Why Microsoft's Zune Scares Apple to the Core

BoredStiff writes "Computerworld has an article examining Microsoft's plans to launch a competitor to the Apple iPod, the wireless media player called Zune. The article lists five reasons why Apple may fear the Zune, and why it won't be as easily smacked down as the dozens of mp3 players before it have been. The Zune isn't just a music player, the article argues. Think of it as a portable, wireless, hardware version of MySpace. With the Zune, Microsoft is trying to launch a consumer media 'perfect storm.'" From the article: "Microsoft will make the movement of media between Windows, Soapbox and the Zune natural and seamless. The Zune interface is just like a miniature version of the Windows Media Center user interface and is very similar to some elements of Vista. Apple fans are overconfident in the iPod because Apple once commanded 92% of music player market share, a number that has since fallen to around 70%. About 30 million people own iPods. But Microsoft owns more than 90% of the worldwide operating systems market (compared with Apple's roughly 5%), representing some 300 million people. The company expects to have 200 million Vista users within two years."

Comments

Limited playback

[nizo]

Best of all, Zunes will be able to connect to one another wirelessly, letting people share songs (as well as playlists and .jpg photos) with up to four other simultaneous Zune users within Wi-Fi range. Recipients of these shared songs will be able to play them three times for up to three days free, after which they'll have to pay to listen. Songs received wirelessly can't be shared.

While playing songs you got from other Zune users may be time limited, my guess is that if this is a typical Microsoft product, the goatse image you picked up from simply walking down the street will be nearly impossible to get rid of (both from your brain and your new Zune).

Re:Limited playback

[caffeinatedOnline]

You don't need to sell your sole to Microsoft just to share good music

That's good to hear, cause as far as I am concerned MS is not getting any of my fish!!

Re:Limited playback

[smidget2k4]

I was really confused as to why they would want the bottom of my shoe. I guess fish makes more sense. Learning something new on /. every day!

Re:Limited playback

[twofidyKidd]

"These have absolutely nothing to do with each other. It doesn't matter that Microsoft owns more than 90% of the worldwide operating systems market. That hasn't stopped the iPod in the last five years, despite a long series of "PlaysForSure" devices."

I completely agree with this. That would be like saying that no one should be using Adobe's Photoshop because Windows ships with MS Paint.

Re:Limited playback

[lixee]

It was Paul Simon's girlfriend shoe they were interrested in, not yours.

Zune Scares Apple to the Core???

[Jhon]

Think of it as a portable, wireless, hardware version of MySpace.

Forget Apple -- this is reason enough for Zune to scare ME to the core!

a good comparison... not really

[macadamia_harold]

The Zune isn't just a music player, the article argues. Think of it as a portable, wireless, hardware version of MySpace.

You mean it looks like crap and is completely inane? I'll pass, thanks.

Out Of Business

[sycodon]

So I guess Apple will again be out of business by the end of the year. I bet they get tired of packing and unpacking.

Sidescreen != Widescreen

[camt]

FTFA: More importantly, it can be turned sideways for a wide-screen movie experience, which is vastly superior to watching movies on an iPod.

You can just turn screens sideways for wide-screen movie experience? Why didn't anyone tell me?! Boy did I ever get snookered when I bought my widescreen HDTV. I could have just turned my old TV sideways!

-- Cameron

Huh...

[Quiet_Desperation]

Think of it as a portable, wireless, hardware version of MySpace.

Well, that doesn't fill me with the "I must go out and get one right now" feeling so much as a "Run screaming with vengance into the night to fomemt up counter-revolutionary terror" feeling.

It could just be me, though.

Re:wireless fraud

[dkleinsc]

In response to your request for wordplays:

That's no Zune... it's a Play Station.

There is no spoon. There is only Zune.

and finally,
Windows Vista will be out real Zune now.

Thank you, thank you I'll be here all week.

Re:Antitrust ?

[0racle]

How dare they offer new products!

I can't wait for the superbowl commercial

[movienut]

Z: "Hi i'm a Zune"
I: "And i'm an Ipod"
Z: "Nice to meet you"
I: "Hey i've been meaning to ask you.."
Z: "Shoot."
I: "Whats with the brown color?"
-awkward silence, toilet flushing in the background-
I: "Ohh..... duuuuuuuuuude..."

Re:Nothing new here, mostly the old FUD and some i

[generic-man]

The Zoo-nee competes with the ipp-oh-dee, which synchronizes with it-you-ness that runs on macko-sex on my pee-ow-urb-ook.

Re:*snicker*

[bitt3n]

you are neglecting that many users may use one installation of Vista. For example, on account of a rather freewheeling philosophy toward downloading warez, my roommate's WinXP box now has at least 26 different users, most of whom appear to live in Ukraine.

Re:ZUNE: nothing to see, move along.

[TeknoHog]

Take an old PC and put an AM radio inside the case sometime. Odds are pretty good that you will pick up a lot of interference.

Odds are that the only kind of music you can receive inside a Faraday Cage is John Cage ;)

Re:How does the OS matter?

[Murphy Murph]

They talk as if Microsoft having 90% of worldwide OS market is the reason why Zune beats iPod.But does it matter much? iPod has 70% of the mp3 market anyway even without the 90% OS share that microsoft enjoys

I think you are underestimating what Microsoft can do with that 90% (desktop) OS market share.
If Apple was able to capture 70% of the digital audio player market by leveraging their 5% OS market share, by my calculations Microsoft should be able to capture 1260% of all DAP sales within five years.

Re:Fear? Ha!

[Johnzo]

Hoo boy, yeah. You could give QuickBasic to a syphillitic chimpanzee and he'd come up with something slicker than Windows Media Player.

And its made by microsoft

[AntiTrust, AntiMicro]

I think this quote from The Tao of Programming sums up my feelings about Zune.

The Magician of the Ivory Tower brought his latest invention for the master programmer to examine. The magician wheeled a large black box into the master's office while the master waited in silence.

``This is an integrated, distributed, general-purpose workstation,'' began the magician, ``ergonomically designed with a proprietary operating system, sixth generation languages, and multiple state of the art user interfaces. It took my assistants several hundred man years to construct. Is it not amazing?''

The master raised his eyebrows slightly. ``It is indeed amazing,'' he said.

``Corporate Headquarters has commanded,'' continued the magician, ``that everyone use this workstation as a platform for new programs. Do you agree to this?''

``Certainly,'' replied the master, ``I will have it transported to the data center immediately!'' And the magician returned to his tower, well pleased.

Several days later, a novice wandered into the office of the master programmer and said, ``I cannot find the listing for my new program. Do you know where it might be?''

``Yes,'' replied the master, ``the listings are stacked on the platform in the data center.''

.....The Tao of Programming