After trying for years to compete with the iPod through an array of partners, Microsoft confirmed Friday that it plans to directly go after Apple Computer with its own rival, Zune.
Confirming weeks of rumors, Microsoft said it will launch music software and players under the Zune brand, though the software maker left plenty unsaid in its confirmation.
"Today we confirmed a new music and entertainment project called Zune," Chris Stephenson, a general manager of marketing for the software maker, said in a statement. "Under the Zune brand, we will deliver a family of hardware and software products, the first of which will be available this year." ... ... ...
Sound's pretty interesting, although I have an iPod, I'd have to say Microsoft pretty much owns Apple with most products. Considering Mac's are sold much less than Windows OS'es ;P
One of the biggest problems with competing with Apple is the huge market share they now own over the mp3 player industry. It extends so far that the average person asks if someone has an ipod, its like a fashion symbol now. Apple marketing did a very good job on that.
It will be interesting to see how microsoft go with this...
doesn't microsoft/bill gates own a part of apple already? (hence in perspective, microsoft/bill gates earns also from apple's iPod sales?) oh well, business is business. just let them show how innovative they can get with this one, more than that of iPod.
and ZUNE? oh please! can't the microsoft team work out a better name? sounds like a *BLEEP*ized spelling of SONY. what were they thinking?
(not exactly the one above, but for a related article, check this.)
lol Ya I think I saw Bill Gates in an Ipod/Mac commercial (or who was supposed to be Bill Gates) I think that Zune really isn't a good name but if they compete PC wise why not music player wise. I think they should just incorporate Zune with Windows Media Player in fact I think WMP would have been a better name but you know it is unique I guess. lol I don't know all the details of this player and even though I don't have an Ipod I think Zune is gonna have to come out with something rather advanced because Mac has already taken off with this one.
ZUNE is not that quite unique. top link on google search for ZUNE is a brazilian jeans brand. hope microsoft did their research for the brand name first (oh, microsofters do use google? ), or perhaps they can buy it from the brazilian trademark owner for lots of cash (much cheaper than a lengthy court battle, methinks... if they really want to retaine ZUNE)
but ipods suck, there are plenty of better media playing devices out there, and ones that don't rely on such shoddy software like itunes. and they can be cheaper too.
but microsoft will probarbly ruin this anyway, just like they end up ruining most things they get involved with.
Finally! Hopefully soon I can quit hearing about how Apple has better MP3 players. I'm not a huge music fan, but I bet that Microsoft's Zune will be much better than the iPod.
Well, i wouldn't count on there being a massive shift away from Apple any time soon just because Microsoft step up for a fight. Granted MS do have the money and the skills to pull it off, and if they can get this thing tied in to Vista, and the 360 (Windows Live Anywhere?) than that will definitely be an angle Apple will have great difficulty in responding to, what with the massively smaller hardware support for Macs. However the simple truth is that Apple have too great a lead for a real challenge (even if the iPod isn't the best MP3 player around, IMHO Creative make far better players) and Apple have pretty much everyone cornered when it comes to content (again IMHO iTunes ain't great either). And due to Microsoft's classic failure to see an emerging market quickly and apply the classic MS stranglehold (see: OS, Browser, Office Suite) this thing has a way to go yet.
PS what was wrong with the name Argo? why would anyone call anything Zune?
I dont know whether I should call this a good news or a bad one. I don't like microsoft for most of their products. And I dont like the company itself. But I dont like ipod either. I always think ipod is a too easy success for apple. The product itself, unlike Microsoft products like Xbox, is no technologically advanced at all. The design and the function of ipod are just at Third World standards. The amazing part is how people like this kind of low-end products at a high price. Probably it is due to the irrational market of the US. Now microsoft, being a US company, is targeting this market. I think microsft has the edge of integrating Zune with Windows, which is an OS more popular then Mac-OS X. I hope microsoft will win this battle this time.
It kind of sounds like you have never seen in real life, or used an iPod, 3rd World contry? do you see pictures of people in etheopia walking around saying these are right for us third world type, no, you see them wanting and needing food and shelter. Also I do hope you know that iPod works with mac and windows with no hastel, and most likely, "Zune" will have troubles with integration, depending on what software they use for it. One last quick thing, once you have boughten twenty dolars of music from iTunes you really can't use any other mp3 player, besides iPod and I really don't feel like buying $350 in music from someone else, just because all of a sudden microsoft decides to start the race.
I do support Microsoft and Windows much, much more than Apple and mac, but from what I have used, music player wise Apple definatly has the better product with better features, also Apple won the race in advertisement, I might have thought an iRiver, or something else was better, but I didnt see the features and the QUALITY that I saw and see in iPods. If you think iPod is low-end then why dont you try to find a music player with a cleaner interface, and more features than iPod, which will also play protected content without going over $300.
I bet the Zune will cost just as much or more as your average iPod too. But if microsoft actually pulls something out worth while that looks good, is compact, and is a better value than iPod that will also play protected content I would love to use it.
I dont know whether I should call this a good news or a bad one. I don't like microsoft for most of their products. And I dont like the company itself. But I dont like ipod either. I always think ipod is a too easy success for apple. The product itself, unlike Microsoft products like Xbox, is no technologically advanced at all. The design and the function of ipod are just at Third World standards. The amazing part is how people like this kind of low-end products at a high price. Probably it is due to the irrational market of the US. Now microsoft, being a US company, is targeting this market. I think microsft has the edge of integrating Zune with Windows, which is an OS more popular then Mac-OS X. I hope microsoft will win this battle this time.
Dreus, thank you for pointing out that with iPods, you're NOT forced to use iTunes. Many simple everyday computer people have written programs to work with the iPod because they didn't like iTunes as well. There's Musicmatch, Winamp, Realplayer, Yamipod, Copypod, PodUtil, Anapod, Ephpod, EuPod, and a lot more. Also, why does everybody bag on the iPod? Sure it's got its flaws, just like every other mp3 player. And if you're whining because they're so popular, it's not that they're overrated; they got to be so popular for a reason (many reasons actually.) For one it's capacity sizes are adequete for everyone: 512MB, 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40,and 60GB (yes, I'm including the older Gen. iPods.) And you can't tell me the iPod is ugly, like some mp3 players. The design is made for easy use and so is the iPod interface. It does have a steep pricetag, but for the people who love their music, they're either willing to pay for it or have the money either way. And yes, you can use the harddrive for storage, the whole thing actually. So if you base your opinions solely on a battery problem or some other kind of hardware problem, that's not how every iPod is. And Apple gives you a 1 year warranty if anything happens, and on top of that, if you want to buy a 2 year warranty, you can wait until your 1 year is almost over, so even if something does happen you're still in good hands. Microsoft thinks that they can beat the iPod because of a Wi-Fi connection. But they're basing all their strategies on the current iPod. The new 6G iPod will be out in October (trust me I know, because Apple announces a new Generation iPod exactly 1 year after the last one.) So Microsoft will have this thing made and ready to release in November right after the new, more improved iPod is out and sure, a few people will buy the Zune (what kind of name is that?), but I bet you that more people will buy the iPod over the Zune.
QUOTE Imagine if you will, you have an iPod. That wasn’t too hard now was it? Now imagine
if your friend has one too and has some music you really want. The problem is you’ll have to
take your iPod to their PC connect it and transfer files onto your iPod. What potentially could go
wrong is if you end up syncing it to that PC by mistake, you’ll lose all your data. Now
imagine you’re hiking though the hills and are nowhere next to a PC, particularly your friends
PC. A company called miShare has developed a tool for just such quandaries. It&#....
iPod Touch QUOTE The iPod touch is an iPod portable media player designed and
marketed by Apple Inc. The device, which features a multi-touch interface, was unveiled to the
general public on September 5, 2007 as part of an event dubbed "The Beat Goes On", - an event which
featured the introduction of Cover Flow to the iPod line. The iPod touch uses 8 or 16 GB of flash
memory, costing US$299 and US$399 respectively. It also has Wi-Fi and includes Safari,
Apple's web browser. The iPod touch is the first generation of the iPod line to inc....
Yeah the iPod is way overrated in my opinion. You might consider other players which may or may not
better suit your needs as a consumer. There are some gangsta media players out there, this one in
my opinion is way better than the iPod video /tongue.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":P"
border="0" alt="tongue.gif" /> Introducing the 199$(circuit city) 3.5-inch screen,
supercompact body, 30GB; video, music (including subscriptions), and photo player: The Archos 404
Yeah, that's right, 3.5-Inch screen. if you wanna go to 4.3 inches widescreen, shel....
I think all three brands are good at producing quality music but iPod is not a practical buy!
It's quite expensive.. whereas, creative and iriver will give you a lower price with MORE
features!!!!....
Apple released several new additions to the iPod family today at the Apple conference, as expected.
Included were several new iPods, and new accessories. Here's the list. iPod nano Aluminum
case, now in colors 2GB: $149 comes in silver 4GB: $199 comes in silver, green, blue, pink
8GB: $249 comes in black, silver, green, blue, pink 24 hour battery life 40% brighter screen,
adjustable. New software like the regular iPod New armband, charger, and lanyard iPod (regular
model) New prices, capacities 60GB model, $249 15,000 songs 80GB model, $....
well, here is the picture and a short article I found: here, here! it is said to have wi-fi
capabilities, so that you can download music without having a computer... you can download it right
from the device! it is set to launch sometime before christmas of this year. it is called the
'iPod killer', but, you never know, they may fail... i suppose you can use that term to any
mp3 player/company trying to be as successful as apple. the new iPod nano will also be debuting
sometime before christmas, sometime in the fourth quarter it is believed. This ....
Well first and foremost, I'll say this: I'm an iPod man. I love iPods, I have two of them in
fact, and I've done a lot of things with them like hacking them to play doom, and some other
cool stuff. 30GB is quite a bit for an mp3 player, let alone the 60GB version. So there's also
room for not only your music, photos, and videos, but your other files, because you can use it as
sort of like a flash drive. So in short, I can't get enough of my iPods. But recently I heard of
Microsoft coming out with their Mp3 player. Even though not many details have bee....
Has anyone else purchased this what could be perfect music player? I know somebody who purchased one
the day they came out and a few weeks later the screen was bad so he couldn't see what he was
doing. He still could use it but couldn't see what it was saying on the screen. The person did
take very very good care of it and rarely took it out of its protective case. So has anyone else
purchased one of these? If so have you had good luck with them or do the screens go bad for you?....
has anybody seen the new ipod tripod. as you all know the ipod can be placed in some portable
speakers to play the song out loud but now there is a tripod which is literally 3 legs spread out
like a triangle, two legs hav speakers and the third has a section to put ur ipod shuffle.i think
this is a pretty gud idea and a cool new thing that lots of people will buy because people with
shuffles hav not had any form of portable speakers to buy so far.....
only 99$ u have an high quaility mp3 player with 512mb http://www.apple.com/ipodshuffle/
Please note that You've got to make posts which contain some good amount of text in it. Just
saying the price and from where you can get it, isnt enough! Please make sure that you write as
much as you can about this product in order to make sure that this is not conisdered as spam post.
Edited Topic title..I was able to say same thing in the topic title & description..so was there any
use of this post? ....
i heard on the news that some pant comapnies are planning on releasing pants that have buttons to
controll an IPod.. voice your opinions on this! personally i think that it would not be
good..i mean if it goes through the washing machine..what would happen? short circut? if the wires
get crossed you can get shocked..personally i wouldn't want one of these pants....
if some of you have not heard already, there is a linux for the ipod now. it allows you to a lot
more with your ipod. you can play vidoes on any ipod. like the nano. you can even run the first
person shooter called iDoom on it. linux does it again, putting commercial technology to shame.
whats nice you can swich to the normal apple firmware anytime you want. if you got an ipod try this,
its really easy to install. it will actually make your ipod worth for what you paid for it. just go
to www.ipodlinux.org hope this interests some people....
Not sure if this is the right forum, but I didn't see anywhere else for it... Ok, my girlfriend
got a 4 GB iPod Nano about a month ago. She had about 100 songs on it and one day they just
disappeared. Her normal PC won't recognize that she has the iPod plugged in, and her
stepdad's laptop will recognize it... But after she transfers all the songs, and she unplugs the
iPod from the laptop, she loses all of her songs again... She talked to an apple guy, but they said
she needed to do a system restore on it, but they didn't tell her how... And she can't ....
/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /> Maybe some will
like to see this. Good read http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2610&p=3 ....
The neew ipod. I think that the ipod is a good invention but what is the point in making it so that
you can watch vidio's. Someones bound to get run over watching a vidio because they wont be
looking where there going so they will walk on to the road and get run over. Im perrfectly happy
with my mp3 even though the other day i cracked the screen on it so i cant really see anything but
its still working. But you know the little clicker thing on them that allows you to change the songs
and move around, well thats kind of broke because most of the time it dosen't wo....
The new ipod came out the ipod video i cant wait till i get that stuff its ganna be pretty cool. You
get to put photos, music and VIDEOS!!!! You didn't bother to search our forum
even after I PMed you. This also is found here
http://www.trap17.com/forums/index.php?sho...ndpost&p=194460 And remember, one liner = SPAM. ....
QUOTE t's official. At an event in San Jose Wednesday, Apple ended months of speculation by
introducing the first video-enabled iPod, moving the company into the portable media center space.
"Yes, it does video," Apple CEO Steve Jobs said in his keynote address as the audience erupted in
applause. The new iPod sports a 2.5-inch TFT display in a design similar to the iPod Nano. The
320x240 pixel display supports only 260,000 colors, but the iPod does include a video-out jack for
hooking up to a TV. Real-time decoding of MPEG-4 and H.264 video content is supporte....
hi friends, Apple has released a new version of Ipod. Actually it replaces the Ipod mini in the
ipod series. It is called the Ipod Nano. It is actually a slim ipod, 1.6 x 3.5 x .27 in size and
weighs 1.5 ounces approx 43 grams. It includes a color display and capability to view images and
slideshows... The battery life has also been extended. Chek out the detailed comparison chart at
the apple website... Cheers. ....
This morning I was going to listen to some music, so I got my iPod, turned it on, and it reset (I
hadn't had it plugged in for a while). When I got to the music, it would go through half of a
song, then skip to the next. After doing this a couple times, it would just skip entire songs.
It'd skip six or seven, then do half of one, then skip six or seven more. Later I looked on the
internet for some ideas, so eventually I tried resetting it again, as instructed. This worked for a
little bit, but then it started skipping over songs again. I reset again, and it lost....
I have just got a new Ipod mini and they really do rock.........holding over 1000 mp3's at one
time, you can search and listen to all you favorite albums on the move with ease. The mini ipod is
small and easy to use (must have a pc) i got mine for £129.99 from argos which i thought wasnt a bad
price for a mp3 player of that storage, the stoarge is 4gb, enought to fit all you albums on it. Why
go for sum cheap 128mb mp3 player when you can buy a mp3 player with a hard drive in it?
/tongue.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tongue.gif' /> i think th....
I saw it at Best Buy and I am stunned. It is probably one of th emost advanced mp3s every made for
the public. Probably is the best. It is so damn amazing. I cannot take my eyes off of it.
/cool.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='cool.gif' /> ....
Does anybody know what it is going to be like? Size? Capacity? Battery Life? New look? I am
looking into getting the 5th gen if it is nice because just recently my 3rd generate (non click
wheel) one was stolen. I liked it a lot better than the click wheel (4th gen). The only thing I
hear is possibly an 80gb hd cause because that is what toshiba is working on or something along
those lines.......
hi friends, Good news for those planning to get an Ipod... Apple has merged its Ipod series and
the Ipod photo series... yeah, Apple has done away with the Ipod photo series. Now all Ipods of 20
GB and above will be able to store and display photos and slideshows. Hey and the screens on all
these models is now color... so u now get the Ipod at the same price with color screen and photo
viewing capability... /smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' />
Ipod always comes up with good ideas.. but one thing.. though the new Ipod is at the s....
According to Steven P Jobs, he had promised both a 3-gigahertz Macintosh as well as a more powerful
PowerPC-based portable computer, promises that he had not been able to deliver. Jobs was given no
choice but to move his business to Intel. QUOTE IBM executives said that without additional
Apple investment they were unwilling to pursue the faster and lowerpower chips he badly needs for
his laptop business.“Technical issues were secondary to the business issues,” Because the business
was not profitable, IBM, “decided not to continue to go ahead with the product road ....
/happy.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='happy.gif' /> I'm being dragged
into the 21st century, by my need of carrying more music around.. currently I have a mini disc,
it's cool and all, but I'm limited with the amount of musik I can carry around. So, my
birthday is coming up.. and I'm planning on getting a mp3 player. I just need to figure out
which one.. so far I think either Creative Zen or iPod.. The iPod mini looks really cool, but 4 gigs
isn't enough for me.. ( I have a lot of music) so I'm thinking about iPod 20's,....
hey ppl any1 got a Ipod i have a 20gb click wheel ipod had it ages now n i love it. what ipod you
got? what u listen 2 on ur ipod? whats the newest song on ur ipod? me 20gb clcik wheel ipod 50 cent
at min 50 cent - candy shop i love my IPod....
Not as iPod that using hard disk drive to store music data, iShuffle using flash memory stick as
many common digital music player like creative products. currently available in 512MB or 1GB storing
capacity. with its simply white color as first generation of iPod, it has no equalizer like iPod.
But it can produce hi fi pqrfect sound with deat flat frequency, no distortion til max volume. even
bass tones.. better than iPod. do anyone have it?....
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(hence in perspective, microsoft/bill gates earns also from apple's iPod sales?) 
oh well, business is business. just let them show how innovative they can get with this one, more than that of iPod.
