One big thing Zune did right
Even with a big update, there are still many areas where the Zune comes up short when compared to Apple's iPod.
It's easy to argue that Apple still has the lead in styling, breadth of video content, add-on accessories, and software and compatibility. (Zune works only on Windows PCs.) Not to mention the fact that Microsoft has nothing to match Apple's iPod Touch with its ability to surf the Web and run a wide range of add-on programs.
But there are a couple of areas where Microsoft deserves significant credit. The most important, from my perspective, is that every feature that Microsoft has added to the Zune is available for free to owners of previous generation Zunes.
That's no accident. Microsoft took a battery, size, and cost hit by including a Wi-Fi connection in every Zune when the player debuted two years ago. But by doing that, Microsoft ensured that the devices would have not just a present, but also a future.
Zune's initial use of the Wi-Fi--squirting songs to nearby Zunes--was an extremely limited feature, especially since there were rarely any other Zune owners around with whom to share songs.
The company promised that would be just the beginning. It's taken time--longer than perhaps it should have--for Microsoft to make better use of that feature. But Microsoft has finally added features like the ability to download songs or stream music over Wi-Fi.
And, as I mentioned earlier, these new features don't require existing Zune users to buy a new device.
Adding features to devices it has already sold is good for customer loyalty, but it also helps Microsoft in another way.
With its small market share, it can't afford to leave any Zune owners behind, particularly since many of its features get better as its "social" network of users gets larger.
A new Zune next to an iPod Classic.
(Credit: CNET Networks)Another area where Microsoft continues to stand out is in subscription music. Subscription music has been an option since launch, but Microsoft has had fewer takers for its $14.95-a-month service than it might like. This release could help change that, by making subscription much more compelling.
Until now, being a Zune Pass subscriber meant that one could download any of hundreds of thousands of tracks, which was nice. But there are lots of people who might not want to go through that much trial and error to find what they like.
With Zune 3.0, Microsoft has made finding new music far easier. One can subscribe to "channels," which are like playlists that get updated on a weekly basis. Some are programmed by Zune staffers, others by radio stations or magazines, and still others are computer-generated. The computer-generated ones can either compile the most popular songs in a particular genre or even make recommendations based on a user's own listening patterns.
There's even a "Buy From FM" feature that lets people download the song they are hearing on the radio. Again, assuming it is one of the 80 percent of Zune tracks that are available to subscribers, a Zune Pass subscriber can download the song for no added charge.
Are all these things enough to make a dent in Apple's market share? That remains to be seen. Especially without a big hardware change, I'm not sure that Microsoft will make massive inroads this go-around.
That said, the company finally appears to have staked out some niches from which to build a base. And as Microsoft has said all along, this is a battle the company expects to take years.
During her years at CNET News, Ina Fried has changed beats several times, changed genders once, and covered both of the Pirates of Silicon Valley. These days, most of her attention is focused on Microsoft. E-mail Ina.
By comparison, one of the most useful updates to Apple's iPod Nano and Classic line (the iPod-based Genius feature) requires us to buy new iPods just to get what amounts to basically a software update. And they charge $10 for the update for the iPod Touch.
However, Apple has a big advantage, as one of your previous articles mentioned: When you're the 800 lb. gorilla, you don't need buzz.
"being a Zune Pass subscriber meant that one could download any of hundreds of thousands of tracks"
Only hundreds of thousands? Out of online catalogues of millions?
Subscription music has clearly failed, and such a limited selection is merely one of the many reasons for that. Microsoft can "stand out" with its subscriptions feature for as long as they like. As long as they continue to tout that as one of the major differentiating features of the Zune, its going to continue to be standing out by its lonesome while its marketshare doesn't budge.
Microsoft knows Apple has the market locked with the iPod so its taking a different approach that attracts those not married to the iPod line. If it doesn't increase MS's marketshare then it will at least have gained a fanbase. Sounds quite familiar doesn't it.
Wireless sync is great. I walk in the door frome work, put my Zune on the charger and forget about it. The next morning I'll fire up my computer, open up and then minimize the Zune client. When I walk out the door for work, all my playlists, podcasts and new music are already on my Zune.
I have yet to actually use the 3.0 features, but then again, I've only had it installed for less than a day.
The only additional feature I'd like is the ability to download recordings off my DirecTV DVR to my Zune. Then while I was at the gym I could watch stuff like The Daily Show.
Your excuse-making is nothing more than <i>stupid</i> Apple fanboyism. Thought I should toss that word in just for your digestion since you seem to be so fond of it.
By the way, catch the new marketing video Microsoft created on the www.zune.net website. Click the white play icon (very suttle and easy to miss. I missed it but Long Zheng pointed it out on his www.istartedsomething.com site as well as the embedded photos of a new white Zune that looks like it might be coming to market soon!
Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5050410/microsoft-beats-apples-itunes-genius-with-mixview) also has a great article on how nice it makes discovering new music.
Ahhh... Ok.. thanks. That makes sense. I never think of the iPod Classic anymore. I like the larger screen and features of the iPod Touch. It never pays to be snarky before my morning cuppa joe, lol.
Microsoft's biggest problem is that they don't "get" what users want or how users work, they tell users what they want and how they should work.
Sadly, they've done the same with the Zune, while it has many outstanding hardware features, it's nowhere nearly as well integrated as an iPod.
Maybe Jerry Sienfield & Bill gates can do a commercial where they talk about potato chips, that should increase Zune sales... ;(
So you telling me Apple don't do this? Apple "If you want this new feature on your ipod, you have to buy this new one!"
"Sadly, they've done the same with the Zune, while it has many outstanding hardware features, it's nowhere nearly as well integrated as an iPod."
Please tell us how a Zune is not nowhere nearly as well intergrated as an iPod?
I don't have an MP3 player yet. But I can tell you that once I do (and it's soon), the zune fits what I want far more than an iPod ever could. Microsoft gets what I want and how I want it. It's integrated better than an iPod and allows a lot more freedom.
BTW: I like the new commercials. They're funnier than those mac vs PC commercials which are usually full of, well- let's be honest- lies. Apple is sure enjoying a new wave of customers from the brain-dead Mtv generation, though. They won't take the time to question the lack of features and huge markups in price over other vendors.
Then again, there's always that 'ignorance is bliss' BS you can always fall back on.
Wasn't the social networking aspect of the Zune he previously mentioned in the article supposed to help with this "trial and error". How else would we find out the music we truly like besides trial and error? We have to hear it to decide if we like it.
I'm not a 'M$' fanboy; but I do believe they are doing a great job with the Zune.
Problem is, well... let's do a car analogy:
Microsoft in this case is like Ford Motor Company selling a US-only minivan, but that's the only model they make. It has some nice features and all, yes... but you only get the minivan. Meanwhile, over at the Mercedes (Apple) dealership, the prices are reasonable for each model and its features, and there's a far larger array of models to choose from - you can get a motorbike (Shuffle), a roadster (Nano), Sedans, (iPod std), a luxury ride (Touch), or a Class A motorhome (iPhone) if you want one.
Same story here... the Zune is a limited deal. I'm sure that MSFT (finally!) is starting to get their act together with it, but we're talking too little, too late. 2001 was the year to build and market a portable music player with the features listed... not six years later, and certainly not now. Apple has it locked up, and not just because they sell a lot of them, either. Apple has it locked up because of: model variety, cross-platform compatibility, a reasonable price range, a simple-yet-powerful design (both in hardware and UI), and very little by which one would not recommend one to a friend.
It's not that the Zune sucks anymore (though until very recently, it did suck) it's just that Microsoft is trying to pit a mediocre product against a powerhouse of excellence. Sure it has a feature or two that are neat and all, but MSFT has seen fit to cripple them with a rather overbearing DRM.
If MSFT is serious about competing, they need to do more than just arrive - they need to bring some power to the party, and they seem institutionally incapable of doing that.
No Zune does not "suck" never has. You zealots from Apple would lead others to believe this, but no Zune is just coming to fruiton on capabilities. The Zune streches the capabilities of the vuanted Ipod franchise.
You getting nervous? Your cash cow has a real competitor now, with the long term backing needed to take marketshare.
As a music lover, someone who likes a lot of variety and likes to discover new music, ipods are a terrible solution. We all agree that DRM is awful, but the subscription model is fantastic for people like me. I don't care about owning music because my tastes change. What I listen to today will change next week. Why buy a track when all i want to do is use it short term? the product (song) has no long term value for me. That's a poor investment. If I find something I love, i can buy it (and strip drm :)). I want to reward the artist by not stealing it, but most of the time, I don't want to own it forever. Subscription music is perfect for me. If I download only 1 album a month, which would be low for me, then the subscription model pays for itself. And if I don't want the whole album, or don't end up liking it, I am not stuck with the end product. The market knows this works...look at netflix. If we applied the apple model, we would all be buying every movie we ever wanted to see. I suspect Steve Jobs doesn't believe he can make as much money off the subscription model. Apple wants to control how we consume music. Why else would apple refuse to offer an alternative consumption model for the player with 80% of the market?
The zune offers the right features for someone in the mid-mp3 market who wants the subscription model. pulling songs immediately from the fm tuner is a great feature. Wifi sync really removes the burden of managing your device. Others have provided evidence on how they use this feature to keep their playlists up to date with little intervention. Package subscription music with various mp3 streaming devices (roku for one) and you have a whole house music solution that takes 0 disk to implement and is constantly up to date with a library of nearly 3 million tracks. Have friends over with different tastes? I, for one, wouldn't want to purchase a bunch of crap from itunes that i don't want. I sure don't mind adapting a playlist for folks, though.
Microsoft has taken a longer term approach to this market and I think it is the right one. Not every product needs to be the market leader...mac's anyone? MS can really succeed in this niche though.
I originally did not see this about the DRM " but MSFT has seen fit to cripple them with a rather overbearing DRM." You do know 80% of the songs on Marketplace are DRM free. Apple is not even close. Whats your next move there Einstein?
Pity that none of them saw fit to address the central point. Here, let me repost it for you:
"It's not that the Zune sucks anymore (though until very recently, it did suck) it's just that Microsoft is trying to pit a mediocre product against a powerhouse of excellence"
IOW, sure, the Zune can do one or two neat things. That said, the iPod lineup does neat stuff too and then some, with a wider variety and better engineering - all with comparable/same prices on the same specs. The Zune also suffers horribly from a well-deserved reputation of suckiness (e.g. bigger pixels/degraded video quality, bugs aplenty, crushing DRM, mediocre design, etc...) They may have cleaned up (most of) the source of that reputation, but they certainly haven't cleaned up the reputation.
If you're going to sell a product, you either make it stand out, or go home a failure. Zune is still sitting in the "failure" column.
For those who shout against that, or shout long and loud about how it'll take over or even be a "real competitor", I happily direct you to an immediate and easy-to-eyeball gauge of how it's doing. Let us peek at Amazon's Top 100:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/electronics
Currently, there's a pile of iPods in the top 25 (#9, 10, 13, 15, 19) and one Zune model (at #24), which can't even beat the Sansa Fuze (#12).
Think the Zune is all that and a bag of chips? Awesome - put your money where your mouth is. Get all your friends to buy one. Even your firned (and MSFT employee) Vegaman_Dan admits to owning an iPod Touch.
Given all of this? "Nervous" has nothing to do with it... now laughter at desperate shilling by the MSFT crowd gets pretty close. ;)
Even Dell was smart enough to drop the Dell DJ once the original iPods took off.
<br>
<br>you are really on your a-game today. Every review I've read of the Zune 80 all commend the Zunes picture quality, I'm sure there have been a couple of bugs, I've only heard about one of them, The Zune's DRM = Apples DRM except sharing songs(iPod can't do that), a shared song can only be played 3 times. Why do you even bother posting this FUD? <br><br>"For those who shout against that, or shout long and loud about how it'll take over or even be a "real competitor", I happily direct you to an immediate and easy-to-eyeball gauge of how it's doing. Let us peek at Amazon's Top 100:"
<br><br>A product doesn't have to be on top of the market for it to be a good product. You like analogies so lets try this one. Apple makes a nice computer, and yet they only have a 4% market share. That doesn't mean Apple should just drop the Mac. It's a good computer and works for some people.<br><br>Bottom line is: like it, buy it. Don't like it, buy something else but this constant school yard boasting and bashing is really juvenile.
Apple hit on a killer UI (the click wheel), copied the hierarchical file structure menu system from Creative and then tried and failed to pass it off as their own invention, and then put it all in an MP3 device (and even swiped the 'ipod' name from other (non-tech) companies as well). Back that with ultra-slick, pop ads and a decision to make iTunes for Windows...and that's why Apple hit it big with the iPod. Had they NOT ported iTunes to Windows, the iPod franchise would still be slogging it with the rest of the pack. Where's the genius in that, pandering to the enemy operating system?
Of course, I think it's reasonable to expect the Zune to evolve more slowly than the iPod. Microsoft didn't design the Zune and doesn't make it. It's simply a rebranded Toshiba Gigabeat player with some software customizations and a Microsoft logo on the front. Since it is designed and built by Toshiba and not Microsoft, there's an additional layer of practical complexity and additional layers of management bureaucracy involved in any significant redesign. Microsoft's engineers must go to Toshiba with hardware changes, and then Toshiba's engineers must implement the changes.
Microsoft bought Gigabeat MP3 players from Toshiba because it was a late-starter in the world of MP3 gadgets, and doing that is cheaper and faster than coming up with a totally new design, then setting up manufacturing lines for it. The downside, though, is less control over he hardware, and more difficulty in updating the design. Look how long it took Microsoft to introduce a redesigned Zune. They're dependent on Toshiba to implement any changes for them.
No waiting is necessary.
I think you are very confused.
The original Zune used some base components from Toshiba's Gigabeat S player. Beyond that everything else, including firmware, case styling, and software is entirely Microsoft's. All Zune's released since then are also entirely Microsoft's.
So with that said, if you want to stay the "King of the Hill" or the "800 lb Gorilla", don't become complacent! Listen to what your customers have to say and don't just talk about it, implement it ... or maybe one day you'll make a monkey out of yourself!
As an iPod customer, I have no complaints about backward compatibility. I think the interface could be improved, but that's about it.
I would be absolutely shocked if Zune gave away ALL of its updates for free in the future. I don't think that would/could happen.
perhaps learning english isnt such a bad idea when you're trying to get a message across.
I tried to glean some meaning from your ramblings... let me get this straight... a Zune is great but an iPod is dumb and babyish? You do realize they're very nearly identical, right?
Take a look at Sony. They have MORE EXPERIENCE than most everyone COMBINED when it comes to experience in making music devices, yet they lag just as badly as MSFT does if not worse in many markets. Their current lineup of PMPs are by and large great devices, but they too are up against that proverbial half-ton gorilla in Apple. It's a reversal of roles for them as well, and so far they haven't been able to knock Cupertino down any more than Microsoft has despite all those decades at making quality media-playing gear. And they've even been <i>less</i> successful in beating back Sandisk than the fresh meat at Redmond have been.
-
by lacykemp
September 17, 2008 9:10 AM PDT
- This is all very smart by Microsoft. I agree that keeping the customer first is crucial to keeping them loyal.
-
Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 3 pages (105 Comments)