Microsoft made the Zune because partner hardware "sucks"
By Ryan Block 
posted January 20th 2007 5:42PM
posted January 20th 2007 5:42PM
Jim: title "sucking on media players"; regarding a current Creative player (probably a Nomad, perhaps a Zen Touch): "My goodness it's terrible... What I don't understand though is I was told the new Creative Labs device would be comparable to Apple. That is so not the case."
Amir: "Now you feel our pain." He suggests giving cash bonuses for partners that come up with decent devices. In the instance that doesn't work: "it is time for us to roll up our sleeves and do our own hardware."
And of course so they did, with great hype and great failure to immediately capture market share, the Zune was born many years later -- far too late by most accounts, but hey, you've gotta start somewhere. Still, it's funny to think that for these guys rolling up their sleeves and doing their own hardware means taking an off the shelve portable media OS (PMC 2), getting Toshiba to make a modified Gigabeat, and cutting some seriously anti-consumer deals with major labels.
Well ipods are nice, they are, but people at my school, whether it's the gamers or the popular kids are moving towards the Zune. Why? Lots of the gamers at my school use Xbox 360's and the Zune integrates with that. One popular kid happened to try out his cousin's Zune, and he liked it, and all the other kids are at least interested in them. Other people simply like it because it has way better video capabilities. Nobody cares about the sharing, and nobody cares who it's from. All the consumers care about is how adequate it is. I don't really care what anybody says here about the Zune. I have a black Zune and I love it. Nobody can make me think negatively.
Dude its ok to have a zune, dont get so defensive about it. There are too many "I-wanna-explain-why-I-bought-a-zune" guys out there it almost feel like they are all having a collective buyers remorse. So, its wasnt the best buy, but hey, its your money.
Creative's Zen Vision:M is the best mp3 player (with video) out there right now. This is coming from a current Zune owner. Yes, I sold my ZVM to purchase a Zune. And there are lots of times that I regret doing so (like when converting videos that I would have just had to drag and drop on my ZVM.). The GUI on the Zune is superior to that of the ZVM and thus I was won over. The UI on the ZVM is no less difficult to grasp than the iPod(yes, I owned one of them as well). Its the same concept. I will admit that the iPod is a tad easier, but I am not in 3rd grade and not mentally retarded (sorry, was that not PC?). Thus, I was easily able to figure out the controls on the ZVM when I first got one. It may be a little more dificult and bigger than the iPod, but that's the price you pay for more features (radio, radio recording, voice recording, 252k colors as opposed to the 64K on the ipod and Zune, more battery life with video, more format support, more user customization like user backgrounds and user EQ, photo zoom, video zoom and more.). and small increase in size is just a small price to pay.
Now, to this comment. I think Microsoft needs to get their shit together. They may very well have started out in the beginning with an "everything but the kitchen sink" design but got caught up in a tangled web trying to Kiss everyone's (The RIAA, Universal) ass. Come on Misrosoft!!! put more video codec support on your device, add support for 640 x 480 resolution, get rid of the 3x3 rule or at least make it 20x10 and no limit for subscribers, make it compatible with your own Windows Media Player, drop the price to $200, promote the hell out of it and tell the RIAA and Universal to Kiss your ass. You debuted your player a year after Creative and theirs is still superior. I think you slightly edged out the iPod with your design but you guys should flushed them down the toilet. Either you're serious about getting in the game or you're not. Decide now.
I will summarize your comment.
- you owned a Zen Vision:M and now you own a Zune. And you found out that Zune sucks ass
- you also owned an iPod, but it was too good, so you decided to go for something worst (you want to be in a select cast that includes people that don't go for the best products and chose something that does the same but looks worst and they are harder to use)
- Microsoft kisses RIAA's ass and screws consumers big time
Yeah, you're right. It's just gets me riled up that people are hating on the Zune just because it's from Microsoft, and are looking for oppurtunities to rant on the Zune. Zune have flaws, like what everybody says, and like every other player (including the ipod) have flaws too. But like every other player on the market, there's positives too, but somehow they don't make it on Engadget. But you're right, I'm not going to sound like all the other fanboys and haters on this site, and be so annoying. I just feel the need to defend it.
talk about sucking...
MS even failed to suck less.
isnt the dude on the left the guy that said he would buy a mac if he didnt work at microsoft?
And the iPod was immediately a success? Many pod users have commented that the Zune menu system is quicker and looks nicer and has a nicer looking screen.And in the 30GB HDD-based player category it competes in , Zune had over 10% market share. Not bad since the iPod had a 5 yr. headstart.No other Apple competitor got more than 1%.Zune is meant to be evolutionary not revolutionary. Oh , and I wasn`t aware that the iPod wasn`t encumbered with "anti-consumer" DRM ;) FAIRPLAY isn`t DRM ?
According to the latest market figures, the Zune had a market share of 2% - less than either Creative or SanDisk. Just the facts, that's all. I myself own a Creative, but I'll be upgrading to an iPod soon.
*blocks ears from incessant RIAA-sanctioned device comparisons*
http://www.cowon.com
http://flac.sourceforge.net
1) Native drag n drop.
2) Open-source format support (the real advantage for independent artists and producers looking to distribute their work royalty-free).
3) No industry kickbacks. No industry-sanctioned stores.
What a concept. Real independence. No restrictive DRM.
Oh and you can save your PC files on virtually any operating system, unlike the hideously crippled Zunes.
Yeah, I'm all about invididuality too. That's why I use Windows.
While auto manufacturers have offered iPod-integration kits as a dealer-installed option for some time, Sync revolutionizes the way consumers connect MP3 players and mobile phones to the vehicle's central nervous system. Using either a USB port -- a standard feature on personal computers -- or Bluetooth wireless technology, Sync lets users operate and control any MP3 player through voice commands, the car steering wheel or the dashboard stereo.
It supports not only the iPod but also files purchased from iTunes as well as subscription tracks on PlaysForSure devices. Users can even stream Internet radio feeds from mobile phones through the stereo system.
Watch the video on Cnet TV and see how MSFT is way ahead of Apple.
http://www.cnettv.com/?tag=hd_ts
And to think Job`s idea of a phone revolution is fumbling around with a two-handed touch screen...NOT ! Watch the demo and be amazed.
http://www.cnettv.com/9710-1_53-25582.html
Some choice quites?
"isnt the dude on the left the guy that said he would buy a mac if he didnt work at microsoft?"
Yeah, that story came out looong ago. He's off the 'Longhorn' project obviously, so he's probably alreayd bought his new Mac. He was basically in charge of Windows, which, coupled with Office, makes up about 80% of MS's profits.
"And to think Job`s idea of a phone revolution is fumbling around with a two-handed touch screen...NOT ! Watch the demo and be amazed"
Huh? That technology is NOT new. My dad has it in his Infinity already... er...Dude i was playing with it last weekend.
And the iPhone/iPod/UM-Mac is amazing. They'll sell out like crazy. Obviously.
um....
am i the only one who thinks that $600 is a little much for a fucking phone.
i mean cmon ppl.
thats enough to feed a family for a year in some countries.
god i hate steriotypical fatass americans.
I think this article is worthy of the "CE Oh-No-He-Didn't!" tag
Marian,
I do not deny that the iPod is a nice mp3 player. It is my belief that the ZVM much better. I think the Zune and the ipod are almost on equal lengths with the Zune edging it out slightly. The iPod has a better user interface (clickwheel), more content through itunes, and games. The Zune has a better GUI (awsome menu system), offers more customization, has a radio and a bigger screen than the iPod.
I owned an iPod, but returned it because as an early adopter, I was frustrated with its video capabilities and all the video on my computer (about 15 Gigs worth) would have to be converted.
Lucky for me, the ZVM was released shortly after and all was good. I purchased a zune because I liked the design, awesome GUI, and screen. Its a work in progress so consider it mor of an investment. I don't refret buying a Zune. I knew exactly what I was getting myself into. I jus wish that Microsoft would grow a pair. Perhaps it could borrow one from Apple?
ROFL hahahah :)
Who ever did that picture have to get some prize or something! Totally awesome! :D
But I'm sure that Zune has a most of the market for brown players :-))
We're talking about the frickin ZUNE and suckage! Not the damn iPhone. Seeing as it hasn't even been RELEASED yet, it is a little premature to be bashing the product. Once it is out, bash away!
anti-consumer? Anti-copyright is more like it -- just another way that major tech corporations are widdling away at copyright protection for artists. Zunes are evil.
You know, every time I read the comments on engadget from the less logical, less intelligent...four-fifths...of the world, I feel like I'm losing brain cells. There is no 'best' device. They all have their quirks and they don't suit everyone. If you're going just by sale numbers you're only seeing what's been sold the most, and you can label it the most 'popular' if you like, but it by no means is the 'best' device. The 'best' device is what's best for YOU. And only YOU. I have an iPod. I don't like it. I use it, because my Rio Karma is dying and I'd rather preserve it. Neither were the best device for me. If someone walked up to me and gave me a 60GB device that could play OGG (MP3 not necessary), FLAC optional, do both AM and FM radio, have the ability to expand (ala Archos 402), gave me a clean intuitive UI, a clean design, and reasonable size and price, you've have me sold. That would be the best player for me. That player, of course...does not exist.
both ipod and zune are the same. good or bad is up to the user. if one knows how to use the product, it is good; otherwise, it is bad.
iphone or wm5 is the same piece of...stop crying!
windows os and ms has been suck, the whole world uses it everyday...
good or bad, just ask the sale person whether or not they want to sale the products...don't cry...