Zune: Welcome to the video
A year and a half after debuting its first Zune, Microsoft is finally offering some content that makes use of that big color screen.
The software maker is releasing an update Tuesday to its Zune service that adds a video store with about 800 TV show episodes from NBC Universal, MTV, and a couple of other producers. For the moment, though, the store is far smaller than the TV options from iTunes or even from Microsoft's own Xbox Live Marketplace and offers no feature films.
"We feel it is more important and--customers tell us--to focus on short programming first," said Julio Estrada, general manager of Microsoft's Zune Social unit.
Microsoft also still has no connection between the Zune store and its larger online download site, Xbox Live Marketplace, which sells movies and TV shows directly onto the Xbox. Programs bought on the Xbox still can't be transferred to the Zune, although Estrada notes that video stored on a Zune can be played on an Xbox-connected TV.
That said, the Zune store can boast one thing iTunes doesn't have--the latest episodes of The Office and other NBC shows. NBC pulled the plug on iTunes downloads last fall in a dispute with Apple.
Of note, given that NBC supposedly wanted pricing freedom from Apple, all of the initial Zune videos from it and other content providers will cost roughly the same $1.99 they fetch on iTunes. Estrada said Microsoft could offer lower prices on some content down the road, as well as offer "premium content" at a higher price.
Zune enthusiast sites predicted the video store might be coming after seeing a video tab referenced in some Zune screenshots. It is not, however, the unified Xbox and Zune store that some say Microsoft has in the works.
In another change, Microsoft is trying to further play up the social component of the Zune. The spring update allows users to share their "Zune Card" with friends. With that card, one Zune user can get access to another friend's music playlist, including a list of favorite tracks selected by the user as well as an automatically generated list of songs that the friend has been listening to recently.
And there's the rub. There's no wiggle room. Although I could edit my playlist to reflect what I perceive as the most impressive of my musical likes--R.E.M., Juanes, and Tracy Chapman--anyone I share my Zune card with would also see that I have been listening to Wilson Phillips. (I mean if I were, which I'm not. I admit nothing.)
Estrada conceded that could be an issue, but said Microsoft thought the advantages of dynamically updated content were worth that risk.
"We did not want to constrain the freshness of that list," he said, but added, "We, of course, will continue to listen to user feedback and adjust accordingly."
Another sharing feature will allow those who use Windows Live Messenger to share with their buddy list the song they are playing using the Zune desktop application. That feature will be optional, he said.
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. 
Or in the immortal words of Sean Connery in The Untouchables:
"Bringing a knife to a gun fight".
We should be able to wirelessly grab the songs in the playlists for 3days at least, so we can hear and purchase.
What I'd like is bluetooth, or wi-fi... wireless broadcast to speakers, or headsets, or boomboxes, or TV's (including the video). Sending songs for 3day play is ok, but we should have a wireless connect to our home net to purchase. Make this stuff easy, quick and they'll sell... without having to sit down, and hook up cables, to use the PC, to get the music. Showing my track on messenger? woohoo. not even a baby step.
It only makes sense NBC would go Zune...G.E. , NBC , and MSFT are all part of the same family.
Competition also killed off the Model "T"...so goes iSpoons/iPud.
In the same vein...why buy any shows when HULU is free and the ADS are so short. I can`t get enough of Penny and "Lost In Space" And if you click a buy link it goes to Amazon ! Sorry...Apple NOT SUPPORTED on "UnBox" Mac users can go pound sand as Bill Handel says.
Obviously, neither have its fans. C'mon, iPud? You realize that you're calling an inanimate object schoolyard names, right? What makes you think anyone should give any consideration to your actual arguments, when it seems like your main interest is in making up names that are maybe funny to you and a couple other 14 year olds.
And I bet you're one of those people who repeats the stupid name or the dumb joke to anyone who'll listen until someone laughs at it, right?
Go on, call me a poopy head or something, I assure you it won't bother me.
iSpoons? I'm actually curious about what that even means.
So until you can say something that an adult can respond to intelligently.. I can only comment on your inaneness!!!!!!!!!
I agree that Zune isn't 'fully matured' yet, but the question really is if its lack of maturity has already resulted in it missing its opportunity window, in terms of product mindshare. Afterall, the Zune's now been on the marketplace since 2006 and has never not been struggling for relevancy.
And given that Microsoft has just announced that they're orphaning its "Plays for Sure" MP3 consumer base this summer (Aug 08), that is certainly going to strike a sour note in perspective consumers of these for-purchase videos. How much confidence would you have that MS isn't going to abandon the Zune too, given this reminder of their poor track record?
Finally, while I don't doubt that someone will eventually come up with a better mousetrap than the iPod, I don't personally see this NBC+Zune partnership as anything more than an act of pure desperation. It is like a victim from the RMS Titanic kicking off his shoes so that he will float for another 5 minutes so that he can die from hypothermia instead of drowning...its still just delaying the inevitable.
-hh
That being said, in my heart, I agree with you.
But you never know, Microsoft might just hire a handful of great marketers and engineers and pull this thing up by its brownish bootstraps. Extremely unlikely, yes, but possible. It might take an earthquake that sends Cupertino to the bottom of the Pacific, but never say never. Fixing the Zune might require undiscovered elements of quantum physics and the Grand Unification Theory, but I'm not going to be the guy who said it couldn't be done. The Zune team might just be on the verge of perfecting their Steve Jobs voodoo doll. The pope could be personally petitioning god at this very moment to give the Zune a leg-up.
After all, remember what Michael Dell said about Apple in 1997. He's eating those words with a side of fries these days.
- by certworld August 15, 2008 1:26 PM PDT
- Looks its not dead, iPod is working fine and having the potential in market. Well i think they can be awesome in any stage. More you can find any vista and other certification at Test King with correct information along with knowledge.
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