Microsoft Zune is Official
Microsoft’s Zune is official and will be without a doubt taking an alligator sized bite of the iPod’s market share. Why? Content, interactivity, integration and a virtually endless supply of money.
The Zune will have its own content platform apart from Microsoft’s PlaysForSure initiative. This service will create an interactive community though Wi-Fi more than likely with buddy lists, playlist sharing, and content sharing. This player will also tightly integrate with the Xbox 360 and Windows Media Center to name a few. It is also rumored that Microsoft will purchase your locked down iPod music files for use on the Zune for an easy switch (how ironic). The player is said to be release before the end of the year with more devices in 2007. Engadget has a nice run down of what we know and don’t know yet.
Here is the official Zune viral marketing site and a few other articles discussing the Zune. Billboard.biz via MobilWhack | ZuneInsider via dapreview
Comments
Louis on July 22, 2006 12:40 PM
The Zune is more likely to cannibalize the Creative, iRiver, Sony, Cowon, Sandisk, and Samsung MP3 player markets before it hurts Apple.
Good news or bad? I think added competition is good, but I cannot see Creative surviving the onslaught of TWO 800 pound gorillas. Sony has it's PS, electronics, and media divisions to hold the fort, and Samsung is equally diversified, but how about iRiver? Can Sandisk thrive on flash memory devices alone?
Atrax on July 22, 2006 10:16 PM
Creaitve will continue to make mp3 players, even if the iPod and ZUNE try and crush it. They make soundcard, speakers sytems, software, generally anything multimedia. They've survived making soundcards alone for a while, so why shouldnt they now?
Louis on July 23, 2006 6:42 PM
Hmm, how about the fact that three of the past four quarters saw Creative post losses due to intense competition with Apple? First by not selling enough, then lowering prices to sell more but lose money on inventory costs, and finally taking a loss on inventory as Apple continues to drop prices due to volume efficiencies that Creative cannot match except by selling existing inventory below purchase prices?
In the sound card market Creative is facing pressure from Intel, ATI, Nvidia, and other integrated sound solutions, reducing the need for sound cards except for specialty purposes?
The funny thing is that Creative could probably make a killing selling iPod accessories :)
zune on July 24, 2006 4:42 AM
im loving it all over it , go zune
manoz on July 25, 2006 3:24 PM
The marketing thing is just weird, I like Sandisk's better. This is the same as the Argo project right?
JagvsShodan on July 28, 2006 8:20 PM
"The funny thing is that Creative could probably make a killing selling iPod accessories :)"
LOL, you have no idea how right you are.
I'm ready to see what Microsoft can make. If its a good product, then hell, they'll get my money. I'm not going after a name, I just want what works. :)