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08/30/2006, 3:55pm, EDT

Wednesday, August 30th

Zune is 'bulky', 'underwhelming' -- analyst

American Technology Research analyst Shawn Wu believes the upcoming Zune digital media player may be "more bark than bite." After recent leaks on both the look and specifications of the Zune player, Wu said the firm was "underwhelmed by the much-hyped Zune device." The new player will be developed by Toshiba, and, for the majority of the technology, is simply a repackaged Gigabeat player, according to Wu note's to clients: "At this point, we believe this could end up being another classic case of overpromising and underdelivering," Wu wrote. The player's focal point is the clickwheel-like apparatus for controlling the playe; however, further leaks on the player's controls system revealed that the click-wheel look-alike is nothing more than a four-way direction pad. "We find it interesting that [Microsoft] also opted to replicate an 'iPod'-look like most others, but failed in replicating one key piece of the unique iPod experience with its scrolling click-wheel and powerful database engine." The analyst goes on to say that the overall "bulky" appearance of Zune does not match the iPod's aesthetics.

"Replicating the ease-of-use and experience of iPod + iTunes is a difficult endeavor, not to mention likely to infringe on [Apple]'s patents," wrote Wu. The key feature which draws many users to iPod and turns them off of other players is, reportedly, its simplicity and easy of use -- some believe this may not be Microsoft's strong point.

Features may hinder function, misses "sweet spot"

Not only may Microsoft destroy simplicity in a quest to add more features, it may also sacrifice basic functionality. "While we find WiFi a nice feature, we believe that WiFi power requirements are still quite steep and so we are skeptical that battery life will be strong on Zune," explained Wu who went on to explain that reports indicated only 3-6 hours per charge on the Zune device is likely.

Microsoft's biggest mistake may not be in the Zune's faults, however, explains Wu: "While this makes sense to aim after [Apple]'s dominant vPod, we believe Microsoft is leaving out about 75-80 percent of the market opportunity in the midrange and low-end that is currently dominated by iPod nano, iPod shuffle[...]"

Wu likened the iPod to the Sony Walkman of decades past which survived despite many self-proclaimed Walkman-killers. "We believe iPod = Walkman for the 2000s," explained Wu, naming key three advantages Apple has; 1) a healthy ecosystem; 2) large installed base; and 3) over 1 billion songs and 30 million videos already sold through the iTunes Music Store.

Microsoft bites its own partners, will see losses

In addition to the 'underwhelming' specs, the firm does not foresee Microsoft's Zune media player having much success against Apple's iPod player. The player, Wu writes, is more likely to impact its previous allies under the PlayForSure DRM scheme. In the analyst note, Wu explained that its success will likely come at an expense and be limited by its lack of differentiation compared to other Windows players.

"[Microsoft] Competing with Its Partners Akin to a Civil War," explained Wu. Recent rumblings have indicated that not only may Microsoft offering free iTunes-to-Zune song "conversions" in an effort to sway buyers, it may also offer free PlayForSure (incompatible with Zune) "conversions" to customers. With moves like this in the midst, Wu believes that Microsoft's action could also make
partners think twice before deciding to work with the software-giant on future projects.

On a closing note, Wu likened the new Zune media player to Microsoft's Xbox gaming console. "While most view the Xbox-Xbox 360 effort as a success, we believe it has been a failure financially, costing [Microsoft] and shareholders billions in losses," explained Wu, "We believe [Microsoft]'s effort in portable media will likely result in similar economics."


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Analyst knows jack
0
08/30, 6:43pm, EDT
What the hell is this analyst talking about? Give me a break! I can't believe this analyst talking about a player thats not even out yet! I can't believe the gall of this analyst, analyst, analyst, analyst, analyst,analyst,analyst,analyst, analyst.

Join me mac zealots and smite this analyst for analysing too much into this!
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Dec 2003
User is offline
never saw that coming
0
08/30, 7:51pm, EDT
"Not only may Microsoft destroy simplicity in a quest to add more features, it may also sacrifice basic functionality."

"We find it interesting that [Microsoft] also opted to replicate an 'iPod'-look like most others, but failed in replicating one key piece of the unique iPod experience with its scrolling click-wheel and powerful database engine." The analyst goes on to say that the overall "bulky" appearance of Zune does not match the iPod's aesthetics."

in other earth-shattering news... water is wet. Bush is an idiot. Bears shit in the woods.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Sep 2001
User is offline
give me a d-pad any day
0
08/30, 8:21pm, EDT
the click wheel is cute, but it's damnable finicky to use. give me a d-pad interface any day. my own ipod - a shuffle - uses a d-pad, so obviously apple isn't completely married to its annoying trademark
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Jan 2005
User is offline
What did you expect!
0
08/30, 9:17pm, EDT
Its a Microsoft product! by definition Microsoft = SHIT! No surprise there.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Apr 2005
User is offline
re:give me a d-pad any da
0
08/30, 9:49pm, EDT
Do you have sausage fingers or something? "The fingers you have used to dial are too fat. To obtain a special dialing wand, please mash the click wheel with your palm now." =P
Mac Enthusiast
Joined Mar 2002
User is offline
Its a analyst
0
08/31, 6:30am, EDT
but i have exactly the same feeling about the Zune and X-box, a loss leader and a stab in the back to its "sucks for sure" Partners.

Samsung (and Apple) have the menu patent and the scroll wheel is also safe so luckily MS can't copy everything from the iPod.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
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re: analyst knows jack
0
08/31, 9:03am, EDT
Even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while. Analyst Shawn Wu has found a very large acorn.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Feb 2000
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speculation kills
0
08/31, 10:07am, EDT
first lets try to imagine a world with no electric

then a world with no food

perhaps one with no oil or war or political dogma

wait now lets analyse the results of the future iPod market

speculation kills
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2003
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Zune..
0
08/31, 1:06pm, EDT
Zune sounds like some slapped-together name. Like "vista". I had an old dodge colt vista before. It was just bigger than the dodge colt. Vista, in my humble opinion, is the death rattle of an aging ailing slowly imploding msft. A msft that is unable to survive in an age of opened minded open eyed consumers looking for something new and different, from people ho get what makes a product or service not just good, but great. Zune will fail, or maybe it will catch on a tiny but after huge losses in promotions similar to xbox. I could go on forever about this, but i'm not. People are getting smarter, and msft is getting stupid.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Mar 2003
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Re: zune
0
08/31, 1:12pm, EDT
Zune sounds like some slapped-together name.

Gee, and I recall when people complained about iPod. "What do they mean by 'pod'" and all that (people even coming up with acronyms and stuff).

Then again, I also recall a lot of people railing on apple against the ipod, saying they were stupid to get in a market they didn't have experience in, they should concentrate on computers, they were too far behind and the ipod was too expensive, etc, etc, etc.

Of course, I'm sure everyone here was 100% behind the iPod and saw it as a market-dominating device the moment it was released. It was all the posters who used to converse on these boards that denounced it.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
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