Microsoft’s iPod Killer looks — suprise! — a lot like the iPod. Engadget gave us a look yesterday. It’s allegedly called the Zune and will let you wirelessly download music, but not play games like some predicted. Gizmodo says:
There’s also mention of a black version of the Zune, being shown on a music video for the band CSS, and the brown version on the cover for “Band of Horses.”
Can someone decipher that for me? A Band Of Horses album cover? Wha?
Paul Oakenfold is said to have an endorsement deal, enabling Microsoft to target that elusive Brittany Murphy fanbase. No word on Zune’s price or how shitty the headphones will be.
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Love the superfluous “left” button. ‘Man I love this song, turn it left!’
I think they meant there is a picture of the brown one with the Band of Horses album on the screen.. it was one of the blurries
Ohhhhh!
Complete trash.
What the hell kind of name is Zune?
I want one.
Haha, that’s exactly what I was thinking Scott!
“iPod Killer” is overstating it. Even if it’s successful, it won’t “kill” the iPod. At best Apple’s marketshare will go 85% down to the 50s or 60s.
All attempts to beat Apple on features so far have been abject failures. All attempts to beat Apple on marketing grounds have not only been abject failures, but actually insulting to the people they’re trying to market to.
It’s not that someone else can’t be successful in the market, it’s that even if they are, you’re not going to make the iPod dead.
John Gruber had it right back in March, and that’s not changed (yet?). See: http://daringfireball.net/2006/03/ipod_juggernaut
With the market share they’ve currently got, calling something an “iPod killer” is like referring to something as a “Windows killer,” or a “Microsoft Office killer.”
^^ True, true.
Besides, isn’t “iPod” a dumb name, too? If oyu say it over and over, it just becomes a weird sound…
with Paul Oakenfold in tow this is sure to be a hit.
Microsoft’s apparent strategy:
1) Copy iPod.
2) ???
3) Profit!
1) copy ipod
2) sell it for half the price and willingly lose money on the venture
3) destroy apples market share
4) yay!
The real reason it couldn’t possibly beat the iPod? It doesn’t look nearly as attractive.
The blurry pictures of the alleged old design (thank god they shaved the antena) showing the Band of Horses album cover can be seen here: http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/04/cringingly-blurry-pics-reveal-microsofts-ipod-killer/
It’s comforting to think that someone over at Microsoft may be a blog reading indie fan!
Ugh how damn ugly. If you’re going to copy the iPod, do it well or don’t do it at all.
http://www.musictimes.com.au
Microsoft’s apparent strategy:
1) Copy iPod.
2) ???
3) Profit!
Ha!
if it’s cheaper and just as effective, i’ll buy one.
i just need a dependable mp3 player that has a big enough name to belly up to fix it if the thing breaks.
70% of my friends who have iPods have seen theirs break within 13 months of purchase.
i never used the games or calendar or contact list… or any of the stuff on the ipod.
yes, i am Everyman, dammit.
You spelt “surprise” incorrectly!
My iPod’s not broken and when you support Microsoft you are supporting bad design. One thing that the iPod (and the iMac before it) ushered in was an era where good design mattered. Look at the Xbox?! That thing is a hulking hunk of garbage from a design perspective. Even the Xbox 360 (much better) is still behind the times–what’s with the concavity? Don’t buy this thing if you care about simplistic design and clean lines. Trust me. Microsoft will find a way to make it more complicated than it should be.
CSS and Band of Horses? Sub Pop must have a deal with fellow Seattlittes MS. I just watched the CSS video for Lets Make Love and Listen to Death From Above… I didn’t spot any Zunes. Maybe it’s subliminal.
See the blurry Band Of Horses/CSS pics here:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/06/04/cringingly-blurry-pics-reveal-microsofts-ipod-killer/
Competition is fine, but I locked myself into an iPod using iTunes Music Store.
^^^ So if the Zune isn’t compatible with the iTunes store and doesn’t immediately offer an alternate store with the same size collection, where does that leave the Zune?
Of course, Microsoft could work it out for the Zune to be compatible, or open a huge digital music store (both of which would cost a lot of money, I assume), both of which would present a huge upfront investment on their part.
MS has just started up a pretty good online store with Urge, which is integrated into the new Media Player. I’m digging it so far, along with Yahoo! Music Unlimited. I like that I can rent OR buy my music– I straight-out purchase the tracks I love, then use subscription to grab everything else. Very much looking forward to Zune, haven’t found the portable I like yet.
This is boring. Asthetically, Apple hands Microsoft it’s ass every time. Hmmm…integrated hard drives/flat screens or towers + screen? Such a difficult choice. Oh, and software that doesn’t crash every 10 minutes. That’s nice too.
That aside, this device looks a lot like pda’s from about 6 years ago.
meh. i’m a mac user, and i can’t get enthused about this copy cat product. However…can we get rid of that banner ad of the chick in the underwear? people here at work are starting talk
i’ve had to have my ipod replaced twice in the past year and a half and i won’t give money to itunes for their useless protected files. the other mp3 player in the house is a two year old iAudio that cost about half what i paid for my ipod and works without a hitch.
i say bring on the copycats.
I’m not accusing anyone of anything here, but I honestly wonder how many of these people that are ‘constantly’ replacing their iPods are essentially just abusing them. My 4th Gen has worked fine for the last two years and I have friends with iPods that are older than that and have never had an issue. But I also know we treat them very carefully.
Sean, I wonder the same thing about these broken ipods. I hear about a lot friends with broken ipods, but don’t seem to have many. But, you know, I heard a lot about Grandaddy Long Legs being the most poisonous spider and how that kid from Saved By The Bell blew up his head with Coke and Pop Rocks, so you never know!
too late. enuf already. Let it go.
If you are after more info on this take a lookover at
http://www.zuneinfo.com
you ‘design’ guys are hilarious… microsoft has bad design. apple has good design… blah frickin blah… yeah, design always wins… that imac has flown off the shelves – huge seller. any day now the imac will render the pc obsolete. and the newton’s amazing design features will capture the handheld market.
dummies
Itunes is shameless, you cant play them on other hardware. Its a forced monopoly
There are so many ipod lovers but it’s not the best thing it is cracked up to be.
Let see,
Battery problems, as well as not being able to get a new one.
Horrible store service, at least in NYC
Scratches way to easily
Screen is definitely not made by Saturn, breaks too easily
Ipod nano…max 4GB, give me a break.
I use to love the ipod but its just not that great anymore for what they charge.
I have not been that impressed with anything new from apple as well as other companies.
The perfect compact mp3 player,
Size and ease of use as the nano,
At least 8gb like the zen microphoto,
Bluetooth or wireless capability like the new proposed Zune
Removable, long lasting battery like the microphoto. Battery life kills apple.
Finally, the screen should not be as fragile.
etc.
Interesting article about the future of open standards for digital music: http://blog.wired.com/music/index.blog?entry_id=1547405