Zune

[whubbard]

This is a quote from engadget from a while back:

"But it gets better. To attract current iPod users Microsoft is going to let you download for free any songs you've already bought from the iTunes Music Store. They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and then automatically add those to your account. Microsoft will still have to pay the rights-holders for the songs, but they believe it'll be worth it to acquire converts to their new player."

Anybody know if this is still true?

[David M]

Hmmmm....interesting marketing strategy. Microsoft certainly has the cash, but will people buy a Zune when they already have an I-Pod?

[whubbard]

I will definitely be ditching my iPod. I'm so sick of it! I mean it just breaks and break and breaks. If you have an iPod the odds are that its broken...multiple times!

[12twelve12]

I also would like to know if Microsoft still plans on doing this as I have over 600 titles in my iTunes library. The more I learn about Zune the more I like. The new Toshiba Gigabyte is nice as well.

[whubbard]

...I wonder if anybody in these forums works at microsoft...

[jer888]

if it werent for the 3 by 3 rule id prolly get it

[whubbard]

3 by 3 rule?

[Alaron]

The 3 by 3 rule means that when you share a song with a friend, he can only listen to it 3 times or keep it for 3 days. Then it goes inactive and he has to buy it.

[whubbard]

well can the song be 'activated on another computer' like it can in itunes.

[clroberts]

That's why I like taking the CD's that I purchased from the store and Ripping them into WMA/ MP3's myself and listening to them. That way I don't have to worry about trying to keep track of the licenses on my computer.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by whubbard well can the song be 'activated on another computer' like it can in itunes.

No it can't.
Further, any song will be affected by it.

edit : This is deep DRM territory, Microsoft is slapping the restriction on all content on the Zune.

[David M]

I'm glad I have a Creative Zen....I don't have to deal with all that nonsense. My entire CD collection is on one MP3 player...no subscriptions, no costly downloads, no licensing...no BS. And it is all legal without being insulted by being treated like a potential criminal.

[Litespeed]

Originally Posted by whubbard I will definitely be ditching my iPod. I'm so sick of it! I mean it just breaks and break and breaks. If you have an iPod the odds are that its broken...multiple times!

Mine havent broken. One 80 gig video ipod and one 4 gig red nano. Work fine for me.

[12twelve12]

I have a 6GB Grey Mini iPod, have dropped it on asphalt a few times but still works great.

[whubbard]

Well, i've probably sent back 4 iPods, 3 of which were for software problems. And its like apple knows there comming...because when it fails...a little unhappy mac face appears. I mean does anbody know of Zens have OS problems?

[thefultonhow]

The sad Mac is usually indicative of hard drive problems. Do you drop your iPod a lot?

I got the sad Mac on my 40 GB 4G after a year and two months of ownership of a refurbished warranty replacement (got the first iPod wet), but it was after I had dropped my iPod several times over the course of a three-week vacation. I am now the proud owner of a new-last-week 60 GB video iPod that I got refurbished for $229 plus tax. I'd like to see any other manufacturer beat that price!

[RayH]

It's not Zune enough. It's a little too late. The music service is something unique to the Zune. You have to prepurchase points in $5 increments. Beam songs? I can do that with my Palm.

[hobey19]

Originally Posted by thefultonhow The sad Mac is usually indicative of hard drive problems. Do you drop your iPod a lot? I got the sad Mac on my 40 GB 4G after a year and two months of ownership of a refurbished warranty replacement (got the first iPod wet), but it was after I had dropped my iPod several times over the course of a three-week vacation. I am now the proud owner of a new-last-week 60 GB video iPod that I got refurbished for $229 plus tax. I'd like to see any other manufacturer beat that price!

my sister's finally broke after 3 years of taking it to volleyball tourneys and using it while she practiced. she dropped it more times than i can count, and i am surprised it lasted that long. i gave her my 15gb one and bought myself a 60gb one about 6 months ago and haven't had any problems. heck, i gave my little sister my 10gb 1st gen one when i bought my 15gb and that one is still working fine. the only people i know that are breaking their ipods are having it happen because of stuff they have done to it (dropped it a lot, unplugged it in when it says Do Not Disconnect).

craig

[whubbard]

Well I actually make sure not to drop/scratch my ipod. I REALLY make sure that it says in mint condition because I want it to look nice.

ZUNE HAS BEEN RELEASED TO THE WORLD TODAY!!!!!

[Fibre Optix]

The Zune will not kill the iPod.

1 - Zune's Wifi is just for ZUNE 2 ZUNE sharing. Why not include a mini browser and let people surf the net. Microsoft could have made a Zune web Zone that works with Zune Screen resolutions. Offer games in the zone like Poker, tetris etc. Other sites would eventually catch on and would do the same ie: www.miniclip.com/zunezone

2 - No Video sharing?

3 - No USB port to attach my digital camera directly to store my images when my card gets full and I am no where near my computer?

4- MP3s Purchased off Napster and other Microsoft encoded mp3s stores will not play on the Zune??? Your kidding right?

5- The design is'nt bad but not great. I'm a PC guy. Unlike Ipod users I don't mind a couple of extra buttons if it adds more functionality.

Overall I think MS missed the "Kill iPod Mark". They gave ipod users no excuse to move to the zune. Too bad though, I had some high hopes.

[hobey19]

fibre optix - in regards to number 2: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=4933

craig

[GandalftheGrey]

How, pray tell, would Micrsoft have access to Apple's records? isn't that like confidential information and stuff?

[glc]

Word to the wise, folks:

http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=104&tag=nl.e539

[12twelve12]

The fact that it's not compatible with Vista doesn't really bother me. I don't plan on using Vista, not for a long while anyhow, and I am sure that MS will release an update for the Zune that will allow it "speak" with Vista. Why wouldn't they.

[whubbard]

I use vista...and here is my story.

Last night I was attemping to install the zune software, which i got the link for from engadget. I atemped to install the software and it would not install! However, this is not the first XP software I have had issues with.

I am assuming that they will release a new version of the software along with vista...it really shouldn't be hard for them to rewrite the program a bit. It will probably be Zune Software 2 (just like iTunes updates) (when apple releases an ipod, they sometimes have software issues too)

Also, I hope the program will be updated and better, because many people are having issues with it.

[Fibre Optix]

Oh and one more point that does not make sense. MS confirmed today that the Zune will not support Windows Media Player 11 (wma, wmv).

I read a tech blog that made sense about Microsoft and the Zune. "Microsoft is not a sprinting company, they do things Marathon style"

He has a point - all these compatibility issues that the Zune is facing is temporary, MS will fix this and not to mention add a bunch of different functionality with other MS products like the XBOX. But it still puzzles me that Ballmer was talking up a storm about the Zune, how it's better than the iPod and yet it really is'nt.

BTW I am in no form an Apple Fan boy, Hell I hate Apple.

[gerberdude]

not trying to start a flamewar here. . .

. . .but I get tired of everyone buying into Apples ad campaign and image of doing nothing wrong and their products never breaking.

The ipod is a gadget, my girlfriend has one, her sister has one, both ipods have broken multiple times. That's what gadgets do. They break. Then my G/F and her sister act all shocked and shaken when their apple product craps out.

The public in general needs to get over it, and lose the unrealistic expectations.

Maybe I'm just having a cynical, bad day, but that's my $.02

[Statica]

Originally Posted by gerberdude not trying to start a flamewar here. . . . . .but I get tired of everyone buying into Apples ad campaign and image of doing nothing wrong and their products never breaking. The ipod is a gadget, my girlfriend has one, her sister has one, both ipods have broken multiple times. That's what gadgets do. They break. Then my G/F and her sister act all shocked and shaken when their apple product craps out. The public in general needs to get over it, and lose the unrealistic expectations. Maybe I'm just having a cynical, bad day, but that's my $.02

I dont know which Apple ads you've been watching but as far as I can remember Apple has never had an ad that claimed that "they do nothing wrong" (if market share is anything to go by it would appear that their do nothing wrong in terms of launching and marketing their products - again this hasnt been a claim that they specifically make) nor has there been an ad for an Apple ipod or ANYTHING that claims that their products never break .. in terms of hardware Apple has acknowledged and addressed issues like Ipod scratches, laptop battery recalls etc. The only serious claim they have made that comes close to your statement has been their claim of OS security .. which is largely true (either because of market share or because of their UNIX heritage).
Personally, I find Apple's ads slick .. but then again, I'm also not one to jump on a bandwagon just because the wagon looks slick...

[jer888]

i think alot of people are going to wait for the next versions of zune (if they get one) because
1. will be compatible with vista by then
2. smaller, ipod nano style zunes are the most popular i think
3. software issues SHOULD be cleared up.
4. video sharing

and i think EVENTUALLY, considering how microsoft likes to get in every market it can, will come out with some kind of xbox portable type device to battle psp and it will prolly be in the zune family, although they may start a entirely new product line for that

and i think getberdude is refering to the commerical where the mac gets out of the box and "just works" while the pc doesnt.

[12twelve12]

Originally Posted by jer888 i think alot of people are going to wait for the next versions of zune (if they get one)

I almost never jump on a new product during it's initial release. Not to get off subject here but that's why I don't understand these people I'm seeing on the news who are camping out to get their hands on a PS3 or Wii. Spending all that time, some missing work and pay, in order to get a over-priced system that will probably have flaws.

I am interested in the ZUNE but I will wait, sit back and see what unfolds first.