Zune HD (xYz) positioned to take on Apple, Sony, Nintendo and Google?
By Thomas Ricker 
posted May 15th 2009 6:42AM
posted May 15th 2009 6:42AM
Sounding too good to be true, the cats at Teamxbox have posted a lengthy piece quoting multiple sources from Redmond and Santa Clara who anonymously spill the beans on what the Zune HD is and isn't. The "digital entertainment handheld," dubbed unanimously as product "xYz" by said sources to emphasize its purpose of bridging the Xbox and Zune platforms, is not a phone (that's Project Pink) but a converged "mashup" of devices like the Sony Mylo, PSP, and iPod touch. The emphasis of the device is not the hardware but the software, services, and entertainment experience if offers while remaining primarily "a portable game console and media player." It's said to link into Microsoft's Skybox computing services for mobiles and blur the lines between Xbox Live and the Zune and Sky Marketplaces. Even the Xbox 360's NXE interface will be making its way onto the new Microsoft handheld. As Teamxbox summarizes: Buy a song, a movie or a TV show on your Xbox, play the content later on the handheld or the other way around. Play an Xbox Live Arcade game either on your Xbox or in this handheld.At the moment, we have no way to authenticate any of this beyond what we've brought to the table already. Honestly, having had our hopes crushed by a tepid reaction to market trends from Microsoft in the past makes it difficult to believe all these seemingly fanboi fantasy claims of specs and convergence. However, if true, if Microsoft finally breaks free from the rigid silos of its own making and delivers an integrated living room, gaming, and portable media experience along with a stable Windows 7 computing environment... well, wait this just can't be happening.
[Via wmpoweruser and SlashGear]
The Zune is like the Nintendo Gamecube. You know they exist but you've never actually met anyone that owns one.
Wait...maybe all those PSP2 sliders were really Zunes...lololololol j/k.
Anyway, if this is real, Microsoft, you throw in a $299 or lower price point, all the aforementioned functions AND the ability to play Xbox Originals, I'll convert my entire iTunes library to WMA and ditch the iPod Touch gladly. And, I'll be first in line. At least I might not have to pay for software updates anymore. And not be told my less-than-two year old device is crap and I should buy a new one if I want more features the current one is plainly capable of.
I can't take it anymore. Steve Ballmer has to go. Last July when i read the Ballmer internal memo to his employees, he had this to say about Apple
"In the competition between PCs and Macs, we outsell Apple 30-to-1. But there is no doubt that Apple is thriving. Why? Because they are good at providing an experience that is narrow but complete, while our commitment to choice often comes with some compromises to the end-to-end experience. Today, we’re changing the way we work with hardware vendors to ensure that we can provide complete experiences with absolutely no compromises. We’ll do the same with phones—providing choice as we work to create great end-to-end experiences."
It was right then I KNEW how clueless he really was and how he misunderstood WHY Apple was doing so good.
There are a LOT of people who own Apple products but do NOT own an Apple computer. There are people that own Apple computers that do not own an iPhone....etc etc. It is NOT about the COMPLETE user experience....it is about a HIGH QUALITY, WELL DESIGNED, product that just WORKS! What good is a computer if you are constantly trying to figure out why it is freezing?? No "end to end" crap...IT JUST WORKS. Apple knows this...WATCH THE COMMERCIALS STEVE!
This latest move by Ballmer was just TOO predictable, and will fail. The fact that Microsoft is issuing debt for the first time in their history should tell most financiers how the guy has run Microsoft into the ground....now Microsoft will pay for his failed attempt to provide a "complete user experience"
I wish everyone working at Microsoft the best, but you need a leader with true vision not a monkey dancer.
you are completely and utterly dumb.
at least ballmer will be alive in 3 months. sorry jobs, the clock is ticking. its a shame he wont be able to witness windows 7, windows mobile 7, and the zune/xbox convergence in their full glory.
It's nice that you were able to spin his statements to support your views, but try reading it with an open mind. He's not talking about product integration, he's describing a complete user experience per product.
Part of the reason apple software, be it mac or iphone works as well as it does is that it only has to work with one HW config.
Windows, or winmo, on the other hand is vastly more open, thus compromises have to be made to function with multiple devices.
Show me one hackintosh that doesn't have serious driver problems in at least one area.
Look how poorly itunes runs on windows.
Windows OTOH, I was able to install both vista and win7 on a sammy nc-10. sammy doesn't make drivers past xp for that system, however because of windows variability I was able to get wifi, bluetooth, and touchpad drivers from sammy's other vista computers.
Look at the various forms that windows computers take, look at the different shapes that winmo phones have. Hell you can even install windows on a mac.
If the day ever comes that OSX works as well as windows on all the diffferent systems that windows works on, then you're allowed to talk again, until then leave the board to the grown ups.
Forgot to add, ms is finally getting this concept of a controlled hw ecosystem, thus the new hw guidelines for the next gen of winmo phones.
Re: "There are a LOT of people who own Apple products but do NOT own an Apple computer. There are people that own Apple computers that do not own an iPhone....etc etc. It is NOT about the COMPLETE user experience....it is about a HIGH QUALITY, WELL DESIGNED, product that just WORKS! What good is a computer if you are constantly trying to figure out why it is freezing?? No "end to end" crap...IT JUST WORKS. Apple knows this...WATCH THE COMMERCIALS STEVE!"
Ummm...I don't think you get what Steve is saying. "Complete user experience" does not mean that someone owns both an iPhone and a MacBook. What that means is that Apple controls both the hardware and the software for their products. I the case of the iPod/iPhone it means Apple also controls iTunes and the iTunes store. In the case of computers it means that OS X is only officially supported on Apple branded computers. That's WHY things "just work" in the Apple world - because Apple controls a small, finite number of hardware configurations and can ensure the quality and user experience for those configurations.
So this is the tack Microsoft has been taking with the Zune and XBox - implementing Apple's strategy of controlling both the software and hardware. As another poster says above - mock Zune owners all you want but the vast majority of Zune owners like their Zunes. The reason Zunes haven't done well in my opinion is because they are always a step behind the curve. By the time the 2nd-gen Zunes came along they actually compare very favorably to the iPod mini and iPod Classic, but by then the world had moved on to the iPod Touch. But the quality of the Zune itself is superb. Like the iPod it "just works", because Microsoft controls both Zune hardware, the Zune device software, and the Zune desktop software.
Similarly, the XBox has been successful (at least compared to the PS3 if not the Wii), because it's basically like an Apple computer in that Microsoft controls the hardware, the software, and the XBox Live service. That's why they can, for example, roll out a whole new interface and new services like Netflix Streaming with the knowledge that they will "just work" on any XBox 360. And yes, XBox has had some unfortunate issues with their hardware, but it's not like Apple has had not had their own hardware issues - from iPod batteries dying prematurely to iBook/MacBook motherboards dying. And I can speak from experience from having had to send my iBook to get replaced after only owning it for less year - the only computer I've ever had something like that happen to. In fact I wouldn't think about buying an Apple computer without AppleCare, and they're the only computers (I've owned an iBook and two MacBooks) I've ever bought extended warranties for. That should be saying something.
@jon,
I think you are right about what Ballmer actually meant. But the other thing I took away from his comment is that he was obviously trying to have his cake and eat it too. We're going to be 'open' like Microsoft, but deliver the complete, cohesive user experience that Apple can do because they do both the hardware and software. It's a nice sentiment, but seems more like PR talk than anything really signficant strategically. I'm not even saying which company does what better, just commenting on Ballmer's statement. Sheer force of will can only take you so far, especially when the vision seems a bit myopic.
@ Stephen
I like your point about having his cake, but I disagree that they can't do it. They will lose some openness going forward, but not as much as you might think.
The analogy I'll use is the automotive industry. Look at the vast array of cars and trucks on the road, from the Smart city car, to a 5 ton semi and everything in between. As different as they all are, they all have to conform to the same federal regulations, either fuel economy and safety, or bumper and tail light heights.
If microsoft can setup the same types of Intelligent guidelines for windows and winmo, I think we will continue to see a great variety of HW supporting ms OS's and get a more friendly user experience at the same time.
Plays For Sure FTW ! oh wait.. we know how that turned out.
i wanted to get a zune before. But now i am going to wait for this!
Microsoft did say some along the lines of "At E3, we are poised to redefine entertainment". With a little hubris thrown in, this might fit the bill.
Question;
Who makes better cell phone apple or m$?
Who makes better computers apple or m$?
Who makes more innovative pmp apple or m$?
A. microsoft hasn't released a phone yet so you can't compare yet
B. microosft hasn't released a computer yet so you can't compare
C. MICROSOFT WINS, i'm sorry but ipod classic vs zune the zune wins, and no you can't compare the ipod touch to the zune, considering their in 2 seperate target markets. the zune was always competing against the NANO and the CLASSIC, microsoft hasn't released something to compete against the touch yet, hence xYz which we cant say which will be better till its announced/released but if it has tegra and a decent interface and even half of what its rumored to have microsoft will win.
Judging by your exclusive use of the term "m$," I don't think you're really looking for an answer.
By the way, Microsoft doesn't even make computers or cell phones.
The Zune is a complete piece of garbage. After playing with a Touch I noticed a huge change in usability the moment I started using it and no problems, like in the Zune. Long story short, my Zune went straight into the garbage and I got an iPod Touch instead.
Promises promises,
I livve in the present.
Talk is cheap mutha f.,.,.!
Ms u 3 years behind!!!!!!
http://whogivesafuck.biz
Nice job attacking ms on your blog, too bad you didn't do all your homework before writing that article.
"Sounding too good to be true"
The golden rule "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". The wise has always adhered to this warning, but the desperate ( Zune users ) will never heed this warning. This is another one of Microsoft, the biggest "me too" company on the planet, M.O.
me too me too me too me too me too me too
me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too me too
You're slipping Jubei. Everyone's doing your posts better than you.
@Mr Clickerson, who used to be Zues God, but no more how sad.
Zues God states: "Everyone's doing your posts better than you."
Another off topic reply from my post. Unable to stay on topic = FAIL!!!
U2 U2 U2 U2 U2 U2 U2 U2 U2
Which part of this did MS "me too"? The touch screen? Wait no, it's the Live integration isn't it. I'm such an idiot! The best part is Apple didn't even create the iPod some guy in England did, and Apple admitted it so they wouldn't get sued by someone else.
seems like MS had some tricks up their sleeve!
dude screw cell in the psp2, if microsoft manages to release this with a full blown Tegra inside then they win hands down vs just about any other hardware release to date.
I have a great set up at home. My Zune 80 is connected to my TV via the AV dock and it automatically syncs with my machine. So new podcasts, videos and songs are delivered to my Zune whenever there's a new one. If i'm not yet done with the show and I need to leave the house, I unplug my zune and bring it with me anywhere I go.
Who cares? It's made by Microsoft, it will obviously suck.
Yeah their poor sales of everything else sure supports your comment. Oh wait...
So you're saying its a cool phone right?
Stupid Microsoft, i swear theyre trying so hard to tell us what we want and what we need, how about you read through the hundreds or maybe better thousands of forums and posts and blogs and do your homework. Every product theyre TELLING us that we want this or want that and how we should subscribe to zune pass and subscribe to this and that. If your so inventive then what doesnt any of your stupid hardware/software support the zune i wasted money on? It barley works enough to transfer songs onto, whats the use of wifi without a browser or anything else useful from wifi, messaging, email etc.. Everything you make is so half-hearted and never thought through, i would imagine a simple brain storm would bring up hundreds of possibilities to make they stuff have so much more potential, but no everything half built, locked down and if anyone wants to support it they have to pay to develop for it, stop worrying about the bottom line, subscription based services are cash cows for companies, but its not what WE want, sure your commercial saying it costs 30,000 to fill an ipod makes sense in some terms, but i dont want to pay as much as my netflix that i cancled for the same reason, who cares, i can get movies and music just about any time i want, and im not advocating piracy, im saying i can pop up youtube, hulu, pandora, joost etc or any other FREE site and get my movies, music, television there for FREE whenever i want. communication? havent you learned from the FAIL that the MYLO is, that thing is sick, except for the fact that its useless, if i wanted to 2-way someone ill buy a friggin pager, My phone does all your crap in my pocket WITH unlimited internet, give me something new, if i want to play games i have my console, if i want mobile games i have my phone or psp, internet i have my laptop or phone, IM's i have laptop or phone, movies i have my ps3/Archos/Phone i can all stream to anytime through internet through free services such as myorb.
GIVE ME SOMETHING NEW OR DONT BOTHER AT ALL.
i have too many electronics i dont use, they just sit there, basking in the glory that they never knew, because they were one or two trick horses, what use do i have for a Axim x51v when i have a HTC touch pro that will do GPS, internet and video better? why do i need to watch movies on my PSP when i have a Archos 7 thatll play everything and line out to my big screen? why do i need my Creative Zen Vision:M taking up a whole pocket when i can stick the Shuffle i got for free on my belt loop? I dont need anymore solutions for problems i don't have, and i doubt youll ever make an all-in-wonder device, your just too damn greedy to give me a phone WITH simple services such as VOIP. stop being greedy, open your eyes, i mean look at those wonderful renders of the PSP2 we see online, those are awesome, but does sony say hey we should do that? no they give us a useless (although entertaining for like 20 minutes) toy like the Rolly thats impossible to use without the specific software it comes with, and $300 mylo thats no better than stinking psp with a qwerty, minus games or emulation.
"GIVE ME SOMETHING NEW OR DONT BOTHER AT ALL. "
Maybe not everyone has exactly the same tastes, needs, and wants as you do?
Yes, little chris, it must be badass being the only consumer on earth.
But as long as your needs are met I guess the rest of us can eat it.
oh yeah, i forgot to mention, Microsoft is a like a son who is a genius but is a lazy bum who smokes pot, they have so much potential to do great, they can do so much if they tried, but they're too busy looking for munchies to care enough to put 100% into their work. you love them, you have to, but you want to slap them in the face sometimes and tell them to get thier $hit together
Uh, this will not be able to handle XBLA games unless they figured out a way to cram an Xbox 360 into a handheld. It could easily work with XBLA games that have companion Zune style games thus giving you a way to continue to level up a RPG character using mini games for example.
'Cause we all know that it takes the full might of the 360 to play Uno.
Actually, cause we all know that you don't understand how software works. The devs would either have to rewrite Uno to work on this mystery handheld at which point it wouldn't be a XBLA game (it'd be a Zune HD game) or emulate the Xbox 360 on a handheld to run the current Uno which is an impossibility.
Or you could just emulate the bits of the 360 that are needed to cover the much lighter req's of an XBLA game. Namely a 4 year old GPU running at a reduced clock, and a single in-order PowerPC core.
No you're right, impossible.
this thing is gonn be one hell of expensive device... but will buy it one day... or if get lucky i might win engadget thing :P
looking forward to this "Pink" device
This isn't the pink device. Thats the phone.
Love my iPod Touch, but XBox Live Arcade on a handheld would be KILLER.
this thing will need to have a fairly sizable amount of storage!, and if so, and the price is right, even though i live in Australia it just might persuade me to buy it and an xbox 360.
No one can beat the iPod Touch I can't believe there are idiots in here that actually believe that Microsoft can come up with a better product than Apple lol!!
If this is true I would definitely consider a Zune HD over a new ipod but there's one thing stopping me, I use a mac. If they make Zune Mac compatible, I'm sold.
Hate to say it, but I wouldn't hold your breath. I see 3 things holding back zune on macs.
1. The small number of Macs compared to pc's in the home.
2. the even smaller number of Mac users who would deign to buy a Zune.
3. and the really tiny number of Mac users willing to buy a Zune, who aren't already running windows in Boot Camp or parallels.
On the bright side, you're a member of a pretty exclusive group.
I have to admit that it looks cool.
I'm going to go back to my iPod Touch now.
if this is really an Xbox portable im getting it, with or without phone features.