Update: Oreo, Dog Thrown Off Building, Was Euthanized
People Wait For Tomorrow's UWS Apple Store Opening
Emily and Sarah Kunstler, Filmmakers
Cheap Chicken Wing Deal Ruined by Gunslinging Teens
FIT Students Busted For Drug Dealing Get Probation
After giving Apple's iPod a five year lead, Microsoft is finally set to officially launch its comeback response in the form of Zune. But is it too late to eat into Apple's market share? We spent a few hours with the device last week, here are our findings.
A digital music player at its heart, it contains a 30GB hard drive, a beautiful three inch screen, and an FM radio. It also can play videos and display photos. Part of this launch is also a software component called Zune and its Zune Marketplace. (confused yet?) Think of it similarly to iTunes and the iTunes Store, as a self contained one stop shop and organizer for your digital music content.
The device itself has some nice touches that help it shine above its competitors. Hearing all the complaints about iPod, Microsoft has decided not to go the shiny route that most everyone else has emulated. Instead, the Zune has what they call a "double shot" finish: A plastic solid color body, with a rubberized translucent exterior. This material will do well against scratches and scrapes (and if you believe the marketing hype will only look better with age). When we first saw a photograph of the brown model online, we were turned off, but in person, it's very alluring. The user interface itself is very slick. Three-dimensional transitions and flashiness on top of background images that you can customize, really sets itself apart from the others. Even the headphones were thought about, as they attach to each other by magnets to help prevent the dreaded cord tangle.
However, the functionality of the interface, doesn't live up to its competitors. It often felt like it took twice as many clicks to get to the music. The navigation buttons themselves, while simple when you've been using the device for a while, are difficult on first use. The circle at the bottom of Zune, is not the scroll wheel you are familiar with, but a directional pad with NESW access points. But its round design kept making us want to spin it like a scroll wheel. It's obvious from this design execution that they wanted to connect Zune to iPod, but it just seems silly to do this when the functionality isn't the same.
The one thing that that Microsoft is trying to push the envelope with is the Zune's social sharing aspect. In fact, that's key to their marketing strategy of "Welcome to the Social." Each Zune device has an 802.11 wireless capability that will allow you to send a song to a friend (you can't, however, communicate with your computer through the wireless to sync). It can be a DRM (digital rights managed) file, a standard MP3, or a set of photos. (Videos aren't transferable at this time) You can transfer entire albums to your friends, or strangers you have just met with nothing more than two Zune's.
There is some down side to the sharing, though. While standard mp3's that you have been 'collecting' for years will play for ever, those DRM'd files that you have bought from the marketplace will only be allowed to remain playable for three times or for three days - whichever comes first. Once you have reached that limit for that particular song, you cannot get that song again from the same friend, you would need someone else to send it to you.
And on the subject of DRM in the time between iPod's launch and Zune, Microsoft helped competitors to iPod develop the Microsoft Play for Sure DRM. This system, would allow multiple devices to be compatible from multiple online music sources. Devices from companies like Toshiba, Creative, Samsung and content from places like Napster, Urge, and Musicmatch. However if you have any of this content, it wont work on Zune. For Zune, Microsoft decided to go for a closed format DRM so that they could, according to them, help control the quality of the content on the device, so that you could be sure that it would work. Basically, Microsoft now owns and operates two DRM technologies, neither of which is compatible with the other. This is funny, because Apple was given a lot of flack from Microsoft and others and still gets occasional jabs about having a closed format. But now Microsoft, as least with the Zune, seems to be all about closed format.
Disclaimer: We're Apple fans at heart. But that doesn't mean that we weren't excited by Zune. Sure, we naturally resist Microsoft whenever possible, but any challenge that might actually kick Apple to innovate again with iPod would be welcomed. It's just doubtful that the Zune is to be feared. Yes, it's a version one release, but they had years of experience to base it on. Its Zune software doesn't support common things like Podcasts, and although the screen is 3 inches vs the iPods 2.5, the resolution (320x240) is the same, so that just equals larger pixels. We really don't think that Zune is innovative enough to outseat the iPod in any way.
Bottom line: Nice try, Microsoft, but you're late to the party and the gifts you've brought are kind of lame.
The Zune will be on sale tomorrow; its retail price is $249.99
Photograph of Chris Pirillo at the Music/Tech Summit from penmachine's Flickr.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
Microsoft pilfering ideas from Apple? How 1980s.
Oh, and 90s.
Actually, what am I saying? Vista is OSX in a leaky diaper.
It will most likely be another high quality, bug free Microsoft product.
The real question is can I change the battery myself without sending it back to the manufacturer or am I supposed to throw it out every 18 months?
Toby, did you see the Error Image MS picked??
;)
Neil, nice write up.
Zune = the future. Just watch. It'll change the way we interact. Or at least, force its competitors into incorporating the whole portable media sharing into their own products. Hence the change.
its = possession
it's = contraction
#6 is absolutely right and thank god we have him to correct us. Let me give an example, for further clarification.
"It's a shame that guy, adamks, has nothing better to do. This post communicates effectively despite its minor typographical errors."
Not supporting podcasts is enough reason to buy it. Like most people need that stupid functionality.
I kinda like the brown color. Very understated.
Nothing more irrating than podcasts and podcasters.
I can see them now, buying the DIY podcast kit.
I never got DRM. You actually pay for something that you have limited use for but if you steal it then you have unlimited use. Way to stick it to consumers.
Of course, if you buy a Zune you are also paying a portion directly to Universal Music Group, who thinks you owe them some extra cash for not downloading enough shitty DRMed tracks.
Personally, I have near zero interest in the Zune. I have enough problems using windows as it is ! I find that it's easier to use my Mac programming and a whole lot less of a hassle (No bugs to deal with)then Windows . I've had no problems with my ipod. When apple found out there was a bug in there systems they correcred the problem right away . I wonder what Microsoft will do when they get there first virus . My stock of faith in them has dwindled to all time lows . Good luck .
fvcking apple fanbois...
rip on MS for not having a scrollwheel, but if they add it, they would be ripping off the iPod.
Do you re-read your posts after you write them? Learn the difference between "its" and "it's" and delete all of your extra commas!
#14 see number #7
#13 He's not ripping on Microsoft for not having a scroll wheel. He's ripping on them designing the control to resemble a scroll wheel when it does anything but behave as one. It's confusing in its design.
I think it has potential as a decent player, but seems a little Odd for them to get in the game so late.
Also, Isn't the ability to Share MP3's copyright violation? Seems an odd position for them to take...
At the very least, hopefully this will offer some competition to Apple and force them to produce a better-quality product. I know very few people who have managed to keep their iPods working for more than a year. It's obscene when you consider how much they cost that they break so easily.
I think the part about sharing MP3s is an error -- every other report I've seen has said that even if you have a file in MP3 format, when you do the wireless sharing it's sent with DRM and the three-day/three-play restriction. That's very different from what's described in this article.
One of the major criticisms of this has been that even if you own the music (say, it's a recording of your own band) you can't effectively share it with other people using this system. They'll just get the DRM-limited version and when it expires, there's no place they can download it from unless the Zune store sells it.
To sweet naive K,
Understand that there are more solutions in the entire world of ergonomics than 1) a scroll wheel and 2) *not* a scroll wheel, you dolt.
Just as Windows was a jury-rigged hack of the MacOS, this Zune p.o.s. looking thing is attempting to mimic the iPod but will similarly perform like an also-ran.
MS should stick with what it's actually good at: X-Box development and application development. They can't get an OS right and most other non-application ventures have produced less than impressive results.
Does anyone know the answer to the battery question in #3? I would buy a Zune for that reason alone. My iPod as of right now is a $250 paperweight.
#20 (formally #3) - The device's battery is not user replaceable, like the iPod. When I asked the MS rep about replacement they said that they are aware of Apples PR issues with the iPod, but they haven't taken a stance on it yet as it's too early in the products lifecycle that battery concerns should be an issue.
#18 - The same MS rep said that any NON DRM files that you transfer will remain DRM free. So you can transfer MP3s without restrictions. (will check my audio tape to confirm). I did ask them about music concerts, like why not use the wifi in zune to get free music from the show you just saw at the venue. They said that's something their thinking about, but nothing to talk about yet.
Neil, I'd check that really carefully.. it's directly opposite to what David Pogue wrote in his review of the product, and everything else I've seen written prior to release. It seems to me that if you could actually share MP3s without the DRM, that would be the single biggest feature, and Microsoft (and everyone else) would be yelling and screaming about it. Not to mention the music industry absolutely going nuts over what would essentially be a handheld version of Napster (the old one.)
To tell everyone the truth, I actually want to get a Zune. I mean, most people here love iPods, but for people who don't have iPods its worth looking at other brands. Now, my mom is having doubts on whether I should buy an iPod or a Zune because Zune just came out and iPods already have most of the market for MP3 players. My friends told me that iPods break really easily, which is why most of them bought the extra warranty. But I don't know what I should buy, I'm liking the Zune because its unique, while there are so many iPods out there. Can someone give me advice for what I should buy, a Zune or an iPod?
Peace out!!!
Evangeline
Evangeline, there have been alternatives to the iPod out for quite some time. Some of which are, to me, in more interesting form factors and color schemes. Frankly I'm a little tired of the brushed metal theme.
That said, the most important features for an mp3 player are:
1) ability to navigate through your music files quickly on the mp3 device
2) ability to organize music flexibly and painlessly on your host source
As for 1): No other mp3 player I've seen or tested is as easy to use as the iPod. The click wheel makes all the difference. Perhaps some enterprising company will come along and build a better mousetrap, but that company isn't Microsoft.
Regarding 2): as capacity on these devices increases, a good content management system becomes exponentially more important. iTunes is unbeatable.
As a long-time Mac user, I'm not particularly comfortable running with the herd; however, I wouldn't use any other mp3 player currently on the market.
It's VERY EASY to replace the batteries of an iPod just buy a kit at compUSA or order one from NewerTech or amazon. I've seen even non-techie oafs do it - then you'll have another couple of years with your iPod.
This goes to #14:-> " " " " " " " " " " " " " " "" "'{" "' ''''" '"'"'' "' ' " . Did I use my ("),and(')'s in the correct line of written "Speech" ? Is "It" ok by your standards ? I hope that I don't make any more typo's here at "The Gothamist", If I do, I will expect you to point them out for me so that I may correct them .
love that zune, love it so much
in repsonse to no.24:
actually the ipod isn't the best product out there in terms of being easy to use. i had one and i didn't like the way it worked. the scroll would often times over shoot you past where you wanted to go and besides it never felt comfortable using.
as for the itunes being unbeatable, most record stores beat itunes for selection. even sam goody's. as for content management the itunes sucks in my opinion. in fact when i got my ipod i had to use musicmatch as that is what came with it. i couldn't use itunes. i never liked the way itunes was setup or how it worked. and don't get me started on it's musical content.
i have had 3 mp3 players: a rio, a zune, and a ipod. both the rio and the zune outperformed my ipod. hell i washed my rio in the washing machine and it still worked. i've been as careful as i can with my ipod and it looks like it's gone three rounds with a young mike tyson. the zune so far has held up pretty well so far.
for all the complaints about microsoft and it's shitty software/devices i haven't had hardly a lick of trouble with microsoft. yet i have consistently have had trouble with my ipod and with the itunes. apple is batting too well with me. i think i'll pass on the apple. besides i don't want technology devices/mp3 players that are "trendy".