Comments on: Microsoft unveils revamped Zunes

Changes include a complete overhaul of the device's software and a redesign of Marketplace, which will offer 1 million unprotected songs.
Photos: Round two for Zune

[kakman1]

How Zune compete with iPod

There are several instances Zune can overtake or competively compete with iPod:
1)ease of use
2)better style
3)better price
4)pray Apple hubristically shoots itself in the foot
5)no restrictions on any music file - can play and share any sound or video file
6)rip out its own proprietary software, let Novell partner replace with Linux based software

[McBlayde]

And the likelyhood of this "perfect storm" happening?

1) The best they can hope for is to be comparable. You can't get much easier than iPod.

2) Oh yeah, that Puke Green was so stylish back in the 70s. Do you think it is coming back?

3) Price seems comparable, not better.

4) Pray hard, but Steve J. seems to be firing on all cylinders right now, history has changed.

5) Nobody has to buy music from iTunes even now. Rip CDs, download MP3s, no restrictions!!!

6) Linux, UNIX, whatever, it still has to be easy to use regardless.

Maybe third gen will be a charm...

[sanenazok]

DRM and other non-points

It's nice how people keep ******** about "DRM" in the player. One would think you realize that DRM software alone doesn't really matter, you need DRM protected content to play on the device. MSFT also announced availability of non-DRM protected music and certainly you can put on ANY device unprotected music from any source like iTunes (if Jobs sells unprotected music).

I guess if you want to have something to complain about the eviiiiil DRM "overlord" is a good one. Don't forget it (meaning any device anywhere) also got (drumroll) software patents so non-coherently complain about that too.

As far as music devices go, the second iteration is much better, I especially like the wireless syncing. I'll buy this the day after never of course since I listen to all my (unprotected) music on my Nokia.

[McBlayde]

And don't forget

to thank Steve Jobs for making legal non-DRMed content happen in the first place. Ironic that it took a useable DRM scheme to make it possible to gain the influence in the market to make it unnecessary....

Things that make you go HMMMMMM

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

Barf Color is Exceptionally Cool

I sure hope the suckers who are actually stupid enough to buy one can recycle them before getting an iPod.

[fshepinc]

But What About...?

What the article doesn't address (nor do the comments here) are
some of the issues that made the Zune seem like such a non-
starter in the first place. A year later, I've still not been able to
hold one in my hand. Every display I've seen has fake, non-
working Zune-like things bolted down with thick metal bars.
You can't pick it up, judge the weight and heft, or actually see/
hear it in action. And what about those ridiculous Zune points
you had to buy in order to use the Zune (Windows-only)
Marketplace? Are they still making purchasing songs needlessly
complicated?

Microsoft's tech people clearly started listening to their
customers and their critics -Zune 2 is a real advance. But the
marketing department still seems to be in the twilight zone.
Face it, if you're a potential customer getting ready to pop
hundreds of dollars on a portable music player, you want to hold
it in your hand and listen to it first. Apple Stores let you do that
with iPods.

Wake up, Microsoft! The Zune could be the geninue, one-and-
only iPod Killer of legend - but who's gonna buy it based on
online reviews alone? I've <never> seen one in the wild, and
every store I've been in has no working display, only replicas.
And even those are buried in a dark corner of the room.

The engineers and software designers stepped up to the plate.
Now it's time for marketing to get in the game!

[bobby_brady]

Can I squirt MP3 files?

or only the DRM files with their heavy restrictions?

[onlyauser]

Yawn Zune...Yawn iPod...

The Zune is a great story of failure and for the second act MS releases sub-par flash devices with small amounts of flash memory compared to other MP3 makers just like Apple.

Now if you you at the features most all of the MP3 makers. Apple and Microsoft are not impressing over anyone. Almost every other MP3 maker either offers you more and better features, more memory for much less CASH! Almost always more for less for sure!

There is change in the wind. Wow, I even find myself hoping that Sony can deliver Apple and Microsoft a solid kick in the marketplace crotch.

Competition is great! Anything but iPod or Zune.

[WindowsOnlyDude]

Zune

Ok Microsoft, I like you but you have to get your act together if you wanna compete with Apple and win. Here is what you need to do:
1. Faster refresh cycle of Zunes....6 months tops
2. More colors
3. Stop letting your engineers design your hardware caseing....get a professional from Sweden or Japan or Italy
4. Get some celebrities to launch your product with a sustain program....look at what Apple did with U2....and it continues on....you gotta win the the hearts and minds of young consumers
5. Make the damn thing simple
6. and finally oh yeah "Zune Market Place" thats real sexy....what some geriatric decided on this name? Where is your damn common sense? have you guys gone stupid?

[WindowsOnlyDude]

Zune Marketing

More than 100 million people probably go to Microsoft.com every week perhaps? So where is the Zune announcement on Microsoft.com? Instead you have a geeky picture of Bill Gates......what the heck is going on guys? Get back in the saddle and kick some A$$

[SteamChip]

2 guys who bought zune may be able to

The 2 guys I know who bought zune may now may be able to convince 2 other guys to buy it.

[basraw]

Archos 605 - Wifi, Vid, Music, + Opera..4.3 800x480 screen..

what else could you ask for?

3 steps ahead of Zune, and 2 steps ahead of Ipod.

[ramudd]

Usual inferior Microsoft stuff

First of all Get a name. Come on - ZUNE - Not an attention getter other than to say WHAT?

Second - It is normal Microsoft stuff that is inferior from the get go. Crappy color so who is going to listen to the sound. It is like Vista. Not interested. Get someone with an imagination and do it right to start with.

[rapier1]

Wow

What an insightful and interesting critique! You've really dissected
the device with knowledge, wit, and precision. This really ranks up
there with the "ZOMG M$ $UCK$!!!!11!1one!" posts.

Masterfully done sir. An inspiration for the ages.

[Penguinisto]

Too Little. Too Late.

It's jumped the shark, such as it is.

Nobody cares.

MSFT should've let it die quietly.

Unless/until it can simplify (more), and ditch DRM entirely, it has no real compelling features to distinguish it.

/P

[richto]

They still sold a million+ of the mark I

They still sold a million+ of the mark I Zune and grew to 10% marketshare from nothing.

My money is on Microsoft eventually being market leader.

Just look at their impressive record when faced with competition.

They have completely wiped the floor with Linux. Pretty much no one uses it as a desktop and Microsoft are still gaining market share against Linux and other UNIX in the server market.

Then you have the Xbox 360 - completely anihilated Sony in the current console generation.

Microsoft office cleaned up versus Lotus, Corel, Wordperfect, etc.

Exchange wiped out CC:Mail, Notes, etc.

IE wiped out Netscape Navigator.

The list goes on and on...

[McBlayde]

Welcome to the Zune Social!!!

Where better to get an STD?

"PC to PC send: Zune users can send links imbedded with a song?s metadata from the inbox in their Zune"

Virus vector much, anyone? Did they even really THINK about that for a minute?

[richto]

yep

Of course they did. Security is now intrinsic to every stage of product development at Microsoft.

[The_happy_switcher]

Zune squirts more poo

File this under 'no one gives a damn'. Next.

[t8]

Microsoft you just aint cool

You are a geek and a nerd, so stick to software.
But you try to be all things to all people and that only leads to rejection.
And your core business is failing. Your software is full of holes and it is bloated beyond normal usage.
Fix your core business and leave the cool stuff to cool companies like Apple and Google.

[close5828]

Selling my iPod

Looks like it is time to get rid of my 30 GB 5.5Gen iPod.

[deanrd7]

yeah and...

...when you see how clunky the Zune is, good luck trying to sell
THAT!

[varoon5]

Ditto

I so badly regret buying my ipod instead of buying the zune, or
even a psp. The zune came out with its new lineup jsut a couple of
months late or they woulde had me at wi-fi.

[The_happy_switcher]

MSFT like Dianetics

They probably sold a lot of these zunes to themselves. Much in the same way that Scientologists buy their own books to exaggerate sales.

[close5828]

Do you have a job?

...or more specifically, one without a name on your shirt?

Seriously, I've read about 6 separate posts (not replies!) about how much you hate Microsoft and just love everything that falls out of Steve Jobs' rectum.

Even "I" don't hate anything that much to spend the last 4hrs posting and ranting about how much I hate a company (or administration for that matter).

It's called Prozac--it's available, it's for you.

[t8]

MS just aint cool

You are a geek and a nerd, so stick to software.
But you try to be all things to all people and that only leads to rejection.
And your core business is failing. Your software is full of holes and it is bloated beyond normal usage.
Fix your core business and leave the cool stuff to cool companies like Apple and Google.

[t8]

Change the name

Poone is more descriptive.

[close5828]

Apple, or Apple Users....

... I haven't figured out which one I dislike more. I don't 'hate' Macs or Mac users, but I can't stand their mentality.

If Apple does it, it's perfect-flawless-and-beautiful, and if there's a problem it must be YOUR problem.

I remember when the iPhone "tax" basically left by their [life] CEO Steve Jobs who said that (in regard to the price drop) "...this is normal in the industry...prices drop all the time...etc." However, there were thousands of angry owners flooding Apple w/ calls, e-mails, etc. about their dissatisfaction w/ Apple over this.

I didn't think any different of Apple (for better or worse) for doing it, nor did I think so when they gave out the $100 early-adopter-apology-credit.

What sickens me is the people who say, "Get over it...you bought it....it's not Apple's fault..etc.etc."

For a community that prides itself on solidarity for the fellow owner/user, this was just obscene and really turned me off towards their products.

It's like the Church of Scientology or something, and questioning the establishment is just forbidden. When you go into an Apple Store, it's like a church where all the followers want to "convert" you to their system of thinking and doing business; in many ways, they are very similar.

I think and make choices for myself as an individual and a consumer; I do not makes choices based on what some balding ex-hippie college dropout in a turtleneck tells me to.

[The_happy_switcher]

Apple, or Apple Users....

No, instead you listen to an uber nerd stuck in the 80s and sweat-stained-monkey-boy Ballmer.

[deanrd7]

I'm still trying to figure out...

if you are really against Apple products because: "For a
community that prides itself on solidarity for the fellow
owner/user, this was just obscene and really turned me off
towards their products."

I, for one, didn't buy my Mac or my iPod or iPhone because of
"user solidarity" or because Steve Jobs said so. I bought them
because they are best in class. No they are not perfect. But they
are light years ahead of the competition in design, ease of use
and stability.

Do you really expect people to believe that the tens of millions
of iPods are purchased only by Apple fanboys?

Do you really think people will swallow the insinuation that year
after year consumers keep choosing iPods because even though
their earlier experience was negative they bought them because
someone said so?

The iPod is the #1 selling device because the product is elegantly
designed, is simple to use and does exactly what it advertises.

Every friend or family member that has taken my advice and
replaced their worn out PCs with Macs have been ecstatic and
will never buy a PC again. Not because Steve Jobs said so or even
because I said so. They'll buy them again because they are
elegant and simple to use and do what they want them to do
without a hassle.

People like you think Mac users fell they are superior. Yep some
do. Just like some PC users think they're superior. Just like some
Linux users think they're superior.

You're only exposing your ignorance saying you would be
turned off of Apple products because of a few posts in
comments sections.

here's another thing to ponder: most people could care less who
you like or dislike.

[technewsjunkie]

Bigots are bigots, plenty here too by the posts

All you have to do is read some of the posts here and you will seee
there are plenty of bigots on both sides.

That's not exclusive to Mac users. The "little guy" will always
struggle to be heard.

[markdoiron]

What MS Can Do to Kick Some Apple Butt

This new Zune is a step in the right direction, but just a baby step. And I seriously don't expect MS to go much faster--partially because of the development time required, but mostly because of the MS attitude considering DRM (remember, Gates left college to start MS and was appalled at the piracy he'd witnessed).

What MS must do is let go of the Zune software. Give it to the open source crowd to develop the applications that Zune buyers keep hoping for. MS can still sell hardware, but allow those with creativity and with a culture that isn't interested in big-money partnerships with content companies to do what folks want their tech to do.

And throw down the gauntlet at the highly controlled and proprietary nature of Apple products. The availability of tons of applications vs the tiny Apple universe is why the PC kicked Apple butt decades ago. I'll bet it won't take 12 months before Zune is kicking some real Apple butt.

--mark d.

[technewsjunkie]

Is this about media players, or RELIGION?

Why is Microsoft in the iPod business?

Egotism, and formats.

[The_happy_switcher]

Microsoft-unveils-new-generation-of-Zune

Glassy eyed?lol. I think you and the previous poster are the same person.