Member Avatar for Zephyroza

Well I suppose it will be Apple’s worst ever Christmas gift. For months people have been anticipating a music player from Microsoft commonly known as iPod Killer (for no apparent reason). Well the iPod killer has been finally confirmed and has been code-named as Zune (strange name?).

It is expected to be released by the end of the year 2006 (Christmas?). Co-developed by Redmond, Zone is said to have features like Wi-Fi capabilities, larger screen compared to iPod and inter connectivity between Zone, XBOX Live and other Windows Mobile powered Handhelds. It is also rumoured that Zune will have an embedded software something like iTunes which have the capability to share and download music files.

So who will win the battle iPod or Zune?

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A short, factual follow-up to the original thread and the replies from , , , , , and .

Microsoft launched Zune on November 14, 2006 as a full media platform (30 GB model, 3" screen, FM tuner and a Wi‑Fi “Zune‑to‑Zune” sharing feature that limited shared tracks to a few plays). The company pushed Zune as device + marketplace + social experience at launch. (Microsoft press release: Zune launch, Nov 13, 2006.)

Many comments in this thread—skepticism about Microsoft’s timing (), the iPod’s market lead (), and the iPod’s status as a cultural, easy‑to‑use product ()—were on target. Zune brought useful ideas (wireless sampling, a subscription option and later Xbox/Marketplace ties), but it arrived late, never built the scale of iTunes + iPod, and struggled with global distribution and DRM/compatibility issues. Analysts and retrospectives record that Zune never displaced iPod market dominance. (See coverage and analysis of Zune’s market performance.)

Key later milestones: Zune Pass subscription (late 2008) and the Zune HD (2009) extended the platform and introduced strong hardware/software design, but Microsoft stopped producing Zune players in October 2011 as it shifted focus to Windows Phone and services. The remaining Zune streaming/download services were retired and migrated into Microsoft’s Groove/Xbox offerings in 2015. (Microsoft Zune Pass: Nov 19, 2008; Zune HD & platform evolution: Sept 15, 2009; end of hardware: PCWorld report, Oct 2011; final service shutdown: .)

Practical note: if an old Zune is still in use it will work as an offline MP3 player, but online features and DRM‑protected purchases were affected by the service shutdown. The useful takeaway from the thread is accurate: hardware matters, but ecosystem, timing and distribution matter more.

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Member Avatar for TeamRocket

It is very likely that Microsoft will do something to mess it up so I say the iPod will win.

Member Avatar for blud

Ipod is already the market share leader, so I don't think microsoft is just going to come in and take over...

Member Avatar for PoA

I don't think Microsoft is able to complete against Apple in Mp3 player market. But I would like to see Microsoft + Creative against Apple. That would be a big fight in the market which would push Apple better in producing the upcoming players.

Member Avatar for Sheriff Mole

Microsoft are late as usual. They can't even steel other peoples ideas quickly.
As for the other additions to the standard ipod. Apple are not going to stand still either, there is also a rumour that Apple have a widescreen video iPod under development. And, Chief Financial Office Peter Oppenheimer has suggested an iPod phone could be in development, and so it goes on.

IMHO Apple are more likely to say very little and pull a great product out of the bag. MS are more likely to over sell another lame uncool lump of junk. That's just my humble opinion.

Anyhoo even if they were to develop something of interest in the MP3 area, they've already missed out on the biggest part of the action.
Ipod killer indeed. The ipod is almost old enough to retire. :lol:

Member Avatar for TheNNS

They do this all the time, microsoft just has to steal everyone's ideas. In my opinion, the only few good things that have come from microsoft are the xbox and windows.

Member Avatar for pty

Microsoft's hardware track record has generally been good.

The problem with trying to muscle in on the iPod's territory though is that an iPod isn't just a music player, to the unwashed masses its the only music player. Its a symbol.

They are incredibly easy to use compared to other players I've tried; my friends have creative, archos and rio ones amongst them, all do more stuff than my 2nd generation iPod, play radio, have mic and line in ports, removable batteries etc etc.

The iPod though, is easiest to use and does what people want an mp3 player to do - play mp3s. And its best looking by a MILE.

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