Poor J Allard. The one cool guy at Microsoft—he’s the one who brought us the original Xbox—is trying so hard with the Zune. But he’s no match for Steve Jobs.
Redmond’s answer to the iPod has been a relative flop so far. The 1.2 million Zunes sold since it launched a year ago amounts to less than three percent of the number of iPods sold during the same time (which is more than 40 million), and only about one percent of the 110 million iPods sold since 2001. So Allard is trying again with a revamped Zune that looks even more like the iPod, and comes in new flash-memory versions. That’s so nano of him. But what, no Zune phone? No sexy iTouch? Allard is still trying to catch up to where Apple was a year ago.
At least he is getting rid of the Zune brown (a color only a UPS delivery man could love). The wireless syncing with your computer sounds nice. And the Zune music store will soon offer one million DRM-free songs—yay! But if you share them with someone else the other person can still only play them three times. That’s Microsoft for you. They put the DRM in “DRM-free” music.
And to try to make the kids care about a second-class device that, well, no one cares about, Allard had his biggest brainstorm yet. The Zune, you see, is not just another MP3 player. It’s a social network! That’s where this whole Zune Social thing comes in. I just hope that this is not Microsoft’s answer to Facebook in case the investment deal doesn’t go through.
Zune Social is a social network for the one percent of the digital music player-owning population that have a Zune or will ever have a Zune so that they can share their playlists and samples of the songs on their Zunes. Hmm. Well, gee, I can already share the playlists of the songs on my iPod with services like Last.fm and Anywhere.fm. Or I can create my own playlists on imeem, where anyone else in the world can go to listen to every song on my playlist in its entirety for free, with the blessings of the music labels to boot. Even Apple is getting into the social music scene with My iTunes widgets that show off the songs you’ve bought. With so many other, more popular options out there in both hardware and online music services, who is going to bother to go to the Zune Social—other than Bill Gates and J Allard?
Zune has less than 3 percent of the numbers of iPod? Didn’t you say Zune was just a year ago? That is by far excellent numbers.
Apples’ iMAC has less than 6 percent and they have been trying for 3 decades already, going to their fourth decade in a few years time.
Considering that the first Zune is so crappy and still get almost 3 percent is a very good indicator.
Plus, zune is a pretty cool name.
why the negative review already, what zune has isn’t going against the ipod touch but rather focusing on the ipod nano aka fatty and the ipod classic and when compared to both i think the new zunes are a far better deal
They put the DRM in “DRM-free” music.
Well these guys actually meant that DRM is “free” with the songs
This has got to be the worst post I have ever read on TechCrunch.
Congrats to Erick Schonfeld, fanboy at large.
You sir, are an idiot. Everyone knows iPod is outselling Zune by miles - no-one denies it. Does that mean they shouldn’t innovate with the Zune?
Oh and I liked the brown Zune. And I will go to the Zune Social, just like many of the other 1m plus Zune owners will. You seem to think that because you don’t like it nobody else will.
Ask yourself if you would be so critical if it weren’t a Microsoft product. I would expect that as a journalist you would be impartial but clearly you are not. I fully admit I am a Microsoft fan but I still have the ability to take a step back and take a holistic view - unlike yourself.
Apple have a widget showing off tunes I have bought? Wow! Zune will have a widget/gadget/whatever saying what I have actually listened to and what I am listening to NOW. Much as you won’t like to admit it no-one else is doing that and thus it is innovative.
I would unsubscribe if it didn’t mean that I would miss out on what your far more respectable colleagues have to say. Your outpourings since you started on this site have been dull and banal - and this tops it off.
-Jamie
As long as they fail to support Audible files, I will never give them a chance. I wouldn’t mind trying something other than an iPod, but without being able to play my audiobooks from Audible, not a chance.
arstechnica implied that there would be no drm when you shared songs (they said you could share podcasts, playlists and songs with no more time limit)
It sounds kinda nice to me (as long as it works well and there aren’t any secret things that screw it up)
I mean, it has a lot of the features of the ipod touch (although admittedly not even close to as nice) but with 80 gigs, plus doesn’t it still have a subscription service?
I wish I could dl songs from the subscription service and podcasts straight to the device (although wireless syncing is better than nothing).
Plus microsoft is updating the old zune’s firmware with all of these functions.
So if you did bought one, you won’t feel burnt.
there are so many mp3 players trying to mimic ipod and so many facebook wannabe social networks and no one ever criticizes them, its okay to try to catch up, but when it comes to microsoft they are burned to hell, whats the problem? why is it cool to bitch about microsoft?
why dont you write about any other mp3 player but zune?
I’m amazed that I’m reading this on Techcrunch and not on some Apple website. Take a look at the comments on Engadget, Gizmodo or even Digg. Take a look at http://www.digg.com/microsoft/....._Customers
I’m very disappointed with this ‘review’ - when you havent even seen the product and basing your comments on what you think one line a press release means.
They should of given them away with xbox 360’s and then they would have nabbed a good slice of the market. If they hooked them into the xbox live network friends etc it would have been a winner.
Sorry Erick, but this has definitely been a disgusting article. I expected more from you…
Wow, Techcrunch usually has such great articles. I don’t have a problem with articles that I disagree with, opinions are what blogs are for, but poorly written or formulated arguments are sad.
It’s too bad that this article was published. It’s horrible.
Jason — Zune Erick? 3.5 Inch floppy disks — that was a good laugh.
Erick — Do you have any patent numbers which makes iPod Nano the owner of flash on music players?
Interestingly enough - one of the MAIN points in the launch is not even mentioned. Microsoft’s biggest move (which also happens to set it apart from Apple) is that the software updates that the new generation have will be sent out across the already available products - the first generation. Apple has never supported its previous generations in this way. Frankly, I’m also a bit pissed off with Apple over its moves with the Iphone, and thats enough to guarantee that I will NEVER buy a device from them. The new zunes on the other hand are very tempting, so maybe I’ll treat myself come Christmas…
Wow, that was snide.
Actually, the new range looks very good. And a 3% share, up against Apple, isn’t such a bad start.
Personally, I think the Zune 2 looks pretty solid - a good range, and great new features. My only problem with Zune is that I can’t copy to it all the music I’ve purcahsed previously with Napster/MSN (but then, that’s the same with Apple and the iPod).
My only other wish would be that somebody else handles writing about Zune in future. As much as I enjoy this site, it’s Arrington that can still write the most informative and honest articles exploring angles rather than just one personal point of view. Shame.
That promo graphic you’ve shown there actually uses the word “podcasts” — have Microsoft given up on *that* particular battle?
Agreed. This is the worst article I’ve read on techcrunch. I own a Dell and a PowerMac G5. An 80g iPod Video and a 1st Gen Zune. I’m no fanboy of either - which is why I feel justified in calling Erik out on his prejudice.
Those sold numbers are actually pretty respectable. I don’t see YOU running a company that sold 1.2 million mp3 players last year. Techcrunch writers really suck…you would think one of the most popular startup/tech blogs could afford to hire good writers…
It was a good week to announce, with anger at Apple having reached fever pitch over their pig-headed handling of the iPhone (aka “best iPod we’ve ever made”) update. Or brickdate as i like to call it.
In fact, I was a fairly loyal Apple fanboy, but I’ve been so p1ssed off by its attitude to destroying the 3rd party app scene, that I’m pretty much ready to recommend any friend or relative takes a look at a Zune…
So, J Allard, all you have to do to get back into the position of grinding Apple under your heel (the natural stance of a Microsoft person) is this:
Zune Touch, phone edition
unlocked
open to 3rd party apps
Done! Steve Jobs will be a footnote in computing history, again.
I generally love TechCrunch and its informative, unbiased articles, but I have to say that this is one of the most biased, uninformed articles I have ever read on a tech site, let alone TechCrunch. It might not be so bad if the article actually mentioned all of the relevant points of the recent Zune 2 announcement, but this article hardly even covers some of the better points (like all of the new features being available for the old Zunes). I’ll keep reading TechCrunch as always, but whenever I see the name Erick Schonfeld, I’ll have to take what he says with a grain of salt, which is a shame on a site of this caliber. Such biased postings as these are fine for a personal blog, but they have no place here. With any luck, Michael Arrington will be doing future coverage of Zune news. I can always respect his writings and opinions.
Dear Erick bro: The world is not so MS-Black and Apple-White.
Pretty sad day to read such an article from TechCrunch
Not that I’m a serious M$ fanboy, but this was just disgusting.
Oh, and you failed to mention the fact, that zune ver1 users can get all the new features as a free software update. What’s Apple doing in that area?
Quote:
And the Zune music store will soon offer one million DRM-free songs—yay! But if you share them with someone else the other person can still only play them three times. That’s Microsoft for you. They put the DRM in “DRM-free” music.
That has got to be the most retarded thing I’ve ever heard from a so-called tech-journalist/blogger.
Let’s say I bought Rihanna’s latest number as a DRM-free MP3 from Amazon and put it on my Zune 2. Then I send it to a couple of friends, who send it to a couple of friends, and so on. If it doesn’t have the 3-plays DRM limit on it, that’s effectively piracy — I purchased the song once, and distributed it to countless people. You must be out of your mind to expect the music industry to allow MS to remove DRM protection from that feature.
Simply put, this blog post was terrible. I gleaned more information from Engadget’s posts while being able to form my own opinions. With this post, I had to wade through Erick’s personal opinions, many of which I do not share, only to find sparse information on the new Zune itself.
Looking at the poor response to your article, and going with your logic that one should stop after (your article is failure unlike zune which as of now ain’t a huge success) failure.
Are you going to stop writing articles ?
As far as i know with Amazon’ store and Zune central and Zune 2.0 vs Fatty iPod + bloated iTunes.
I will chose Zune.
Xbox 1 was not so goods and Xbox360 is doing much better than PS3, think about it retardo.
What Microsoft doesn’t seem to realize (or I guess doesn’t want to be ruled by) is that they are fighting their own reputation. So many people don’t like Microsoft for so many different reasons (one of those, I think, is the fact that so many HAVE to use it). So when another cooler option comes along people are always going to take it.
There will always be jokes about driving your mom’s station wagon, no matter how good it runs or cool it actually might be. Because it’s a station wagon, people want something else.
Actually, yeah.. I’ve been looking for a large screen, wireless syncing, 80gb and the ability to play mpeg4.. So I guess I’ll be going to the social.
My god, how far is your head up Apple’s arse? You didn’t even try and give a balanced view. Why has the entire Internet turned into Apple land just lately? First Engadget, now Techcrunch. Eugh.
Mr Schonfeld,
My response above (#6) was a kneejerk, heat-of-the-moment reaction. Saying “You sir, are an idiot” was a puerile thing to do and I apologise for it.
I stand by everything else I said.
-Jamie
HAHAHAHA
I didn’t know so many M$ employees read TC!
Zune sucks guys, lets face it!
1 millions sold is an overblown figure and that is after billions spent on marketing.
I dare you guys to sell another million, not in a thousand years!
Btw, the new sony mp3 player kicks zoon ass. go check it out.
Microsoft deserves what they get. They spend all their money to make an exact clone of the iPod. Look at an Ipod Classic then the first Zune, they are identical! Now look at the Nano and the new flash Zune. They should have done at least something innovative, but unfortunately they are unable to innovate at all. This is why everyone hates Microsoft and their stock has stayed flat for years.
By that very same reasoning OS X has been a “relative flop so far.”
You’re not especially bright, Erick.
Wow Eric,
You just reviewed something you never tried. And I though Techcrunch was cool???
Its amazing how iFanboys still hold on to the Apple even after all the negetive steps by them last couple of months.
Ouch, there goes the Techcrunch reputation. This is by far the single worst article I’ve seen on here.
You are truly a hater… this is a terrible post to write. How can you expect people to keep reading when all you do is bash everyone who isn’t Jobs… (who’s a dousche bag anyway)
@ Hammer - Apple also spends a ton on marketing. or do you think those commercials and billboards just appear out of nowhere?
@FrankyG - Wireless sharing made easy is not innovative? Actually trying to make a social network out of people using a MUSIC PLAYER of all things is not innovative? Oh my, oh look, that’s an Ipod, I think I’ll go over there and listen to his music :D…..nah.
What I am still waiting for….is a Dick Tracy cellphone/mp3/tv/everything-else watch!
Glad to see that Microsoft is in the house. For some of the commentators above who seem a bit confused about this post, it wasn’t meant to be a review. You can get that on Crunchgear or Engadget. It’s simply an analysis of Microsoft’s Zune strategy, particularly the introduction of Zune Social. Nothing anyone has said in the previous 41 comments convinces me that anyone is going to show up there.
Anyone calling erick an apple fan is obviously not a dedicated reader of the blog. Last week he nailed them on the iPhone:
http://www.techcrunch.com/2007.....e-company/
The Zune is a weak device in a competitive market. They don’t get a free ride just because Apple’s the leader in the space.
“analysis of Microsoft’s Zune strategy” - Do you really believe that this post can be described as ‘analysis’.
Take my advise; alienating your readers and posting snidy comments is not the way to keep them sticky. My suggestion to you Erick is to move on from this post, don’t comment any more, don’t dig yourself deeper and try better next time.
ok.
something tells me this got linked on a microsoft lovers forum somewhere. Anyone have the link?
Something about this post makes it feel very different from other TechCrunch posts. I think Erick has a very different style of writing from the other authors @ TechCrunch.
and something about these anonymous comments smells a little like a setup.
“And to try to make the kids care about a second-class device that, well, no one cares about,”
Michael, editorial correction, please: I care about the device. != no one.
@Michael Arrington
Im not sure if the real argument is that Erick is an ‘apple fan boy’ or not. The fact is that the article is simply badly written and researched. Clearly the Zune has not sold as much as the iPod but then again OSX has not sold as many copies as Windows. Based on the Erick logic one could assume that OSX is a ’second class’ product.
We are used to well written and un-biased articles on TC and this type of post simply annoys the fickle tech savvy blog reader.
Its a shame you don’t have RSS feeds per author, that we can pick and choose who we want to read.
I dont think there is anything like a link from MS forums to this particle post.
The review was unfair and not honest, like the aim was just to follow the ‘MS cant do anything right and Apple cant do anything wrong’ trend.
While I’m not headed over to the Zune social personally, I do think that the new player offers a lot of neat features, like the wireless syncing and the do-it-for-you TV downloads. That’s stuff that apple hasn’t brought to their products yet.
And even if ipods do outsell zunes 100 to 1 (like they did last year), it’s still good for the competitive spirit. And good blogging fodder:
http://www.itgumbo.com/mumbogu.....r_over.php
FULL DISCLOSURE: Erick has significant quantities of Apple stock. It is in his interests to slam all the competitors to Apple products, even if this requires him to make inane, unreasoned statements.
1) OMIGOD! I can play playlists on my computer! So it’s not a feature that I can now share these playlists WITH MY MP3 PLAYER, ON THE GO, WITHOUT A COMPUTER!!! (What sort of messed up reasoning is that?)
2) OMIGOD!! MS isn’t trying to create a phone!!!
Are you referring to the craptastic iBrick? The one that locks you into to a proprietary system, that locks you into a company that will INTENTIONALLY brick your phone?
You know, come to think of it, I actually prefer the Zune to a crapple. One may look like turd, but the other actually is.
If the Zune showed some major advance over the latest iPods in design or functionality I would forgive Microsoft its negligible market share. But this isn’t exactly a leapfrog product. And, for the record, I am an equal-opportunity basher. I’ve written critical posts about Apple as well, and will continue to do so when it is warranted.
And, no, I do not own any Apple stock. I don’t even own an iPhone.
Arrington-
Instead of worrying about a ‘microsoft lovers forum’ maybe you should take a look at the fact that your employee wrote a crappy article. I am not coming from a ‘microsoft lovers forum’….I am coming here via the RSS feed I get in Google Reader. This article is a ridiculous ‘analysis’.
In my mind the Zune is the only alternative to the iPod (which I own). It is the only player that does AAC. It has a fantastic display. Are they selling as many as Apple? Of course not but then again that isn’t the point. There is room out there for iPod alternatives and again in my mind Microsoft is providing the only good alternative.