Exclusive Deal While supplies last, save 40% off over 40 iPhone 5 and iPhone 4/4S cases and chargers as well as Samsung S III cases at Kensington.com. Use coupon code 'SAVE40%' at checkout to receive this exclusive discount.      
toggle

AAPL Stock: 445.15 ( + 3.01 )

http://www.macnn.com/articles/06/07/24/zune.is.doomed/

Zune is doomed, will alienate partners

updated 12:40 pm EDT, Mon July 24, 2006

 

Zune is doomed


Microsoft's confirmation of its development of an iPod competitor is doomed, and is expected to alienate the company's partners. Microsoft's new "Zune" player -- which was announced July 21st and is expected to launch some time this year -- will turn the company's partners into competitors, according to one News.com blogger. Wired News reports that Microsoft's new "iPod killer" is doomed, citing Apple's hefty lead in the market as well as the Redmond-based company's "typically tone deaf approach to usability." Based on Microsoft's hardware track record -- with the exception of the Xbox 360 -- "it will be a miracle if [Zune's] next nickname isn't the 'iClod' (iPod + clone + awful)."


by MacNN Staff

Post tools:

TAGS :

 industry, digital music/video

Related Articles

Recent Articles

toggle

Comments

  1. jasong

    Mac Elite

    Joined: Mar 2000

    0
    07/24, 01:17pm | report spam | Reply |

    Let's see . . .

    It doesn't work with MS existing service which it will be sold alongside and coexist with. It's major feature is free playlist sharing, which doesn't sound at all like iMix.

    I smell a home run in the making . . .

  1. kw99

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Nov 2001

    0
    07/24, 02:29pm | report spam | Reply |

    Exactly...

    The folks who have not yet bought an iPod will be waiting for this Zune device, instead of picking up one of the "partner" devices, because the perception will be that Microsoft has the best shot at building an "iPod killer." But when that devices fails to materialize "this year," or it turns out to be the "iClod," it will have only served to hurt Microsoft's partners through lost or delayed sales. And the ongoing rumors will only push Apple to innovate faster. As an Apple customer, there is no downside.

  1. just a poster

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jun 2004

    0
    07/24, 03:24pm | report spam | Reply |

    A good read

    "The Microsoft Invincibility Myth"

    http://www.roughlydrafted.com/RD/Home/C91CCB7E-A668-4B0A-ABB6-98840AC8A317.html

    BTW, in my opinion everything Microsoft makes is a piece of c***. The world would be a better place if corporations that made such low-quality products were punished instead of rewarded.

  1. ZinkDifferent

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Jan 2005

    0
    07/24, 03:30pm | report spam | Reply |

    Napster?

    It will be interesting how the likes of Napster will spin this, though if the Zune will also be able to work with Plays4Sure devices (and why shouldn't it), then at least those kind of partners won't be too alienated - though MS' service will still cannibalize these partners' business models...

  1. testudo

    Forum Regular

    Joined: Aug 2001

    0
    07/24, 03:30pm | report spam | Reply |

    Re: a good read

    BTW, in my opinion everything Microsoft makes is a piece of c***. The world would be a better place if corporations that made such low-quality products were punished instead of rewarded.



    Oh boy, another blog story. And who said MS was invincible? I don't know anyone who's said that for like 5 years (which, of course, MS themselves also argued when they were up on those monopoly charges).

    And this is only going to alienate their partners if they don't make it all interoperable. Why should Creative care if MS comes out with a music player? No one cares that they sell keyboards and mice and such.

  1. Elektrix

    Dedicated MacNNer

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    07/25, 08:11am | report spam | Reply |

    PlaysForSure

    True, there is no logical reason for the Zune to not at least be able to play PlaysForSure music, but all of the stories about this so far indicate that MS is setting up this whole Zune thing (the hardware, the music store, etc.) as a completely new and separate experience to come as close as possible to creating the same highly integrated experience that iPod users get. Now, just because the iPod can't play stuff from other DRM music stores doesn't necessarily mean that MS needs to copy that particular thing, but it sounds like that's what they might be doing.

  1. climacs

    Fresh-Faced Recruit

    Joined: Sep 2001

    0
    07/25, 12:19pm | report spam | Reply |

    3rd verse same as the 1st

    MS is setting up this whole Zune thing (the hardware, the music store, etc.) as a completely new and separate experience to come as close as possible to creating the same highly integrated experience that iPod users get.

    Once again, MS copies Apple... poorly, and late.

    How's Vista coming, by the way?

  1. bleee

    Mac Enthusiast

    Joined: Mar 2002

    0
    07/26, 09:14am | report spam | Reply |

    "alienate partners"

    It may piss off partners but... this is also Microsofts way of saying to it's partners "Look we gave you all a chance, but all of you dropped the ball and you've left us no choice but to step in"

Login Here

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

 
close
Photo
toggle

Network Headlines

toggle

Most Popular

MacNN Sponsor

Recent Reviews

MaxUpgrades MaxConnect for 2006-2008 Mac Pro

Nobody outside of Cupertino's privileged bunch knows the future of the Mac Pro line for sure. Despite Apple's reluctance to tell us wh ...

Brother HL-3170CDW LED Printer

We've mentioned before that we are far from a paperless society. For now, at least, there are tasks that require a piece of paper for ...

HTC One

It is hard to overstate just how critically important the HTC One is to the Taiwanese company’s fortunes. Despite its alarming decline ...

toggle

Most Commented

 

Popular News