Microsoft’s Zune was supposed to be the company’s answer to Apple’s widely-successful iPod. Needless to say, the Zune never attracted similar popularity. It was a flop. I know of only one person who has purchased the Zune.
The Zune had the same mp3 ability as the iPod, of course, and even boosted that it could play radio. But the Zune lacked the slick model of the iPod and the user experience that Apple delivered not only with the iPod but also with iTunes. Apple’s iTunes is one of the main - if not main - reason people buy the iPod: tens of thousands of songs, along with T.V. shows and movies that can only be played on the iPod.
Microsoft should have invested money in creating its own store. Alas, it hasn’t but it has released a new Zune:
The Zune’s design is not much improved and still is no match for Apple’s line of iPods and the iTouch.
The Zune’s design is lacking - and that matters big time - and it does not incorporate any new features not available elsewhere. But it does have one marking point that shows once again that Microsoft continues to miss the point: HD video transferring capability.
The Zune HD - as it is called - allows you to send video via a sold separately dock to any HDTV. Microsoft does not get it. Such features may be cool, but they do not attract customers as their first concern.
This is just like the first Zune. Microsoft thought it had one on Apple because its player could play radio. But people who buy mp3s want to listen to their music and are not concerned with radio. Likewise, those you have to choose between the Zune and iPod are not going to be swayed to favor the former because of video-transferring ability via a dock.
This does not matter. So what if you can upload a video from the Zune to a T.V. via a dock that costs more? This is not a selling point and at $219.99 for a 16GB and $289.99 for 32GB Microsoft is once again delivering a flop.
