Now that the cats out of the bag with the Zune HD, one can’t help but wonder if this is still too little too late for the Zune. Does the addition of the Zune HD really change anything for the Zune and the related Zune marketplace?

Zune HD:

There’s certainly a lot to like with the player but we won’t focus our attention on that (you can read the press release for that information). Let’s focus on the things that are still lacking:

• Let’s face it. The Zune HD Is still playing catch-up with the iPod touch. The player adds multi-touch capabilities, has a built-in accelerometer, and has HD output. Joy.. but these are still features that the Apple iPod touch community have had for nearly two years now. Will an iPod user realistically switch to the Zune HD simply looking at this new feature set? Doubtful. Will this new feature set keep a current Zune user from switching to the iPod touch? Not clear.
• HD Radio is a very cool feature.. as long as you’re in a location that has HD Radio channels broadcasting. Go to the middle of the country and forget it. A radio is just a radio at the end of the day. The whole point of the media player is to bring YOUR content with you wherever you go.
• The player itself is sexier than the previous Zune iterations.. but it still looks a bit too industrial for our tastes – especially when compared against the iPod touch. iPod touch – smooth curves. Zune HD – some rounded corners but also some ugly screws in the back. Ugh..

Zune Marketplace:

If we’ve had one major complaint over the years, it’s the confusing mess that is known as the Microsoft Zune marketplace and the somewhat related Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Two marketplaces that share a common login and payment system.. but that’s really about it. For some stupid reason, they’ve been separate for all these years.

So now, Zune will feature prominently within the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.. great but um… does an Xbox 360 user care about the Zune brand? Probably not.. they simply care about purchasing and downloading videos and music. Without knowing the full details, what we need is a single unified store front for all of Microsoft multimedia content. We’ll find out more about this at E3 next year.. but to take a simple cue, just look at Apple and their iTunes store front. You can purchase a movie and have it synced to your iPod or to your Apple TV.. or have it playable on your PC. Can you do the same with content on Xbox LIVE Marketplace? Of course not. Of course this could all change next week as one media outlet announced that the video section of the Xbox LIVE Marketplace was being outright replaced with the Zune Video marketplace. If so – cool.. but what about the music? Why can’t I purchase and listen music on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace????

It’s all about simplicity for the user – Microsoft. Can you please do that much? Stop playing the “Let’s cooperate with the media conglomerate card” and start focusing in on the consumer at hand. Don’t make us wonder whether this movie will work on my Xbox 360 or on my Zune HD etc. Make it simple.. and make it work.

And while you’re at it – just remove that stupid Microsoft Point system will ya? It’s annoyed everyone for years now.. we accept it because we have no other choice to do so but it’s silly.

It’s all about the Apps..

The Zune HD doesn’t change one important thing about the Zune. It’s basically a portable media player and nothing else. Sure current iterations let you play some games and the new Zune HD will have a built-in web browser.. but that’s really about it.

Look at what Apple has successfully forged with the iPod touch/iPhone. It’s built an incredibly large developer community with some developers going from rags to riches over silly applications. It’s a shame that Microsoft with its rich developer history hasn’t yet fully realized this yet. Sure it’s starting to roll out a Mobile App marketplace for Windows Mobile… but that surely will not extend to the Zune anytime soon (if ever). Until we have a rich application community, the Zune will never be able to compete in this arena.

A user buys an iPod touch and the whole experience is only just beginning simply because they can now purchase thousands of app that extend and enrich their media player. What do we have on the Zune? Music.. videos.. photos.. a browser… oh yeah.. HD radio.

Pricing

I’ve never really been critical of the Zune pricing.. but if the Zune is going to succeed in any way, it needs to be competitively priced against the iPod touch – aka it needs to be cheaper. Microsoft has the money, and they can certainly make people turn their heads simply by pricing the Zune HD cheaper than a comparable iPod touch. And let’s face it – it SHOULD be cheaper if only because the feature set is lower than the iPod touch.  You want a game changing product Microsoft? Under-price the competition.

Paved with the best of intentions…

It’s been a brave road for the Zune team.. but I can’t help but feel that it’s road that will lead them to nowhere. Microsoft lacks the unifying vision in the digital marketplace that Apple has and it certainly doesn’t look like anything is going to change soon. The mere fact that there needs to be a Zune “brand” within the Xbox LIVE marketplace says it all. You’ve got brands and groups competing with each other within Microsoft. You have duplicate software applications on the same PC (Zune software vs. Windows Media Player) that practically do the same thing – except one talks to the Zune and one doesn’t… yet is better integrated with the rest of Microsoft’s digital home technologies (Windows Media Player/Center).

Take a step back and unify your vision Microsoft. It might take some time but it will be well worth it don’t you think? Our simple recommendations:

• One marketplace for content
• One software for managing content
• Content that plays – at least on all Microsoft devices (and PCs)
• One unifying application community – develop for Windows Mobile gets you on Zune etc
• Unify the front end on mobile devices will ya? Make the Zune UI the single user interface for all Microsoft branded devices – from phones to players to whatever.
• Look at Apple for guidance

Please rethink your Zune strategy Microsoft. We’ve stuck by you all these years.. and really.. nothing has changed. The Zune is still playing catch up.. and it’s still a confusing mess out there for the average consumer. It shouldn’t have to be.

Technorati Tags: Zune

After months of rumors, Microsoft finally confirmed yesterday the existence of the next generation Zune player called the Zune HD. The new Zune HD will have the following features:

• “Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
• 3.3 inch OLED touch screen interface with a 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution).
• The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.
• Supported 720p HD video files will play on the device but downscaled to fit at 480 x 272. You’ll still be able to output in HD.
• Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
• Wi-Fi enabled as with previous Zune products – allows you to connect, update, and buy content wirelessly from Wi-Fi hotspots.
• Built-in accelerometer
• Touch-screen QWERTY keyboard

Microsoft is finally taking on Apple’s iPod touch with the new Zune HD product and hoping that a feature such as built-in HD Radio tuner will help differentiate itself from the pack. The real question is – will people really care about HD Radio enough to buy into the Zune story? The iPod touch has a major feature going for it that Microsoft has really yet to match – a large 3rd party application community in the App Store which turns the iPod touch into essentially a portable computer of sorts. Then again – one could argue that the Zune focuses in on one thing and one thing only – delivering high quality multimedia content to the user.

Finally, Microsoft announced that the Zune brand experience would be extended to the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace. The Zune will occupy the first slot within the  Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace. According to Enrique Rodriquez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video, and Music Business Group, “Delivering on Microsoft’s connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world.”

No word on pricing nor availability at this time.

[Check it out]

[Check out the product page]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Zune HD, Microsoft

Yes, it’s been awhile since I posted here at ZuneSphere.com. There’s a couple of important news announcements regarding the Zune. First off, let’s talk about pricing.

On the hardware front, Microsoft lowered the price of the flash-based Zune players. The 4GB Zune now goes for $99; the 8GB for $139 and the 16GB $179. Unfortunately the hard drive based Zune didn’t receive a price discount at this time.

Several Zune accessories were also marked down – the Zune Car Pack is now priced at $69 dollars, the Home AV Pack is at $59 dollars, and the Dock Pack is now $39 dollars.

Now on the software/music side, a couple of major developments. First off, there’s a new firmware and software update available – so make sure to perform an update at your earliest convenience.

Secondly, the Zune Pass subscription received a nice enhancement yesterday. Starting yesterday, folks who use Zune Pass (which costs $14.99 per month) will be able to download and keep 10 tracks per month – DRM free. Microsoft signed agreements with EMI Music, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group as well as many independent labels to make this happen. Microsoft also announced that soon over 90 percent of the content on the Zune Marketplace will be DRM-free and in MP3 format. This certainly makes Zune Pass much more attractive for those of you who have been waiting in the sidelines. While you’re paying for unlimited access to songs, you also get what amounts to a free album once a month.

[Check it out via PC Magazine]

Technorati Tags: Zune Pass, Zune Flash, Price reduction

In preparation for the upcoming release of Gears of War 2 for the Xbox 360 console, Microsoft announced their new Zune Gears of War 2 Special Edition 120GB device which is now available for pre-order at Amazon.com and Walmart.com for $279.99. 

The new Zune GOW2 Special Edition player is based on the Zune 120GB player and features a laser-etched Crimson Omen on a new gloss black enclosure, collectible Gears of War packaging, and 244 pieces of Gears of War media (original game soundtrack, behind-the-scenes videos, game trailers, and concept art galleries).

The Zune Gears of War 2 Special Edition will begin shipping on November 7th - the same day Gears of War 2 will be made available worldwide.

[Pre-order at Amazon.com]

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Zune Gears of War 2 Special Edition

I’m willing to bet that when you think of the Zune, you’re thinking of a portable media player with a software application running on the computer desktop. Well in an interview with CIO.co.uk, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer sees the Zune as something slightly different.

Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software - and what you’ll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc.

Pretty interesting huh?

A Microsoft rep had this to say when asked by CNET’s News.com for additional clarification on Ballmer’s comment:

“We’ve always said that software and services is a key focal point for Zune and it does make sense to extend the Zune experience to other devices.. In terms of specific timing we have nothing to announce at the moment.”

Seriously now - is this really surprising? The Zune team did something incredibly right when they created the Zune platform. They nailed the user interface spot on. In fact many in the media think that the Zune user interface is BETTER than the iPod user interface. BETTER. With this kind of popularity, why not bring the Zune back into the Windows Mobile fold - especially since the Zune already has its roots in Windows CE/Mobile. Why not extend the reach of the Zune software to encapsulate many more devices - bringing them into the Zune influence.

The Zune also helped Microsoft extend their online marketplace services. Before the Zune, we had the Xbox LIVE Marketplace where gamers could download games and movies and of course interact and play with others. With the addition of the Zune Marketplace, Microsoft extended the Marketplace to include music (although the services are still disjoint from one another - movies in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace can not be purchased or used for the Zune and vice versa with music.

Yet the platform and services should help you see the bigger picture here. Take a step back and look from way up high.  At the center of all of this are Microsoft software services such as Windows Live, Xbox Live Marketplace, and the Zune Marketplace. Think the cloud folks. Connecting to the cloud and its services are client devices running Microsoft operating systems - from PC’s with Windows to mobile phones running Windows Mobile to Xbox 360 consoles running the new Dashboard Experience, to devices running the Zune software.

OK.. so that’s how I see all of this coming together. Will they actually execute a plan like this? Who knows.. but in the short term, it’s nice to see the Zune expand further into additional devices.

[Check it out via News.com]

Technorati Tags: Zune, hardware, Steve Ballmer

TheStreet.com has an amusing article about the new Zune 3.0 update over on their website entitled “Zune 3.0: Microsoft’s iPod Killer?” Now before Apple fans go ballistic with that statement, the author does point out immediately that “Apple’s iPod still rules the roost — and probably will for a long time.” Yup.. I’ll definitely admit to that one. In any case, the article’s somewhat amusing because of the statements that the author makes.

Case in point - near the end of the first page, Gary Krakow writes “The new software is definitely an improvement over the original and last year’s update. It puts your computer music library right on the front page where you can see everything in a glance. “  Umm sorry Gary but the initial library snapshot is pretty much identical to last year’s update. The music was always there to begin with.

Then he writes “The new software also puts Microsoft’s new Zune Marketplace front and center.” I’m not sure how “front and center” it is, but the Marketplace is as easily accessible this year as it was last year. It just looks a bit better graphically speaking.

“The biggest hardware difference is that Zune built-in Wi-Fi.” Umm.. Hello? Have you seen the iPod touch? (Unless he’s referring to the Nano and the classic of course… but he doesn’t clarify).

Yet there is one thing I do agree with Mr. Krakow. The Zune sounds better than the iPod. I definitely will agree to that.. though IMHO, the difference is subtle.

In any case, check out the review for a little chuckle..

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Zune 3.0, TheStreet.com, Review

For those of you who love commercials, Microsoft has a new Zune promo ad out explaining the new 3.0 features. Check it out on YouTube (or below).

Thanks to EDN for this linky. That link also has a nice overview of the new Zune 3.0 installation and update.

Technorati Tags: Zune 3.0, Promotional Video, microsoft

PC Magazine published two separate reviews of the new Zune updates this past week - separating out a review for the Zune 16GB flash player and the Zune 120GB hard disk drive player.

For the Zune 16, they had the following to say about the player:

Calling the Zune 16GB a new product is a bit of a stretch. With no real hardware changes, and the ability to load the new software onto any of the older models, we’re basically looking at the same old player with a paint job, a capacity upgrade, and price change.

They ended up giving the player 3 stars out of 5 - calling it a “good” player.

Now for the 120GB player, PC Magazine had this to say:

Still the best hard drive-based portable media player on the market—the feature-barren iPod classic can’t compete with the Zune’s top-notch navigation and added wireless abilities.

So there you have it - the hard drive version of the Zune still rocks in the eyes of PC Mag.. the flash player could use a little updating though.

Technorati Tags: PC Magazine, Microsoft, Zune 16, Zune 120, Review

I’ve been thinking about how we could turn the Zune Social idea into something a bit more concrete for all of us Zune users out there. Zune Social in itself is a wonderful idea in that, it allows users to see what their online friends are listening to on their Zune players. The biggest problem of course is… most of us don’t have enough friends with Zunes! It’s just darn hard to meet people with this wonderful media player.

So what can do to solve this?

I say.. let’s throw a party!! (A Zune User Party (ZUP)?) A real party that is.. not a virtual party of sorts.. but a real party in real cities around the country. We could start small.. start in one city and see what the interest is like. If it catches on, we can assign people in every major city to be responsible for administrating and holding their own party of sorts..

Think of this as.. a Zune owners party.. a way for people to get together and meet other fellow Zune owners. We could certainly add a spin to this by requiring Zune owners to bring their Zune along. In fact, if you bring a Zune to the party, you’d get into the party for free. If you don’t bring a Zune, you’d have to pay a cover charge.

Another reason to bring the Zune? Share songs with other folks at the party! Sharing songs was a pretty nifty idea to begin with but the truth is.. the next Zune owner is about 2-5 miles away from my office!!! What we need is a central location for people to mingle AND share. Heck, we could have people print out their respective Zune Cards too!

So.. what do you think folks? Since I live in Los Angeles, I’m thinking about starting up a Zune party here. If you living in Los Angeles AND you own a Zune, let me know if you’d be interested in attending. Just comment here. If we get enough interest, we could be the first to throw a Zune users party.. Heck, if we get a lot of interest maybe we can get Microsoft to help us out!!!

Technorati Tags: Zune Users, Zune Party, Los Angeles

Announced last week, Microsoft released their software update for the Zune media player today - adding a wealth of new features to all Zune owners out there. The most interesting feature with the new Zune is the ability for the Zune player to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots and connect wirelessly to the Zune Marketplace. From there you’ll be able to purchase and download music straight to the Zune player without needing a PC. Other new features include a new Zune Channels feature, support for Audiobook content, and a new Buy from FM feature.

Microsoft also announced that it’s working with Wayport Inc. to allow Zune users free wireless access to the Zune Markeplace from more than 9,800 McDonalds restaurant locations around the U.S.

Finally, Microsoft’s Zune Originals websites will offer online exclusive color choices for the new Zune 16 flash player including blue, red, pink and green. Zune Originals will also add 14 new custom artwork designs for customers to choose from. The new Zune 120 will sell for $249.99 while the Zune 16 will go for $199. However, if you’re an existing Zune media player owner - the updates are all FREE. Yes.. FREE.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Zune, Software Update, Wayport, McDonalds, Wi-Fi HotSpots