoft is doing what it always has done.
No wonder mediocrity reigns.
Thank gawd for Apple.
Good article, unlike the crap that has been posted on Wired site. Really, I use to like reading Wired mag but what a joke it has turned into. See for yourself, they said:
“In contrast, Apple, its fleeting dalliance with Motorola aside, is mostly sticking to its old, sandboxed ways. The company makes all the hardware and software that works with iTunes and its Mac operating system, and hasn’t bothered to create iTunes widgets for increasingly popular social networks. Microsoft, perhaps correctly, sees these openings as ways to increase Zune’s market share.”
http://www.wired.com/gadgets/portablemusic/news/2007/11/zune_strategy
OMG! Who would write this? Even worse, who would print it? Wired, that’s who.
What was Steve Job’s quote from the end of the last SF Macworld?
‘See where the puck is going, not where it’s been or already is?’
– Wayne Gretzky
Some companies actually innovate, some follow………….
and some follow year later with inferior products, Microsoft
(why the heck did Bill Gates name is company after his penis???)
Apple now needs to unleash the new “iPod Touch Me Deluxe” with a free subscription to either Hustler or Playboy.
Lets see M$ top THAT!!!
MD Word “zipper” How appropriate!
Gates is skating to where the puck was last year.
Zune Tang, your table is ready…
Microsoft is the RCA of computing. Yeah they’re everywhere but everything they produce is marginal at best. Sears would be so proud!
NEWS FLASH!!!
Mossberg likes Apple! Also, sky is blue, and water found to be wet!!!
Film at eleven!!!
@ FUDsucker Proxy
No, Gates is asking “What’s hockey?”
@ Woody
Is it a big-ass table?
“But it [microsoft] seems to be competing with Apple’s last efforts, not its newest ones”
as usual… nothing new about that. guess that’s what happens when u use your competition as your R&D;.
ZuneTang is still waiting for his Zune 2.0 to sync all his Michael Bolton tunes……….and get all that sexy artwork on his Zune.
@ Mr. Peabody: full PDA? May I mention iPhone, have you heard of it? What will this “full PDA” do that an iPhone doesn’t do now, and certainly after the SDK rolls out?
@ C1: You know it!
Zune Tang must be on vacation.
errr, sorry, microsoft has a new zune?
mw: i hadn’t “heard.” guess that shows you how impressive it is….
Engadget isn’t too impressed, either.
http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/13/new-zune-review-better-than-before-but-not-quite-good-enough/
Talk about changing your stripes!!!
Reading Walt’s review of Zune, I felt there was a generation gap. He praises Zune for having a radio tuner – how quaint. For me, the reason for an iPod was to avoid having to listen to the radio. He also doesn’t clarify whether or not DRM plays a significant role in the Zune store, and whether or not music purchases stop working if the subscription is dropped. In my opinion, people Walt’s age may adore listening to the radio; people of the Web age want more control, and less restriction. I’m also puzzled why MS introducing the Zune again is described as taking on the iPod juggernaut. It feels like an attempt to inject way more significance to what MS does than actually exists.
I know three people with Zunes. Two of them work at Microsoft, and the third was given a zune by his neighbor that works at Microsoft (apparently, the neighbor has a several just sitting around that he can’t even sell).
Was watching Fox news 11:15 AM CST and both presenters had MPBs! The Apple logo was really highlighted.