Microsoft got it right with Zune 2.0

[hyroboarder]

After all the iPod was Mac only when it was first launched.

I was just going to say that, but the 2g ipods were both pc and mac. You'd think ms would fix this mistake in zune 2.

Apple has for the first time fail to deliver "perfect" iPods.

Does 5.5 g bring up any memories?

 

[homeboy]

Overall, I have never liked the zune. Wireless synching would not be a dealbreaker for me, I just can't see that being a huge benefit especially if you have your player maxed out and you can't control what you sync right on the zune.

I guess you want to keep on using cables forever then.


Wireless syncing is a big relief for many of us with multiple gadgets. The less cables plugged into computer the less clutter on the desk. Especially for people who move around their laptops from room to room and don't like having to drag to many cables with them. Wireless syncing will make it to iPods and other DAPs in the next 12 months thanks to MS.

One manufacturer does something, the others follow.

 

[S2_Mac]

Seems like changing from Wolfson to Cirrus is bigger than insignificant (guessin' that the video section has some new stuff, too). Regardless, what's your point? I'm just saying that it seems most of the development effort for "Zune 2.0" is in the software (the NYT article linked in iLounge blurb seems to confirm this); no great surprises inside the casing, and nothing really revolutionary in the sw. (Like, p'bly no mini version of Vista ;-)

Being Mac-centric, I've got just about zero desire for a Zune. But it will be interesting to see how MS does this holiday season...a slightly new look on their "classic" model, a new mini-player (excuse me, two new mini-players, a 4GB and an 8GB; lol), and less buggy software. Somehow I don't think that the upcoming "social" site is going to be a big draw (no matter how many pictures of teenage Bill G get displayed on MS home page ;-).

 

[hyroboarder]

(p'bly no mini version of Vista ;-)

Being Mac-centric, I've got just about zero desire for a Zune. But it will be interesting to see how MS does this holiday season...a slightly new look on their "classic" model, a new mini-player (excuse me, two new mini-players, a 4GB and an 8GB; lol), and less buggy software. Somehow I don't think that the upcoming "social" site is going to be a big draw (no matter how many pictures of teenage Bill G get displayed on MS home page ;-).

word

If ms were to put a mini version of vista in the zune, by the time it would be released i would be reading about it on my touch screen nano 1tb with wi-fi.

I heard a rumor that everyone in those zune ads was originally holding an ipod and they used photoshop mac to put zunes in their hands.

 

[hyroboarder]

'I like the wireless sync, wouldn't mind doing a permanent car installation so my PC SYNCS AUTOMATICALLY WITH CAR PARKED IN GARAGE! Unfortunately, I dunn think anybody makes a HU compatible w the Zune.

That's cuz nobody owns one!

 

[porieux]

I didn't say "great", I said "good". I think that's a luke warm review at best.

Well that's not exactly what 'finally got it right' and 'hit it out of the park' mean to me, so thanks for clarifying

 

[Surf Monkey]

Hello? You do know that it's possible to comment on the overall launch, which I see as a considerable success, and about the specifics of the physical design seperately, right?

 

[porieux]

No I'm too stupid to understand anything that complicated, please humor me.

 

[Code Monkey]

They may look nice but MS is only making these things PC compatible. They will not work with Mac computers. This leaves out allot of people who will simply stick to the iPod that works with both Mac and PC. Oh and the iPods are available worldwide, Zune isn't.

Let's face facts: the Mac and Linux market are utterly irrelevant - vocal, but irrelevant. Catering to all platforms looks good from a PR p.o.v., but they are Microsoft, sellers of the most successful OS out there. Whereas Apple had to reach out to other platforms to become a success with the iPod, MS would be wasting a lot of money supporting Macs considering that if you are buying a Mac in 2007 you probably have unsettled issues with MS already. They may as well not waste their time catering to markets that probably wouldn't buy their product anyhow. I know if I were trying to carve out a niche in a highly competitive market place where one company already had about a 70+% market share, the last thing I'd be worried about is supporting 3% of my total potential customers who are inherently biased against my company when it meant doubling my support costs, which is where these companies stand to lose most of their profits.

 

[Surf Monkey]

Code Monkey's right. The Mac represents less than 7% of the desktop PC market. With around 90% market share, Microsoft would be waisting money and effort making Zune compaitble woith the Mac. Microsoft only grudgingly offers their Office products on the Mac and with Bootcamp, they have even less motivation to do Zune on the Mac. It may happen some day but probably more as a publicity move and as a direct insult to Apple, not to satisfy customers or to make any significant amount of money.

 

[JYoung]

It's not a bad improvement hardware wise but if a fee is paid to Universal Music Group for every Zune 2.0 sold as is the case for the Zune 1.0, that's enough to wish it to fail.

 

[Pikemann_Urge]

Strange thread to be putting in the Future iPod forum, but there is a point I suppose: what will Apple do in response? Well, in response to... what? Wireless synching? Yeah that's a good feature, no doubt. I am 100% sure that Apple has considered it but not so sure if they'll include it in the near future.

I don't see the fuss as it's just another MP3 player that's not an iPod. It's not my business to say whether you should like it or not but it is what it is: just another gadget. The iPod is not just another gadget - it's a work of art. And those don't come around every day. That is partly why the iPod is such a success IMHO.

Apple won't rule the roost forever - that's a given. Even Queens Elizabeth and Victoria, as long as their respective reigns were, had to pass the crown to somebody else eventually. But it won't be MS who is going to dislodge it.

 

[homeboy]

I don't see the fuss as it's just another MP3 player that's not an iPod. It's not my business to say whether you should like it or not but it is what it is: just another gadget. The iPod is not just another gadget - it's a work of art. And those don't come around every day. That is partly why the iPod is such a success IMHO.

It actually is a big fuss. During the latest year the iPod G5/G6 has been more or less the only choice for people who want a good high capasity DAP. Last year the selection of high capasity DAPs decreased even more when Creative pulled the plug on the M:Vision leaving the Zune 1.0 and the iPod Classic as the only two high capasity DAPs on the market.

With MS having launched a very competitive Zune 2.0, we consumers finally have really attractive alternative choice to the big iPod.

Similar to the way Macs have become an alternative to PCs with Windows. Monopoly is never good.

The Nano hasn't been much of an issue since there are countless of options.

 

[Code Monkey]

But it won't be MS who is going to dislodge it.

That's not a bet I would make.

First off, you've got the lack of hardware manufacturers even in the game anymore. Creative keeps going backwards and forwards with their DAP designs because they can only stand hemmorrhaging money for so many consecutive quarters. If not for a decent Asian market and the padding they get from their sound card and speaker business, Creative would probably already be out of the North American and European market. iRiver has all but given up with only the Clix carrying a small torch after the mostly failed MTV promotion. Cowon doesn't even try to compete in these markets in spite of some decent players. Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, etc. all are players in a technical sense, but they can't even chart as far as market share is concerned. That leaves Sansa as the only real competitor other than MS for the North American market.

Second, and it's the real reason I'm not making that bet is that the only reason Apple has managed to get as big as they are is iTunes. If the iPod were just another drag and drop or Windows Media Player supported DAP, it wouldn't be doing any better than anyone else no matter how cute and pretty Apple styled them. If there's one thing Microsoft is willing to do, it's tool and retool software until it either beats or copies the competition. I don't think it's an accident they opted to give the Zune players their own software instead of WMP. They'll support WMP because they have to, but if there's going to be any break throughs for ease of library management, expect it in the Zune software first. Microsoft has the bank account and the software development experience (plus the ethically dubious tie in with their OS) to become real competitors to iTunes for player and library managment. *That* is something that Creative and Sony have shown themselves completely inept at, and the others simply aren't even interested in.

Albeit, if the Zune 2.0 requires Vista, they'll probably shoot themselves in the foot for this generation as well since there's absolutely nothing about a DAP that should require the bells and whistles of an OS most of us are probably still about a year away from adopting.

In the long run, it's probably only Microsoft that can afford to not be a success through multiple generations of their music players. They've got the resources to both stand the tests of the market, but also to keep retooling everything as many times as is necessary to achieve what the market is looking for no matter how good or bad the previous iteration was received. It may not topple Apple, but I'd be surprised if it doesn't put them in the number two spot within a few years.

 

[homeboy]

Albeit, if the Zune 2.0 requires Vista, they'll probably shoot themselves in the foot for this generation as well since there's absolutely nothing about a DAP that should require the bells and whistles of an OS most of us are probably still about a year away from adopting.

The Zune works with Media Center, XP and Vista.

 

[S2_Mac]

Well, we'll see. The only hint of Vista goodness so far is a footnote (#3):
[Recorded television content to go] "Requires a PC running Windows Vista® Home Premium or Windows Vista Ultimate and an integrated or external TV tuner."

 

[Code Monkey]

The Zune works with Media Center, XP and Vista.

As S2_mac says, we'll see. None of this will be out for a month at least - that's when we get to evaluate the product instead of the hype. I'm optimistic, but cautiously so - it wouldn't be unlike Microsoft to tie the newest stuff to the new OS.

 

[XVI]

The Zune also came right with the screen, they did aglass screen, which means no stupid ruined screens, seriously how hard was that Apple?

 

[Surf Monkey]

The Zune also came right with the screen, they did aglass screen, which means no stupid ruined screens, seriously how hard was that Apple?

Glass scratches too. Plus, it shatters when dropped wrong.

 

[Smrt]

If I had the choice between an 80GB Zune or an 80GB iPod I would probably pick the Zune, simply because of the nice big screen. It is a pitty they didn't add more features to the WiFi like a web broswer(it probably wouldn't be great but still nice to have it) and the ability to stream content from the computer. They should do some Xbox 360 features like what Sony did with the PS3 and the PSP.