Comments on: Microsoft: More Zunes coming in 2009

Despite the latest sales figures, a representative for Microsoft's music device business insists that the company is going to keep building Zunes.

[Microgates]

"Seriously. What, if anything, would convince you to buy a Zune next year?"

If I could connect a Zune to my 360 and download any of the Live arcade titles I downloaded to it, then I'll buy one! ;)

[hometeam360]

I have to believe something like this is coming... There have been XNA developers - developing - for a long time now, with the impression from MS that they'll develop for XBL & Zune.

[robvme]

I have a Zune, it was my first mp3 player. I am very happy with it, but I would say to get more adoption, there needs to be more third party devices, like docking stations, AV hook ups, etc... yes there are some, but iPod has a much better selection of third party enhancements.

[hometeam360]

As a stand alone device, there is only one thing matters at the root. The music. Owning the music. The device's job is then to make things easier for playing the music, be it playlist management, artist/album/song sorting etc.

The iPhone & iTouch are great handheld computers, which happen to play videos and play music. I've owned a Touch for about a year, and I still can't use the keypad worth dirt. Free open WiFi outside my home and office are still dirt as well (and I live in Metro Boston), where you'd think I'd have to drive 20 miles before it would be an issue.

The Zune is an awesome media device - going beyond playing the music & videos. I can listen to FM radio. I can walk into my home, and wirelessly get sync'ed with my Media Center and all my podcasts, photos dropped in my Mesh folders (from family and friends). I have my children loaded into my Zune as "friends", so I get all their recent plays loaded - so I can keep an eye on them - without scrolling through their actual devices. All generations of devices have been allowed to firmware update - so nobody has been left out.

I remember buying a $599 iPod Photo, and only months later the Video came out... No firmware update for me to play videos (or games for the matter) - even though the device could technically play videos (and games)...

Surfing the net on the iTouch got old, and in some cases was actually painful. There's was a thought that surfing would be "it" -- but it quickly became apparent that it was the apps that mattered - and made getting info online more easy. I do wish the Zune would open up adding apps to all the developers who have been developing for years now. Decent apps means you don't need a web browser on the device.

Outside of the iPhone & iTouch, the Zune DEVICE is better than EVERY SINGLE OTHER iPod that exists. I can't imagine the argument opposing that statement...

It's amazing how much "Zune sucks" press and blogging goes on - and yet you never see anyone telling the other brands to get out of the mp3 business... Why? I suspect because those other brands aren't a threat - and the lemmons what to keep thinking they aren't lemmons.

I bought 6 of the original Zunes for my family... and we recently replaced them all with second generation Zunes. All my kids' friends with iPod Minis, would rather have a Zune...

And for the record.. I've also owned an iPod Mini (a 3 year ago model), a $599 iPod Photo - and currently an iTouch.

[Crashdaddy2006]

It's called in iPod touch, not an iTouch. For someone who claims to have a history with iPods, you would think you could get the name of the product correct.

[random truth]

Wow thats saying something. you have friends who want a zune over a 6 year old mp3 player. The Ipod Mini came out two years before the original zune. So why would you compare it.

[DigitalAngelic]

Crashdaddy, iTouch is a common nickname given to the iPod Touch. You'll see reviewers and bloggers using that name too.

[rgersmrk]

My 3g Nano recently broke and instead of just getting another Nano I went out and looked for a product comparable to the Nano. I ended up getting the 16gb flash Zune mainly due to the Zune 3.0 software and their subscription service. 10 music downloads a month (and most of the Zune store is DRM MP3 music now) and a front end that is 1000 times better than iTunes sold me.

The player is nice and I actually prefer the flick type button on the Zune over the click wheel on the Nano. I think the screen on the Nano is nicer but the audio quality of the Zune hands down is better and that's what really matters to me.

[rgersmrk]

Gah, I saw a mistake in my post. I meant to say (and most of the Zune store is DRM FREE MP3 music now). My mistake.

[BLSCPTS]

I bought a Zune just last week. I needed a new small mp3 player for use at the gym. $99.00 for the 4 GB model (red).

So far I'm very impressed.

[Hey_Radar]

I'd buy a Zune if they did the following:

1) Need to use the same plug as an iPod so that you can buy accessories.

2) Support microSD memory so I can upgrade it year after year as higher capacity microSD cards come out. I hate that my 4 GB iPod is out of space and all I can do is spend $200 for a new 16GB model. I can get a 8 GB microSD for less than $15. Wouldn't it be nice to double my capacity for $15!!.

[xcal78]

You want to buy a SanDisk MP3 player in that case. They have microSD slots standard.

[Boomstickedition]

Apple uses a proprietary connection so that's not gonna happen on the Zune. :(

[random truth]

@Boomstickedition
They license it however but it is expensive.

[NPGMBR]

Fortunately for me I don't need any convincing. I love my Zune80 and will be looking forward to getting the new model if I like it. I don't want a phone. I prefer a standalone device.

[davidbrian81]

First of all, I have a zune 30 (brown) and love it!!!! I had a creative zen vision M before that. I loved it but will never look back. The Zune's large screen is amazing, and the subscription with keeping 10 songs a month is really worth it. I avereage about 10-15 cd's a month that I download.

Well, anywho, back to the point, what about putting a tv tuner in the device. Remember way back when the Sega Game Gear came out. The had a tv tuner for it that wasn't any bigger than a ciagrette lighter. I'm sure nowadays they could shrink it further and just put a retractable antena in the device. Well, that's my dream anyways.

[nnewbrunswick]

Since the Zune has Wifi, how about they make it possible to plug into the 360 for wireless game play. Just a thought.

[beej90]

I purchased a Zune a couple of months ago at Best Buy & promptly returned it the next week. The Zune has a good bit of work to do if they plan to compete with Apple. First and foremost, Make it Mac compatible. I know Microsoft probably hates having to swallow this idea, but it's just the way it its. Do you think Apple really liked the idea back in 2003 to make iTunes Windows compatible? I'm sure they didn't, but that's what the market demanded. Secondly improve the software. One of the biggest reasons why i returned my Zune was simply because of the software. No movies, no movie rentals, weak selection of T.V. shows, weak selection of podcasts, and weak music library. Yes the idea of a music subscription is killer, but they have executed it in the wrong way. When i would try to download an album on my Zune pass, half the songs on a particular album were purchase only. I understand some songs have to be purchase only, but damn almost every one i encountered was. Third is about the hardware. One of the things i can actually praise the Zune on is the hardware. While it had some cons, it had some very innovative features. Namely the Zune Pad & the Wi-Fi connectivity. One thing people tend to forget is that the Zune had Wi-Fi connectivity before the iPod line did. Although it was implemented horribly at first, still you have to give Microsoft credit. Also the Zune Pad is the best thing thing to come to an digital music player besides Multi-Touch on the iPod Touch. It's just feels right in the hand. You can navigate through your device with ease with this thing. I really enjoyed using it. Now to Some Cons about the hardware. Battery life isn't nothing to ride home about. While it's not terrible, it could be much better. Especially when compared to the iPods. Another thing is the Wi-Fi. While the Wi-Fi is a very innovative feature, it needs to be a bit more polished. Overall i say the Zune has potential. I hope to see more from them this year. If the Zune should improve latter this year, i would be happy to give it another try. I may be an Apple user, but i would be happy to switch to a Zune if it offers more.

[xcal78]

"First and foremost, Make it Mac compatible. I know Microsoft probably hates having to swallow this idea, but it's just the way it its. Do you think Apple really liked the idea back in 2003 to make iTunes Windows compatible?"

Wow what can one say but "LOL". Apple made iTunes Windows compatible because it's the market leader and without that iTunes would have flopped having maybe 10-15% of the market. That's pure marketing by Jobs to realize his OS couldn't support the software and they needed to capture the WHOLE market. MS has no reason to make their stuff compatible with 10-15% of the market. That small amount is a drop in the bucket. On a side note: I'd bet the bank Job's ENJOYED making iTunes for Windows. He knew he'd strike a blow to Gates with it. After all they are arch enemies.

[Stasco]

@xcal78

Microsoft can't make the Zune Mac compatible. Guess who gets to decide if any software can be Mac compatible - Apple. Microsoft decided to make iTunes Windows compatible for the same reason Apple made MS Office Mac compatible - to keep people from switching platforms. If you want to blame someone for the Zune not working on Mac platforms, BLAME APPLE!!!

[funyun2]

@xcal78
Zune is advertising right now for younger people who want to discover new music, (i.e social). As of right now, macs are freaking popular among younger people. The audience is different because a lot of people who use Windows machines are older and don't need mp3 players, (like my parents). So the audience is a) the type of people MS is looking for and b) bigger than you think.

[NPGMBR]

Apparently you don't know much about ownership rights. It is the artists and the studios that control if tracks will be available via subscription, single purchase or album purchase only. Microsoft has no say in it. Not Microsofts fault.

[NearChaos]

I guess the real problem is Sohn's comment about so long as Apple is proving there's a market...in a few years how many iPods will Apple be selling vs iPhones? I already like my Nokia N95 as a music player better than iPhone, Zunes or my kids' Sansa players because it has surprisingly good built in speakers and two memory slots. The point is that smart phones of all flavors are already making dedicated music players redundant. Rosoff is right in that Microsoft is perhaps fiddling Zune while Windows Mobile burns.

First Microsoft needs to make Windows Mobile a better phone OS. Then they can make it a better music OS. Maybe if Zune is to continue to exist, it should be as a platform that will eventually either be merged back into WM, or replace it as a phone OS.

[moshelinho]

"Seriously. What, if anything, would convince you to buy a Zune next year?"

I would have bought it last year, if they would have started selling it in India.....

Someone please tell microsoft that there is a big world outside North America.

[Jayemmbee]

I have a zune its great i just wish more people had one and this caught on its shame they are missing out, if more people had one it would get more support accessories

[iceman721]

I have owned 3 Ipods (2 of them died and 1 I still have) and I have also purchased 2 Ipods for my daughter. Just before last Christmas I realized I hardly ever use my Ipod and decided to give the Zune a try. I go a brand new 120gb for a steal after a friend bought his son a Zune and found out later he wanted a Ipod. Over the last couple of months I can say with no problem that the Zune is a much better device.

My Zune has a radio which is very useful for when I am in the car and want to get out and keep listening to the same thing. Its also effective when in the gym and working out. I can connect my Zune to my Xbox and play music or videos on it right on my plasma. I used to buy videos from Itunes now I just go on YouTube and download them with Realplayer and convert them to MPEG-4 with a free conversion tool I got from CNET. No more paid for music videos! I also have 12 full length movies on my Zune with about 30 music videos a dozen video and audio podcasts and all of my music collection. I am only using about 45 gb of space.

The construction of my Zune is much better than any of my Ipods ever were. Also with Zune pass I can try out any music I want and get to keep 10 songs a month. Part of what many people don't know is that you can use one Zune pass on 3 computers & 3 Zune's for 15.00 a month. That is a great deal. I like the wireless sync capability of the Zune as well. I love my Zune and my Ipod (30gb) is still collecting dust and I no longer use Itunes and have more money in my pocket as a result. Microsoft needs to advertise and market the Zune better.

Oh last thing the sound is much better than my former Ipods also. I have been buying DRM free songs from Amazon that are at a higher bit rate than any of the Itunes songs. Sound quality alone is enough reason to switch.

[jjove02]

I own a ipod, iphone, zune 30gb, zune 80gb and zune 120gb. The ipod sucks, i can't use the iphone for anything else than phonecalls because the batterie wouldn't last. The zune pass and the zune hardware combination is a killer.

[markdoiron]

My son and I both own Zunes and we love them. For $15/month, we have both Zunes and three computers subscribed to unlimited music. Right now I'm listening to music that my Zune is streaming directly from Zune Marketplace over wi-fi to my home stereo using the channels feature.

Really, I'm glad all of you iPod lovers are heaping so much hate on the Zune, because the more that you do, the harder MS is trying to please those of us who own one. I love that they've given me two FREE software upgrades--not software fixes--real upgrades with real feature improvements. I wonder what they have in store for us with this next round of upgrades? I can't wait. :-) --mark d.

[et60629]

I bought a zune because I hate I tunes.....I would not trade my zune for the wifes Itouch

[bradey123]

I havea 4GB Zune that i baught after my iPod was broken. I love it. I dont like the fact that there is no zune marketplace in canada (yet) But i perfer it over my old iPod. infact, i liked it even before Microsoft improved it for me. it came with some neat songs, videos and podcasts.. then microsoft even added games... and then they added MORE games. I use the radio on my zune all the time, too. I love zune and i dont understand why people dont give it a chance. I read an article saying it was because microsoft isnt cool, and that apple is. But just because microsoft isnt exactly cool, doesnt mean zune isnt, LONG LIVE/LOVE ZUNE. If I ever broke my zune, i would replace it with another zune, no doubt. i only know one other person at my school with a zune.. but we both love them :)

[SammyDKat]

I love my Zune. I love the subscription. The battery lasts forever. I've never had an issue with it. I can dock it w/ my XBOX 360 and watch videos & listen to music through my home theater. I'm so tired of Apple hipsters with their skinny scarves and jeans and goatees and urban ennui, but it's always entertaining how they try to impress me with all of the useless iPhone applets and inability to enlarge windows with their stubby fingers as they poke incessantly at their touchscreens.

[Stasco]

I want what I think every non kool-aid drinking Apple fanboy wants, which is an mp3 player that competes on quality with the iPod without making you sign your soul over to Apple and use the bloated monster that is iTunes. Few people dispute that Microsoft has problems in execution, but their latest marketing campaign "life without walls" hits the nail on the head. I don't understand how Apple has gained this reputation as the company for creative free-thinkers when their entire business model is centered around sucking users into an inescapable proprietary prison. Microsoft is no beacon of open-source ideology, but they're a hell of a lot better than Apple.

In essence, I want an iPod minus the Apple, which is really what the Zune ought to be. Let's see if they can deliver.