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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."

41 of 608 comments (clear)

  1. so? by n3tcat · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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?

    1. Re:so? by theaveng · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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.

      --
      FOX NEWS.com should be BANNED from television and internet. Have the Congress take it over and give us Truespeak.
    2. Re:so? by bobmarleypeople · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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!

    3. Re:so? by BrentH · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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.

    4. Re:so? by McFadden · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

    5. Re:so? by tao · · Score: 5, Informative

      The Samsung YP-U[123] (BTW, don't import one from the US; the US firmware has no support for Ogg Vorbis) devices seems to be quite easy to get hold of all over Europe; I bet you can find that one in Italy as well. But I'd recommend trying to find a Cowon iAudio instead (possibly by ordering it online). Less bugs in the Ogg Vorbis support plus support for Ogg FLAC.

    6. Re:so? by Curtman · · Score: 5, Funny

      What does it matter if he's an apple or windows guy?

      I am absolutely thrilled that the dumbest thing this president has done so far is use a Microsoft product. Dubya had already planned to blow up half of the world by now.

    7. Re:so? by Chineseyes · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Sadly they reported on this several times on msnbc.

      --
      I think the invisible hand of the market has its middle finger extended

      --A wise old fart named SC0RN
    8. Re:so? by WhatAmIDoingHere · · Score: 5, Insightful

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

      I thought this was /. not TMZ.

      --
      Not a Twitter sockpuppet... but I wish I was.
    9. Re:so? by CRCulver · · Score: 4, Funny

      A ski mask can be had for $5 if you shop around. Wearing that, you can run by and snatch someone's iPod out of their hands. I just saved you $35.

    10. Re:so? by Ambiguous+Puzuma · · Score: 4, Informative

      If you don't mind a small "REFURB" engraved in the case, consider something like a refurbished Sandisk Sansa C2xx or E2xx, likely among the cheapest Rockbox compatible players out there. Regardless of what an mp3 player is designed for, if it can run Rockbox (and is not an Archos) it will play Ogg Vorbis and mp3 files, as well as a number of other file formats. Woot features players like this often enough that it has become a sort of running joke; if you're patient you might get a good deal there. I got my refurbished 2GB Sansa C250 at Woot for $15 + $5 shipping, then added a 2GB MicroSD card I had picked up elsewhere for around $5.

      Rockbox, on any supported player, allows far more customization than the built-in software. You can even write your own programs (plugins) to run on it, or modify the Rockbox software itself, if you're so inclined. Rockbox is open source.

  2. In other news... by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:In other news... by Albert+Sandberg · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yeah, but if it turned out he was listening to c64 sid music, I'd wet my pants ;-)

    2. Re:In other news... by thesolo · · Score: 5, Insightful
      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.

    3. Re:In other news... by Alsee · · Score: 4, Funny

      Note to self: Remember never to allow Albert sit on the couch without plastic seat covers.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  3. You guys by sleeponthemic · · Score: 5, Funny

    I will seriously kill myself if he likes Star Wars better than Star Trek.

    --
    I record my sleeptalking
  4. oh my god by papabob · · Score: 5, Funny

    He is one of those f*** bastards who use the tool that best fits him (for example being free, if it is really a gift from microsoft) instead of "what he should use"!

    (or better)

    He is one of those f*** bastards who only want to listen mp3 ignoring how stylish is his player!!

    Impeachment now!!

  5. God help us. by msgmonkey · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

    1. Re:God help us. by Threni · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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.

  6. Reality Check Needed by Macthorpe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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?

    --
    "It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." - Tolkien
  7. Jesus... by skam240 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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!

    --
    I ignore Anonymous Coward posts. If you want to discuss something, that's awesome. Log in.
    1. Re:Jesus... by Loibisch · · Score: 5, Funny

      Actually, I didn't mean to repeat "holy Christ" twice in the same post. I'm very sorry everybody.

      That's ok, you actually have to call his name three times in order for him to...oh wait, I think that was the other guy...

    2. Re:Jesus... by stimpy · · Score: 5, Funny

      Beetlejuice.

  8. Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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...

    1. Re:Great by je+ne+sais+quoi · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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.

      --
      Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
  9. I don't care! by A12m0v · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm posting to let you all know that I don't care!

    --
    GENERATION 25: The first time you see this, copy it into your sig on any forum and add 1 to the generation.
  10. Impeach Him! by 91degrees · · Score: 4, Funny

    Can you impeach a president elect? I think we should try!

  11. Watergate is a God Damned Hotel You Turds by Spasmodeus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  12. Soo... by denzacar · · Score: 4, Funny

    Was it a brown one?

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  13. Doesn't matter by tsotha · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  14. This is classic by JamesRose · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  15. Re:"soon-to-be Leader of the Free World" by Chrisje · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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.

  16. Zune sighted in real world! by Tom · · Score: 5, Funny

    You guys are all missing the point! The "news, things that matter" part of this isn't that Obama is using a Zune, but that a Zune has actually been seen being used by someone. Happens to be the president-elect, that's just the bonus celebrity factor. But have you ever seen a Zune outside a store? See, now you know why this is news. :-)

    --
    Assorted stuff I do sometimes: Lemuria.org
    1. Re:Zune sighted in real world! by Lennie · · Score: 4, Informative

      F*ck your right, I think we all missed that one.

      An other observation: it seems he got it for free, so this one had never seen the inside of a store.

      Conclusion: no1 buys these things.

      --
      New things are always on the horizon
  17. Re:Why not use a phone by trenien · · Score: 4, Insightful
    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.

  18. Re:"soon-to-be Leader of the Free World" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    - get married whether I'm gay, bi or straight

    Americans can get married whether gay, bi or straight... as long as they marry someone of the opposite gender!

    Take that cloggie!

  19. Re:Why not use a phone by ozphx · · Score: 4, Informative

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

    Considering the battery is there for running a moderate output transmitter, its not surprising that playing music pretty much has bugger all effect on battery life if you are involved in a call a day. (My W350's battery is barely scratched by playing music as opposed to normal standby).

    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.

    If you read the GSM spec, you'll find when your phone is idle its transmitter is switched off. It listens to the closest towers, and when it notices its switched area (as in group of towers) it wakes up, notifys the BSC and goes back to sleep. Considering then its mainly a non-transmitting device like an iPod - I doubt the health issues are from anything but hippies. (I mean come on, its got a tiny battery - just how much energy can it deliver to your balls without flattening it? :P)

    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.

    Me too. Thats why I bought outright every phone I have owned.

    --
    3laws: No freebies, no backsies, GTFO.
  20. More pop culture by p51d007 · · Score: 4, Insightful

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

  21. Re:"soon-to-be Leader of the Free World" by DrFalkyn · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  22. What really happened by Have+Blue · · Score: 4, Funny

    The president is smarter than you think. He just wants make his iPod a less attractive target for theft.

  23. Maybe because Zune Pass is a great deal? by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 5, Interesting

    iTunes Store: millions of songs. Download and keep any song for $1.

    Zune Pass: millions of songs. For a flat rate of $15/month, download as many as you want, for use on up to three Zunes and three computers. Each month, you get to designate 10 of these as permanent. If you cancel your subscription, you keep the ones you designated as permanent, and the rest go away.

    I have two iPods and an iPhone, and I'm sorely tempted to get a Zune for Zune Pass. That's a fantastic deal.