Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Microsoft's Zune - Long Term Effort
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yvan256 said:
If you want to buy music online, you ARE locked into to DRM. Which is what people hate about the iPod/iTMS model.
If you have your own MP3's great. In that regard MS and Apple will be the same. Apple does however offer an end to end solution. That is what MS wants. They don't want to just have a player. THey want to offer music for download online, and with your purchase you get a full slab of DRM.
So no, it is not the funny thing. Unless MS starts wrapping DRM into your ripped collection. There is no advantage to buying an iPod over a Zune. Which is bad for MS because there is already tons millions if iPod users to sway.
I don't think they will get them with the, share files over WiFi but I guess they could...
Stella said:
If you hated DRM would you switch to a Zune? It is common sense. MS is doing the same thing that Apple is. And people already hate the iPod... Besides you have nothing else to offer to this besides a play on words?
I reckon the zune will be in the same situation as the sony clie. Its gonna be an amazing product with a million more features than an ipod, but will millions of people buy. Just as sony couldnt compete with palm, microsoft cant compete with apple, but the xbox is very impressive for a software company so im not going to underestimate microsoft.
fenixx said:
it reminds me of the month June, but with a Z instead. no way is M$ going to come up with a product that even remotely rivals the iPod.
Chris Bangle said:
I am getting tired of feature after feature that no one needs. It makes the devices overcomplicated and moe expensive.
I don't need WiFi in an MP3 player. But since MS will have, Apple will have to add it in order to compete. Thank god they haven't added the FM tuner into the player. Which everyone seems to want...
kevin.rivers said:
DRM is a evil necessity - and one that isn't going to go away - we must live with
I would be able to use more than one music store... and from my point of view - is a great benefit. If one music store doesn't have the music I want to buy - maybe another does?
( And please, don't tell me to burn -> rip - its slow and unconvenient )
Stella said:
I am by no means saying DRM is not necessary. This is what some people hate though. I understand it is necessary and have no problem with it. I personally choose to buy and rip. Mainly because of quality.
DRM is great. I am just giving another side of the argument.
AlanAudio said:
I really like that last paragraph, lol. I seriously doubt they'll even pose competition. There was an image that was supposedly an actual Zune player, and if it is it's already paving the road for failure.
Honestly Microsoft will fail, and it's not because they are going to take forever to show anyone anything. Microsoft will fail because it doesn't understand the demographic it is trying to produce a product for. Microsoft may cater to business and such, but in the eyes of teenagers, many of whom are anti-establishment, Microsoft is simply not cool. Not only is Microsoft uncool, it doesn't understand what IS cool.
Meanwhile, Apple is a huge corporation, and yet even people who hate large corporation love Apple. Apple knows how to market. Apple continuously sets the standard for good design year in, year out.
Steve Jobs is cool. He's funny. Most people just think Bill Gates, though simply a figurehead now, is the devil (despite that recent huge charitable donation). Steve Ballmer is an oaf. Microsoft has neither the image or the talent to fight this battle. Hell, they've even started to slowly lose the grip on the industry that once held them so dearbusiness computing.
A.K.A...."If Zune fails, you can't bash us in the media. We told you it wasn't going to be successful." And then when it's still unsuccessful after five years, they'll be like, "Forget about Zune, look at this new operating system we're releasing this year. It's called Vista. It has this new search feature called Floodlight. When you search for something it instantly floods you with results from your hard drive."
Successful? Doubtful
There are many reasons why I think MIcrosoft's efforts are not going to top Apple:
First off....Zune? WTF is Zune? What meaning does it have? Just from the name it sounds like they are trying way too hard. At least iPod works in conjunction to Apple's other line of products and it makes sense. Zune isn't even a word. iPod is a much friendly and cooler name than Zune.
Second, the Zune looks like a cheap knockoff of the iPod, and its already been deemed the "iPod Killer". Ok, you aren't going to kill the iPod by imitating it. Knockoffs are never cooler than the original. Plus we are talking about Microsoft here, when is the last time they ever did any innovation in the computing industry?
Third off, since they suck at innovating and all they can do is immitate, they will always be one step behind Apple and Apple is already years ahead of them and have a stronghold on the music download industry.
But, I'll invite Zune into the market. Since Apple doesn't really have any competition this could create enough competition to make the iPod lineup even better than they arlready are.
There are many reasons why I think MIcrosoft's efforts are not going to top Apple:
First off....Zune? WTF is Zune? What meaning does it have? Just from the name it sounds like they are trying way too hard. At least iPod works in conjunction to Apple's other line of products and it makes sense. Zune isn't even a word. iPod is a much friendly and cooler name than Zune.
Second, the Zune looks like a cheap knockoff of the iPod, and its already been deemed the "iPod Killer". Ok, you aren't going to kill the iPod by imitating it. Knockoffs are never cooler than the original. Plus we are talking about Microsoft here, when is the last time they ever did any innovation in the computing industry?
Third off, since they suck at innovating and all they can do is immitate, they will always be one step behind Apple and Apple is already years ahead of them and have a stronghold on the music download industry.
But, I'll invite Zune into the market. Since Apple doesn't really have any competition this could create enough competition to make the iPod lineup even better than they arlready are.
Microsoft sounds like it wants to start a revolution in the music industry, but they don't know how to do it. And besides, the music industry just went through a revolution with Apple, so consumers don't want to go through it again.
A part of me wants to say Microsoft should just stay out because they have no experience, but look at the spalsh they made with the Xbox. People said the same thing to Microsoft back then. The video game market was crowded and seemingly had no room for another player, especially one who eats Rabbit poo for breakfast, but somehow M$ muscled its way in there. I just don't see the same thing happening this time with Zune-i-wanna-go-stick-my-hand-in-a-crocodile's-mouth.
A part of me wants to say Microsoft should just stay out because they have no experience, but look at the spalsh they made with the Xbox. People said the same thing to Microsoft back then. The video game market was crowded and seemingly had no room for another player, especially one who eats Rabbit poo for breakfast, but somehow M$ muscled its way in there. I just don't see the same thing happening this time with Zune-i-wanna-go-stick-my-hand-in-a-crocodile's-mouth.
zync said:
True, but as i have send in a previous thread about MS, the people behind their XBox division are actually "cool" and creative and MS is said to be giving them lots of freedom. Let's not wholeheartly disregard our competition here - even though it feels good to do so!
Why Microsoft Zune is iPod's new Challenge
Because of their money ?
In what is shaping up to be a clash between computer titans, many are keeping close watch to see whether Microsoft will break through or break down in the face of iPod dominance.
Because of their money ?
In what is shaping up to be a clash between computer titans, many are keeping close watch to see whether Microsoft will break through or break down in the face of iPod dominance.
Now do we know why Apple doesn't license Fairplay
Had Apple licensed FP a year ago like a lot of people were begging... they probably would have had to license it to MS. MS then could - nay.....would have used it to try to beat them with this cheesie spin-off....
Apple's dominance in the mp3 player market is legal - everytime someone declares an "iPod-Killer" Apple steps up to the plate... they don't try to keep these companies from competing with them.
MS on the other hand is already announcing how they intend to "win" the mp3 player battle....by operating at a loss for a few years - that is not leagal and yes someone at the DOJ is dead asleep.
Apple is stale right now - so this new competitor is good - they need to step up and blow away their current line of iPods with a completely new device. Remember, thats what they did with the iPod mini. EVERYONE was copying the mini, then when all these companies had their mini look-alikes Apple totally changes it. Apple is waiting now for MS to actually release this thing, then watch - they will totally blow away the iPod with a new design...
_______________________________________
See this movie
Had Apple licensed FP a year ago like a lot of people were begging... they probably would have had to license it to MS. MS then could - nay.....would have used it to try to beat them with this cheesie spin-off....
Apple's dominance in the mp3 player market is legal - everytime someone declares an "iPod-Killer" Apple steps up to the plate... they don't try to keep these companies from competing with them.
MS on the other hand is already announcing how they intend to "win" the mp3 player battle....by operating at a loss for a few years - that is not leagal and yes someone at the DOJ is dead asleep.
Apple is stale right now - so this new competitor is good - they need to step up and blow away their current line of iPods with a completely new device. Remember, thats what they did with the iPod mini. EVERYONE was copying the mini, then when all these companies had their mini look-alikes Apple totally changes it. Apple is waiting now for MS to actually release this thing, then watch - they will totally blow away the iPod with a new design...
_______________________________________
See this movie
Now is really the time for Apple to go all out and move in on MS....
If I were Steve, I would be cranking out products, and really pushing hard to get stuff like a full on Mac media center, next gen iPods, iPhones, iTablets ect. ect..
Just because MS is kind of in limbo right now, not really doing anything big, Gates just stepped down...now is the time to really move in on their territory.
Maybe that's exactly what they're doing, but it seems like the big product announcements have dropped off completley....the last big announcement was the Macbook, which was a no brainer...high fi ect....
Hopefully they are all going mad scientist in the Apple labs cooking something really special up, and are just going to unload them all at once....we'll see...
If I were Steve, I would be cranking out products, and really pushing hard to get stuff like a full on Mac media center, next gen iPods, iPhones, iTablets ect. ect..
Just because MS is kind of in limbo right now, not really doing anything big, Gates just stepped down...now is the time to really move in on their territory.
Maybe that's exactly what they're doing, but it seems like the big product announcements have dropped off completley....the last big announcement was the Macbook, which was a no brainer...high fi ect....
Hopefully they are all going mad scientist in the Apple labs cooking something really special up, and are just going to unload them all at once....we'll see...
Microsoft has waited WAY too long to make any type of impact on the portable music device industry. iPod has been around now for too long, and has too strong of a grip on the marketshare for anyone to try to threaten their hold. This Zune thing will have to have some aspect to it that is totally it's own for anyone to take any notice to it whatsoever.
Jayrod said:
It has something unique, look at all the press covering it now, and how many of us are talking about it.
Copying someone else stuff isn't competing. It's a strategy, but as business strategy targeting the iPod market, it's practically a non-starter as many potential "competitors" (including Microsoft) have already found out. DRM seems to be more of an issue with some tech journals than with the general public. Tens of millions of iPods have been sold, and the iTunes music store is well on it's way to posting another billion songs sold milestone. The anti-DRM arguments don't seem to be resonating in those numbers.
At this point, I don't see anyone else mounting a formidable run at the iPod market, unless they can come with something truly unique, something smart, something that just reeks of must-have desirability and not just like the iPod has now, but even more so. That's what's at stake. So does Microsoft have the answer? Not apparently. Since Ballmer already envisions five years or so of less than stellar expectations before it's even out in front of the public, what does that tell you about Microsoft's "Zune?"
Already handicapping your yet-to-be released product just isn't a good sign.
At this point, I don't see anyone else mounting a formidable run at the iPod market, unless they can come with something truly unique, something smart, something that just reeks of must-have desirability and not just like the iPod has now, but even more so. That's what's at stake. So does Microsoft have the answer? Not apparently. Since Ballmer already envisions five years or so of less than stellar expectations before it's even out in front of the public, what does that tell you about Microsoft's "Zune?"
Already handicapping your yet-to-be released product just isn't a good sign.
My Bad 10 Min Ps Mockup
![]()
"inovative" clunk wheel to navagate
ring of power from 360 shows persentage of bower left 10, 20, 30, and 40+ percent
touch sensative buttons
windows button to access exclusive content pre installed for people wuo buy the premium executive pro vista edition
plays only WMV & WMA for optimal video and audio quality
holds 20,000,000,000 songs (songs encoded at 32kbps mono WMA)
holds 2,000 hours of HQ WMV video (125kbps WMV10)
HD output upto 1080i (requires a PC with windows media center 2005 update rollout 2 and a graphics card capable of displaying HD resolutions)
Ultra high resolution 321x241 display (bigger than the iPod with video's)
ONLY $999.99 (for home lite - value pack with no headphones or software and in an unmarked brown box
*removing pointless and unsightly stickers voids any warrenty and relinquishes all rights should somthing go wrong with this product.
"inovative" clunk wheel to navagate
ring of power from 360 shows persentage of bower left 10, 20, 30, and 40+ percent
touch sensative buttons
windows button to access exclusive content pre installed for people wuo buy the premium executive pro vista edition
plays only WMV & WMA for optimal video and audio quality
holds 20,000,000,000 songs (songs encoded at 32kbps mono WMA)
holds 2,000 hours of HQ WMV video (125kbps WMV10)
HD output upto 1080i (requires a PC with windows media center 2005 update rollout 2 and a graphics card capable of displaying HD resolutions)
Ultra high resolution 321x241 display (bigger than the iPod with video's)
ONLY $999.99 (for home lite - value pack with no headphones or software and in an unmarked brown box
*removing pointless and unsightly stickers voids any warrenty and relinquishes all rights should somthing go wrong with this product.
OhEsTen said:
The only people begging to license Fairplay were Apple's so-called competitors looking for access to the iPod.
Essentially, they were competitors asking for a free ride into Apple's market (iPods) that Apple alone had carved out, offering nothing more than what Apple was already offering through the iTunes music store (same songs, same price). It was absurd. There was absolutely no incentive for Apple and no benefit to the iPod user. Arguably, less benefit to the iPod user because the iTunes Music store is tightly integrated into iTunes, which is further tightly integrated with the iPod. The other so-called music stores, of course, weren't offering that.
Hunabku said:
Also true, but they're not cool enough that people would want to advertise that they have one. That's where Apple is ahead. It's cool to have an iPod, it's cool to have a Mac. I never got compliments on my computer when I had a boring POS Dell.
