Need Apple fear Zune?
For latest article see Welcome, Zune. Seriously.
We held off commentating about Microsoft’s updated details of Zune to give it some time to sink in. Generally the analyst comments on Zune – Microsoft’s version of Apple’s iPod – have been upbeat and favourable. Certainly the two areas that separate the current Zune prototypes from Apple’s iPod, namely WiFi and Larger screen have received rave reviews in certain sectors of the ‘Geek’ marketplace.
So let’s get one thing out of the way first, of course Zune will be a success. As sure as bread always seems to fall butter side down, it will be a success – after all it’s got Microsoft’s Billions backing it –so it will be a success, won’t it. Well – we reserve comment on what is defined as success. If success means selling a million plus products, then yes it’ll be a success. But if success means radically changing, developing and dominating a market then we thin it’ll be a failure. Microsoft should already own this market, this is their third attempt to get into and dominate the audio player market – so perhaps it’ll be third time lucky.
For the actual product offering itself we’re pretty much under whelmed. First the screen size is, yes slightly larger than Apple’s iPod – but the resolution (i.e. number of pixels is the same) and using it in ‘Landscape’ mode renders the controls functionally wrong – wrong as in ‘in the wrong place’ – ‘in the wrong orientation’. Minor, but yet another example if Microsoft’s lack of under standing of the word ‘finesses’.
Secondly, the WiFi ‘thing’ – well there are three sub issues here – Firstly, WiFi burns juice – so if your planning to watch or listen to anything with the WiFi turned on, then make sure you’re near a mains outlet – you’ll not be getting Ten hours of anything; Secondly the WiFi ‘tune swapping’ will only allow a limited number of ‘plays’ and only last for three days before ‘self destructing’ – Great!; Thirdly, you’ve got to first find another person with a Zune to swap with, then figure out how set up the wireless WiFi thing – most people still can’t figure out how to run their home WiFi networks properly or safely. As one commentator stated “this will allow Windows viruses to spread faster than the Black Death in the middle ages”.
Finally of course, it will only work on Windows, so those of you fortunate enough to own Macs will need to sit this dance out – though we suspect that won’t upset most Mac users who already own iPods.
So we agree that Zune will be a success, but Apple has already set the bar much higher. Success will be an absolute term; in relation to Apple’s success it will be an ‘also ran’.