Microsoft’s Zune hops in
p2pnet.net News:- Not happening.
That was the official Word from Bill and the Boyz when the subject of an iPod Killer was raised.
But all that’s changed with Zune. Now Microsoft is hopping to take on Apple —— with a badly drawn animation of someone cuddling a rabbit as the teaser, leading to the statement, We’re all friends here. We’ll keep you posted.
Microsoft’s entry into music-player manufacturing is, obviously a last resort, undertaken kicking and screaming, says Wired News.
The company’s strategy so far has been to stay behind the scenes, creating backend technologies that enable its hardware and music store partners to sell music and devices to consumers.. The resulting system has yielded some major innovations, including a subscription-based platform that lets customers play rented music on portable players for as long as they pay their bills.
But its grand plan to play musical Switzerland to a host of third-party vendors, as it has done in the PC market, has proven as popular as Swiss music. (Cue accordions and alpenhorns.)
“It is a flanking move,” the BBC has the the Enderle Group’s Rob Enderle saying.
“Microsoft is trying to encompass Apple and turn them into a bit player. The strategy is brilliant, but the question is can they execute?”
Enderle says Zune will probably be pitched at, those creating music, movies and other content. The service would also use download statistics to generate lists of the most popular tracks and compile recommendations of artists that others might like.
Digg this story.
Also See:
iPod Killer – Microsoft iPod: on the way, July 22, 2005
Wired News – Microsoft IPod ‘Killer’ Is Doomed, July 24, 2006
BBC – Microsoft changes tune with Zune, July 24, 2006
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July 24th, 2006 at 4:45 pm
Mmmm, a mouthwatering prospect: Microsoft’s DRM-ridden music ’service’ or Apple’s DRM-ridden ’service’… I’m getting all excited just thinking about all these choices!