I’ve done a couple of post now on Microsoft’s Zune device and how it might fare against Apple’s iPod. I own an iPod and use it almost every weekday for listening to audiobooks and/or podcasts as I commute to and from work. I consider the iPod to be an extremely well designed and functional audio media device. It’s integration with iTunes and the online iTunes media store only help to enhance this functionality. However, I certainly don’t consider myself an iPod fanatic or zealot. I hadn’t really planned on any additional post on the Zune vs. iPod but the banter continues at full force on some parts of the Internet blog circuit.
In my last post I quoted a post that gave the reasons for why Microsoft’s Zune will eventually dethrone the iPod and why Apple is scare of Microsoft and the Zune. So in this post I’m presenting the other side of the current arguement with a post from Roughlydrafted about the ten Zune Myths. While I don’t agree to the degree that some of these arguments are made, I do think there are some valid points here. Many of these same issues are why I’ve already stated that I believe it’s going to take some time for Microsoft to break into the market in any big way. These myths include:
Myth 1: The Zune has a larger screen that’s better for movies.
Myth 2: The Zune screen has a horizontal display mode for viewing movies in a wide aspect ratio.
Myth 3: The Zune will play movies… or any video at all
Myth 5: The Zune offers similar hardware to the iPod at the same price
Myth 6: Wireless features on the Zune provide a compelling new feature.
Myth 7: Microsoft will deeply discount the Zune as a loss leader to gain marketshare
Myth 8: Microsoft will deeply discount the Zune as a loss leader to gain subscription income
Myth 9: The Zune has excited a lot of users already
Myth 10: Available in Brown
Honorable mention Myth: Zune PlaysForSure
As a tech guy, I’ve been mostly interested in the Wifi features of the Zune. But I continue to ask the question; will Wifi really be a big plus for the Zune? If it was totally open I think it could be a big draw for Zune. But when we consider DRM a lot of questions come to mind. The success of the Wifi capabilities of the Zune may be closely tied to how Microsoft and the Zune DRM works. The last I’ve read it appears that “any” music transferred between Zune’s will be wrapped in a DRM envelope that limits it to 3 days or 3 plays. Will video or other data files typed also be “protected” this way? If this is so, then the popularity of this feature may be very limited.
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