August 17th, 2006
Zune Interface and Details Revealed
By Michael Santo
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews
As you recall, I wrote before about the Zune, Microsoft’s upcoming answer (?) to the iPod. iLounge has the lowdown on the interface and features of the device.
They discuss General UI, Scrolling UI, Buttons, Integrated FM, Wi-Fi, Album Art, and describe what’s “cool” and “not so cool”. A blurb:
Zune is a bit bigger than a standard 30GB iPod, and apparently made entirely of plastic. In addition to the Music menus, there are Videos and Pictures playback interfaces, which aren’t as simple as Apple’s. Rather than using the iPod’s single-line Rolls of Film + (#) display, photos can be shown in a list of individually-named folders with a second line indicating the number of pictures per folder, which unnecessarily uses up screen space. Other views are available. Videos also use two display lines a piece. An Extras menu provides access to the Radio feature, and presumably features added by future attachments or firmware. Settings lets you adjust the menus, the internal LCD screen, sound effects, the radio’s frequency tuning, and more. Source: iLounge
We Say: Based on NPD Group data, the iPod still has 75.6% of the market, with second place held by Sandisk, with 9.7%. I’m not sure what even Microsoft can do against that juggernaut.
Zune says:
I think Microsoft has a strong chance at taking up a strong second place finish in the market palce within two years and with their long term plans for the Zune I don’t believe iPod has a chance. The Zune is so much more than an iPod will ever be.
August 17th, 2006 at 6:44 pm
Improbus says:
It sounds like you work for the Microsoft PR department. Maybe you are just deluded. I for one don’t want a player loaded with DRM. I have no love Apple and less for Microsoft.
August 17th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
Jack says:
> Based on NPD Group data, the iPod still has 75.6% of the
> market, with second place held by Sandisk, with 9.7%. I’m
> not sure what even Microsoft can do against that juggernaut.
Of course, some people thought Microsoft could no nothing about Lotus 1-2-3 when that had 75.6% of the spreadsheet market, and nothing against Netscape when it had 75.6% of the browser market, and nothing against Palm when it had 75.6% of the PDA market, and nothing against Sony when it had 75.6% of the games console market.
It certainly won’t be easy, and the result is very far from certain. My simple point is that things that are obviously impossible in a 1-2 year time frame can become feasible if you take a 5-10 year view.
August 18th, 2006 at 3:38 am
Dean says:
Jack are you talking about the length of time it takes for MS to release Vista as compared to OS X? hehehehe
August 18th, 2006 at 7:35 am
Jack says:
> Jack are you talking about the length of time it takes for
> MS to release Vista as compared to OS X? hehehehe
No, nothing quite that stupid.
August 21st, 2006 at 12:33 pm
Sid says:
Well, since Microsoft has an inferior product, and they have little or no market share, they can sue Apple for being a monopoly. The situation is just all too familiar.
August 22nd, 2006 at 10:37 am
Lockergnome's Tech News Watch says:
EMI Music Videos To Be Preloaded On Zune
Michael Santo of RealTechNews writes: Earlier I asked how Microsoft could possibly take market share from Apple’s iPod. Of course, deals and partnerships like the iTunes promotion in Europe can’t do anything but help. Here’s the first deal Microsoft…
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:25 am