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Microsoft finally confirmed this week that they were developing a range of products under the Zune brand to directly rival the iPod, and Zune will be with us in time for Christmas. But what is the Zune? Microsoft are not giving much away. Their 'Coming Zune' web site just gives us a cryptic and faintly unsettling animation of two strange men bothering a bewildered rabbit.(Go on, look at it now. It makes no sense). There is speculation of a staggering range of features, but Microsoft say they are currently only concentrating on producing a music player. So what do they need to do to take on the iPod? Who are those strange men and what do they want with that rabbit?
Mysteriously, Microsoft have confirmed that the Zune will
have wireless capability, but not what they are going to do with it. They can either attempt to rival the simplicity that works so well for Apple, or concentrate on the features the iPod lacks. There is talk of products in the range featuring WiFi, buffered internet radio streaming, Xbox 360 integration, ad-hoc networking and even permitting songs already downloaded from iTunes to be played for free. In terms of gaming, Microsoft has the capacity to distinguish its handheld with a very strong brand, but any effort to come up with a handheld console that does it all runs the risk of producing a big, impractical and expensive item. The lesson of the slightly embarrassing Nokia N-Gage is that it might be better to do one thing and do it well, rather than doing lots of things and being lame at all of them.
All the while, the iPod is continuing to sell by the zillion thanks to that heady rush we get from just looking at the packaging, and it's pretty clear that it is not enough for a rival music player to be objectively better. Although other products often have more features, better battery life and a lower price tag, the iPod consistently spanks the competition thanks to it's heart-stopping mixture of style, hype and lovely, lovely touchableness. The people at Apple must be wondering how to maintain their success, and there are rumours of developing the gaming potential of the iPod, and even making old Nintendo games available. Give us Mario for the iPod, and we will die happy.
Presumably Microsoft feel that the only way to respond to the runaway success of the iPod is for their design and marketing to match their innovation. Which might go some way to explaining the weird, creepy musical-rabbit-stroking site. Although I personally feel that the intrigue they are generating for their new product is having to compete with genuine concern for the rabbit. If we don't buy a Zune, they might hurt the rabbit. Gates, you are an evil, evil man.
Mysteriously, Microsoft have confirmed that the Zune will
have wireless capability, but not what they are going to do with it. They can either attempt to rival the simplicity that works so well for Apple, or concentrate on the features the iPod lacks. There is talk of products in the range featuring WiFi, buffered internet radio streaming, Xbox 360 integration, ad-hoc networking and even permitting songs already downloaded from iTunes to be played for free. In terms of gaming, Microsoft has the capacity to distinguish its handheld with a very strong brand, but any effort to come up with a handheld console that does it all runs the risk of producing a big, impractical and expensive item. The lesson of the slightly embarrassing Nokia N-Gage is that it might be better to do one thing and do it well, rather than doing lots of things and being lame at all of them.
All the while, the iPod is continuing to sell by the zillion thanks to that heady rush we get from just looking at the packaging, and it's pretty clear that it is not enough for a rival music player to be objectively better. Although other products often have more features, better battery life and a lower price tag, the iPod consistently spanks the competition thanks to it's heart-stopping mixture of style, hype and lovely, lovely touchableness. The people at Apple must be wondering how to maintain their success, and there are rumours of developing the gaming potential of the iPod, and even making old Nintendo games available. Give us Mario for the iPod, and we will die happy.
Presumably Microsoft feel that the only way to respond to the runaway success of the iPod is for their design and marketing to match their innovation. Which might go some way to explaining the weird, creepy musical-rabbit-stroking site. Although I personally feel that the intrigue they are generating for their new product is having to compete with genuine concern for the rabbit. If we don't buy a Zune, they might hurt the rabbit. Gates, you are an evil, evil man.
But we don't yet know it will be in competition with the Ipod or anything that Apple make.
It's all speculation...
It's all speculation...
The thing is, if it was a company other than Apple, would Microsoft have still tried to get a piece of the market?
Oh and sorry for my earlier post, the movie was actually called Dune not Zune :)
Oh and sorry for my earlier post, the movie was actually called Dune not Zune :)
Am I the only one that sees that the idea is not of the rabbit 'getting it' but is, in fact, the symbol referred to in the whole Zune advertising of we're all friends here?..
As for the Zune itself. There's no harm in Microsoft trying this out. I'm sure their R&D department has done lots of research into the need for such a device, whatever it might be. It could be a glorified PDA (which is more likely) with Ipod style features built in.
As for the Zune itself. There's no harm in Microsoft trying this out. I'm sure their R&D department has done lots of research into the need for such a device, whatever it might be. It could be a glorified PDA (which is more likely) with Ipod style features built in.
quite ambivalent wrote:
> There is talk of products in the range featuring WiFi, buffered
> internet radio streaming, Xbox 360 integration, ad-hoc
> networking and even permitting songs already downloaded from
> iTunes to be played for free.
I think something like this was mentioned in the E3 Microsoft press conference. I don't remember much about it but it does sound familiar. Maybe it's a range of products to incorporate what their vision is and the current products on the market don't currently allow it.
> In terms of gaming, Microsoft has
> the capacity to distinguish its handheld with a very strong
> brand, but any effort to come up with a handheld console that
> does it all runs the risk of producing a big, impractical and
> expensive item. The lesson of the slightly embarrassing Nokia
> N-Gage is that it might be better to do one thing and do it
> well, rather than doing lots of things and being lame at all of
> them.
There has been a lot of talk about Microsoft and a handheld device. I think the above is always going to be a concern because if they try to incorporate everything into one product, it may be more practical but it will likely work out more expensive.
Obviously, Microsoft see a market that needs filling (or what Microsoft want a piece of) and they'll try to fill it.
I just hope the bunnies fight back. :)
> There is talk of products in the range featuring WiFi, buffered
> internet radio streaming, Xbox 360 integration, ad-hoc
> networking and even permitting songs already downloaded from
> iTunes to be played for free.
I think something like this was mentioned in the E3 Microsoft press conference. I don't remember much about it but it does sound familiar. Maybe it's a range of products to incorporate what their vision is and the current products on the market don't currently allow it.
> In terms of gaming, Microsoft has
> the capacity to distinguish its handheld with a very strong
> brand, but any effort to come up with a handheld console that
> does it all runs the risk of producing a big, impractical and
> expensive item. The lesson of the slightly embarrassing Nokia
> N-Gage is that it might be better to do one thing and do it
> well, rather than doing lots of things and being lame at all of
> them.
There has been a lot of talk about Microsoft and a handheld device. I think the above is always going to be a concern because if they try to incorporate everything into one product, it may be more practical but it will likely work out more expensive.
Obviously, Microsoft see a market that needs filling (or what Microsoft want a piece of) and they'll try to fill it.
I just hope the bunnies fight back. :)
And when Walls just sold meat products and not ice cream.
Getting back to the name, wasn't there a movie made in the mid 80ies, based on a book of the same name called Zune?
Getting back to the name, wasn't there a movie made in the mid 80ies, based on a book of the same name called Zune?
Machie wrote:
> Does anyone remember when Microsoft just made software and Apple
> just made computers? What happened?
And when Tesco just sold food and British Gas didnt do electricity?
> Does anyone remember when Microsoft just made software and Apple
> just made computers? What happened?
And when Tesco just sold food and British Gas didnt do electricity?
Pfft they can go ahead and hurt the rabbit. I don't want a Zune, which by the way is a ridiculous name for anything.
Does anyone remember when Microsoft just made software and Apple just made computers? What happened?
Microsoft finally confirmed this week that they were developing a range of products under the Zune brand to directly rival the iPod, and Zune will be with us in time for Christmas. But what is the Zune? Microsoft are not giving much away. Their 'Coming Zune' web site just gives us a cryptic and faintly unsettling animation of two strange men bothering a bewildered rabbit.(Go on, look at it now. It makes no sense). There is speculation of a staggering range of features, but Microsoft say they are currently only concentrating on producing a music player. So what do they need to do to take on the iPod? Who are those strange men and what do they want with that rabbit?
Mysteriously, Microsoft have confirmed that the Zune will
have wireless capability, but not what they are going to do with it. They can either attempt to rival the simplicity that works so well for Apple, or concentrate on the features the iPod lacks. There is talk of products in the range featuring WiFi, buffered internet radio streaming, Xbox 360 integration, ad-hoc networking and even permitting songs already downloaded from iTunes to be played for free. In terms of gaming, Microsoft has the capacity to distinguish its handheld with a very strong brand, but any effort to come up with a handheld console that does it all runs the risk of producing a big, impractical and expensive item. The lesson of the slightly embarrassing Nokia N-Gage is that it might be better to do one thing and do it well, rather than doing lots of things and being lame at all of them.
All the while, the iPod is continuing to sell by the zillion thanks to that heady rush we get from just looking at the packaging, and it's pretty clear that it is not enough for a rival music player to be objectively better. Although other products often have more features, better battery life and a lower price tag, the iPod consistently spanks the competition thanks to it's heart-stopping mixture of style, hype and lovely, lovely touchableness. The people at Apple must be wondering how to maintain their success, and there are rumours of developing the gaming potential of the iPod, and even making old Nintendo games available. Give us Mario for the iPod, and we will die happy.
Presumably Microsoft feel that the only way to respond to the runaway success of the iPod is for their design and marketing to match their innovation. Which might go some way to explaining the weird, creepy musical-rabbit-stroking site. Although I personally feel that the intrigue they are generating for their new product is having to compete with genuine concern for the rabbit. If we don't buy a Zune, they might hurt the rabbit. Gates, you are an evil, evil man.
Mysteriously, Microsoft have confirmed that the Zune will
have wireless capability, but not what they are going to do with it. They can either attempt to rival the simplicity that works so well for Apple, or concentrate on the features the iPod lacks. There is talk of products in the range featuring WiFi, buffered internet radio streaming, Xbox 360 integration, ad-hoc networking and even permitting songs already downloaded from iTunes to be played for free. In terms of gaming, Microsoft has the capacity to distinguish its handheld with a very strong brand, but any effort to come up with a handheld console that does it all runs the risk of producing a big, impractical and expensive item. The lesson of the slightly embarrassing Nokia N-Gage is that it might be better to do one thing and do it well, rather than doing lots of things and being lame at all of them.
All the while, the iPod is continuing to sell by the zillion thanks to that heady rush we get from just looking at the packaging, and it's pretty clear that it is not enough for a rival music player to be objectively better. Although other products often have more features, better battery life and a lower price tag, the iPod consistently spanks the competition thanks to it's heart-stopping mixture of style, hype and lovely, lovely touchableness. The people at Apple must be wondering how to maintain their success, and there are rumours of developing the gaming potential of the iPod, and even making old Nintendo games available. Give us Mario for the iPod, and we will die happy.
Presumably Microsoft feel that the only way to respond to the runaway success of the iPod is for their design and marketing to match their innovation. Which might go some way to explaining the weird, creepy musical-rabbit-stroking site. Although I personally feel that the intrigue they are generating for their new product is having to compete with genuine concern for the rabbit. If we don't buy a Zune, they might hurt the rabbit. Gates, you are an evil, evil man.