Steve Jobs worried about the Zune? In a word: "No."

Any wild guesses as to which big tech exec isn't a fan of the new Zune? If you guessed Steve Jobs, you'd be completely correct; in a recent interview with Newsweek's Steven Levy, Herr Jobs says that he's not at all worried about the Zune. "I've seen the demonstrations on the Internet about how you can find another person using a Zune and give them a song they can play three times. It takes forever. By the time you've gone through all that, the girl's got up and left! You're much better off to take one of your earbuds out and put it in her ear. Then you're connected with about two feet of headphone cable," argues His Steveness. You make a good point, Steve, but we've heard you sing this tune before, like when the original Mac didn't have networking capabilities and you basically told people to resort to sneakernet -- of course, eventually Macs were able to connect with one another. So, we'll agree with you that the wireless capabilities on the Zune kinda suck out of the box, but we'll also bet that you're already at work on some wireless action for a future iPod, no matter how hard you might deny it now.

[sergeij freud @ Oct 16th 2006 3:57AM]

"... microsoft is the best 100% whatever you like it or not, that's the honest true!"

thanx, there's no better way to start a day than with a good and hearty laugh.

[Kentucky Wildcats! @ Oct 16th 2006 2:28AM]

Where's my built-in Bluetooth iPod? I want some of those new wireless Logitech headsets, without plugging in the Bluetooth adapter.

[temper @ Oct 16th 2006 10:42AM]

Well, it's clear MS users are not smart, if you got 2 Zunes or iPods, you DON"T NEED to share your earbuds, you just plug your headset in your friends iPod, fast, easy no battery draining wifi, instant gratification ... and no greasy earbud of someone else
shees

[ByronGman @ Oct 16th 2006 2:31AM]

ROFL.

If Steve Jobs thinks he can bluff out the Zune he really needs a reality check. Whether you prefer Ipod or not, there's no denying connetivity and network are cool and people want it.

Online games? Xbox Live? Counter-Strike? Come on Steve! People love being connected, even if it's over a laggy famerate swamp!

[Desides @ Oct 16th 2006 2:45AM]

"Whether you prefer Ipod or not, there's no denying connetivity and network are cool and people want it."

Yeah, because people were DEMANDING sharing over wi-fi before it was announced as a Zune feature, right? Come on.

[LittleJoe @ Oct 16th 2006 4:03AM]

A majority of people I know that own iPods are dumb college girls, who really couldnt give a shit about digital networking.

and if you told them that the song you shared would only last 3 plays they would say "omg thats so lame"

[engdgt.9.nikster @ Oct 16th 2006 7:51AM]

yes, networking is cool and something people want, but i think we all know that it will happen only if it doesn't suck. and the implementation on the zune sucks.

expect to see iTunes-like sharing capabilities in the iPod soon, e.g. somebody can browse and use your iPod library freely as long as you are around.. exactly the way it works on iTunes.

For those who don't know: iTunes allows you to share your library with the entire local network. The way it works: You turn on sharing. Everybody else on the local network has you machine show up in their iTunes. Simple as that. Zero-configuration for real!
It's just a streaming connection though, so when your machine is gone, your library is gone as well.

[az1324 @ Oct 16th 2006 2:35AM]

So you mean I'm not going to be able to pick up girls with my zune by sending them mixtapes? I was so counting on that one.

[frabgod @ Oct 16th 2006 2:37AM]

Wait a minute, Steve Jobs thinks that sharing earbuds (yech..!!) is better than wireless song-sharing?

Someone please remind him of that when the wireless iPod gets released. And in the meantime, let's all practice safe earbud hygiene.

Zune wireless is not nearly perfect, but it's a first step towards how content will be shared in the future.

frabgod
http://www.zunerama.com

[myscrnnm @ Oct 16th 2006 2:55AM]

Steve Jobs kind of has a point here though. Admittedly, the wireless sharing of music is a great idea, and a step in the right direction, at this stage, using even 802.11g is a bit too slow to be as practical as Microsoft is saying it is. I just can't really imagine myself trying to send a person a 30MB song in a reasonable amount of time. So, for now, I think Steve really doesn't have a lot to worry about. Maybe like a year or so from now, he'll have to really think of the Zune as a serious competitor, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Zorque @ Oct 16th 2006 5:47AM]

30 megabytes? Do you compress your music at all?

[itchi @ Oct 16th 2006 9:08AM]

lol dude you are clueless. A 30mb file over a 802.11g connection is max 2 secs. Zune will totally pwn the old crappy ipod.

[Finished Law School @ Oct 16th 2006 2:59AM]

The only people worried about the Zune are all the people who will get fired from Microsoft after the company discovers that the Zune is a failure. Too bad Ballmer is not at risk of being fired.

And claiming that the wireless abilities of the Zune will help it win market share is nothing less than ignorance considering there is no real world application of the wireless abilities of the Zune and will not be any upon its launch.

[Javaflash @ Oct 16th 2006 3:06AM]

I wish Jobs could shut up sometimes during interviews... wouldn't it be nice he just answered 'NO.' He would've sounded confident rather than cocky. Now, Apple's PR has to work overtime to fix his blah, again.

Apple doesn't need to worry about Zune. Yes. There is no deal-breaker feature in Zune. Apple needs to worry about the next iPods, and get those out of the door within the next 3 months.

[Sy @ Oct 16th 2006 3:13AM]

Apple needs to worry about Zune like Bill Gates need to worry about next month's electricity bill.

[Deezee @ Oct 16th 2006 3:20AM]

The Zune isnt gonna kill the iPod. Ofcourse. But damn, everytime I read or see a Steve Jobs interview it just sounds like a sales pitch for people that will believe anything he says. I cant stand hearing anything from that guy anymore. Its all just one huge info-mercial to me. Thats why I cant get into the whole Apple thing. That guy makes me hate the whole Apple scene.

[embassy @ Oct 16th 2006 3:23AM]

myscrnnm,

wat songs are u sending that are 30 friggin mb's???...are u sending full length movie scores..??...i am music producer and tranfer songs non stop all day and ive never sent a 30+ mb song unless it was wav,multitrack. or a protools session...but who needs wavs(or any of that stuff i mentioned) on a portable music player..??

and the fact remains...wireless interconnectivity is the future..the zune however , has screw it up so far...but downloading songs wirelessly from itunes or MS's store is the next step...obviously...look out for the new ipod in 6 months with that capability.

[Deluxe @ Oct 16th 2006 3:26AM]

iWhore, therefore iPod.

[Tommy @ Oct 16th 2006 3:34AM]

Steve and the folks at Apple have to be somewhat concerned with Zune coming out. It will be a major competitor to their iPod, and it would be crazy for them to not be worried. As a business man I think jobs said the right thing for the investors, but the wrong thing to the technology industry. Investors don't want to hear that the iPod is being threatened, or their is uneasiness about the new product. They only want to hear that everything is good and their is no threat from the Zune. Otherwise we would definately see the stock price drop on Monday.

[yumyum @ Oct 16th 2006 3:53AM]

So that's where everything started going wrong. I should've shared my earphones. Damn!
Thanks for the tip Steve.

[Jake @ Oct 16th 2006 3:57AM]

PEOPLE - Jobs is clearly annoyed that Microsoft beat Apple by being the first to add wireless sharing technology in a mp3 device.

You can tell when Jobs is annoyed. You can tell when he answers reporters - trying to act all like "I'm not worried at all" tone.

MY ASS.

Jobs needs to do a SERIOUS revamp of the iPod - not just change the look of the material and call it "remastered." Brighter screen? Search scroll? THESE ARE NOT upgrades! Hell, Zune's screen is freakin 2x what iPod has right now.

Zune won't flop. It's definitely got something good going on. It's just their first release. In a year or so, Apple's gonna FEEL competition and KNOW it.

[Jake @ Oct 16th 2006 4:00AM]

If Steve Jobs is smart, he'll know that Zune is a major competition. Zune can play songs downloaded from iTunes, URGE, Napster, and then SOME.

Apple's "trapped" in their little DRM world

[BM5k @ Oct 17th 2006 7:15PM]

'Trapped in their little DRM world'

Ignorance. Apple's DRM is just about the easiest there is to work around.
To get around Fairplay (for songs)
1. Buy a song
2. Burn CD
3. Re-rip cd as MP3/AAC/Lossless/WAV/AIFF
4. THERE IS NO STEP 4.

For data-recovery emergencies:
To copy songs from an iPod to a PC (only works if the iPod is synced with iTunes on a PC)
1. Set explorer to 'Show Hidden & System Files'
2. Import the entire folder x:iPod_controlmusic into iTunes, where x: is the iPod, and all of the music will be properly named and sorted (assuming you have the 'copy to library when added', and 'keep my libary organized' options turned on, or click the 'consolidate library' menu item.

To copy songs from any iPod synced with iTunes using OS X
1. Open terminal
2. type cp /Volumes/IPODNAME/iPod_Control/Music ~/Desktop and press [Enter]
3. The music folder will be dumped to your desktop, and can then be added to iTunes.
4. Delete ~/Desktop/Music once everything has been copied to your library folder

In both cases, iTunes organizes your folders and songs with simple letters and numbers, and relys on the id3 info/library database to display track info. If you have the mentioned options selected/consolidate your library after import then all of your songs will be renamed based on the track name, and placed into the correct artist/album folders inside your library folder.

There are third party apps for copying playlist/playcount/etc info from the database file on the iPod to iTunes as well, at least for mac. Check out iPod+iTunes.
----------------------------------
Don't steal music!

[Paul @ Oct 16th 2006 4:54AM]

Excuse me? Every single song on the Zune has to be converted and wrapped in Zune's own DRM system that isn't compatible with Microsoft's PlayforSure system that they've trumpeted so you can buy songs from multiple vendors...

and Apple is wrapped up in its DRM? As long as I have MP3's of all my songs, they just play and work... Not on the Zune!

[Massimo Scognamiglio @ Oct 16th 2006 4:06AM]

Zune? Bleah: it's a stuff for engineers like all the microsoft's stuf.. ipod is for the rest of us. I want to share my music but I want to do with soul not with a gadget... When Apple will make wifi connection it will do with soul & great interface design.

try the difference:

1) Mac osx vs. Vista
2) B&o stuff vs. hi end hifi
3) Italian design vs. everything else

could you understand the difference? style, design, usability..

[Nathan @ Oct 16th 2006 10:20PM]

Apple is a great company.
and.
Don't blow up on me, but Microsoft is a great company too.
It is only natural that microsoft would make an mp3 player.
Think about it. Vista comes out to the masses in January, it is sleek, well designed (and shockingly similar in appearance to OSX).

Microsoft is getting the design point. Look at the new adds for the zune and for Vista for that matter.

Apple has been a good influence on microsoft.
Watching these companies duke it out is refreshing (and only benefits us... the buyer).

Hey, after I buy my Nintendo Wii, and make the upgrade to Vista next year.... I very well may buy a zune... once the kinks are ironed out.

[Juaquin @ Oct 16th 2006 4:27AM]

Yeah, but sticking an earbud covered in earwax into her ear is gonna make her leave quicker than a crappy AAC encoded file sent over a T3 connection.

[LordPaul @ Oct 16th 2006 4:28AM]

could you understand the difference? style, design, usability..


...markup?

[markus_competitions @ Oct 16th 2006 4:37AM]

Nothing says "Dork" like a Zune.

[Jarod @ Oct 16th 2006 5:15AM]

"Apple should be concerned that the Zune is major competition"

LOLOLOLLLL!!!

To all you simple minded twits, OF COURSE Apple considers it competition! If my dick can play and share MP3s, that would ALSO be competition wouldn't it?? Is it going to make a dent in the ipod? LOLOLLLLLLLLL!

Get real you clueless Micromorons!

[Simon @ Oct 16th 2006 5:48AM]

Read, think then post! Damnit.

He doesn't say it's a bad idea, he only says it's a bad implementation. And he's smack on with that assessment.

There are some real gems of stupid comments here: "safe earbud hygiene" LOL, get that large stick out of your ass. I guess you never ever leave your hermetically sealed bubble, right?

And even better: "Engadget love Jobs, you have advertisements all over your site about Apple." Sure, ads are selected by bias of the site. This is a tech blog, get a clue ...

[DM @ Oct 16th 2006 6:12AM]

ipod??? ipod isn't even great compared to creative zen vision m. creative zvm beats ipod features by a mile. Oh wait, ipods got a new version of nano, the red colored ones. What a huge upgrade.

[DM @ Oct 16th 2006 6:15AM]

And by the way Steve blowJobs, who wants to hear a song with just one earbud???

[Martijn Wismeijer @ Oct 16th 2006 6:26AM]

moeh ha ha ha ! Steve is peeing his panties for the Zune and he is making stupid arguments why you would not need all those features.

I do not own an ipos because I do not want to be associated with the 'think different' crowd and think it is not good value for money... I will get a zune the moment I see them in the stores though!

[Toasty @ Oct 17th 2006 9:57AM]

uh so you would rather be associated with mediocrity?

[Remo William @ Oct 16th 2006 6:27AM]

Good luck iPod! You're gonna need it. You have hundreds of hungry competitors this christmas...

[mkjellman @ Oct 16th 2006 7:10AM]

wow Jake, i can't believe you read this blog and STILL are wrong wrong wrong. the Zune will play unDRMed files just as any iPod will, and legally play only files from Zune Marketplace. The iPod will play DRMed files from iTunes Store. Difference? No, Microsoft copped Apple because they realized PlaysForSure was wiping your ass. So sorry Jake, Not much difference?

[portalz @ Oct 16th 2006 7:43AM]

I foookin hate Steve Jobs; he's just an arrogant wanker, and saying that people do NOT want wireless sharing... he's either in denial / or more likely; just saying the first stupid thought that came into his head. Sounds like another episode in the MAC superiority complex that ALWAYS crashes down around everyone - networking, mice, intel.. etc etc / what a joke of a man; pathetic and bitter till the end eh Jobs?

[free radical @ Oct 16th 2006 10:51AM]

"I foookin hate Steve Jobs; he's just an arrogant wanker"

here's proof: http://tinyurl.com/8zkqs

[Rick @ Oct 16th 2006 8:03AM]

What's he thinking? These guys don't talk to girls. They'll be wi-fi-ing each other.

[K28 @ Oct 16th 2006 8:09AM]

What's worng with CD burning/Email songs these days?

[Adam @ Oct 16th 2006 8:15AM]

He should be worried about it, microsoft have shown they can use there billions of dollars to get the market share they want eg. xbox & 360.

[tekdroid @ Oct 16th 2006 8:23AM]

"...and you basically told people to resort to sneakernet..."
==================
Speaking of which, it would be nice to share tracks with friends without iTunes having to be installed (or having to resort to third-party software to *upload* tracks from iPod to computer, which Stevie boy doesn't let you do (but a simple concept called USB Mass Storage does)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB_mass_storage_device_class

What a concept...

[Alex Padilla @ Oct 16th 2006 8:33AM]

Personally, I don't think the Zune will sell all too well. It has WiFi, which I think is great, but it doesn't utilize those capabilities. Why not connect to the Zune Music Store (whatever it's called) to purchase music or videos or zunecasts or whatever? However, I do think that the second generation Zune will be worth getting.

Microsoft is challenging Apple, and Apple is realizing that it's going to be hard to stay on top now.

I'm still waiting for full-touch-screen iPod Videos, too, btw. If Zune could pull that off before iPod, then, wow, hand the crown over.

[riggs @ Oct 16th 2006 8:34AM]

iPods suck

[yonatron @ Oct 16th 2006 8:35AM]

"You make a good point, Steve, but we've heard you sing this tune before, like when the original Mac didn't have networking capabilities and you basically told people to resort to sneakernet -- of course, eventually Macs were able to connect with one another."

Um, you're thinking about the iMac, not the original Mac. And Steve told people to use networking because there was no good way to sneakernet with it. The original Macs came out when nobody expected to have networking built into a computer.

For everyone getting up in arms about what Jobs is saying: I don't think it's all that exciting either, but he's a CEO of a company with a massively popular product. Of course he's going to say he thinks his product is the best.

[DM @ Oct 16th 2006 8:54AM]

Of course Steve Jobs lied when he said he wasn't worried. Why would he say, " Yes, zune worries me."? , wouldn't that be unfair to Apple and the their fanboys. BTW, zunes wifi sharing capabilities aren't limited only to music, you can share pictures as well (digital photos), movs etc..

[DJDL @ Oct 16th 2006 9:40AM]

I actually had the chance to play with a Zune and let me tell you this thing is a whole lot better looking in person. Its about the size of a first gen Ipod. The screen quality and menus are a sight to behold. It might not take market share away from those who just want an ipod just for the coolness factor but i guarantee hardcore users will be impressed. I know i was and i own a 5th gen ipod.

[Jonathan Allen @ Oct 16th 2006 9:41AM]

Take Microsoft's ability to catch virii and add a wireless Zune = Zune viruses rendering them useless in just a few weeks after launch!

[FP @ Oct 16th 2006 10:03AM]

wow, some of you really hate jobs. now you know how we feel about ballmer.
I'm guessing most people who are going to buy a zune don't like or have ipods, so how is that supposed to be an ipod killer? it's more like a stab-you-play-for-sure-partners-in-the-back-and-take-your-5-percent-dap-market-share killer.