Stereogum's Sneak Peek At Zune
Let the games begin. Today at 12 EST (right now), just two days after Apple's big press show, Microsoft lifts the veil on all things Zune. The Microsofties invited Stereogum (along with all your other favorite MP3 bloggers and old-school media) to Seattle to meet with Zune's lead marketers and developers, to play with one for a few minutes, and to be among the first to report. How could we resist? We love air travel!
So without further delay, a look at the first sanctioned image of Microsoft's new baby.
Looks sorta like an iPod, doesn't it? Well, there are some design differences (longer body, larger, vertically oriented screen, a direction pad in place of the patented click wheel) and some distinct hardware features (wireless!), but here's the real issue: How curious were you to see the thing? It's all about the look of the device and what it can do, right?
That's where Microsoft's challenge lies. Zune provides a few improvements over iPod but, as much as Microsoft acknowledges the inevitability of a device-based dialogue, its aspirations lay far beyond the unit itself; with Zune, the company wants to redefine the market for purchased music, going from the "closed" system of Apple to an open community -- an "army of promoters" –- changing the way music is discovered (via wireless-device sharing of songs and playlists) and purchased (via Zune's subscription service).
Before I elaborate on the Zune concept, the marketing strategy and, of course, a detailed report on the device itself, here's a quick breakdown:
SALIENT FEATURES (OR HOW ZUNE OUT-SPECS IPOD)
- 3" Color Screen (compared to 2.5" for iPod) with shifting orientation for music (vertical) and picture (horizontal) playback.
- Wi-Fi Wireless Technology, allowing Zune devices in the same room (distance specs TBA) to beam songs between units (a pillar of their "community" concept), to be used for the lesser of three days or three plays. Zunes can also beam pictures, but there is no Digital Rights Management (DRM) associated with picture files (i.e. yours to keep forever).
- FM Radio reception
- Personalization of screen and wallpaper with user-provided images and pictures.
- Dearth of options. True, it's the first generation, but having only one model ready for launch, while Apple diversifies to ever-increasing, niche options on every level (from the thumb-sized Shuffle, to the 8 GB Nano Mini [or as we like to say, "Ninny"], to the 80GB for just $350) is not gonna be pretty.
- Limited use of best feature. Zune brings the advance of community sharing, allowing devices to wirelessly share songs. But this won't mean much when you're the only early-adopter in the room.
- Weight. From my crude assessment, the 30GB Zune was roughly the same weight as my 60GB iPod (while wearing its hard plastic cover!).
- Loss of iTunes-purchased music. Microsoft has no plans to provide for the conversion of protected/DRM iTunes songs.
- No compatibility with Macs. Obvs.
"We will not look like iPod, nor smell, nor feel."
This came from the mouth of Chris Stephenson, the Director of Marketing for the Zune project and the owner of four iPods. I sat armed with the most obvious question to ask of someone entering the portable MP3 player (PMP) market: To compete with iPod, you must have identified some weaknesses in its design and function; what are those weaknesses and how did you exploit them with Zune?
The subsequent lecture preempted my inquiry.
"Our goal is to come into the market to create a brand or product in Stage One that competes on the current terms of digital music," Chris offered. "That is, to have a great device. But that's only a small part of the vision. We're much more about connected entertainment."The gamble is huge. Microsoft is attempting to transform the market place, to convince users that their approach of sharing and community is the future. It's a paradigm shift, at a time when the sexiness of iPod couldn't be greater.
But the Zune device does offer improvements on the iPod model and, according to Microsoft's numbers, the available market is surprisingly large. Stephenson cited that there are 50 million iPods in 32 million households (meaning there are many multi-unit homes). 20% of iPod users are deeply invested (with the full ecosystem of products, sizes, etc), but the remaining 80% are at a low level of investment; they use PCs, their iPods were gifts, they own an average of 24 AAC files (iTunes-purchased songs).
"Apple as a brand is very strong with media and artists, but the market is much bigger; it's hundreds of millions, where now only 32 million homes have them. That's only a small portion in the game, a tiny portion in the digital download space. While there is growth in digital music, there's only a small investment so far. There's a huge market opportunity. 95% of the OS base is still Microsoft, so it's quite robust."Microsoft's initial goal is modest; to be a strong #2, and slowly grow a Zune community to implement their new vision of music discovery and consumption, and their vision of the PMP less as a "device" and more as a "tuner."
Chris draws an analogy to Hotmail.
"If you have an account, you're not thinking that you need a computer for your hotmail account, you're thinking that you need a tuner to get your mail. Hotmail is about information and use, and my music is about my entertainment, not about iPod and iTunes."Fortunately for Microsoft, they have a working, successful model for connected entertainment; Xbox Live pulled off a similar marketplace transformation recently. We're no gamers (too busy with our MP3s), but here's the gist of what went down when Xbox came on the scene: Sony's PlayStation was dominant and the kids were content. Microsoft's solution was to give 'em what they didn’t know they were missing: a connected-gaming community, replete with online identities (or "tags"). This community thinking revolutionized gaming and, in time, PlayStation was forced to accommodate this new landscape with similar, competitive services.
Just as the first generation Xboxes were built with the hardware necessary to accommodate future advances and enhancements in service, Zune rolls out with the tech specs and updatable firmware to make it all happen. And the plan for Zune is similar. As soon as users access the Zune Marketplace, Microsoft will give them the opportunity to create tags, or identities, and ultimately be able to view friends' playlists and libraries in order to suggest and share songs with ease.
DEVICE DESCRIPTION
Zune's first generation is launching with one size option (30GB) in three colors (white, black, brown ... the first brown MP3 player?), each in a dulled plastic with translucent coating. The color screen measures 3" diagonally, and shifts orientation depending on whether you're listening to music (vertical) or looking at pictures and watching videos (horizontal). The device's weight is well distributed for each orientation, with a subtle, rear concavity to provide a natural finger-pivot point. The front has one four-way direction button (not a click wheel) and two other functional buttons. (The first thing I did when I got my paws on one was to rub the directional pad like it was a click wheel. Silly muscle memory.)
Zune's menu navigation is based on the standard hierarchical method that iPod utilizes; their tweak is called TWIST. The device strings the previous menu horizontally across the screen top, keeping everything one click closer (to avoid repeatedly pressing "back" or "menu" to get home). For example, once you've selected "Playlists" from the home menu, your playlist titles are listed across the top of the screen, while the contents of the highlighted playlist appear in the vertical space below. Having a larger screen – and having it oriented vertically – provides more real estate for lists and information, which makes for less scrolling.
The four-way directional button (center-situated circular button below screen) makes moving through menus and songs easy; press up or down to scroll. And if you hold the button down to speed through your song library, Zune displays a large image of the current letter for ease and speed of identification. And the UI has a cosmetic sheen that iPod has yet to approximate; screens fade in and out as you transition between menu levels. Quite smooth.
Walking through the Zune device will be a breeze to anyone who's had some experience with an iPod. I played a song (which sounded great, but it was "Saególpur" by Sigur Rós, and that shit would sound live on an 8-track), "flagged" it (as distinct from rating it on a five-star scale, which Zune also offers), looked through photos (which oriented themselves horizontally as I opened them), set one as my personal background, and adjusted the song's volume -- all without needing any hand holding.
WI-FI WIRELESS
Easily Zune's most distinguishing feature, each unit comes with Wi-Fi wireless sending and receiving capability. Gotta admit, this is pretty hot. With wireless, users can beam songs (or full playlists), album art and pictures to any Zune in the same room (specs TBA). The DRM associated with each music file (regardless of how initially obtained) allows the receiving Zune to enjoy the track for the lesser of three days or three plays. Pictures and album art have no digital rights management associated with them.
Microsoft is hoping to create (and corporately co-opt) the burgeoning network of music sharers and promoters the blogosphere represents; Zune's wireless capability is the first step.
"We think of Zune as a link to the world, where Apple sees it as closed," says Chris. "With all due respect, Apple is a very controlled brand. They don't really have any direct interaction with the consumer or artists. We're into Web 2.0. The YouTubes, the MySpaces, the user generated content, the creators. We want to facilitate that."They're hoping you'll grab a track from a friend, enjoy it, flag it (another simple-but-useful function), and buy it from Zune Marketplace when you next synch up. And all of this leads to their hope that you'll jump on board with their subscription plan.
ALL YOU CAN EAT
"Over time, people will learn to love subscription," Stephenson said confidently. "People haven't got it just yet, 'cause the brands haven't been able to build their brand strong enough. Subscription is a dirty word to some people. Think of it as flat rate programming. Like TiVO," he said, pausing for effect. "People don't mind that 'cause they think they're getting value. Flat rate plans allow people to discover new music at no additional cost."
That is, no cost in addition to the flat fee you pay per-month to have unlimited access to Zune Marketplace-affiliated labels' rosters.
"KCRW and KEXP are good 'cause they surprise me with their programming," he said. "Wireless sharing and subscription plans is just bringing that to life. It's the community aspect."The Zune Marketplace (i.e. the store and software) is similar to iTunes, with the primary differences being cosmetic (color scheme), organization (three primary information columns, as opposed to iTunes' two), and the Journal feature, designed to manage and track your Zune device's wireless activity. From the Journal page, users will have a list of the songs that have beamed or flagged, allowing for download from the Marketplace within the same screen. Assuming you're one that buys music, naturally.
And the Microsofties are self-aware; having seen (and acknowledged the hilarity of) the YouTube spoof of Microsoft's packaging of iPod, Zune comes in a simple and elegant box; still not as sexy as iPod, but a far cry from that video's hyperbole. Maybe they're learning.
ARTIST RELATIONSHIPS
Moving forward, Microsoft is intent is to portray itself as a music-first company. Richard Winn, the Director of Artist Development for Zune, sketched out the vision.
"There are a core group of major artists that sell a lot of music. We want to be in that, great opportunities with major labels and retailers, all very important. The other part is to be what we are – a real and authentic, connected music company – we need to be involved with up and coming artists, that mean something to people like Stereogum readers."Microsoft will cater to top-selling artists, of course, but they also want to be involved with emerging indie talent -- and do so without compromising their integrity. This means collaborating with artists like CSS or Band of Horses (and non-Sub Pop bands, too) and doing everything from providing exposure via track preloads in Zune, to promoting the artist on Zune Marketplace or Xbox, to providing road managerial and IT services (managing MySpace pages, answering fan mail, etc). In exchange, Microsoft hopes to get exclusive content (like concert audio and pictures) and, ultimately, to take some "cool" from Apple.
PARTING THOUGHTS
"You gotta come up with a thin and gorgeous 100GB Zune, 'cause that's what we music geeks want," I told Stephenson as we were wrapping up.
"That's what I want too, baby," he smiled. "You should sit in our product development meetings. That's what we all want."
We shared a laugh, but this jocular exchange highlighted Microsoft's main issue: for now, developers and consumers alike are united in their desire for the coolest gadget. Community is a great concept, but people gotta have the device in order to enable a community of users. That begins with making a dent in Apple's device dominance. And that's a tall order.
Apple is a runaway success; even those around Zune HQ acknowledge iPod's emergence as a watershed moment in PMPs, as Pong was to video gaming. What Microsoft hopes is that, as with Pong, that advance was only the beginning. The challenges for both brands are clearly drawn: Apple must retain the rogue spirit, fighting like the underdog it was when it launched its foray into the PMP market and continue to innovate, while Microsoft has to convince users that the game has changed, and theirs is the only device that can play it.
Microsoft has introduced features to which Apple must, and will, respond. Wirelessly transferring tracks – be it device to device, device to computer, or device to music store – is a logical evolutionary step. Making personal pictures into wallpaper? Sure, why not, that too. But realistically, Zune has a few-months window within which to advance the possibilities their new technology offers; with aggressive marketing and smart management, there is hope for Zune to grow into the profitable, user-friendly community Microsoft envisions. But, as it stands, Apple has the image, the loyalty, and the market share.
Zune is long on ideas, but may be short on time.
Again, I wasn't the only MP3 blogger out there to play. Check Coolfer, My Old Kentucky Blog, Scenestars, Music For Robots, 3Hive, and Tiny Mix Tapes for more perspectives and coverage.
What do you guys think? Is the 3" color screen, the radio, and the wireless capability enough to get you to give up your iPods? Do you think the Connected Entertainment Model will work? Will time run out? Does it blow your mind to think of Microsoft as an underdog?
Scott and I are soon departing to Austin for ACL (they still let you bring MP3 players on planes, right?) but, if you have any questions, feel free to fire 'em off in the comments. I'll do my best to answer them (or get the info for you).
UPDATE: Zune in action:
Posted at 12:00 PM
Some of the rhetoric from Microsoft sounds silly but you know...build a better mousetrap and maybe I'm in. Personally I don't give a shit about beaming stuff from someone else's mp3 player that I can listen to three times and I just don't watch stuff on the iPod - I'm there for the tunes and that's it. Of course, I realize I'm probably in the minority on that stuff but just sayin'... Now, the subscription idea isn't bad if there is a good library available. It's working great for me on eMusic to be able to pay $20 bucks and try out alot of new artists that I read about on blogs and whatnot (or in some cases, old stuff by artists that I'm not familiar with that I read about on music blogs, etc etc) so I like that idea.
Bottom line is that I'm getting older (35) and probably crankier and less understanding of technology (and I didn't have that far to go) but I love carrying around tons of my music on my iPod. If Microsoft's product seems worthwhile and I can somehow figure out how to transfer my library back into something compatible with their product (and I'm sure one of you young hipsters will be able to figure out some easy way to do that!) then what the heck...maybe I'll give it a shot.
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Hotmail is an interesting analogy because it backfires on Microsoft. Hotmail is hemorrhaging people to the better organized, cheaper sources like gmail! I like the way this looks better than I thought, but who would have ever thought that Apple would have the cheaper product. And I bet Apple is hard at work at a wireless device.
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Forgot to mention if MicroSoft can make their product more reliable (fat chance, right?) then that would be HUGE. The iPod has been a bit problematic for me at times...
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I think it sounds really good. I never bought into the whole iPod thing though, or personal mp3 players in general. I don't like the quality when it goes straight into my ears. Through speakers mp3s don't come across so bad as they're (in my case) being projected by cheap monitors, but when you have them playing next to your eardrum you need something with quality. You notice all the quality drops and realise how much better SACDs and vinyl are.
If the Microsoft store will have downloads that are in flac quality then there's a reason to buy.
They do sound like they've tought about it a lot though. I like the idea of the bluetooth style sharing, I actually like the look of the brown mp3 player, but can you please explain the wheel they've used. It looks as though it's the same as the iPods but you made it sound like its just four buttons around a wheel (^, >, v, < kind of idea - in my opinion much more useable).
When they bring out a 100Gb version for £230 or so then I'll be willing to buy, but if anything I'm still a fan of the iRiver over all the others.
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Will music purchased from the Zune store be mp3 or some proprietary file type? Nothwithstanding the DRM limitation on music acquired through wireless sharing, will music purchased from the Zune store have DRM that limits the original purchaser's use?
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What a shocker. The Zune is WHITE! It's also dorky.
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I really have to say that Apple is bumming me out.
I have spent a good chunk of money on the products and though I do love so much about them they at the same time are poorly made(or so has been my experience).They could really stand to boost customer service.
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you accepted a free plane ride? nice journalistic integrity
(i'd have done the same thing but you know real news people dont)
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can anyone say dell dj? the zune sounds like the same crappy product in a newer, wireless box. F-.
off the topic, the new shuffle? great? yes?
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Oddly enough, I know quite a few people who are tiring of iPod (though, I admit, it may just be my group of friends).
The LEAST the Zune can do is open up the marketplace so that other MP3 players can have a chance at competing against the iPod, too.
Because, with muscle like Microsoft behind it (instead of the comparitively small biceps of Samsung and Creative), people may start to realize that iPod is NOT synonomous with portable music device after all.
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I'm waiting for the FedEx guy to drop off my new 8GB Nano. Sorry Microsoft. Oh and that 100GB Zune? How about an 80GB iPod that's avaliable TODAY?
Day late/dollar and 50GB short.
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$300 for a Zune, and $250 for a Wii. Both higher than I expected. No digg.
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Brown is definitely NOT cool. And a word to those MS dorks who think that I as a consumer don't get subscriptions. I completely understand what the subscription based model is for online music services and here's a lesson for you that you don't seem to understand, I DON"T RENT MUSIC!!!
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what the fuck is this post?? when did stereogum become so....sponsored?
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According to The Digital Music Weblog, Zune means something "naughty" in Hebrew.
(http://digitalmusic.weblogsinc.com/2006/09/06/microsoft-wants-to-zune-you/)
Funny huh?
Yeah. Not really thinking this thing is gonna be a threat.
Next.
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This looks good so far, but I am really curious to see how it will fair in the marketplace. I plan on eventually upgrading my iPod, though I'll need something with more storage space than 30GB.
However, I am very interested in the streaming technology, and I hope that this idea spreads. There have been many train and plane rides where I'm sitting next to someone else with an iPod, and we end up sharing headphones as we introduce eachother to new music. If one could play that music a few times, and keep the name of the artist and song on the device, I think it would be greatly beneficial to the developing artist community. It could increase exposure of artists who have a stong, yet small following.
Whether or not the Zune garners enough of the market share to create this kind of community, at least the idea is now floating out there for someone else to capitalize on.
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Ah well, it'll be of no use to me, or you, scott lol being mac users and all. I wish all these companies would make things Mac compatible, it's not apple preventing people, because the thing they need most is for their computer-user base to grow, so cross-compatibility is desirable. If microsoft did make it mac compatible, and i daresay there'll be hacks for it in the future, I'd give it a long hard look.
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With Zune, will you need to pay for the WiFi service or will it just come ready to go?
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Also, will you be able to share videos? And if so, do they expire?
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Wow! such a great ad! Stereogum has lost it
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Why was there NO mention of battery life????
WiFi is unnecesary, and will use up battery life like mad.
Wallpaper on this thing. Really not necessary again.
Too little to late. Too ugly. Too Microsoft. They should stick to spreadsheets.
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BOO.
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Idolator launched today. They already mentioned you in their Zune article.
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Hotmail is a great analogy!! My hotmail account has been hugely useful as my free giveaway garbage mail address for 6 years now. Most useful of them. I think I regard the Zune in the same way.
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You better turn off the wifi radio on the plane. The last thing we need is a bunch of jets falling out of the sky because you want to share your cool indie music with the hot 16 year two rows up.
This article is missing the most important detail. What color are the earbuds?
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I don't like the way Microsoft tries to co-opt every market it enters. Java, anyone? I despise them for splintering the market with exclusionary tactics. They're doing it again here by excluding Macs *and* its former Plays For Sure partners.
I won't rent music. Ever. Movies, yes, but music is much too personal a choice and I want the ability to retain it forver, even after I decide that the Zune Marketplace subscription doesn't work for me. So if all I can do is listen via subscription, then they've excluded me before they even start.
I could give a shit about wireless social connections. I'm 40-something and have well-developed musical tastes. I won't be sharing music in a roomful of Zunies anytime soon.
And aesthetically? Puh-lease. Put it in a paper bag, light it on fire, put it on some old lady's doorstep. It's the blockiest, ugliest thing I've ever seen.
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T he wirelesss/sharing thing is cool. But I dont trust Microsoft on DRM and not being compatible with Macs is idiotic. PS Bitter:Sweet, the band pictured in the label on the Zune are terrific and you can check out a live performance on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic at the KCRW website
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Great questions. Here are a few I can answer off the cuff.
Files purchased on Zune Marketplace will be MP3s, and they will have DRM limitations.
Wi-Fi comes standard, and there's no additional charge to use this service in its present capacity (i.e. beaming songs to and from other Zunes).
For now, wireless inter-Zune file sharing is limited to songs (or playlists) and pictures. No word on video transfers just yet.
There aren't any official specs on battery life; I had someone unofficially quote 12 hours to me, but that has to be an exaggeration. Right? Wi-Fi is bound to be a battery killer. You'll be able to turn that off. I'm thinking non-Wi-Fi life will be in line with iPods.
(Speaking of, anyone with a new one care to share pros/cons?)
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I like the brown. I don't know why, and I would never get it (no Mac compatability anyway), but I like it. I think it's different, plus I'd probably just use a case for it anyway.
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Iiiiinteresting. Can't wait to see what the next iPods will be able to do, heh.
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Amrit, nice write up. Although I'm still amazed I saw the word "paradigm" on Steregum.
Anyhooters, I'm wondering: Ok, so Zune won't play iTunes' DRM-protected content. Fine. But what about regular old non-DRMed MP4/AAC files? I rip (or download from the russian site) all my music in that format in iTunes. Will Zune be able to play that format? Frankly, I think WMA and MP3 both sound like poop, and, like everyone else, think subscription is a deeply stupid idea. But if I can't play music in my choice of non-DRMed formats, this thing's a non-starter for me.
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this will fail on not having mac support alone.
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brown, it might as well be beige. oh well. I love when microsoft trots out marketing people who put the cart before the horse, and claim revolution without moving one unit. hilarious.
also, I am not so much interested in community in this manner. I open up my playlist to people in itunes, and I look at other people's libraries of music, and I just think, this guy likes the killers AND the doobies? wtf?
whatever. no thanks, my 2nd generation 10g ipod still works. still.
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the wi-fi wounds promising, but the incompatibility with macs is a TOTAL deal breaker for me.
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its like they didnt even try.
seriously, I'm not an Apple freak, but this is pathetic.
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I like that Hot Chip's "Over and Over" video is the featured image on the horizontal one.
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Interesting review. I really am not seeing the picture that Microsoft has a solid competitor here, but perhaps I'm underestimating them. I gotta say, those players are just ugly. Maybe that will appeal to a large group of rebellious people that don't want the "popular" or "cool" looking players. Me? I just think it looks ugly, and given everything else equal, I don't like ugly.
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this things gunna be DOA
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One thing I heard is that because Microsoft partnered with Toshiba to build Gen One, they had to build it on the Toshiba Gigabeat body and that they are building Gen Two themselves...in which I would expect to see much bigger leaps. That info however would cause me to wait until Gen Two.
Amrit, they quoted me estimates are at 12 hours, but didn't specify how much wi-fi affected that.
Anyway, this is news and you shouldn't trash Stereogum for reporting it. You would have done the same.
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No Mac support? Way to shoot yourself in the, well. In the toe, at least.
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an mp3 player w/ a radio.....it's about F*#king time.
there you go, microsoft wins.
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ok so microsoft flies you out to seattle, and because of this you're forced to make a post about it. AND THEN you're forced to keep it as the top post for the entire day?
WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS SHIT MAN? SERIOUSLY?
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Pretty much agree with all comments about Zune being meh. Also, XBox tried to take Playstation's thunder but it still hasn't, in fact, it loses money for every unit it sells. And out of all the shades of brown in the world, why would you pick a shade of poop? One more thing... anything that starts with the letter "Z" is doomed to suck. Like Zwan. Meh.
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God, I hate MP3 players.
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nick, they are on a plane on their way to austin you knucklehead. read the post.
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That was an excellently written review. Thank you.
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You whore. I expected better of Stereogum.
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I'm not incredibly impressed with this. Why WiFi? What's the point? It just seems superfluous. To me, it's like when Apple came out with that video iPod. I prefer the iPod as originally conceived - a straightforward mp3 player. Why do I need to watch tv shows on a 2.5" screen?
Also, I think Mac will win this hands-down given their willingness to create software and hardware that is compatible with other systems.
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The radio thing would be mad cooler were there anything on radio to want to hear.
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I seriously doubt the lack of mac support will cause a significant dent in Zune's marketability. Considering that 95% of the world runs Windows, WM-DRM is more secure and flexible than Fairplay, and that the Toshiba Gigabeat being a pretty freakin' good device to base a new player on, I'd say Zune's got a few significant things going for it.
iPod still has style. No one is commanding you to abandon it. Go ahead and keep using it. The rest of us just got another choice.
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thanks tom,
now go back to myspace.
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Mention a viable competitor to iPod and it's like you're talking about another God to a fundy. Even if you love the iPod, you gotta like the Zune coming out if for no other reason that it makes Apple actually innovate and probably get the price down as well.
Competition is good for us, people.
Great review, btw...
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Just to start off I wanted to say that i'm 19 so if you guys take my comments as childish thats fine I don't mind but just wanted to add my input.
Firstly I wanted to point out how not just negative but aggressivly negative people have to be when they reply about their impression of zune. I can tell you as an ipod user (about to be and ex) I hate the thing for so many reasons why i'm getting a zune upon release. Ipod's itunes really puts me off putting music on my playes and composing a playlist, I bought an ipod for my partner and the thing scratched even though it was kept in the case the whole time same as mines. I could go on.
The way people are tooting apples horn is almost as if their product is so well thought out and consumer friendly and can do no wrong. I for one am glad microsoft is doing this it's nice to break away fromm doing what everyone else is and do your own thing. As for the brown being ''tard'' I like it and think it looks great. And to the 40 yr old it really is depressing for someone of your age to be so analytical about a product that's trying to give option to people whats so wrong with that? and your analogy is so repugnantly childish. All in all i'm excited about it and am selling my ipod anyway and will get one when it's released here in the uk.
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I don't think people are tiring of the ipod I think the entire MP3 market is slowing... Music is so yesterday, everything out there games, video, nascar, flights to the moon... So, yesterday. I want something that excites the soul. I think this DAP is way to late, even the ipod today is to late to the party. But then again I bought my ipod nearly 5 years ago.
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____
At $199, yeah. At $300, no thanks.
btw, I've gone through 2 iPod HDDs. I'm done with Apple.
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"But Hanz...are we the bad guys?"
just fuck Microsoft, okay.
Fuck them and their history, and discount anything they're offering you now, snow white.
yeah, Apple's a corporation too, but quite frankly my ipod is now 3 years old and works fine. i bought it for functionality, nowt else.
and when it wears out, i'll go back to my portable record playing hat (with built in fan, beer holder and straws)
As Jarvis sang recently; "the cunts are still running the world". Don't let them run Stereogum too.
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ONE OF THE LAST 54 COMMENTS IS FROM THE MICROSOFT EMPLOYEE THAT PAID STEREOGUM TO FLY OUT TO VIEW THEIR EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHING RANGE!
BEWARE, KIDS, THIS SHIZZLE IS INFILTRATED!
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"Files purchased on Zune Marketplace will be MP3s, and they will have DRM limitations."
Amrit, are you sure about that? MP3, as a format, does not support DRM. I'm betting that Microsoft will use WMA files in its Marketplace.
According to MS documentation, "Zune software can import audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC; photos in JPEG; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264" but I doubt they'll be selling anything in the MP3 format. More likely, the marketing dipshits think that every sound file is an "MP3."
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"That's what I want too, baby," he smiled. "You should sit in our product development meetings. That's what we all want."
Who the fuck is this guy, Shooter McGavin?
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I hope they fail miserably with the Zune. I don't think it will touch Apple's marketshare in a significant way. The only reason I like the fact of MS and the Zune, is it will undoubtedly speed up innovation for Apple.
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as far as the paid vacation to go out there...
I left on Thursday at 7am, spent 6 hours on planes. Got to Seattle, was given the demo presentation and was back on a plane Friday morning at 7am, spending another 6 hours on planes to get home. Hardly a vacation.
Yeah Microsoft paid for the flight and the hotel, but they didn't give us a Zune. I have a 4 GB Nano, a Dell DJ (given as a gift), and no brand loyalty. I wanted to see if this thing was worth a damn, so I went out to there to see... Anyway it's news, especially in Stereogum's and my site's genre, that's why we all went and that's why three (Coolfer too) of us reported on it and that's also why you're talking about it.
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I will not buy this because it is only 30GB. Subscription based doesn't help at all. I seriously want a someone who will compete with Apple in digital media distrobution because right now they're running a monopoly even MS won't stop if they seriously think their target audience will swallow all the "subscription and limited listens" scheme.
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Wow, accepting free travel & perks from the devil. You've sunken to a new low...Goodbye Sterogum
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The only reason I would hope for Zune's failure is fear: fear that Microsoft isn't nearly as interested in what I want as Apple is. Whoever said WMA's DRM is more flexible than Apples - Ha!! Whatever!! What I'd really like to see is no DRM - but there's no way Microsoft would ever fight for that. They're "business" and "industry". Yeah, Apple's a Corp and interested in their own profits, but they're not fighting for DRM, they're fighting to make sure DRM doesn't interfere with me. That's what I'm interested in.
That said, I do have to say it looks like Allard has the right ideas, and does care about us and what we want. That doesn't mean Microsoft has turned the corner it needs to turn, though.
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First off, I am a converted apple/ipod user. Second off, listen to yourself.. do you have any idea about business or basic economics? Why are you so protective of Apple? It's as though you work for them or at least have some kind of emotional bond. With the introduction of Zune comes new techonology in a portable media player... how is that bad? If anything the success of it would be good for the consumer, especially with Apple products. It could force them to speed up innovation, add new features (or open up others) and at the least drive down prices on their seeming monopoly of ipod prices. Apple is a corporation, microsoft is a corporation. While I am a consumer working for neither... I want the best tech available at the lowest price. Think as a consumer, because Apples brand management and marketing is at a scary level of saturation... you no longer care what they charge, provide or restrict. Why is the EU up in arms about itunes restrictions, but here we're content to pump money into an ambigrous rental of music? Be for product design, innovation and progress but don't be blind to your consumer rights.
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Why are people so hostile to the music subscription model? I seriously don't get it.
People will pay $15 a month for an XM Satellite subscription. They don't own the music that gets played.
People will buy songs on iTunes for 99 cents a pop. If you think you "own" those tunes you are high. You "own" them as long as you only want to play them back on hardware purchased from Apple and/or do whatever other limited things Apple decides to let you do with them.
What about this example. Lets say I buy one CD per month and I will always buy one CD per month for the rest of my life. It costs around $15 per month.
For that same $15 month I can subscribe to Rhapsody or Napster or Zune (or whatever) and I can take every single album in their library and load it onto my MP3 player. I can listen to every single new album released (ok, limited to the library, but they're pretty inclusive now).
The only objection I hear to this is "but if you don't pay, you lose the music." so what. Why would I quit paying? I already know that I always spend at least $15/month on music anyway so why stop?
And it's not like I dont' buy CDs anyway. I use the subscription service to check out music much more conveniently and much more broadly than I would without the subscripton. If I really like something, I buy it on CD and rip it myself. You get much better quality and there's no DRM.
Makes a world of sense to me. I really don't get why people oppose it.
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It's funny that people are so concerned about Mac support. Does anyone remember how much Windows love the iPod got when it first came out? You try something out in your own backyard before you venture forward.
Those that think sterogum sold out are just silly. Just because Microsoft footed the travel bill doesn't mean bloggers are going to fall in love with their product. Maybe in the 80's that's how it was but these days when you fly bloggers into an event they are going to be *more* skeptical if anything.
I think the Zune has a chance. There are quite a few people that own iPods simply because they don't know that there are other DAP out there or that's the only one they've heard of. Hell, some people actually think Apple invented the DAP!
There are so many ways to utilize the wireless bit that it's staggering. What if you could put your Zune into auto-accept mode and walk around campus or the Warp Tour or whatever and come home to a stream of new music. What about when they open up the DRM a bit so if you hit up a show with your Zune you'll get an unreleased track that *isn't* limited? Heck, getting really funky you could set up a musical treasure hunt, hitting certian locations nets you new songs that have clues to the next location, etc. If Microsoft plays this right you could end up with something pretty viral and fun.
Of course other people have also nailed the fact that it can't just be a better/different player, it somehow has to become "cool". There are a ton of great DAPs out there but iPod has captured the teens need to have the "it" gadget. Of course Apple's success may undermine it because how mundane is an iPod now? Oh, you have 3 iPods? Yippy, I have a pile of them.
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I dunno, Microsoft's got Hot Chip. And apparently, PC's are a lot like John Hodgman. I think that's cool.
In other words, I'm an ironic dick and I have no preference either way.
And honestly, do you all visit Stereogum because it's a shining beacon of anti-corporate integrity? No. You come here to listen to cool new bands and bash Pitchfork. So this blog has lost total credibility because they took a free plane flight to cover something that its readers care about. Isn't that what journalists do? If they'd accepted an invitation Apple, no one would say anything. Go to hell.
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invitation *from* Apple
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Devin, either you didn't read my comment very carefully (likely), or I didn't express myself clearly enough (also likely). I was responding to nick's rather silly wish that Zune fail - with the only reason I could see making that statement. That's because, as a consumer I am interested in competition THAT RESULTS IN A BETTER AND CHEAPER PRODUCT FOR ME. So on the surface, wishing for Zune's failure is silly unless Zune doesn't portend the type of competition that will improve my experience.
I then explained why that might be the case - basically that Microsoft has only shown one case where they really care about improving the consumer's experience (XBox 360, which continues to lose money). So let's think about one key word from Allard in the interview (again, remember I like and respect what I know about this guy): "embrace". He lets it sl