Where is the Infamous iPod Killer
Microsoft is, of course, the logical answer. They have brand recognition, loads of cash, plenty of manpower, and a relationship with Apple that rivals Boston's feelings toward the Yankees. However, Microsoft just does not do much for our emotional side. It is certainly rare when a PC user sings the praises of the latest Windows release.
Fortunately for Microsoft, the new Zune player is a little more fun than their previous releases. If you have not heard, the Zune is Microsoft's direct attack on the iPod and iTunes. It was dubbed by many to be the "iPod Killer," but early reviews have been mixed.
On paper the Zune sounds like a very nice device. It looks pretty good and comes in a range of color combinations. It has a large 3-inch screen. It even offers Wi-Fi capability and song and playlist sharing. On top of that, the Zune Marketplace allows you to buy individual songs or choose a monthly subscription which offers unlimited downloads. Couple that with a $100 million marketing campaign and Microsoft may capture some serious market share.
That sounds great, but in reality, the Zune is simply a Toshiba Gigabeat Portable Media Player that has been tainted by Microsoft's evil ways. In typical Microsoft fashion, the Zune is incompatible with all other hardware and software. It even excludes Windows Media Player and the PlaysForSure audio file format developed by none other than Microsoft itself.
Listing all of the problems of the Zune would take forever (keep in mind that this is Microsoft we are talking about,) so here are a few key problems. First up is the storage space. While other hard drive based MP3 players can double as external storage, the Zune lacks this capability. Then think about the controls - the Zune's scroll wheel is a fake. There are actually four buttons there, covered up with a circular piece of plastic to look more iPod-ish. While the buttons work fine, it makes you wonder what Microsoft is up to.
Finally, the Wi-Fi capability leaves something to be desired. One would think that the Zune would readily connect to a normal Wi-Fi network, or at least connect to the Zune Marketplace to download new tunes wirelessly. That is not the case at all. Zune devices can only connect to one another for activities such as song sharing. This allows you to send a song to a friend, who can listen to it a whopping three times before the song deletes itself.
Until Microsoft can overcome all of those problems and offer a number of features not available on the iPod, Apple should remain on top. The Zune is not bad, but it has a long way to go to be the best. Only time will tell.
People may be digging a grave, but it is certainly not for the iPod.
Related Tags: mp3, microsoft, ipod, apple, zune
Levi Bloom is a Business & Technology columnist for The Boston Voice and also writes for http://www.mp3-player-guide.com and http://www.pcbackupreview.com.
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