Zune - Social Networking Differentiates It From iPod
Microsoft has released details of its upcoming Zune product, an iPod-like device that is squarely aimed at challenging Apple's dominance of the online music market. TechCrunch, Engadget and PaidContent have all the details, so I just want to focus on a couple of interesting Internet features of Zune.
1) Zune will have a social network (iPod/iTunes doesn't)
This is clearly going to wake Apple up, because a social networking aspect is the one glaring feature missing from its otherwise excellent iPod/iTunes online music combo. Zune's social networking will be based in Zune Marketplace, the equivalent of iTunes. Songs can also be shared via wireless technology on the Zune device.
It also seems that Zune will have as good a selection of music as iTunes, although details are sketchy at this stage.
2) Zune is centered on connectivity
This is what Microsoft truly believes is its advantage over Apple - ability to connect Zune across a network of devices. Zune will no doubt over time hook into the PC, Xbox, TV, etc. While Apple announced its own inter-connection plans with iTV this week, in this case Apple is the follower and not the leader.
Of course the big advantage Apple has is its brand and design, which a lot of people think is enough to continue its success. And given the early screenshots of Zune, with its brown(!?), black and white colors and its monolith-like shape - well, let's just say that Apple designers won't be feeling the heat any time soon!
Summary: Zune Experience
Microsoft's vision for this is summed up here: "Zune is Microsoft’s music and entertainment platform that provides an end-to-end solution for Connected Entertainment."
It's a social platform, as well as a music one. This currently differentiates it from Apple, so it's a good move by Microsoft. It also promises a very connected experience across devices, which plays to Microsoft's strengths. Whether all this is enough to challenge Apple, which has already won over the hearts of the mass market with the iPod and iTunes, will be interesting to see.
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I'm glad someone else blinks twice over Microsoft's choice of brown...
Would love to know what kind of DRM is in Zune...
Another difference:
- Three years later !!
The iPod is already dead, the cell phones will be the next iPod ....
Zune is just as exciting as a dune at the beach. This article presumes that Apple is following microsoft into the living room with iTV. First of all, microsoft does not have the platform like itunes. Look closely at the redesigned itunes. It was created to cross platforms and beyond. It is a open store of music, podcast, tv, now movies, and much more for patrons. It is the part of the puzzle that has created a beautiful word we now use called the iPod. Reduced prices and a new 80GB are not helping the copy machine called microfloppy.
Mobile phones are the only mobile devices that matter...
Demise of a Darling: iPod market share crashes to 14% amid management denials
http://communities-dominate.blogs.com/brands/2006/07/demise_of_a_dar.html
Good to see another side of the Zune vs Apple argument. This article though is based on a few major assumptions: Apple isn't going to release a WiFi-enabled iPod, that the Zune service is as adept as iTunes at enabling task completion with minimal errors, and that consumers don't buy Apple products because of the brand and its associations.
While I do think the Redmond luddites will take away substantial market share away from Apple by Zune v3.0, I would not bet against the market leader with a brand that resonates with "Generation Web 2.0".
Another Zune "experience": Zune's Viral DRM Will Violate Creative Commons: http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/09/15/1627248
Absolutely perfect.