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Microsoft Announces 2nd Generation Zune Music Player
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Don't know if this has been mentioned, the WiFi syncing is not automatic unless the Zune is plugged into a charging source. You can always do a manual WiFi sync without a power source.
This seems to almost miss the point of WiFi Syncing. If I have to manually start it or dock it to a power source, I might as well just dock it.
This seems to almost miss the point of WiFi Syncing. If I have to manually start it or dock it to a power source, I might as well just dock it.
I think they look great and that's a very good thing. The iPod needs some healthy competition. It drives companies to make better products and drops prices.
Your forgot professional division. Server 2003, SQL server and MSDN now it's about a third of their revenue today. Actually you're right. The tactics of Microsoft is to copy something, and bring 80% of performance of this product for only 30% of the price. In my opinion it's very important for the market. No matter who invents something, the matter is who can bring it to the market and make it affordable. Apple invented PC but MS and IBM brought it to average consumer. Without tens of millions housewives who could use their win95 and win98 machines web still was an experimental toy.Now we need someone, probably Microsoft again, who will copy iPhone and will bring it to the market in normal, unlocked and unlimited way
i'm not sure about the actual device, although i've heard it's pretty good, but the name just stucks, it's just like what people say about M$ it's just trying to milk the sucess of the iPod, i HATE products that put an "i" in front of the name because they no it's what apple does, it's like their little signature, it may not be a great signature but it is something that you associate with apple.
So when a company uses the "i" it's like they're just trying to milk the sucess of apple instead of making up their own thing.
iPods sold around 10m in each of the last two quarters, and 21m in the last holiday/Christmas quarter. Over the last 12 months, iPods have outsold Zunes by a ratio of 42 to 1.
Of course, there are cheaper iPods, so the comparison isn't exact; but really, Sandisk is the true number 2 we should all be discussing (except that it's just so much fun to insult Microsoft, isn't it?
)I suppose, Microsoft, if was aware of your existence, will think about you bad way, tooiPods sold around 10m in each of the last two quarters, and 21m in the last holiday/Christmas quarter. Over the last 12 months, iPods have outsold Zunes by a ratio of 42 to 1.
Of course, there are cheaper iPods, so the comparison isn't exact; but really, Sandisk is the true number 2 we should all be discussing (except that it's just so much fun to insult Microsoft, isn't it?
iRiver actually predates the iPod. First one came out in 2000. Still hold 50% share in South Korea, where they come from.
However, they may have been seeking to copy the iMac moniker.
The zune
Its another M$ scam.
You start a crappy 'zune division', you pump tons of cash into it, which all disappears into 'development and research and set-up' and this enables you to get cash out of the company, ie rip off the shareholders.
The zune, for example, IS a toshiba gigabeat, slightly warmed over.
These million zunes somehow are 'sold' - but we never see the frickin things...
I dont think most people realise what a bunch of stinking thieves the management at M$ are.
As for their stupid products - I presume its posted here so we can have fun slagging them off.
If I had a zune as a gift, I would set fire to it and chuck it off a cliff and watch it crash and burn.
If I actually purchased a zune I would seek immediate psychiatric help.
M$ represent All that is bad in our world, the lies, the ugly side of humanity.
They lose billions of dollars every year on their weird 'products' and crap like MSN and Xbox - its a frickin scam, fer crying out loud!
Its another M$ scam.
You start a crappy 'zune division', you pump tons of cash into it, which all disappears into 'development and research and set-up' and this enables you to get cash out of the company, ie rip off the shareholders.
The zune, for example, IS a toshiba gigabeat, slightly warmed over.
These million zunes somehow are 'sold' - but we never see the frickin things...
I dont think most people realise what a bunch of stinking thieves the management at M$ are.
As for their stupid products - I presume its posted here so we can have fun slagging them off.
If I had a zune as a gift, I would set fire to it and chuck it off a cliff and watch it crash and burn.
If I actually purchased a zune I would seek immediate psychiatric help.
M$ represent All that is bad in our world, the lies, the ugly side of humanity.
They lose billions of dollars every year on their weird 'products' and crap like MSN and Xbox - its a frickin scam, fer crying out loud!
Actually the first iRiver was released in Nov 2000 whereas the iPod was released in Nov 2001. So the iPod wasn't first in the name game for the PMP market. You could defend Apple saying that the iMac and iBook had been out before the iRiver. All I care about in the end is that there's no iZune.
Edit: some one beat me to it
This might come as a shock to you, but iRiver got it's name in 1999, long before iPod... Why do you automatically assume that if something is called iSomething, it's automatically a copy of iPod?
The new flash models look like copies of the old-generation nano's, bet Microsoft isn't happy about the recent design change, they probably couldn't change it at such a late stage.
The red model doesn't appear to be a (red) model, which isn't very good. I think they could of got more market share by introducing it as a (red) model supporting the AIDS charities.
As for the new controller, looks intuitive actually, I'd like to try it out as it looks a lot smarter than a dummy scroll wheel.
The red model doesn't appear to be a (red) model, which isn't very good. I think they could of got more market share by introducing it as a (red) model supporting the AIDS charities.
As for the new controller, looks intuitive actually, I'd like to try it out as it looks a lot smarter than a dummy scroll wheel.
LOL! Oh yeah, I cant WAIT to get a zune-touch-zphone running vista!
That will be a REAL pleasure.....!
You some kind of masochist? We just got the very first cell phone that ISNT rubbish, and you want the IDIOTS at M$ to copy it?
Sometimes I wonder what freakin planet some of you guys live on.....
The Phone is great because it runs OSX - thats the whole thing - OSX.
You see, its a BETTER OS than freakin vista.
All the OTHER phones run linux and symbian and M$ and they are all CRAP - or do you like to spend an hour sending an email from your phone and then finding that it sent the attached photo in 12 pieces (motorola RAzr for example) I kid you not.
You think M$ could make an iPhone with all the brilliance thats inside it?
NOT A FREAKIN HOPE IN HELL.
They just spent SEVEN YEARS on vista and its JUNK - see the logic here?
Two years on the zune, (and it was ALREADY designed for them), and its only as good as a 5 year old iPod.
Yeah, I know - you just love your N95 or your whatever it is.
So why do you need a M$ copy of an iPhone?
Why are we all so DUMB?
Its like the Bush madness - he says they have WMD - they dont, but they still attack and BILLIONS of bucks disappear - gee, just like M$.
See ANY kind of connection yet?
Hold on to your iPhone - the freakin BARBARIANS are at the gate with their bloody zunes, and their iphone copies, and they hate intelligence and beauty.....
Look, I know you think Microsoft are jolly good and all that, but their tactics really don't add to the sum total of human knowledge or advance the technological revolution in any way. They simply use their immense profits from long-established Windows and Office monopolies (effectively a tax on the sale of all non-Mac computers) to distort real markets.
No other company would have been able to waste so much ($5 billion, for Gawd's sake!) on the Xbox, for example simply to try and damage Sony's Playstation. They're trying the same ploy with the Zune.
Microsoft never 'open things up', as you seem to imply. Their entire modus operandi is to close competitors down.
basically the same
id rather not be on the fence here but basically they are two products (ipod and zune) that fulfill the same purpose. both are not really that good for watching video but the zune is better as it has a larger screen.
both use software that is propriety but the ipod is useable on both osx and windows. both are targeted at the mass market but both can sound glorious with the right hardware (amp and good headphones or line out with ipod).
in any case, the zune is not the best looking player on the market but it is a good product with a great introduction model that except for battery life was great: it sounded wonderful.
both companies have heaps to learn however as they are both on the top of their respective niches and in some ways offter less than the competition. that said, itunes smacks windows media easily in every way.
*** IRIVER ***
having used some of their products, they sound fine if you never ever use expensive sensitive iem phones like um2 or e500. they are the worst hissers i have heard. i have a cowon d2 that was proclaimed by many to not hiss and it is the last reason i actually sold my um2 - i could not be bothered by carrying around pmp, amp, ic and phones.
i think iriver is on the last legs of what was a glorious empire years ago. it has not produced audiophile in years now and even those audiophile hissed like a snake garden.
id rather not be on the fence here but basically they are two products (ipod and zune) that fulfill the same purpose. both are not really that good for watching video but the zune is better as it has a larger screen.
both use software that is propriety but the ipod is useable on both osx and windows. both are targeted at the mass market but both can sound glorious with the right hardware (amp and good headphones or line out with ipod).
in any case, the zune is not the best looking player on the market but it is a good product with a great introduction model that except for battery life was great: it sounded wonderful.
both companies have heaps to learn however as they are both on the top of their respective niches and in some ways offter less than the competition. that said, itunes smacks windows media easily in every way.
*** IRIVER ***
having used some of their products, they sound fine if you never ever use expensive sensitive iem phones like um2 or e500. they are the worst hissers i have heard. i have a cowon d2 that was proclaimed by many to not hiss and it is the last reason i actually sold my um2 - i could not be bothered by carrying around pmp, amp, ic and phones.
i think iriver is on the last legs of what was a glorious empire years ago. it has not produced audiophile in years now and even those audiophile hissed like a snake garden.
Apple needs competition
Like in this post:
we see, using a Zune is possible.
Apple is setting the standard in the market for electronic music. And in a perspective of five to ten years the market of the HW media CD / DVD will shrink to the size comparable of the venyl market today. And the market will be grown 5 to 10 times in this time. But what will happen to Apple when there is no real competition out there?
1: Apple would become lazy. Like in some other posts about MS is stated, at some point management methods will freeze and 10 years later the company will be looked at as a Dinosaur.
2. In business companies live with and depend on competition. With the competition you play the cat and mouse game. Sometime your shares rock, sometimes the other shares give more profit. There will be fans on this side and fans on that side. So be it.
But as a monopolist, you will loose your fans. The monopolist haters will get stronger and stronger. You will be seen as the devil. And than you will be the mouse being hunted by the Federal Trade Commission and the EU commission. Do we remember the Euro 500 Mill. fine for Microsoft in 2004?
At least the hunter will get their pray.
But what does that mean? Is this correct? In some extend yes. Having a monopolist will NOT force business development. Having a monopolist does not force technical innovation.
(In this case - believe me or not - MS is VERY happy that there is Apple and OS X. They really need it.)
So, I wish the other players in the digital music market also a little bit of luck and may their market share be around 40% at least all together. This would give Apple the market leader position, huge profits, and the possibility to define the standards. And EU commission and the others would keep quiet.
And I'm indeed a happy Mac and iPod user and hopefully a happy iPhone user when it arrives in Germany
Confidemus
Like in this post:
we see, using a Zune is possible.
Apple is setting the standard in the market for electronic music. And in a perspective of five to ten years the market of the HW media CD / DVD will shrink to the size comparable of the venyl market today. And the market will be grown 5 to 10 times in this time. But what will happen to Apple when there is no real competition out there?
1: Apple would become lazy. Like in some other posts about MS is stated, at some point management methods will freeze and 10 years later the company will be looked at as a Dinosaur.
2. In business companies live with and depend on competition. With the competition you play the cat and mouse game. Sometime your shares rock, sometimes the other shares give more profit. There will be fans on this side and fans on that side. So be it.
But as a monopolist, you will loose your fans. The monopolist haters will get stronger and stronger. You will be seen as the devil. And than you will be the mouse being hunted by the Federal Trade Commission and the EU commission. Do we remember the Euro 500 Mill. fine for Microsoft in 2004?
At least the hunter will get their pray.
But what does that mean? Is this correct? In some extend yes. Having a monopolist will NOT force business development. Having a monopolist does not force technical innovation.
(In this case - believe me or not - MS is VERY happy that there is Apple and OS X. They really need it.)
So, I wish the other players in the digital music market also a little bit of luck and may their market share be around 40% at least all together. This would give Apple the market leader position, huge profits, and the possibility to define the standards. And EU commission and the others would keep quiet.
And I'm indeed a happy Mac and iPod user and hopefully a happy iPhone user when it arrives in Germany
Confidemus
