Comments on: Microsoft “super-pleased” with Zune. Do you believe it?

By: Ziad Fazel

Ziad Fazel — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:49:24 +0000

Me thinks the Microsoft gentleman doth hyperbole too much. Too way super-much.

By: Dave C

Dave C — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 17:45:53 +0000

http://venturebeat.com/2008/06/12/interview-with-microsofts-robbie-bach-part-1-on-zune/

“It’s not like [GameStop] sells iPods either. GameStop saw it as a place to expand. We tried. It hasn’t gone as well as they’d like so they decided to stop selling them. It doesn’t say a lot. It was a channel expansion opportunity and it didn’t work out. It was a good thing to try. But it’s not called GameStop for nothing. It’s not called MusicStop. We have good traction with Best Buy, Circuit City and elsewhere.”

Zune 2.0 is a very well-designed product. Yes, I own one. And no I don’t work for Microsoft. I previously owned 3 iPods. I wanted a small, solid-state player, and I hated the form factor of the newest iPod Nanos.

The Zune UI makes great use of typography for clear, easy navigation. And the Zune software on the PC is also well-designed and easy to use. I’ve been using my iPhone as my primary music player since I got it, just to save carrying around a second device. But I do think Microsoft has finally gotten it, after a bad 1.0 start.

By: Will Parker

Will Parker — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:34:48 +0000

I can answer one of your questions: “Do you think Microsoft will or will not get into cellphone hardware business?”

Either way, not so that anyone would notice.

By: BP

BP — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 21:33:09 +0000

@Dave – Even before the latest firmware update you could manually tell your Zune to sync wirelessly. When it is plugged into a power source and idle, then it automatically syncs wirelessly.

By: Rask

Rask — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:53:44 +0000

Dave – You might not have heard about the latest firmware updates. I configured Wireless sync on the Zune Software and after those settings were sync to my Zune the first time, I can now sync wirelessly with my PC. It doesn’t need to be connected to any type of power.

The device doesn’t need to be connected to anything.

By: Max Harvey

Max Harvey — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:39:19 +0000

I don’t I’ve ever seen anyone with a Zune around here before.

By: Stanwich

Stanwich — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:00:47 +0000

“2. Bach: “We don’t make phones ourselves. We don’t have any plans to make phones ourselves.” Do you think Microsoft will or will not get into cellphone hardware business?”

Absolutely yes. MS blames their phone problems on OEMs who don’t build compelling devices and believes the only way people will recognize the benefits of Windows Mobile is to build their own hardware.

By: dave

dave — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 03:51:27 +0000

Rask “…while in the car in my driveway I kicked up the sync…” You must have a power plug in your car, because somehow, Microsoft’s definition of ‘wireless sync’ means your Zune has to be plugged into a power-supply. I guess it really should be named ‘remote sync’, not ‘wireless sync’ because you always need a wire connected to your Zune for it to sync, even if the wire isn’t directly connected to the computer. Leave it to MS to figure out how to botch what could have been a real feature for the Zune.

By: Rask

Rask — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:47:53 +0000

Kontra – That I can completely understand. E&D may be posting profits now but at the rate they lost money during the first 5 years of the Xbox, it’ll be another 15 at this rate until they break even with their original investments.(Kotaku enjoys posting the quarterly’s of the gaming companies hence why I know this bit of info).

The money they lost getting it off the ground is quite legendary(Wasn’t the figure 5-6 billion if you include that Xbox 360 warranty write-off?).

BTW – I’ve subscribed to your RSS. Really enjoy the conversation here.

By: Kontra

Kontra — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:20:22 +0000

Rask: “Don’t own any stock at all actually.”

That’s fine. Many people look at, say, the XBox, play a game on it, read the Microsoft press releases and make the assumption that it’s a “super-pleased” kind of success. Whereas the financial reality is that over the years Microsoft has sunk billions into that bottomless money pit.