Microsoft turned a few heads at its Advance '08 advertising conference by announcing a type of ads for its Zune platform, in addition to those web, TV and Xbox "branding experiences" it already delivers. The primary method described merely involved corporate sponsorships of celebrity playlists, with the "ad" being consigned to branding on that musician's Social card -- and you'd have to have friended the musician to see any of it at all. Apocalyptic stuff, eh? Microsoft also promises to keep the ads appropriate for the audience, so we're not going to start panicking just yet, but the first DAP builder to make us sit through a minute of ads every time we try to sync with our computer is sure score the
(oh, hey, thanks for the $100, Microsoft!)
scorn and vitriol love and affection of its customers for years to come.
posted May 22nd 2008 11:03AM
Why am I not surprised???
Because you already ordered a new Zune hacked bios with an Ad-blocker build-in?
This is awesome. I've been waiting for someone to offer this so I can get free music, legally. Broadcast TV has long been paid for by advertising, radio has long been paid for by advertising, many newspapers and magazines are paid for by advertising, most web sites are able to be free due to advertising (including this one, engadget), and no one can sit here and say it would have been better off if those media were never available free to the public (except maybe Mr. Paul Miller here). So why not embrace this for music downloads?? I love it and can't understand why anybody would be against it.
Now if they are just throwing ads on the Zune with no benefit to the user, then that is bad.. we already paid for the Zune. If they give the Zune away for free, then they can put ads on it. In any case, that is not what MS is planning to do so it's irrelevant.
And from the sounds of it so far, it’s not clear if they are going to give you free music in exchange for opting in (yes, you have to opt in to allow ads in exchange for freebies.) or if it’s just crappy backgrounds and such. If no music or video is offered then I don’t think this will take off… but it could be a launch pad for a full blown free Zune Pass. That would be the greatest.
Paul Miller, can you get rid of your pathetic dribble of an analysis and place Jagsters comment in its stead?
Good point Jagster. It'd be a legal way to get free music, and the execs would get their hands on some cash as well. I'm impressed with your idea, and hope that's what they're actually going for here. Not sure if I'd end up doing it myself ("Celebrity Playlists" doesn't sound like my type of music) but it would certainly be praiseworthy in my opinion.
Jagster is right, but I see nothing in Microsoft's nickle-and-diming of customers that would suggest they have any plans to do so. I mean, I could invent a story that they're going to be giving them away free, with free music, but that doesn't make it remotely accurate.
I say, wait to see what they ACTUALLY do before passing judgement. It's not like an ad on the screen is that big a deal, since you don't look at it much, but they had better give me something in return. And hopefully they don't leave the backlight blazing and killing your battery just to show you ads.
actually, Jagster is correct and @Reid: They've already done it. Go to zuneinsider.com. The very first post(and the second one as well) will tell you that if you befriend Ryu Hayabusa, you can download the Ninja Gaiden 2 soundtrack for free. :) enjoy.
@JAGSTER
Why don't you stop being such a cheap bastard. To see the future when everything will be ad supported, and a bunch of brainless zombies like yourself will be staring at them all day as you drool on yourself, see film "Idiocracy"
There are 8 ads on the first page of www.engadget.com, these are OK because they earn Engadget money. Having ads on the Zune, which a user must go out of their way to get and earns them free music, videos, etc. (nothng for Microsoft) are evil because it does not bring Engadget money.
Engadget (specifically Paul), you are a hypocrite. If ads are so horrible on the Zune, why do you not demand that every single one of them be removed from Engadget and all the sister sites, and refuse to write until they are removed? But you will not, because it is easier for you to point the finger than do anything about it yourself. And Paul, let me ask this, do you get any money from this ad funded web site?
Jagster and the rest of you are crazy with your sane reasoning! If it's not Apple, then it sucks!
/sarcasm
@Ruben,
It's drivel, genius.
does this mean zune could be free like google and engadget...
So this applies only to CELEBRITY PLAYLISTS?
This is going to effect exactly 0% of the people reading Engadget, and probably 0.01% of Zune owners.. Everybody, cool it with the panic (I can already see it coming)...
Yup. All that matters is the headline - OMG ADS ON THE ZUNE!!!
And FWIW, I might opt into the ads if they're giving away the playlist tracks for free, or at least 3 free plays.
That's assuming some dimwit celeb has a playlist with music I'd actually like to listen to, of course.
so, a so called "celebrity" will put out a free playlist of music, sponsored by ads. So? What's the big deal? If they did this with TV shows, i'd be happy not to have to pay $2.00 an episode (which i refuse to do).
Yeah but it isn't apple and therefore is flawed in everything it does...
I don't like the Zune myself but I think this is fear mongering in itself!
i'd get a joy division zune
Where's the obligatory Engadget Zune-bashing?
Read the article.
in your mind
Broken sarcasm detectors?
If Microsoft had done what I told them to do in the letter I wrote, right now, they'd be bringing out the second Zune Phone rather than playing catch up to Apple.
Did I miss something?
Is there a Zune phone I should know about?
Yeah, since people should definitely listen to you. It's probably your fine tuned sense of reasoning that people find most attractive.
I can't believe a major world-wide corporation wouldn't listen to the advice of a blog commenter.
Wow, you didn't ask if it plays Crysis! Thats progress!
i'm pretty sure i've seen every Flashpoint comment...and they're usually not worth reading, probably just like the letter!
How refreshing, there is yet hope.
The low ranked seed sprouts many beautiful high ranked flowers....
Including this one*?
*You have the power to make it so.
By the power of Greyskull. Yes, we do have the power. 1+ for you .
Of course this is an option, you want free stuff, get some ads.. if its an option I'm ok with that!
This may not bother too many people but it's certainly a step in the wrong direction (sadly a direction we're marching steadily towards)
I don't know if you can call it the wrong direction. Everyone wants free music, if that means I have to listen to a 30 second add every 10 songs I think I would be willing to do that. I know most people just download off of torrents and ddl but this is just a way to pull a few people away from that.
I agree with mitch
step in RIGHT direction. Seriously, everyone can't expect to get free music forever. if I could listen to music w/o having to pay for it and just spending a little time listening to ad's, then I would. Perhaps this will become the tv version of music. Its NOT like microsoft is forcing you to watch ads. If anything people should be happy they have more media options now.
there is already a tv version of music. it's called "radio". you should check it out some time.
Yeah, but this is just another reason, regardless of how insignificant, to not by a Zune. Sure, the ads in this current state are not a big deal but why do them in the first place? Is this REALLY going to be a revenue generator for Microsoft, who is so hurting on the bottom line?
It's just another example of what most people think about Microsoft's approach compared to the iPod...they just always seem to want to take care of the corporate before the customer. Royalties to Universal, asinine point-system for purchases, industry-friendly music renting, cheap construction. It's such a condescending attitude... shut up, buy the thing and learn to be happy!
@D9: I don't think you read past the unnecessarily alarmist headline.
Let me explain: If you want to get FREE music from CELEBRITY SPONSORED PLAYLISTS then you can do it by watching a few short ads on your player ONLY WHEN LISTENING TO THAT PLAYLIST. Don't want it? Don't sign up to get the free playlists/music. Not in the mood for an ad right now? Don't select that playlist.
This is about trying to find more ways to get media to users. It isn't about pinching a few hundred dollars here and there.
@ Brad
Don't be too hard on him, it's a poorly written post.
@ D9: So Apple gives away free, non-sponsored, music downloads right now? That is news to me. Shame on MS for not following Apples superior offering.
@ Tony: No, it was an intentionally misleading headline and post. As is usually the case on Engadget any time they can get a chance to belittle a MS product.
@Tony: Although I'm not certain what was poorly written, I wasn't aware this was a literary debate! Instead of needless personal attacks, why not add a certain substantive rebuttal?!
@Jagster: Why, yes, Apple does give away a free download each week on iTunes. But I'm sure you meant to imply that Microsoft is doing no worse than Apple...yeah, the numbers seem to really bare that out.
@Brad: First, thanks for the sensible response. Second, I did read & understand the gist of the offering (and I agree the Engadget headline is nothing short of flame-baiting), but I still feel Microsoft is introducing an element (advertising) into the music consumption world that has no purpose for the public. Sure it takes care of the musician/industry/sponsor, but that is my main point...that Microsoft always takes the corporate path first and then spins it to the public as something good or at least, painless.
I'm not trying to be an Apple fanboy, but I do believe the iPod has succeeded because it kept (keeps) it rather simple...easily put music you own or buy onto a portable device that is easy to use & listen to. Why Microsoft has to even entertain these types of schemes when it should pursue game-changing features to both catch & surpass the iPod is beyond me!
/
To D9
"First, thanks for the sensible response. Second, I did read & understand the gist of the offering (and I agree the Engadget headline is nothing short of flame-baiting), but I still feel Microsoft is introducing an element (advertising) into the music consumption world that has no purpose for the public. Sure it takes care of the musician/industry/sponsor, but that is my main point...that Microsoft always takes the corporate path first and then spins it to the public as something good or at least, painless."
Remember HD DVD? Low cost media, Low cost players, managed Copy protection (which in theory would allow consumers to make copies) Completed spec, including a REQUIRED means for allowing updates. in Every way was better for the consumer then Blu ray. FAILED. Why? Cause it didn't please the content creators. If you don't have the content, you don't have customers. Apple defenders like to pretend Apple's content monopoly doesn't count. But it does. Apple can get more content, because they are apple. Steve jobs is a majority owner is Disney/Mirimax for god sakes.
The irony is, I find the Zune software easier in some ways to iTunes (iPod touch owner). Like I'd love it if iTunes would convert videos so they can be put on the player, like the Zune software does. Just because i can bring a video into iTunes, doesn't mean it can go on my iPod, and iTunes doesn't give me this information. Sure I found a menu command that'll let me do it NOW, but then it creates a duplicate file that shows no distinction of which one is the original and which one is converted. Zune, automatically converts it at sync time.
MS doesn't have the gigantic dong of iPod to swing around at the studios. So, yeah, they have to give these content companies the perverbial handjob so they'll get the content. Because that's what brings in customers.
"I'm not trying to be an Apple fanboy, but I do believe the iPod has succeeded because it kept (keeps) it rather simple...easily put music you own or buy onto a portable device that is easy to use & listen to. Why Microsoft has to even entertain these types of schemes when it should pursue game-changing features to both catch & surpass the iPod is beyond me!"
Because it's not that easy. Apple is a company that has name recognition and a reality distortion field like no other. They are introducing game changing features, Like Wi-Fi shareing and syncing, social music networking. Zune has a larger, better screen, bettr audio quality. and more options for HOW you want to get your music. (I like the subscription idea myself). The truth is that whole devision of MS is changing the entertainment landscape. And they'll never get any credit for it, because it's cool to hate Microsoft. Look at this article here if you want proof.
It's funny how they always get flack for copying apple, yet when they do things differently, they get flack for not being appel enough.
@ D9
I was referring to the article. I'm sorry that was unclear.
I panicked for a second when I saw the headline. I just picked up a Zune 80 (save your harassments, it's the only easily-acquired player I know of that will hold 80GB of video content with a 3.2" screen), and was dreading the possibility of forced advertising. Thankfully, I don't even have an account with the Zune Marketplace. Whew, I can sleep easy tonight.
Oops. Microsoft just also announced ad-sponsored dreams. This Teri Hatcher fantasy brought to you by Midol.
Impartial review of the situation over panic mongering? That way madness lies!
kind of..
In one week, they've enabled the Broadcast Flag all on their own, and now ads on the Zune. Clearly Microsoft knows who is buttering their bread, and it ain't consumers.
1. The Broadcast Flag was in WMC for a long time. NBC enabled that flag, NOT Microsoft. It's up to the network provider to do that. MS probably had that flag, because they knew that the FCC might make it mandatory for MS (and maybe TiVo, and other commcercial DVR's) to do this. Blame the network provider, not the whole software.
2. If you read the comments, instead of the obviously biased Engadget article, you might discover that this ad-thing is
a. Not enabled for everybody
b. Most likely would be an "optional" way to get free music
c. You have to ADD one of these celebrities as a friend to get free music & ads
Paul Miller has officially become the next Ryan Block (and at least Ryan Block hasn't been MS-bashing much lately, score one for him)
And if the oil companies had done what I had told them to do in the letter that I wrote, I'd be paying $0.35 per gallon and enjoying my complimentary case of fudge rounds.
Strange how product development doesn't revolve around random consumer feedback...
Two words: Fear Mongering.
1. "the first DAP builder to make us sit through a minute of ads every time we try to sync with our computer is sure score the (oh, hey, thanks for the $100, Microsoft!) scorn and vitriol love and affection of its customers for years to come"
-This was never mentioned in the article, and was introduced to basically give Zune haters ammunition (albeit, empty ammunition), and leaves the feeling that this is actually intentional. I'm sure i wont have enough fingers to count the number of times the commenter's here will take that and actually assume its going to happen, thus it shouldn't be introduced, if only to spread false information.
2. "blah blah blah (something that isn't even a big deal) ... Apocalyptic stuff, eh?"
-If you read the actual article, this is referring to a company like "Doritos" sponsoring a particular event, such as a music festival or contest. By subscribing to being a friend of this event (created by Doritos), you would get free music paid for by that company. The company basically paid for the music for the opportunity to advertise. Seems legitimate to me.
This is absolutely wretched reporting. I enjoy Engadget, but quite frankly, it is becoming like Fox News with its reporting on anything related to Zune (or Microsoft for that matter). Unfair and Biased.
Dude, copy and paste this under the first post.
It needs to be near the top.
I was just waiting for Paul to pick up on this. Let's be honest here, ads aren't always bad for the consumer. In this case you have to befriend one of the celebrities that carries the ad and then you get some free stuff(tracks and such). It's not playing ads when you sync or playing ads before every video you watch or anything. The ads are just there when you want to see them. In these cases ads are a GOOD thing because it might just introduce you to a product you didn't know about and would want without forcing itself upon you. So, anyone who thinks this is a bad thing just cause it's "ads," calm down and really think about it.
if it's anything like this...
http://social.zune.net/member/Ninja+Vengeance
...that what's the problem? i had to add this person as a friend [says so right in the engadget article "and you'd have to have friended the musician to see any of it at all."]
so no forced ads, just ads for stuff that i choose to and get free stuff from.
See people, its already on there! I didn't even know about that, good find.
Personally, I really don't care, I really only add people that I meet on the forums anyway, surely this sort of sponsorship isn't nearly as bad as the stuff they have on xbox live?
This is actually probably the least biased article I've seen from Paul. Lookup his older zune posts(where he claims that carrying tv shows is a horrible thing cause the zune marketplace charges for them and that even though zune marketshare rose and ipod and creative fell, it's somehow disasterous for the zune) and you can see real biased goodness.
Yo.
Fuck that.
So insightful and eloquent.
An inspired comment from an intellectual who clearly knows what he is talking about.
I for one will be very happy for MS to implement this feature for Zune users. I really do. Clearly form the post here, some users don't mind being forced to watch ads by MS. Adding functionality to a player is a great way to gain users and market share. MS was clever enough to come up with this groundbreaking feature which will help keep their Zune user base from switching to their competitors. It's also clear that Zune users are very much like a herd of sheep. Whatever slop you feed them, they would gladly eat without much complain. Lets hope that its incorporated with the Zune Marketplace and the accompanying software to manage it. Bravo MS.
Read the article again. Zune users will not be forced to view ads.
my god.. did you even read the article? Talk about a "sheep"
Yes its forced upon you. Just because you friend was callous enough to befriend you with this virus laden ad type socially inept sharing method, its still forced upon you. Simply because you have to deal with turning it on or off. The fact that you are forced to act on this is the point. Perhaps you need to read the articles over again.
While we are at it, newspapers force us to view ads. Television forces us to watch commercials. iTunes forces us to pay .99 cents to get music from their store, etc etc etc. (sarcasm for those whose detectors are broken).
Reread the article Jubei. No one is being forced to do anything. Zune owners are being given a CHOICE to accept free music in exchange for ads in the same way television viewers accept free local channels in exchange for ads. You don't want the ads, fine, fill your player with your own music and guess what? You are ad free.
You, sir, need to read the articles again. Read the post straight from MS on ZuneInsider.
http://zuneinsider.com/archive/2008/05/21/quick-note-on-ads-in-zune-social.aspx
"First off, adding sponsored content to your friends list is entirely optional. If you don’t want to be associated with any brands, you don’t have to add any."
So you don't have to be part of this at all. It doesn't make you watch an ad. It doesn't make you download stuff you don't want. It doesn't do ANYTHING. You opt IN to it, not out of it. You aren't in these from the start, you have to add them to be a part of them.
"You’ll be able to get access to branded content that enhances your Zune experience if you want it -- like a free track, a video, a background image, etc."
So you add something that markets a product or movie or band or tv show, and you pay nothing for it, really have it do nothing to your listening or viewing experience on the Zune, and you maybe get a free song or video or background for the Zune. Wow, that is horrible (*sarcasm*).
As stated before the Ryu (Ninja Gaiden II) page here - http://social.zune.net/member/Ninja+Vengeance - lets you add that "user" to your friends list.
"He’s a fictional character from an upcoming Xbox 360 game, one you can add to your friend list, and sync his Zune Card to your Zune. If you visit Ryu’s page, you can also download the Ninja Gaiden 2 video game soundtrack. And as an added benefit to adding Ryu, his page will refresh a few times a week – giving you more fun game-related content to enjoy."
So you get some Ninja Gaiden related content for free just for adding that "user" to your friends list. Nothing about being forced to do ANYTHING at all. Just add a "user" and you get some free stuff.
"But if you hate ninjas, or aren’t an Xbox person, you don’t have to add him."
Easy enough. People need to learn to read first and speak second, starting with the author of this blog post.
Clearly there is a problem with this system. I'll have to repost this, and its short and sweet.
For anyone to equate newspaper with ads to a personal digital player like the Zune deserves this embarrassing feature. Let me make it easier for you to comprehend. Newspaper - Zune. One is made of paper, hopefully recycled, the other, well I'll leave that thought to you.
@Jubei: do you understand the meaning of the word forced? I don't think you do, so here it is(from dictionary.com):
forced
1. enforced or compulsory: forced labor.
2. strained, unnatural, or affected: a forced smile.
3. subjected to force.
4. required by circumstances; emergency
Since you don't have to see the ads if you just don't add any of them to your friends list, this doesn't meet that definition. Even your claim that you "have to turn it on or off" is false, they are only there if you add them and then only where you add them to. That's like saying the music you put on your zune/ipod/whatever is "forced upon you." Good day, sir.
The very fact alone that this new ad distribution model is "forced" upon your ecosystem is a violation. Why you Zuners happily take this useless additions to your useless products is simply amazing.
ok, nevermind, I guess it's not the word forced that you don't understand but exactly how the ads are going to work. Basically the company with the ads puts up a zune card on the zune social(which you get to from zune.net, not through anything in the zune software). Then if somebody searches for that zune card, they can find it and add it as their friend. The zune card will have the company's logo in the background as well as advertising material in its description. After adding it as their friend, they can download some sponsored material for free from the ad if they want to and keep it. So, no, this is not adding an unneeded feature or anything in the software that will ask you if you want it or anything, it's only there if you look for it, thus, by the definition above, not "forced"
While your busy at grasping why this new model that has been forcibly added to your ecosystem has the correct definition, you should look up another word. Lemming. In which your part of the 90% of that group.
yep, exactly the same way applications are going to be forcibly added to the iphone/ipod touch ecosystem. I mean seriously, how dare they make new ways of getting content available, and force those customers to have additional options? DAMN THEM!!! Seriously though, I'll go have fun listening to my free copy of the Ninja Gaiden 2 soundtrack that I decided I wanted. :)
"yep, exactly the same way applications are going to be forcibly added to the iphone/ipod touch ecosystem."
Ah so now you equate, games, programs, productivity application, enhancements to usability to your Zune forced ads ecosystem? Thank you for revealing your level of comprehension. Perhaps you also need an explanation why newspaper ads are not equal to your Zune forced ads addition to your Zune ecosystem. Simply mind boggling as to the type of logic some of you have.
"Ah so now you equate, games, programs, productivity application, enhancements to usability to your Zune forced ads ecosystem? "
Ok, you're going to have to admit 1 of 2 things right now, either
1: You don't know how to read
or
2: The topic at hand does not force consumers to view ads(if you disagree with this, I'd ask you to revisit the definition of forced since even this poorly made article says that they aren't).
If you agree with number 2 then, I'm sorry, but yes, it does. Being able to download free music with ads if you want to, and only having ads if you choose to seek this out and without anything asking you to do so does (at least roughly) equate with that, and is DEFINATELY not a bad thing. Basic point: adding additional functionality without ever anywhere bugging you about it is always positive.
I will admit one thing. That you are incapable of any type of comprehension whatsoever. Your own admittance of equating the upcoming productivity enhancements to the iPod/iPhone ecosystem is borderline insane. Perhaps thats the definition you need to understand. Your post replies of utter acknowledgement of lacking any kind of thought processes.
Oh ya, and another thing, the ipod, along with just about every other media player supports podcasts right? Most of which have some kind of ads? And which you go out and download if you want them? Ooooo ouch, ya, that's right, this is the same thing.
nice adhominum without any kind of logical reaction.
"Oh ya, and another thing, the ipod, along with just about every other media player supports podcasts right? Most of which have some kind of ads? And which you go out and download if you want them? Ooooo ouch, ya, that's right, this is the same thing."
Proving time and time again that you are just oblivious. Your equating this also? LOL You might as well equate that to your life as you traverse your way around the world. Your utter nonsense has no boundaries.
Ha! Yes! I thought you might say that. Why don't you head over to zuneinsider.com where you'll see that the only example of this out so far IS A PODCAST so it actually IS THE SAME THING. Also, since you have to go through the exact same steps to get these songs with commercials as are in your normal podcasts with commercials... ya I think you see what I'm saying.
Nice diversion Jubei, but you fail. I'm not comparing the medium. I'm showing you that people will put up with ads for free or relatively low cost types of media. Now maybe someone like you would be more than happy enough to pay a buck per song. Some would rather have the song for free and put up with commercial advertisement.
You need to chase another windmill.
Jubei.
I feel stupider for reading your posts. That sucks because I have an exam tomorrow, and I need all the clever I can get.
Mark stylishly and intelligently pwned your ass.
Get over it.
Well thats good that I have mede some of you feel "stupider". It really is quite difficult to debate with users who only wants things in life for free. Thus willing to position their derriere in whatever position one needs for MS to impale them. Oh what fun you must have.
I believe we are wasting our time with this one Mark. You pretty much proved the fatal flaw in his(her?) argument by bringing up that podcast example. Instead of even attempting to challenge it he decided to make a personal attack. Typical fanboy behavior.
I guess better for him to use that tactic than to admit defeat. Ironic though, because I think he cuts out coupons from ads for strawmen.
I guess we better sleep with one eye open or "teh eval advertising bogeyman" will get us.
Jubei obviously hates the Zune and Microsoft itself. Just read his post history.
No point in trying.
@Jubei
How dare you Engadget for forcing Jubei to post on here. And multiple ones at that.
I don't care if Jubei is going to make another brainless reply. Just skip his whole column.
@Jubei : Maybe if you stopped trying to find a weakness (which there really aren't any) in another person's post, and try to use that to attack the Zune product or another person's post, you would actually get it.
This ad thing is completely OPTIONAL. You ADD a celebrity's playlist of FREE content, then you CHOSE to gets ADS. Microsoft did NOT FORCE it. You CHOSE to add this artist to receive free content, and also receive ads.
There is still the OPTION to BUY content or RENT content. All in all, Zune is giving you MORE CHOICES in getting content than Apple. If you think choice is bad, then you made a wonderful decision to tag along with Apple.
If you're questioning why we should be forced to get ads from this free content, then maybe you're kinda slow. 1) It's free, you don't have to pay. 2) The artist and MS expect to receive some money somehow, or it would be hard for either to exist
There's ads EVERYWHERE these days. Google pushes ads to you in web search, YouTube, and Gmail. TV stations pushes ads to you. Newspapers throws ads at you. Websites throw ads at you. So are you telling me you don't use any of these things? Honestly, you don't use any of these because they also have ads?
And why does this matter to you anyhow? You obviously don't have or don't like the Zune. You think Zune Social is stupid. So again, why are you commenting here?
Do you get it now? If you still can't, then I feel sorry for you. If you represented the majority of iPod/Touch users, then I guess we must have a lot of people with issues in comprehending.
I've replied to you several times before, and I know common characteristics like:
1. You're no doubt an Apple lover, and MS hater
2. You make lots of crude comments, make up "facts", consistently keep pursuing that you're right and the majority responding to you is wrong, refuse to admit defeat, like to make personal attacks, and use big words to make you sound better. Sounds like the typical Apple fanboy.
3. You go to any Zune post to demean it. That's definitely NOT the type of people most people want in this world. I'm thinking most people don't like haters, and if you can't make a criticizing comment with true facts, then don't make any at all.
There should be an option to ban certain users from certain posts, or get better employees to write articles that don't have so much cynicism where it doesn't belong.
Excuse me for the long post, but this must be said.
Simply amazing. There is no reasoning to Zune/MS users, such as this angry group of posters. Collectively joining hands to enforce a ridiculous feature as a norm for the masses and passing it as a natural progression for such devices. Nice to know that Zune users are acquiescent to whatever MS decides upon their users. Well if your happy with this, the so be it. Perhaps the decision by GameSpot to cease all sales of Zune may have been premature? LOL. Probably not. Most likely a smart move.
He is in full denial mode Quickboy. Someone points out the flaw in their argument and he reverses the claim. Kind of like an "I'm rubber your glue" tactic.
He is the fanboy extreme. Making up facts to fit his feeble argument. Such a sad angry troll.
Personally, Jubei, I find it amazing how you claim we're all using rediculous logic that is supposedly totally flawed and yet are unable to provide a single argument back against, say, my last post, or the numerous ones following it. I also find it amazing how you say there's supposedly "no reasoning" with us when, in fact, you've been defeated by the holes in your own logic. We're all using rational arguments and logic while you use ad hominum attacks and claims of our flawed logic without anything to back them up.
also, as a video game news website, I'm pretty sure GameSpot never sold zunes or any other pmp to begin with.
"also, as a video game news website, I'm pretty sure GameSpot never sold zunes or any other pmp to begin with."
*sigh* I meant to type "GameStop" which has hundreds of retail stores. Happy now? I think not. With that decision, its a clear indication that the Zune product has gained little traction. What else can you expect from a "me too" product?
An article brought to you by a fear-mongering Paul Miller: everybody disregard and lament your wasted bandwidth
You're making it increasingly difficult for what you write to be taken seriously. But by all means, don't let that discourage you if you pride yourself in writing heaping piles of garbage. It clearly hasn't thus far.
Mobilize the Redmond Zune Defense Force to vote down all anti-Zune comments and vote up all pro-Zune comments!
EVERYBODY LOVES ADS!
Yeh, let's call the Zune Commander-In-Chief. I'm sure he'll straighten out all this Zune ad FUD.
http://www.desinformado.com/index.php/2008/05/22/is-microsoft-killing-zune-could-be/
Yaaaahhhhhhh.
Can we give a negative rating to the article like we can to the comments?
or maybe some type of filter so i wouldn't even have to see Paul Miller's insight anymore, seeing as how he can some interpret things in ways ordinary humans can't.
Wow, a company that hates their customers more than Apple! That's hard to find!
Read.
THE FUCKING.
Article.
Get a life fanboy.
Novak. There is a reason why his post is highly ranked. Read the explanatory posts on the first page.
Esat I read the article. I'll try to type so slowly a zune user can follow. Do you really think Microsoft went through all of this effort to reach a miniscule percentage, of a miniscule user base? If so, I've got some pictures of the real Loch Ness Monster you might want to buy.
I didn't say read the article. I said read the posts on the first page. The article is misleading.
Go to the first page and scroll down and read 'Ruben's post. It is most informative and highly ranked, as are all of the posts which properly explain this news.