Microsoft's Zune To Rival Apple's Ipod

[JField 0]

Microsoft to launch Zune!

After trying for years to compete with the iPod through an array of partners, Microsoft confirmed Friday that it plans to directly go after Apple Computer with its own rival, Zune.
Confirming weeks of rumors, Microsoft said it will launch music software and players under the Zune brand, though the software maker left plenty unsaid in its confirmation.

"Today we confirmed a new music and entertainment project called Zune," Chris Stephenson, a general manager of marketing for the software maker, said in a statement. "Under the Zune brand, we will deliver a family of hardware and software products, the first of which will be available this year."
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[amc 0]

Sound's pretty interesting, although I have an iPod, I'd have to say Microsoft pretty much owns Apple with most products. Considering Mac's are sold much less than Windows OS'es ;P

[eternal 0]

One of the biggest problems with competing with Apple is the huge market share they now own over the mp3 player industry. It extends so far that the average person asks if someone has an ipod, its like a fashion symbol now. Apple marketing did a very good job on that.It will be interesting to see how microsoft go with this...-eternal

[Dagoth Nereviar 0]

Wooo! Finally, I can support Microsoft AND listen to music :)Link to the original one?

[serverph 0]

doesn't microsoft/bill gates own a part of apple already? (hence in perspective, microsoft/bill gates earns also from apple's iPod sales?) oh well, business is business. just let them show how innovative they can get with this one, more than that of iPod.

 

and ZUNE? oh please! can't the microsoft team work out a better name? sounds like a *BLEEP*ized spelling of SONY. what were they thinking?

 

(not exactly the one above, but for a related article, check this.)

[Plenoptic 0]

lol Ya I think I saw Bill Gates in an Ipod/Mac commercial (or who was supposed to be Bill Gates) I think that Zune really isn't a good name but if they compete PC wise why not music player wise. I think they should just incorporate Zune with Windows Media Player in fact I think WMP would have been a better name but you know it is unique I guess. lol I don't know all the details of this player and even though I don't have an Ipod I think Zune is gonna have to come out with something rather advanced because Mac has already taken off with this one.

[serverph 0]

ZUNE is not that quite unique. top link on google search for ZUNE is a brazilian jeans brand. hope microsoft did their research for the brand name first (oh, microsofters do use google? ), or perhaps they can buy it from the brazilian trademark owner for lots of cash (much cheaper than a lengthy court battle, methinks... if they really want to retaine ZUNE)

[terminal2k 0]

but ipods suck, there are plenty of better media playing devices out there, and ones that don't rely on such shoddy software like itunes. and they can be cheaper too.but microsoft will probarbly ruin this anyway, just like they end up ruining most things they get involved with.

Edited July 23, 2006 by terminal2k (see edit history)

[uiop 0]

Finally! Hopefully soon I can quit hearing about how Apple has better MP3 players.I'm not a huge music fan, but I bet that Microsoft's Zune will be much better than the iPod.

[dontmaimyourself 0]

Well, i wouldn't count on there being a massive shift away from Apple any time soon just because Microsoft step up for a fight. Granted MS do have the money and the skills to pull it off, and if they can get this thing tied in to Vista, and the 360 (Windows Live Anywhere?) than that will definitely be an angle Apple will have great difficulty in responding to, what with the massively smaller hardware support for Macs. However the simple truth is that Apple have too great a lead for a real challenge (even if the iPod isn't the best MP3 player around, IMHO Creative make far better players) and Apple have pretty much everyone cornered when it comes to content (again IMHO iTunes ain't great either). And due to Microsoft's classic failure to see an emerging market quickly and apply the classic MS stranglehold (see: OS, Browser, Office Suite) this thing has a way to go yet. PS what was wrong with the name Argo? why would anyone call anything Zune?

[Cerebral Stasis 0]

I never got into the whole iPod frenzy. I still just see them as overrated mp3 players with a specific visual style, backed by a very large computer company. The same will be the case here. If I want an mp3 player, I will go for something cheaper than a product backed by a large, expensive computer company.

[Plenoptic 0]

I never got into the whole iPod frenzy. I still just see them as overrated mp3 players with a specific visual style, backed by a very large computer company. The same will be the case here. If I want an mp3 player, I will go for something cheaper than a product backed by a large, expensive computer company.

Well you know I feel the same way. I don't see a point in buying an Ipod when I can get the same thing. That is what my brother did. I figured if I ever need one I will buy one but I can just stick with a CD player. Even cheaper except for buying the CDs to burn music.

[Cerebral Stasis 0]

Well I can see the advantage of being able to plug a small device into one's USB port and then transfer music quickly and directly, but who the manufacturer is and what the device looks like doesn't matter to me - it's all about whether or not it works well.

[neuspadrin 0]

Bah, I hate Ipods. They are overpriced, lack many features, and when they first came out they had HORRIBLE battery life. Go Creative, their Zen line is awesome. I've been using creative mp3 players for quite some time now, and I've loved them so much better then an Ipod.Also with a Zen you don't have to use Itunes to manage all your music and limited to just the codecs apple likes. You can use pretty much whatever. A lot of programs out there support Creative mp3 players. And creative accepts more codecs last I checked. Also I'm not sure if Ipods allow this now, but I know they didnt before, but a Creative has a data section of its drive that allows you to put whatever you want on it. Its my backup drive for emergencies and extra storage. And also, creatives are generally A LOT cheaper then Ipods... plus everyone has an Ipod, be different, dont follow the "trend" of getting Ipod's.

[Goosestaf 0]

its only a name people
ipods a dumb name,
googles a dumb name
does it matter no
you'll learn to love it.

but getting to what matters. . . . i .e the actual product.
it promises quite alot, and i'm waiting untill release to see if it delivers,
but i've been looking for a new mp3 player/pmp and have a few hopes on this.

check this out though:
CLICKY
viral marketing FTW