Microsoft's iPod Amnesty Bin keeps Zune coders on the up and up

Man, you gotta love it when Apple and Microsoft take these little swipes at each other. Rex Sorgatz apparently visited Microsoft's Zune HQ and spotted this plastic "iPod Amnesty Bin" sitting at the entrance, complete with its not-so-subtle message. We're leaning towards the Microsoft stunt end of things (you think they had a "PowerBook Amnesty Bin" outside of J Allard's office?) since if you look closely, you'll notice all the full size iPods look like the same 4G model. Oh, someone also seems to have dropped in a 2G shuffle -- maybe a staffer with access to one of those rumored flash Zunes?

[Via TUAW]

[LandMineHare @ May 25th 2007 5:38AM]

OffTopic: Ads need to stay in their ad box and quit jumping out over the news story I'm trying to read.

OnTopic: Looks like Microsoft did actually start their photocopiers for a morale boosting campaign. At least they aren't sitting on their laurels. The Apple with the bite out of it might be a cause for concern though.

In either case, I could use a new iPod. Anyone know where this box is located?

[jayman16 @ May 25th 2007 8:39AM]

Ads? What ads? I use Firefox with adblock plus, I don't see no stinking ads!

[Mark Bowness @ May 25th 2007 5:41AM]

I love it, Mac and Apple's swipes are everywhere, on line, in London, on the tube.. always makes me chucke!

Mark Bowness

[tekdroid @ May 25th 2007 5:55AM]

It's not hard to throw out RIAA-approved devices. I would like to see them try that with a Cowon.

[iSpork @ May 25th 2007 6:11AM]

Oh BooHoo Microsoft, so what if Apple came up with a better mp3 player before you? Oh and revolutionised the market, oh and made the term 'iPod' iconic?

[Somedude @ May 25th 2007 6:20AM]

revolutionized the market? Um...no, that would have been sony with its walkman some time ago when you were still being breast fed.

[iSpork @ May 25th 2007 8:06AM]

Somedude: I agree that Sony's Walkman revolutionised the Analogue portable music market - but Apple were definitely the ones who made Digital music 'cool' and mainstream, before the iPod (let's say the 2nd Gen, because using the 1st gen was a nightmare unless you had a Mac), MP3 players were just dull and overpriced.

and FYI I'm 35, I remember my first Walkman very well.

[nilram @ May 25th 2007 10:12PM]

Yeah, this iPod thing and downloading music is just a PATHETIC FAD compared to the Walkman! Man, you don't know revolutionary till you've got your grooove on, digging a Walkman in your bellbottoms, with the wind rustling through your mullet.

And Chicks just dig me now--whenever I take my Impala to the drive-in, they always ask about my Walkman. "What's *that* piece of trash?" they ask -- chicks in this hick burb have to fake some disdain 'cause they think it's cool.

And what's down with that "Podcasting" tripe? My buds and I trade mix tapes, now *that's* revolutionary! And check out this Grateful Dead tape, from when they played Albuquerque in '67! Now there's a great band! Yeah, man!

[Somedude @ May 28th 2007 3:11PM]

Engadget kids have trouble knowing the difference between revolutionary, and evolutionary.

Comments here give me gas.

[3rdsun @ May 25th 2007 6:37AM]

where will all those ipods end up... some third world country no doubt

[ohsohhmmmm @ May 25th 2007 6:42AM]

Whether you or I like it or not...... 10 years from now; you will see Zune or whatever else MS cooks up as the defacto player; they have a habit of sticking at it and sticking at it until they win people over - I had a go on a Zune yesterday for first time and I must say that it's a great bit of kit BUT software sucks and you just know that this first Zune was MS 'giving it a shot' before coming out all guns blazing with their own device built ground up.

Remember MS dabbled in games before Xbox, with PC and a lil bit on Sega Dreamcast too I believe... now 10 years on Xbox 360 is the most well rounded console of this generation - (however I'm a Nintendo man myself!).

I know all Apple fanboys hate MS but the giant will always win out; its just an ineveitable ending to the story I'm afraid... and on topic, this amnesty bin's grpahic did make me chuckle

[Jeff @ May 25th 2007 1:17PM]

@ ohsohhmmmm

when was the last time this actually happened? cellphone market? half a decade hasn't yielded them more than 6% of JUST the smartphone market. Videogames? the Wii outsells the xbox by a huge margin, and MS still loses money on every one sold.

When was the last time MS actually took over a market? this old theory needs to be put to bed.

[ohsohhmmmm @ May 25th 2007 5:53PM]

Not so;

Xbox as a brand is making massive profits for MS. You're just using the simplistic arguement that MS haters throw about - that every unit costs more to make than the trade value to store - which is also no longer the case, hence MS upping the spec on Xbox 360. I have a Wii and I prefer it but as a well rounded console - 360 wins this generation. If you've not played Xbox LIVe and you're a gamer then you're missing one of the biggest things in gaming right now. MS has completely and uterely killed every other online experience - LIVE is just incredible.

As for phones; they keep growing and growing - it's been a contstant increase; even Palm uses MS mobile now; what kind of indication is that!

I or you may not like it but MS has the money and will power to stick these situations out... why is that a problem for you? I don't get it

[seamus d dog @ May 25th 2007 7:29AM]

I borrowed this comment from a reader @ TUAW: Where's the Zune Amnesty bin? Oh, right, that would be store shelves. . .

[Alex @ May 25th 2007 9:41AM]

iSpork: no, the Sony DiscMan made digital music cool.

Everybody please remember CDs are digital too.

[Crayola @ May 25th 2007 8:32AM]

I pity the generation lost, brought up on those lousy analogue tapes, Vinyl and CDs sound sooooo much better.

[iSpork @ May 25th 2007 8:34AM]

Crayola: keep in mind Vinyl is analogue too ;)

[Sandman619 @ May 26th 2007 3:33AM]

Same here using Safari. Thanks to built-in pop-up blocking and plug-ins for flash control, etc. This is surfing the Internet in style 8 )

[Sandman619 @ May 25th 2007 8:40AM]

How sad...

First microsoft grabs the chess board and runs away with it because they were losing the game (leaving companies like Creative becuase of their failed microsoft ecosystem)

Now they are coercing their employees to toss their iPods in favor of the zune market place, where everything looks like a better price because of their phoney exchange rate. Sorry, no credit cards here, you'll need to buy a drink ticket in that long line, then come back here for your drink... Arrrgh

The scene would be different if they had a decent system and were not just stealing their former allies' market share. This is just plan immature.

Cheeers!

[mortong @ May 25th 2007 1:09PM]

Coercing, not so much. It's internal marketing - you see it everywhere, along with employees with ipods.

[Sandman619 @ May 26th 2007 3:23AM]

When your employer suggests that you give up a personal item and does so in a public way, that's coersion. Negative internal marketing as well, but definitely coersion. i bring my iPod to work frequently, and to pass by a collection bin daily, most employees would find that intimidating especially to use it at work.

A negative environment doesn't stimulate creativity or foster superior qualtiy. Debasing their competition in this way is counter productive, it's a sign that the zune product, software & hardware, really is inferior to the competition and microsoft's management doesn't see any strength in their product, "the iPod sucks, but the zune sucks even more"

Cheers!

[FrankTheCrank @ May 25th 2007 9:14AM]

Notice there aren't any 5G iPods in there. Just older 4G units. The staff must have upgraded to the 5G's.

Also, doesn't seem to be many in there. Small staff? Or are people just holding out.

M$, I got extra cash burning a hole in my pocket, after seeing this, I'm going to buy me a new iPod. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Dave95 @ May 25th 2007 9:50AM]

It's just like a 'street Performer' with his/her money bin on the sidewalk. They put a few bills in first to get others to do the same.

But why would they need to have such a bin, if the Zune is so great. Employees would be using their old iPods as target practice by now.

[thegrey @ May 25th 2007 9:22AM]

Bet a 100 bucks if that bin was accessible those iPods would be gone.

[crypt2121 @ May 25th 2007 9:28AM]

For a "sad" company (quote above) they seem to make allot of money at an increasing rate...

[Michael @ May 25th 2007 9:36AM]

Geesh MS haters and MAC fanboys, it's supposed to be funny.

[Celia Marcano @ May 25th 2007 9:40AM]

Where's that bin located again???, maybe ms people were the ones buying ipods to put in the bins because I don't think that employees are going to throw away their $79-400 ipods in an amnesty bin just because they are working at ms... instead of just selling it if they didn't want it.

[xxdesmus @ May 25th 2007 9:53AM]

That is really quite funny. Good for Microsoft.

Considering the disgusting number of pathetic (and plain incorrect) swipes that Apple tries to take at Microsoft, it is good to see Microsoft take a swipe on occasion (even if it is only inside their own office).

p.s. The Zen Vision: M still destroys the iPod and the Zune in terms of features. period.

[SoldSoul @ May 25th 2007 2:04PM]

Hey! Look! It's one of those MS drones paid to post 'feel good' ca ca on misc blogs under the anonimity of an everyday joe!

good job opie, good job!
here's dollar.

[xxdesmus @ May 25th 2007 2:18PM]

@SoldSoul

What are you smoking my friend?

Maybe you missed the part where I said both the iPod and the Zune suck compared to the CREATIVE Zen Vision: M.

Work on reading comprehension, you apparently suck at it.

[Mark @ May 25th 2007 9:54AM]

@ ohsohhmmmm

"until they win people over" or until you have no choice.

It's big hearted of Big Brother to offer amnesty though.

[brutha-man @ May 25th 2007 10:03AM]

iPods days are numbered.....

[John Stracke @ May 25th 2007 10:22AM]

I wonder if those are actual, functioning iPods? They could be mockups, or broken ones that some MS manager was able to pick up cheap, to stock the bin.

[oink. @ May 25th 2007 10:37AM]

Someone should drop a Zune in there, just for kicks.

[Dragod @ May 25th 2007 10:54AM]

So, the Zune Team gets an "iPod Amnesty Bin", and you complain? Apple has been making cheap shots at Microsoft for quite a while "Hello, I'm a PC. And I'm a Mac."

And it's not like ever person that watches TV is going to see this bin, hundreds of times. Dang, Apple Fanboys, take a joke. You guys all won the war on being as childish as possible.

Every time I see those "Hello, I'm a PC. And I'm a Mac" ads, I just think "Wow... that's sad..." If your product can't sell, then it won't sell, you don't need to attack the competition. If Macs don't sell as well as a PC, improve Macs. If Zune don't sell as well as iPods, improve Zunes. That's just the way it is. Maybe Apple needs to spend the money it wastes on its ad campaigns to improve the Mac OS.

[Ian @ May 25th 2007 11:38AM]

I don't even think MS will be that powerful in 15 years, so really, in 10 years time, I don't believe the Zune will be anything other than a big fart in our memory.

[stretch_tall_03 @ May 25th 2007 12:28PM]

I do believe Microsoft is merely trying to collect items they can sell on eBay to cover some of the very heavy losses the Zunes have caused.

[Timmy Chen @ May 25th 2007 12:56PM]

Heh, I bet those were starter iPods. You know, like how a street musician puts starter money in the guitar case. And I'll bet they came out of the Zune R&D budget.

And BTW, that's now a 2G Shuffle, it's an iPod battery. And the small white plastic piece is and plastice around the dock port, just broken off.

[Rick Lyon @ May 25th 2007 1:16PM]

Not to give Apple props for the iPod revolution is to deny history ignorantly.

As for the article, I love how one iPod corpse is a clear empty pod case. Doesn't seem like many people at M$ want to separate from their favorite mp3 player.

[Jeff @ May 25th 2007 1:18PM]

you suck.

[mr.puck @ May 25th 2007 2:36PM]

Ladies and gentlemen: the Apple fanboy.

[shidoshi @ May 25th 2007 1:22PM]

I dunno, I don't really find it all that funny. MS could have come up with a far more clever and humorous swipe to take at the iPod, and I wouldn't approve of this thing any more if it were a "Zune Amnesty Bin."

The problem with the joke (assuming... no, hoping it is a joke) is that it encourages the idea of fanboyism over rational thinking. I don't like the Zune, but if I had one, there's no way you'd get me to just toss it away because I'm an iPod fanboy. If I had no use for it, I'd give it to a friend or family member who could use it.

No matter how much you side with one product over another, there's never a logical reason to just destroy or throw away the opposing side's product. Give it to somebody who could use and appreciate it.

[shfahr @ May 25th 2007 1:37PM]

Its funny because the bin is practically empty.

[yabun @ May 25th 2007 2:13PM]

So if Microsoft now owns those iPods, are they also in possession of all the illegal music on them?

[Chris Stowe @ May 25th 2007 2:30PM]

i laugh when microsoft actually thinks they will be able to "kill" the ipod with their zune

[Forrest @ May 25th 2007 2:58PM]

You must have a sad existence then... did anyone from Microsoft ever say they expected the Zune (especially the first gen) to kill the iPod? That was a notion developed by the writers of this blog, and I'm sure it was developed on many other blogs.

People see Microsoft - big money, big resources - surely they must be out to kill Apple on a new front, right? Microsoft knows what it's like to own a market, and they've seen plenty of new entrants try to muscle their way in and fail. They also know what it's like to try and muscle into new markets - it's not easy. What makes you think that THEY thought they could do that in the PMP market right out of the gate?

Keep hating on Microsoft. I'll keep enjoying what they produce. That includes my Zune.

[Jeff @ May 25th 2007 2:48PM]

@ mr.puck

did you even look at the comment i was responding to? it's spam, you moron. You want so badly to find and label "fanbois" that you're not even paying attention.

Have you not noticed that the same person has been spamming 3 BS links (the system's limit) to the same stupid site over and over, on EVERY single engadget article?

- no, you haven't, because you're too busy looking for "fanboys" to actually be paying attention to anything else.

[mr.puck @ May 25th 2007 9:01PM]

Just keep telling yourself that.

[Philster @ May 25th 2007 3:26PM]

Ha!

I also like how they "bulk up" the bin by tossing in an empty Gel Skin...

"To hell with my iPod. Let me remove it from my Gel Skin before I throw it away in disgusted dissatisfaction!" Yeah right.

[Shabbis @ May 25th 2007 4:07PM]

MS needs to fund Zune development somehow since no one is purchasing them. I guess MS figured it could collect old iPods and eBay them.