ON ZUNE GLOOM FOR MICROSOFT

FALLING FLAT

Microsoft is fighting hard to give it's next new product a fighting chance against entrenched competition, as the New York Times and GigaOm outline this morning. 

But, the early reviews are coming in for Microsoft's would-be iPod killer Zune, and it's not music to Microsoft's ears.  Walter Mossberg of the Wall Street Journal for example, lays out the Zune launch plans:

"Next week, Microsoft Corp. will launch the most serious challenge ever mounted to Apple Computer's iPod and iTunes juggernaut in digital music. The software giant is introducing a portable player called the Zune, an online music store called Zune Marketplace and a new music software program called Zune that links the two. It plans to put plenty of marketing muscle behind Zune, and promises to expand and refine this new product line in coming years."

He then goes on to summarize the pros and cons of the Zune, especially vs. the iPod in a review that goes on for almost 1900 words.

But the punch line is as follows:

"...this first Zune has too many compromises and missing features to be as good a choice as the iPod for most users. The hardware feels rushed and incomplete. It is 60% larger and 17% heavier than the comparable iPod. It has much worse battery life for music than the iPod or than Microsoft claims -- at least two hours less than the iPod's, in my tests."

The negative that rankled me the most was the way Microsoft is choosing to sell music a la carte.  As Walt explains:

"...to buy even a single 99-cent song from the Zune store, you have to purchase blocks of "points" from Microsoft, in increments of at least $5. You can't just click and have the 99 cents deducted from a credit card, as you can with iTunes. You must first add points to your account, then buy songs with these points.

So, even if you are buying only one song, you have to allow Microsoft, one of the world's richest companies, to hold on to at least $4.01 of your money until you buy another. And the point system is deceptive. Songs are priced at 79 points, which some people might think means 79 cents. But 79 points actually cost 99 cents."

The use of points to sell music is a carry-over from Microsoft's Xbox 360 game console and Xbox Live service.  And while it may be fine for the Xbox's demographic, it may be a bit much for mainstream consumers of music players.

David Pogue of the New York Times adds some additional negatives of the Zune that warrant consideration.

Anyway, this is version 1.0 of the Zune, and it's not going to have all the features one may wish for.  And we all know that Microsoft doesn't hit it's stride until version 3.0. 

So maybe the Zune may be ready for prime-time by next Christmas.

Comments

[Nephtaly Rivera]

On Tuesday November 14th, the music talk show "Soundcheck" will feature New York Times writer David Pogue. He will be discussing the new Zune music player, its comparization to the ipod and era of the mp3. "Soundcheck" discusses different music topics every day. It airs live Monday thru Friday at 2 PM on WNYC New York Public Radio 93.9 FM. If you are outside of New York City New Jersey, or Connecticut, you can listen live on wnyc.org.

[Yaser Anwar]

Users need to have a ZunePass, which allows you to stream or download content on a subscription basis on up to three authorized computers or Xbox 360 consoles.

The main hassle is: you must sign into the Zune Marketplace at least once every 30 days to refresh your digital licenses that accompany each download of subscription content.

If you have transferred subscription content to your Zune device, you will need to connect the Zune device to your computer and log into the Zune Marketplace to refresh your device at least monthly.

[Jo]

Taking one tiny step back from all the hype about new ipod-killers and what not, the thing that bothers me all this while is that the basic tech and value proposition of these gadgets remain the same.

There is no revolutionary or watershed breakthrough that makes any of this stuff monumentally different from an ipod that's released two years ago.

Until that happens, these companies can continue to roll out their "new and improved gadgets" but it'll have to be something really radical for the existing users to switch.

It wasn't that long ago when the ipod was marketed as "a gadget that'll be with you for life".

Now they're using FMCG tactics to rake in as much dough in the shortest time possible, their keynotes aping Paris's seasonal fashion shows.