Microsoft approaches iPod accessory makers for Zune
posted July 12th 2006 3:08PM
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It was inevitable: we get confirmation that the Zune is for real, and now Microsoft is already tapping into the device accessories market. They don't have to go far to find a slew of companies ready and willing to pop out goodies for their new DAP; it's presumably as simple as calling up the folks who make accessories for that other portable music player. iLounge has it that apparently the Zune will feature a proprietary expansion port not so different in function from the iPod's dock connector, and Microsoft is reportedly offering contracts which would allow partners to officially accessorize at a lower rate than Apple's "Made for iPod" program. It was fairly obvious that Zune's release would spark another Mac vs. PC embroilment, so it's no surprise Microsoft is likely covering their bases and making sure their own accessory lineup is ready.
What makes me laugh is that the only way the Zune triumphs it will be by amalgamating the features the iPod offers through accessories.
Guess I would be excited if the Zune didn't BSOD every 30 seconds. More Microsoft garbage *yawn*
What I want to know:
will it be overpriced?
is it made to last?
is it hdd based or flash based?
does it play non DRM files at all?
if it has video capability, can it play other formats than WMV?
does it have any truly innovative features like wifi?
is the battery life more than 10h?
What I know or expect:
it is small and portable just like any other player.
it seems to have a nice screen which is wide.
the design is ok, it is minimalistic.
audio quality will suffer because MS has nothing to do with audio.
Let's take a trip down memory lane:
"IE capitalize on Netscape popularity (IE became better)"
IE became dominant for 2 reasons: 1) was given away free while Netscape was charging $39, 2) Was bundled with Windows. Let's not forget early versions of IE were VASTLY inferior to Netscape.
"C# - Java (C# destroys Java in so many ways it is not even funny)"
Maybe if you write proprietary Windows only code, it's better. Java is better for cross platform work.
"Windows Media Player 11 - Itunes (TBD, I think WMP11 is better after using it since release - my money is definitely on WMP future releases)"
iTunes is light years ahead of WiMP.
"OS2 - Windows (Windows better)"
Not hardly - OS2 1.3 and 2 were doing things (protected memory, real multitasking, etc) that Win 3.1 could only dream of. I used them both and OS2 was a much better OS than Windows (even of today) - rock solid and could run Windows in a Window.
"Word processors (Word is sole survivor for a reason)"
Word is one of the worst apps - tries to be a page layout app and fails MISERABLY with many nagging bugs that should have been fixed revisions ago.
IMHO, Ami Pro was the best WP package out there - too bad IBM killed it as WordPro.
"Palm - Windows Mobile (Windows Mobile kills it)"
Please - WM sucks - the Windows poor interface translates extremely poorly to the handheld. Not to mention it's just as insecure as the Desktop Windows. I'll take my sleek and efficient Palm, thank you.
"IPOD interface - Windows Mobile Media (TBD, but again personal experience Windows kills it. My Toshiba Gigabeat S Series absolutely destroys my old iPod.)"
You are kidding right? Everyome says the iPod interface is superior. Everyone.
"Novell - Windows Networking (laugh)"
Novell is the best NOS out there. I have used them all - Novell is reliable (stick server in closet and forget until power goes out), secure, and very good at what it does. Problem is it is a 1 trick pony - file and print serving only. Windows (wrongly) does way too much and none of those things well.
Also, most of the framework for AD was "borrowed" from NDS back in Novell 4.11. Given the choice, you will see lower TCO and higher reliability from a Novell network vs a Windows network.
Enough of your history lesson for today.
Novell, you are definitely remembering your "good old days". It was flaky, insecure, and unstable. It does not hold a candle to the current networking code in any active OS today. And your right about the one trick pony - meaning I had to have a admins for various server OS's back in the day, which brought my TCO higher. So been there, done that, been over departments that have done both exclusively, had them integrated and we live in a better world today without it. Novell does get props for AD/NDS concept.
C#, true - it is only superior in Windows because that is the only platform that runs the CLR. duh. And how many crossplatform business apps are truly needed? % wise? right, nuff said.
Windows Mobile vs. Palm - I have used/had both. Windows Mobile has way more flexibility and more features. Any gaps it does have are closing quickly. Again, no PalmOS future.
WMP11 vs. iTunes, not even going to waste my breath. You cannot list more than 3 features that iTunes has that WMP11 does not. Oh and don't even get me started on URGE being added in. Subscription music anyone? Oh yeah, codec support...
OS2 - Windows, one survived the other died a terrible lingering death. And I never compared OS2 vs. Windows 3.1 that is a old age argument and I agree OS2 was better (THEN).
Ipod Interface vs. Windows Media - Wrong again.. Like I said my Gigabeat kills my iPod.
Oh wait, here is some news coming across the wire this morning as a matter of fact: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11396_7-6550266-2.html?tag=btn
Oh what is that? That's right.. the iPod got crushed in a comparison review against the Gigabeat (running none other than Windows Media, which the judges gave unanimous thumbs up to over the iPod's UI). Funny. So much for your everyone saying iPod is superior statement.
And for the final one.. ummm Ami Pro? That is truly showing you are living in the old days.. lets see Ami Pro/OS2/Novell Supporter...
Word is so much more than Ami Pro ever was its ridiculous. They are not even in the same league - put Ami Pro up against Wordpad and you may have a argument.
-Rask
"Novell, you are definitely remembering your "good old days". It was flaky, insecure, and unstable."
That's hilarious. We ran 3.11, supporting 75+ users with 1 admin. It ran for almost a YEAR straight. Same at the other companies I admin'ed for. And the 4.11 upgrade was as stable as well. Sorry, you really need to read up - Netware was stable, secure, and reliable. A little on the expensive side, but you do get what you pay for.
"C#, true - it is only superior in Windows because that is the only platform that runs the CLR. duh. And how many crossplatform business apps are truly needed? % wise? right, nuff said."
Cross platform is a good thing - when your OS (Windows) gets exploited every day, it's great for your bottom line to switch to something more stable (*NIX, OS/400, etc) without a rewrite. Non-cross platform is only good for lock in.
"Windows Mobile vs. Palm - I have used/had both. Windows Mobile has way more flexibility and more features. Any gaps it does have are closing quickly. Again, no PalmOS future."
There will be a Linux rewrite of Palm. WM is poor no matter how you slice it. The Windows desktop metaphor does not translate to the handheld no matter how MS tries to shove it down the pike.
"WMP11 vs. iTunes, not even going to waste my breath. You cannot list more than 3 features that iTunes has that WMP11 does not. Oh and don't even get me started on URGE being added in. Subscription music anyone? Oh yeah, codec support..."
What codecs, iTunes supports MP4(open standard), MP3, WAV, Apple Lossless. Not to mention subscription music is a waste of $$. I have XM for that and record it to iTunes for use on my iPod. So, why would I pay URGE for the same thing whe I get so much more with my XM subscription?
"OS2 - Windows, one survived the other died a terrible lingering death. And I never compared OS2 vs. Windows 3.1 that is a old age argument and I agree OS2 was better (THEN)."
I'd put OS2 up against XP. And I'd bet OS2 would win. The thing that killed OS2 was IBM's poor marketing and support. It is a technically superior product. Which is why it lives on to this day in some very small niches where reliability is paramount.
"Ipod Interface vs. Windows Media - Wrong again.. Like I said my Gigabeat kills my iPod."
One device out of a sea of poor devices. Oooh yea, I'm sure Apple is quaking in their boots.
"And for the final one.. ummm Ami Pro? That is truly showing you are living in the old days.. lets see Ami Pro/OS2/Novell Supporter..."
How do you figure? Like the rest of the sheep, I moved to Word. Still think Ami was better in many respects. Predictable layouts, easy keyboard shortcuts out of the box, style sheets that worked, etc.
"Word is so much more than Ami Pro ever was its ridiculous. They are not even in the same league - put Ami Pro up against Wordpad and you may have a argument."
So tell me how? Word FAILS at the most basic of tasks - wrapping around objects, free form design, picture handling, etc.
Word is an average application at best. After 10+ years, you think Microsoft would have fixed some of the most glarig bugs. Yet they live on and on.
If you'd open your eyes, you'd see not everything MS does is good or even worth it.
Novell - Once the Internet hit big *1996* (read email and tcp/ip integration), add 150+ users, and it explodes.
C# - Cross Platform is not supportable for 90% businesses, save that argument for government agencies. This is a waste of breath.. plus my original point was C# was a innovation on top of Java, which it is.
Palm - the Linux rewrite was suppose to be done like what a year ago? Even Palm gave up on it and went to WM. WM is a fine product and is just part of the evolution of handhelds (it is definitely the next level over the current version of Palm).
iTunes - Codecs, you obviously misunderstood my statement, but did prove my point. iTunes has no support for non-apple codecs. Can we say Divx? Right, WMP11 has it.. it also transfers that codec support to WMP devices via on the fly conversions. As far as subscription music, your XM argument is just plain silly - that is like saying you can get free music by waiting for your song on the radio then recording it. We are talking On-Demand (URGE) vs. wait and record (your proposed iTunes/XM hack)....
iPod vs WM portable players - Gigabeat was just released last month and already people are converting and raving. And remember all of this started because anti-MS boys like you started flaming the potential release of the Zune... make that two iPod killers this year. Competition is good for the consumer and MS is providing it with Zune and WM.
OS2/XP - Your statements here are so ridiculous I am not going to even argue them. I knew some of the OS2 engineers, good product for its time but it is not current.
AmiPro/Word - Okay, so its a average product that pretty much took out all competition through ease of use, features, in a span of 10 years AND was one of the leading profitable products for the most profitable tech company _ever_. Makes sense
My eyes are open - the reality is that MS does some really awesome things and have kept pushing the technology envelope beyond where their competitors have. No doubt they have had some failures, but they have had more successes.
Ethically, it maybe frowned upon how they manage their business but Wahhh! Keep on crying, they develop kickass products.
After trouncing your age old underdog arguments I have got to stop trolling this thread to go develop more kickass apps in C#/ASP.NET.
For me its going to be:
Xbox 360 + Macbook + Zune
but im going to wait for the portabe xbox/origami version
its probably the only things microsoft do well.
Gaming.
Consumer electronics.
Vista aint so bad.