Obama's "ZuneGate"

theodp writes "Barack Obama supporters were left shaking their heads after a report surfaced that the president-elect was using a Zune at the gym instead of an iPod. So why would Mac-user Obama be Zune-ing out? Could be one of those special-edition preloaded Zunes that Microsoft bestowed on Democratic National Convention attendees, suggests TechFlash, nixing the idea that the soon-to-be Leader of the Free World would waste time loading Parallels or Boot Camp in OS X just to use a Zune."

Comments

so?

[n3tcat]

Here in Germany I see more no-name mp3 players than ipod and zune COMBINED. What does it matter if he's an apple or windows guy? It's not linux, so why does it matter?

Re:so?

[theaveng]

You took the words right out of my mouth.

An MP3 player is an MP3 player - you don't have to use an Ipod. Me, I use an Insignia that I got for free from Best Buy and it works just fine.

Re:so?

[bobmarleypeople]

I can see CNN now
Our top story tonight... Obama: To Apple or not to Apple, that is the question posed to our team as rumours surface about major Mac user President Obama using a Microsoft Zune to listen to his music. We bring you the detailed analysis after this commercial for iPods.
.........actually, I can't see that happening. Give us some real news please!

Re:so?

[BobReturns]

Exactly, this hardly seems like an issue that matters to the electorate - or more accurately that should matter to the electorate. Maybe we should be more interested in policy?

Re:so?

[BrentH]

Apart from the fact that iPod bought after summer 2007 can't load Rockbox, there's a bazzilion players out there that play Ogg Vorbis and FLAC right out of the box. If these free codecs are so important to you, why not buy the device that actually already does what you want (and support the kind of manufacturer that actually builds these players)? BTW, the Zune works fine with Songbird, so the Zune can be used natively on any platform.

Re:so?

[McFadden]

That doesn't take anything away from the fact that the vast majority of people probably use them to play mp3s and frankly couldn't give a stuff about anything you've just mentioned.

Re:so?

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

Sometimes you just want to listen to some music while you're working out.

I thought this was /. not TMZ.

In other news...

[dreamchaser]

Obama is said to have been wearing Fruit of the Loom underwear instead of his usual Hanes...

WTF...*this* is news for nerds? I could care less what any politician uses to listen to his or her music.

Re:In other news...

[thesolo]

Thank you. Not only is this not "News For Nerds", it's not news, period.

If the presidential choice of MP3 player seriously matters to you, kill yourself. With all of the problems facing the US and indeed the entire planet, this is the most trivial of matters, and people reporting on it should be ashamed of themselves.

Next we'll be hearing about Obama getting a hangnail. Just shut up.

God help us.

[msgmonkey]

Maybe he cares more about the music he's listening to rather than the make/model of the player.

If I did n't have an mp3 player and got a zune for free, as long as it played my mp3s correctly I'd use it. Sometimes I wonder if Apple is a religion or just some company that makes tech products.

Re:God help us.

[Threni]

Maybe he's found out about how Apple make it impossible to use third party hardware with the iPod classic, or maybe he got one of the crippled EU ones with a volume limiter which precludes the use of a lot of high end headphones. Or maybe he doesn't like the fact many iPods have problems with batteries, or the effort Apple goes to to thwart people's attempts to use their own software or firmware in the Apple so you can't play ogg/flac etc format files. Apple's successes with the iPod are chiefly marketing related, not technological. They're like Microsoft - they adopt other people's work and stick it inside fancy cases. There's no reason why Obama should use Apple instead of Microsoft stuff - it means nothing.

Reality Check Needed

[Macthorpe]

I can't believe that some people care more about which MP3 player he uses than what policies he's going to implement.

Can I get a reality check to aisle S, please?

Jesus...

[skam240]

Holy Christ! Our president to be is using "such and such" as his mp3 player!? Holy Christ! Some one please tell me what popular Hollywood celebrity is dating what Hollywood celebrity right now as well because this is all totally fucking relevant to my life!

Great

[Anonymous Coward]

As MAC user with a Zune, he will be able to experience the true value of DRM. I hope he'll remember that the next time some DRM lobbyist asks for a favor...

Re:Great

[je ne sais quoi]

Mod parent up! Except for the MAC part instead of Mac (a MAC is a serial number for an internet card, a Mac is a computer), this post is spot on. I have no idea what the DRM on Windows and Zune is, but I hope that he has tried moving some of his files from his iPod to his Zune and discovered iTunes won't let you do it, or he has run afoul of the "this computer is not authorized" crap. Let's also hope that he's the kind of guy who can spot when there something wrong and actually gives a shit.

I'm pretty sure our current president has had these issues, he's an ipod listener, but I also guess he probably has his staff do everything for him and doesn't really care if his staff have to infringe on copyright while they are working on his behalf or violate the terms of the license to listen to the songs by moving them amongst un-authorized computers.

Watergate is a God Damned Hotel You Turds

[Spasmodeus]

I have this fantasy in which I am kind of superhero who travels the country tracking down hack reporters who slap the "gate" suffix on anything vaguely resembling a scandal, then jabbing them with a cattle prod until I'm satisfied justice has been served.

Doesn't matter

[tsotha]

I seriously doubt Obama loads his own mp3 player, and that's a good thing. He's got lots to do before his first day on the job, and screwing with computers isn't on the list.

This is classic

[JamesRose]

It's one of those "what a product represents" things. The Zune is immediately uncool at slashdot because Microsoft, newsflash- Microsoft make some decent products. Rated Excellent at cnet- http://reviews.cnet.com/mp3-players/microsoft-zune-120gb-third/4505-6490_7-33259222.html?tag=mncol;lst . Reality check, this is a good mp3 player that he got free, I'd be concerned if he went out and spent $250 just for a different make.

Re:"soon-to-be Leader of the Free World"

[Chrisje]

As a Dutch citizen I have the perfect freedom to:
- get abortions
- do soft drugs of various kinds
- drink alcohol from the age of 16
- get serviced by a hooker
- get euthanasia
- get married whether I'm gay, bi or straight
- get divorced
- speak my mind
- drink on a sunday
- have sex in public places so long as it's not visible from the street
- go where I please (we don't need visa for 99% of the planet)

None of which are freedoms I've seen Americans enjoy.

So I second that motion. Obama will be president of the USA. Calling him "Leader of the Free World" pisses me off too since he sure as shit don't rule my country.

Re:Why not use a phone

[trenien]

Off the top of my head:

- Because I'd like to avoid shooting my mobile's battery to hell through constant use for music.

- Because despite the propaganda from various cell phones makers, there's more and more evidence coming out that tends to show it's not very healthy to carry one over you for long stretches of time.

- Because I'll never again bind myself with another 12/24/36 months contract to have the latest 'ooh, shiny' and I much prefer buying a cheap phone with no strings attached which will last me at least a couple of years. That way I can change provider whenever I feel like it.

That's thinking about it for a couple of minutes. I'm pretty sure different people could find other reasons easily enough.

for the record

[Dolphinzilla]

I dont care to know any of the following about Obama's preferences:

1. Ipod or Zune
2. Apple or PC
3. Charmin or Scott
4. Missionary or Doggy
5. Chevy or Ford

Folks get over it - Obama is not the second coming and he's not the Antichrist -

More pop culture

[p51d007]

Here we go...more pop culture BS! Who gives a rats ass?

Re:"soon-to-be Leader of the Free World"

[DrFalkyn]

As a Dutch citizen I have the perfect freedom to: - get abortions

Legal in the US

- get serviced by a hooker

Well you can do that in Nevada. Its not like the Dutch have NO restrictions on prostitution, (no street hookers)

- get divorced

You can't get divorced in the US?

- speak my mind

We can't do this in the US?

- drink on a sunday

WTF? Have you been to the US since 1950? Their are some states that have prohibitions on where/when alcohol can be sold, I don't know of of any state that prohibits consumption in a private residence.

- go where I please (we don't need visa for 99% of the planet)

Getting a visa is going to largely depend on the *other* country, not your own.