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iPod Zune Out
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As has every other iPod clone. So far none of them have faired well. Only the smaller portion of techies want a slew of features. Everyone else just wants something they can start listening to music on quickly and easily (something you're not going to get out of the Zune software from what I've seen).
"Wireless functionality" is a non-feature here because you can ONLY use it for sharing music. Music sharing is a nifty feature for sure, although far to limited with it's 3 day 3 play scheme and only useful if everyone else also has a Zune. In future software updates they'll probably "unlock" the wireless functionality for useful things, like wireless synching. Now that would be good.
Bigger screen and FM radio are fine as well. But the Zune is also bigger and heavier than the iPod. Apple will have a bigger screen sooner rather than later. As for FM... that's great if you love to listen to the radio. I hate FM radio, there's almost nothing worth listening to — that's why I bring my iPod with me! I'm willing to bet most other people aren't going to touch the radio feature either.
It also has an online music store... so? It's not compatible with MS's own Plays For Sure, and it's not compatible with Apple's FairPlay (not MS's fault though, I know). Er, anyway my point was that of course it has an online store, that's not a "feature" it has above the iPod.
Well anyway, I think I'm done sounding like a huge flaming Apple apologist. That wasn't my intention, I just don't think the Zune has what it takes (though I do think it's the most serious iPod competitor to date).
p.s. I think their ad campaign is pretty boring. The ads tell you NOTHING if you don't already know what the Zune is. If I didn't know, I'd assume it was some sort of music oriented social networking site like Last.fm (which would be pretty lame, as Last.fm is pretty popular and the last [hah] thing we need is another site just like it, dividing the user base).
But... it's the same resolution, blown up to bigger size. Doesn't really look any better. What's the point?
But... it doesn't even use wireless in the way people WANT wireless in a digital player (i.e. syncing with your computer, wireless downloading of songs, etc.)
But... is this feature really important? If it is to some people, then any iPod can have a radio reciever too. But for those that don't need it, it's useless. (And from most reports, the Zune radio has crappy reception anyway).
But... that feature has so many limitations. And lets not forget the fact that you need to be near another person with a Zune willing to share music for this to work. With the negative press this device is getting, I can't see sales being that high. And if no one else around you has a Zune... who are you supposed to share with?
But... that makes it better...... how?
But... it's clearly not better. It has a couple of features the iPod doesn't have -- features that most people seem to find useless or not important. The iPod, however, has dozens more going for it: better design, smaller, lighter, better music store with more music, TV shows and movies, useable as a storage device, easier setup, support for Mac, more versions with different capacities/prices, the list goes on and on and on...
Sorry... but I can't see many reasons to vote a positive for the Zune. So it gets a negative from me....
as far as navigation, i was reading on the CNN review page that:
"For those who have long lists of albums or artists, the Zune aids in rapid scrolling by showing a large letter of the alphabet, letting you know, for example, that you've reached the R section."
and i was thinking to myself, "Hello!? did you download the last update for the iPod!?"
way to talk about things without knowing a damn thing about it.
"For those who have long lists of albums or artists, the Zune aids in rapid scrolling by showing a large letter of the alphabet, letting you know, for example, that you've reached the R section."
and i was thinking to myself, "Hello!? did you download the last update for the iPod!?"
way to talk about things without knowing a damn thing about it.
let's do some URL comparison:
http://www.zune.net:80/en-US/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
now let's check out the favicons:
apple seems to have better marketing!
http://www.zune.net:80/en-US/
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
now let's check out the favicons:
apple seems to have better marketing!
Attachments
I love engadget's first screenshot of the Zune software....
HAHAHA I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THAT BEFORE. That's hillarious!!!
Bigger screen: OK. the Zune wins
Wireless: Whoop de doo, I can share music between users. I can't use wireless for anything else like syncing, buying music, etc.
Radio: When you have 30 gigs of music, who needs radio? Listen to music a DJ chooses for me with 20 minutes of commercials each hour, or listen to the music I want with no commercials? If I wanted radio, I'd buy a $10 portable radio
Music sharing: Typically, when I'm listening to my iPod, I don't want to be bothered, and can't be bothered to seek out other iPod users and borrow their music
Online music store: Hmm, yeah, what's that thing called? Oh yeah, the iTunes Store.
Perhaps Soledad O'Brien is just getting back at her former MSNBC Redmond overlords...Watch this comical video on CNN.
B
I saw one last week on display in a store. They are terribly ugly looking things. First off, they are about the size and thickness of the 1Gen iPod. Not sleek at all, huge and crunky is a better word. Then the colors aren't very attractive at all. The brown one isn't really brown, it's got a translucent frosted green plastic outer case with a brown underbody. Same with all the others: translucent navy blue outer case with black underbody, and translucent clear outer case with a white underbody. And lastly, whoever the hell designed the Zune marketplace is an idiot. You have to purchase "points" from Microsoft before you can buy anything; 79 points for a song, but it cost $0.99 to buy the 79 points. Whah???
In my opinion, Microsoft is going to have to do better than this if it wants to unseat Apple as the portable music player king.
In my opinion, Microsoft is going to have to do better than this if it wants to unseat Apple as the portable music player king.
The iPod has been competing for its entire history with devices that had more features for the same price or *lower* (e.g. FM tuner, microphone, WMA compatibility, etc.). Why should the Zune be any different? Because it's Microsoft? Does Microsoft really have that much more clout than a Sony, Samsung, or Dell? All of those above behemoths failed to make a dent in the iPod.
So let's look at what the Zune brings to the table that is unique to the Zune (I'm not counting bigger screen or customizable background because, as I said, the iPod already competed with devices that had bigger screens, video playback before the iPod even had it, etc.):
1) Wireless capability: This is crippled for now. The song sharing is a joke. The only threat to the iPod is if the Zune software was upgraded with real wi-fi connectivity, so you could connect to the online Zune store directly from the device, or even surf to other web-based functionality (such as checking sports scores, news, weather, movie times, etc.). Maybe a future version of the Zune could even connect to internet radio or video streams.
2) Integrated Store/Device: This is really the biggest change in the Zune in that Microsoft now controls both the device and PC synching drivers and software. So synching should be more smooth now than when Microsoft had to rely on 3rd party hardware to synch with its Windows Media Player. But still, in terms of the Zune Marketplace, I think Microsoft blundered badly with its "credits" concept. That's just stupid. I mean, do you see the Amazon Store with the "Amazon credits"? What makes Microsoft think this is a good idea???? I predict Microsoft will scrap the whole "credits" system once it sees that Zune customers are buying songs at a much lower rate than iPod customers (currently the iTunes store has sold 22 songs for every iPod sold).
So in summary, I think the Zune *could* potentially be a threat in the future, but I don't think they'll even gain any traction with this release. Let's see next year when they release a Zune phone or something...
obviously...
Microsoft has a stake in NBC in the form of... MSNBC. So it's normal they're trying to screw people with a B&W iPod
omfg on nbc they compared the zune to a 4th gen b&w ipod
Microsoft has a stake in NBC in the form of... MSNBC. So it's normal they're trying to screw people with a B&W iPod
Competition, and the 360 effect
Must admit i'm simply amazed by the negative reation to the Zune from fellow Macrumors posters, I wonder what part of the term "Healthy Competition" they seem utterly unable to grasp.
And if the iPod, (which 3 years down the line im still happy with mine) is such a better product then why worry?
The xBox and the 360 is a Microsoft product, and a lot of people have voted with there wallets to buy one.
Me? Its almost certain that i'll buy another iPod eventually and I will upgrade to a 360 when Halo 3 / Sega Rally 3 comes out - If Microsoft are selling something worth buying then i'll certainly consider it.
Must admit i'm simply amazed by the negative reation to the Zune from fellow Macrumors posters, I wonder what part of the term "Healthy Competition" they seem utterly unable to grasp.
And if the iPod, (which 3 years down the line im still happy with mine) is such a better product then why worry?
The xBox and the 360 is a Microsoft product, and a lot of people have voted with there wallets to buy one.
Me? Its almost certain that i'll buy another iPod eventually and I will upgrade to a 360 when Halo 3 / Sega Rally 3 comes out - If Microsoft are selling something worth buying then i'll certainly consider it.
For all those who think Zune is great read this:
http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/zune-marketplaces-absurd-pricing-scheme/
http://www.applematters.com/index.php/section/comments/zune-marketplaces-absurd-pricing-scheme/
One thing...
Folks are missing is that the Zune does not "share" music. If you are sitting at a coffee shop you can't download someone else's music, it's they who decide what they want to send you so basically you go up to them and ask can I have that song?
Also, I see a lot of stuff that people are pointing out the Zune has and the iPod doesn't, but how about the other way around?
Gapless playback, Audible Content, Podcasts, Contacts, Games, etc... sheesh!
Folks are missing is that the Zune does not "share" music. If you are sitting at a coffee shop you can't download someone else's music, it's they who decide what they want to send you so basically you go up to them and ask can I have that song?
Also, I see a lot of stuff that people are pointing out the Zune has and the iPod doesn't, but how about the other way around?
Gapless playback, Audible Content, Podcasts, Contacts, Games, etc... sheesh!
It's simple psychology: if they chose the white one they'd be suggesting their affinity for the iPods look and inadvertently admitting to the buggery ugliness of the thing they just max'ed out their credit cards for.
yes, as soon as Apple comes out with the rumored Full-Screen Video iPod with Wi-Fi...
game over.
game over.
Is that actually really really real?!?!?
If so...
Yes, it is real. This video has practically killed the Zune
.zune sux0rs
another try to get rid of the ipod
but will that ever work?
only apple can outdo themselves to create a better ipod
only then will the current ipod be replaced, by yet another apple branded mp3 player.
and crashing in the installation window?
hahaha pitiful.
another try to get rid of the ipod
but will that ever work?
only apple can outdo themselves to create a better ipod
only then will the current ipod be replaced, by yet another apple branded mp3 player.
and crashing in the installation window?
hahaha pitiful.