http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
But, why all the bad news about Zune show up just after the new iPod lineup fail to wow the people? ]]>Sep 11th 2009 4:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 4:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 7:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
I'm particularly surprised since the rest of the world doesn't give Apple the automatic street cred it gets here in the U.S., so it would seem like the Zune would actually have a chance of making a dent in PMP market share in other countries, whereas it is much more difficult to do that here in the U.S.]]>Sep 11th 2009 11:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Everyone knows that there will be a clash between iPod announcements and zune HD announcements this fall. Perhaps Microsoft intentionally not wanting to launch internationally because they don't want to engage on a fight with Apple head on. However, with the disappointing Apple event and the even more disappointing iPod "improvements", is Microsoft that clueless that this might be the one big chance to crack open the iPod stronghold? Are they not nimble enough to quickly change strategy and prounce on this chance?

I am a long time iPod user (with a 1st gen iPod touch right now) and I was waiting for the zune HD to come out. Then Apple had the event so I am on the wait and see camp... The new iPod is so disappointing that I am ready to get a Zune HD and now they pull this? F**king morons! Once I cool down it's going to be another long hard fight between iPod and Zune, AND THEY COULD HAVE HAD MY BUSINESS RIGHT NOW IF THEY LAUNCHED INTERNATIONALLY.

If they don't want or does not have time to negotiate with stores for shelve space yet, but at least they should be able to provide shipping from their inline store. Apple can do this and Microsoft with all their cash on hand cannot set this up quickly?

No wonder they are doing badly. Their decision makers are pretty clueless!]]>Sep 11th 2009 12:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 1:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Superior work of Microsoft PR crew.]]>Sep 11th 2009 7:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
In the meantime, if the Zune fails, they can avoid the cost of global distribution.]]>Sep 11th 2009 8:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
but unfortunately, i guess microsoft didnt realize that such scenarios exist outside of the united world of America.
its okay though, its only a 2 hour drive south :D]]>Sep 11th 2009 11:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/It's the same reason why we don't get those fancy cell phones that support digital TV and digital radio-they're devices that support codecs that don't exist in the US.
And the other problem is that places like Europe have multiple competing systems being installed right now so it becomes even more problematic to just ship a Euro version.
If they do release a global version it'll either be missing the HD tuner entirely or they'll have to make customized versions for each region with different tuners, or optimally they'll have to wait for a chipset that can support multiple digital radio systems.
]]>Sep 12th 2009 4:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Meizu Z9; now with phone capability!]]>Sep 11th 2009 3:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 8:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
I seriously thought that they said this was going to be a global device? I mean, I live in the US so I can get it either way, but for the rest of the world, it would be nice if they could pick up this awesome-looking device. If MS seriously has any intent on butting in on Apple's market PMP market share, they sure as hell better give the rest of the world some love.]]>Sep 11th 2009 3:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Now however is clearly the time to go with it and not balls up everything by making our first taste of the Zune brand some pointless internet explorer toolbar.]]>Sep 11th 2009 3:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 6:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
It could also have something to do with not upsetting the EU. Whatever it is though, I think its deeper then what Redmond is willing to squeal about.]]>Sep 11th 2009 9:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Note to Microsoft:

WTF are you thinking, You have a sexy product that the whole world wants and you are not even going to release it worldwide? is like the apple touch without a camara. ]]>Sep 11th 2009 10:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 11:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
having had a flawless zune30 since launch (bought on ebay in the UK), i opted for a zune80 at launch (bought on ebay). Foolishly i dropped it once too many, and the hdd dive bombed. It was out of warranty anyway, so i purchased a zune16 (ebay uk), only to find the backlight was faulty. No support, no nothing.

for those that want a peace of mind, there are UK based suppliers that will give you a 12month warranty-like support for your device. Just don't hope to get any from microsoft.

And yes, i will be getting a zune HD, and yes, i am an ex-ipod user.]]>Sep 11th 2009 4:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Not sure exactly how a music device can be kept from leaking beyond the US even if MS only distributes it to US retailers/e-tailers]]>Sep 11th 2009 3:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Practically every country in Europe speaks English to some degree. In fact most Germans speak English better than we do here in the UK as they use it as their business language. I have even heard of German boardrooms that speak in English even when they are all German due to the ability to put across more descriptive words. If you go to Greece, Cyprus, Spain, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Portugal, Denmark, Austria etc etc you will be hard pressed to find someone that does not speak at least some English. So I am not sure which Europe you have been to where hardly anyone speaks English.....

Also InnocentEd did not specify Europe leaving even more English speaking countries like Autralia New Zealand South Africa etc

]]>Sep 11th 2009 4:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Make a trip to Germany to inform yourself better. I have lived in Frankfurt (a more international city than even Berlin) for 10 years. The absence of english spoken TV in German society makes their mastery of english pitiful. I'm a management consultant and in those 10 years I have not come across a boardroom where they speak english even when foreigners were present. I have been kicked out of shops when I just moved to Germany, for asking friendly if they speak english, because at that moment my German was still below par.

You will see the same in Italy, Spain and most parts of France outside of Paris.
]]>Sep 11th 2009 4:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
I have been to Germany and many other European countries many times and have rarely had a problem. Someone I know also used to work for BMW and tells me that they enforced English even in their German factories. I also used to work for Land Rover and had no problem at all when speaking to any European dealerships etc.]]>Sep 11th 2009 5:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
I used to work for a German company, and all the Germans spoke English (as did all the staff working from the various other European locations where they were based). In fact, the English in the documentation produced in Germany was often to a higher standard than the UK stuff!

As for France. They may speak English, but they'll never admit it!]]>Sep 11th 2009 8:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Who cares? We're talking about the Zune HD, not your CV.]]>Sep 11th 2009 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 7:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
Personally, I think it will be more successful than the previous models and might gain 5% of the music market. That would be a success given the iPod lockdown.]]>Sep 11th 2009 10:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 4:01AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 4:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/]]>Sep 11th 2009 3:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/Sep 11th 2009 3:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/11/zune-hd-international-launch-hopes-crushed-by-microsoft-others/
comes without media playing capability.]]>Sep 11th 2009 4:28AM