Microsoft Confirms Multi-Touch Zune HD to Compete Against iPod Touch

[kdarling]

Lov th missing in Marketplac

I now have become a huge fan of the cut-off "e" in Marketplace.

It'll keep all the OCD, anal and must-feel-safe types away from it.

 

[MacsomJRR]

"iPod Killer"
"iPhone destroyer"

Am I the only one who's tired of this hackneyed journalistic drivel?

But this time they must be right no?

 

[-hh]

you seem a sane person to me...I was just having a discussion with some other guy on here....and saving $20 or exact replica of iPod touch was purely hypothetical...

That was probably me.

all I wanted to say was that it does not matter to end user if the product was made by apple or MS or any other company as long as it works (BRANDING IS WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY)...

If you're talking about something that's been distilled down to a simple commodity product, then I agree ... buy on price and save the $20.

But the problem is that when it has been said innovation is present in one, then there is product differentiation, which means that the market hasn't been distilled down to mere commodities that can be bought solely on price. Thus, the decision becomes more complicated.

I mean lets say any other company other than Apple came out with iPhone..would you guys what bash on it then just because Apple was not the one to create it. Because looking at most comments here people are bashing at Zune because MS is planning to make it...if the logo on the back of that picture was Apple it would have turned into sexy looking gadget but otherwise its ugly looking thing

That's mere Fanboy-ism and while it is present, it is not at all relevant to the fact that a product with differentiation in the marketplace can't effectively be considered a mere commodity.


-hh

 

[Cerebrus' Maw]

If I use the Zune and feel that it is better then my Ipod, I'll get it.

If not, I'll keep my Ipod.

Choice, aint it a killer....

 

[DougB541]

The overall design seems to be copied from Tiger, nevertheless:

hahahaha

The best part about this is you flipped the Microsoft image to try to make it look more like the Apple image.

Its a goddamn magnifying glass. Its all over Vista and Windows 7 already.

Its synonymous with searching.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

The overall design seems to be copied from Tiger, nevertheless:

I believe Apple stole the design from Sherlock Holmes, who stole that from some other guy, etc.

 

[Journojulz]

1. Again, its an obvious design choice. They don't cut it off where youcan't tell the word, its half of an E. ..... If you don't like it...then don't like it....but then don't try to associate that with saying the Zune HD will be half assed...cause then its a reach.

The 'Half an E' might be trying to look cute on purpose - but it might also suggest a possibility that the software wasn't designed with the hardware specs in mind. A oversight. And what M$ needs right now is to show that the mistakes learned from the past - (IE vista) have been learned and that it can release product that has had some serious quality control.

And having downloaded the zune PC music organising software - I am not exactly reassured that QC is paying attention.

1. It organises your videos - but won't let you play them full screen, or right click to open them in a program that will.

2. It has trouble recognising that file names (lots of 'untitled' tracks)

3. Video playback is visibly blockier than media player and it plays on about half the screen - with grey blocks at the side an black bands at the bottom.

4. When you come out of the maximised view - the video keeps 'playing', but the thumbnail doesn't change.

5. You can't scrub through a movie. you can move the cursor - but that won't change the picture till you stop.

If the ipod had never existed, I would be tempted to use buy a a zune - but i would still use iTunes as my media browser. 'It just w*rks'

 

[DougB541]

The 'Half an E' might be trying to look cute on purpose - but it might also suggest a possibility that the software wasn't designed with the hardware specs in mind. A oversight.

And having downloaded the zune PC music organising software - I am not reasssured that QC is paying attention.

1. It organises your videos - but won't let you play them full screen, or right click to open them in a program that will.

2. It has trouble recognising that file names (lots of 'untitled' tracks)

3. Video playback is visibly blockier than media player and it plays on about half the screen are with grey blocks at the side an black bands at the bottom.

4. when you come out of the maximised view - the video keeps 'playing', but the thumbnail doesn't change.

5. you can't scrub through a movie. you can move the cursor - but it won't change the picture till you stop.

if the ipod had never existed, I would be tempted to use buy a a zune - but i would still use iTunes as my media browser. 'It just w*rks'

1. It p/ays full zune screen....if it really bothers you, set your start menu to auto hide. Boom...problem solved. Example:

2.Ummm didn't have this issue myself. I will say if you choose "let Zune organize your music and fill in information" you'll proabably run into issues. I do not like that function myself.

3. I honestly don't have that issue at all. Pic below of a 4:3 show:

4. Not on my zune...the thumbnail keeps playing the video.

5. Thats true...I do prefer seeing it. But I don't think thats make or break.

 

[MacFly123]

Exactly, that's my take too, surely there ARE some people at MS with half a brain, even if they are about 0.00001% or so it seems, but they get evened out. May I also add that if the corporate structure of junior project managers is one where mediocrity rises to the top and the good minds get squashed you get a MS situation. That is it's not only the suits lacking the vision but also the lower echelons not attracting enough creative people, and when by chance they do get someone in they squash him or her with their mediocre way.

I mean for crying out loud how can a new product ad leave the building with a "marketplac" error, surely someone must have noticed it and thought, damn we are going to make fools of ourselves again, why didn't they say it? They didn't cause they are in a corporate environment that fosters mediocrity and squashes any innovation to the point of complete ineptness, and where no one really cares if they come up with something decent even. "So, it's marketplac and not marketplace" they seem to think, "I am not going to put my head on the line for that, let's release the ad as marketplac, it's not like anybody is expecting anything really good from us in the first place anyway..."

To me Microsoft is officially retitled as Marketplac, that kinda sums up everything they are about: stupid, unimaginative and completely inept at implementation.

Haha you crack me up! It is pretty sad that they spend sooooo much more money yet just copy and fail at everything. WHERE IS THE MONEY GOING??? Especially when their R&D = Apple's R&D lol!

This might sound cocky, but I am convinced that I would be a better C.E.O than Ballmer if I were put in the chair at this very moment!

 

[Journojulz]

1. It p/ays full zune screen....if it really bothers you, set your start menu to auto hide. Boom...problem solved.

What button makes it play full screen? Could not find it.
I can only get it to about half the area with grey borders and black letterbox depending on file size.

2.Ummm didn't have this issue myself. I will say if you choose "let Zune organize your music and fill in information" you'll proabably run into issues. I do not like that function myself.

So its not a good programme for organising your media and can't recognise file names.

3. I honestly don't have that issue at all. Pic below of a 4:3 show:

Will do a screengrab of zune-vs-media player - it IS visibly worse.

4. Not on my zune...the thumbnail keeps playing the video.

Must need to buy a new computer.

5. Thats true...I do prefer seeing it. But I don't think thats make or break.

For me it is a deal breaker - especially on free software.

If you want to skip through a movie to find a scene where you left off - or zoom back to an earlier point - being able to scrub through a movie is pretty essential.

Zune is superficially prettier than iTunes, but at a crippling cost to the substance.

So I stand by my earlier conclusion: Even if I had a zune player - I would still use iTunes as my media browser. You can see twice as many tracks and its easier to sort through your library and find what you want.

 

[hiimamac]

This thing is going to sell. Just read a review in mobile 6.5 and the reviewer said it was leaps and bounds past 6.1 and he could do a lot of things with one finger. He also mentioned one gesture that he feels is better than pinching.

For me, I was interested when I saw the black photo. Now, if they use something close to mobi 6.5, cal, email, this could do well. Fit me I liked the second from bottom image. Much slimmer and slick looking than I imagined. One thing the iPhone can't do is move mp3's around let alone synch to more than one computer and while both apple and msft have eased on drm, if you can drag and drop mp3 or cues( I an a songwriter / composer), this would seal the deal. Thing is, do I want to carry both around meaning that and my iPhone? So you have to wonder if a phone is coming.
If it's priced right, works with email, 3g, maps then voip ( that might be something they do), then it's a while new ball of wax.
PS. I Fiume the Zune HD video but wouldn't ya know, I can't view it on my iPhone. Things like this along with flash, and every codec, hulu might make thebiphibe just a phone with similar shockeave games. LOL. While left adds real games. Should be interesting to say the least. Whether akins fear flash and adobes apps might become moot. And if left announced a phone, oh boy. Fun time. Might get an agent Sion. All who pray for me and I get one, gets a free zune from me, really. Karma and reaping, I believe. Just post screen name and yes for prayer for me and send me a PM. Fun times indeed.

Peace.
I think it will also have a wow factor now that I have seen more images. iPhone's are everywhere. Sort of passé. Msft might bank on it. Apple will have to respond. There is no doubt (again, ease if use, app store), but it looks very nice.

Peace

I see. I didnt' have one issue personally. Sorry to hear you had a hard time.


False:
Steve Ballmer decided to whip one out at D7 today:

 

[DougB541]

What button makes it play full screen? Could not find it.
I can only get it to about half the area with grey borders and black letterbox depending on file size.



So its not a good programme for organising your media and can't recognise file names.



Will do a screengrab of zune-vs-media player - it IS visibly worse.



Must need to buy a new computer.



For me it is a deal breaker - especially on free software.

If you want to skip through a movie to find a scene where you left off - or zoom back to an earlier point - being able to scrub through a movie is pretty essential.

Zune is superficially prettier than iTunes, but at a crippling cost to the substance.

So I stand by my earlier conclusion: Even if I had a zune player - I would still use iTunes as my media browser. You can see twice as many tracks and its easier to sort through your library and find what you want.

Yeah sounds like its not for you. I hear ya.

As a striahgt up music organizer/player ....for my needs, it works great. I don't really watch videos from Zune just cause I don't pull my entire video library into the player, so I just navigate to my folder and play from WMP.

But to be honest, I didn't watch videos on iTunes when I had it...mostly because Quicktime refused to work on my computer haha. I still use a "Quick Time Alternative" only for web related plugins.

 

[Journojulz]

..mostly because Quicktime refused to work on my computer haha.

Yeah - hear you on that one friend. On a pc it is not as straightforward is it?

Glad i tried zune, but wmp will remain my player for times when quick time won't work.

 

[DMann]

hahahaha

The best part about this is you flipped the Microsoft image to try to make it look more like the Apple image.

Its a goddamn magnifying glass. Its all over Vista and Windows 7 already.

Its synonymous with searching.

A magnifying glass, which is indeed synonymous with searching, does not need to take on a form with a near identical icon and layout.
The choices for not duplicating Tiger with this are endless:

 

[TeamNXT]

That's the ugliest thing I've ever seen.

Nah, the new nano is far worse and don't get me started on the touch.

 

[TeamNXT]

Hopefully Apple plugs some OLED tech into their soon-to-be-released 32gb iPhone.

Wouldn't that be stealing the idea from Microsoft?

 

[pdjudd]

Wouldn't that be stealing the idea from Microsoft?

OLED is not a Microsoft technology. They are not the only users of it..

 

[AidenShaw]

Wouldn't that be stealing the idea from Microsoft?

OLED is not a Microsoft technology. They are not the only users of it..

I think TeamNXT was being sarcastic - many/most of the accusations of "Microsoft stole x from Apple" can be debunked on similar grounds of prior use.