Last time I was at Microsoft I met with the Zune team and got this in-depth look at Zune (the iPod competitor).
I have some strong thoughts on Zune, but I want to keep them to myself until tomorrow. It’s better for you to just watch the video and give your two cents first.
What do you think now that you’ve had a good chance to hear from the Zune team? I asked all the hard question in this interview.
I think Zune will fail. Not necessarily because the product is poor – because Microsoft won’t be able to market the product effectively. They’re especially bad an marketing to the “iPod Generation.” Just look at the way the product manager talks about the thing – I was falling asleep. “Black” “Brown” device … snore. “Experience” “content” … falling asleep. Zune = snore.
Side note Robert. Ditch PodTech. I love watching your content but they’re serving it up too slow and your site at http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/ is hard to navigate. How do I get to your previous shows – the ones that aren’t on the main page? Where’s the archive? Seriously, they need to work on usability. Channel 9 was a much better usability experience and Microsoft always dished up fast. Get a better sponsor! Or, go out on you own and live on sponsorship and advertising revenue. Is your stuff on Google Video / YouTube?
Question: How is PodTech helping you?
I think Zune will fail. Not necessarily because the product is poor – because Microsoft won’t be able to market the product effectively. They’re especially bad an marketing to the “iPod Generation.” Just look at the way the product manager talks about the thing – I was falling asleep. “Black” “Brown” device … snore. “Experience” “content” … falling asleep. Zune = snore.
Side note Robert. Ditch PodTech. I love watching your content but they’re serving it up too slow and your site at http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/ is hard to navigate. How do I get to your previous shows – the ones that aren’t on the main page? Where’s the archive? Seriously, they need to work on usability. Channel 9 was a much better usability experience and Microsoft always dished up fast. Get a better sponsor! Or, go out on you own and live on sponsorship and advertising revenue. Is your stuff on Google Video / YouTube?
Question: How is PodTech helping you?
I think the lack of anything resembling podcasting support will doom the device. It’s one thing to leave it out of WMP – still beyond stupid, but WMP doesn’t matter anyway – but to leave it out of a portable media player is pretty much inexcusible.
“Three days or three plays, whichever happens first.”
Interesting, but not interesting enough.
I think the lack of anything resembling podcasting support will doom the device. It’s one thing to leave it out of WMP – still beyond stupid, but WMP doesn’t matter anyway – but to leave it out of a portable media player is pretty much inexcusible.
“Three days or three plays, whichever happens first.”
Interesting, but not interesting enough.
Cale: we’re working on the Web site. It’s a startup. At Microsoft I had millions of dollars and great developers to help out.
Get a better sponsor? Seagate is a great one. They make a very large percentage of the world’s storage devices.
As for archives, we’re working on that.
As for speed? My videos are at least twice as large as at Microsoft. I just hired an editor to help with that. And we’re working on other ways to distribute my video that’d be good and fast.
Google Video and YouTube are being considered.
What does PodTech bring to the table? They closed a sizeable sponsorship deal for me. They are bringing lots of other things to the table too. More to come on that front.
Cale: we’re working on the Web site. It’s a startup. At Microsoft I had millions of dollars and great developers to help out.
Get a better sponsor? Seagate is a great one. They make a very large percentage of the world’s storage devices.
As for archives, we’re working on that.
As for speed? My videos are at least twice as large as at Microsoft. I just hired an editor to help with that. And we’re working on other ways to distribute my video that’d be good and fast.
Google Video and YouTube are being considered.
What does PodTech bring to the table? They closed a sizeable sponsorship deal for me. They are bringing lots of other things to the table too. More to come on that front.
I am not sure if it will “fail” – only time will tell. Microsoft has been successful in capturing markets in the past, and there is no reason why it could not do that again.
Couple things:
1) Scoble – great questions. I particularly liked some of your questions regarding parental control, etc. It would be nice to have parental filters based on metadata, even for the zune-to-zune sharing. Also good to see the “Who are you” question
2) FM tuner is a good addition – iPod misses it right now.
3) Is the zune-to-zune using bluetooth to transfer files? I would really like to know if one of your reader knows the answer.
4) Since this is likely a windows CE-based device, could developers like custom .net compact framework programs (like we can on other CE-based handheld devices)? That would definitely be a nice feature.
5) I like the landscape view for browsing pictures, but if I want to view certain photographs in potrait mode, do the buttons detect that and change the button settings?
Finally, I know this is only going to be introduced in USA, but I was curious if they are going to have language packs down the road.
Good video – nice to see this video
Great work Robert!
I am not sure if it will “fail” – only time will tell. Microsoft has been successful in capturing markets in the past, and there is no reason why it could not do that again.
Couple things:
1) Scoble – great questions. I particularly liked some of your questions regarding parental control, etc. It would be nice to have parental filters based on metadata, even for the zune-to-zune sharing. Also good to see the “Who are you” question
2) FM tuner is a good addition – iPod misses it right now.
3) Is the zune-to-zune using bluetooth to transfer files? I would really like to know if one of your reader knows the answer.
4) Since this is likely a windows CE-based device, could developers like custom .net compact framework programs (like we can on other CE-based handheld devices)? That would definitely be a nice feature.
5) I like the landscape view for browsing pictures, but if I want to view certain photographs in potrait mode, do the buttons detect that and change the button settings?
Finally, I know this is only going to be introduced in USA, but I was curious if they are going to have language packs down the road.
Good video – nice to see this video
Great work Robert!
Shame it is only available for quicktime. I don’t install the memory hungry and slow Apple software.
Shame it is only available for quicktime. I don’t install the memory hungry and slow Apple software.
JoeM-
Its a .mov file … If you have VLC Player it should run fine (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
JoeM-
Its a .mov file … If you have VLC Player it should run fine (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
nice interview. zune looks very cool. i think many of your readers are msft-haters and will find plenty to nit-pick, but i think the general public is less kneejerk msft-phobic.
it’s good to finally see a real alternative to the ipod and zune does have some features that are unique and potentially cool. it’s easy to dis something before the market has had a chance to try it out. give it a chance! worst case, the competition will push apple to improve the ipod and itunes experience which is far from perfect.
nice interview. zune looks very cool. i think many of your readers are msft-haters and will find plenty to nit-pick, but i think the general public is less kneejerk msft-phobic.
it’s good to finally see a real alternative to the ipod and zune does have some features that are unique and potentially cool. it’s easy to dis something before the market has had a chance to try it out. give it a chance! worst case, the competition will push apple to improve the ipod and itunes experience which is far from perfect.
I really like the product and that there’s finally some competition to Apple. On the one hand, I really admire what Apple of done – but their reluctance to introduce a subscription service and the whole apple snobbery really puts me off. But the guy msft had talk to you about the product was reaaaaaallly boring. Considering your large viewership, you figure they’d put in some effort and find someone with at least a slight sense of humor to keep the interview watchable.
I also look forward to some really good firmware upgrades. Podcasts, the ability to share music to multiple Zunes at once, and integration with other msft software would all be great. As would a digital camera, USB host functionality (to allow download of photos from cell phones/cameras), and sharing of video. They’ve got lots of space to improve, but I for one will be buying one of these when they come out next month.
I really like the product and that there’s finally some competition to Apple. On the one hand, I really admire what Apple of done – but their reluctance to introduce a subscription service and the whole apple snobbery really puts me off. But the guy msft had talk to you about the product was reaaaaaallly boring. Considering your large viewership, you figure they’d put in some effort and find someone with at least a slight sense of humor to keep the interview watchable.
I also look forward to some really good firmware upgrades. Podcasts, the ability to share music to multiple Zunes at once, and integration with other msft software would all be great. As would a digital camera, USB host functionality (to allow download of photos from cell phones/cameras), and sharing of video. They’ve got lots of space to improve, but I for one will be buying one of these when they come out next month.
The Zune as it stands on day 1 will probably not threaten iPod. I don’t think MS is trying to beat iPod with this first device at all. The first generation tries to get the basics right. I think it’s a nice start. If handled right it can be a success. From the first generation onwards its all going to be about how MS handles the new features and updates to software along with some good marketing.
Remember MS does not have to be number one to be either successful or give some serious problem to iPod. If after 5 years if they have 35% of market share, that would be good enough.
The WiFi is something about which MS will have to educate the consumer. Again even if it’s not compelling today it can be tomorrow.
For me subscription music is its biggest draw. I will buy one for that and the fact that it will have a lot of accessories.
It’s a long battle and I am happy there is some competition in market now.
Rohit
PS – I don’t think they will target the iPod audience from day one. MS will go after the other people who are not taken by the cool factor. Idea is to create marker rather than get it from iPod.
The Zune as it stands on day 1 will probably not threaten iPod. I don’t think MS is trying to beat iPod with this first device at all. The first generation tries to get the basics right. I think it’s a nice start. If handled right it can be a success. From the first generation onwards its all going to be about how MS handles the new features and updates to software along with some good marketing.
Remember MS does not have to be number one to be either successful or give some serious problem to iPod. If after 5 years if they have 35% of market share, that would be good enough.
The WiFi is something about which MS will have to educate the consumer. Again even if it’s not compelling today it can be tomorrow.
For me subscription music is its biggest draw. I will buy one for that and the fact that it will have a lot of accessories.
It’s a long battle and I am happy there is some competition in market now.
Rohit
PS – I don’t think they will target the iPod audience from day one. MS will go after the other people who are not taken by the cool factor. Idea is to create marker rather than get it from iPod.
I say, the more competition, the better.
I don’t see Zune failing, unless by that you mean that it won’t take down the iPod. But I can see it having a larger market share than that Mac does, which would mean that if Zune “fails”, then the Mac “failed” too. (Not to mention Linux, which web usage stats show is at 0.4%, 10 times lower than that of the Mac).
I don’t like the 3 days/3 plays thing. I understand the reasons, and I’m not a zealot; I realize that having no limits would simply permit wide-open piracy. I just think that the limit should be increased to say, 14 days and 15 plays, whichever comes first (or whatever, but something higher than 3/3 but lower than 30/30).
But I think the Zune is pretty cool; cooler than my iPod (but my iPod is one of the earliest models, so that’s not saying much).
I say, the more competition, the better.
I don’t see Zune failing, unless by that you mean that it won’t take down the iPod. But I can see it having a larger market share than that Mac does, which would mean that if Zune “fails”, then the Mac “failed” too. (Not to mention Linux, which web usage stats show is at 0.4%, 10 times lower than that of the Mac).
I don’t like the 3 days/3 plays thing. I understand the reasons, and I’m not a zealot; I realize that having no limits would simply permit wide-open piracy. I just think that the limit should be increased to say, 14 days and 15 plays, whichever comes first (or whatever, but something higher than 3/3 but lower than 30/30).
But I think the Zune is pretty cool; cooler than my iPod (but my iPod is one of the earliest models, so that’s not saying much).
Robert,
Shame, shame. Just think if your Dad could have limited your exposure to Ozzy or NIN.
I still think the Zune should have gone micro in size with attachments for a Titanium bullet proof screen which could be carried in a back pocket without fear of being damaged. Envision, the mini-shuffle as a base unit. The unit would plug into a screen and have additional attachments to plug into a standard TV screen or computer for use of the full size displays. The base unit could be used for music without the screen attached or you could use a friends screen or computer to auto view. Kick the memory up 3 gigs beyond apple and you may, just may have a snatcher.
I don’t have a way to insert a sketch into your blog, but I think you can see the concept. Screens now exist for GPS displays which the proto-type team could easily implement for proof of concept. Standard USB double plug with covers would yield a unit 1/2 the size of a standard NANO. Do you still use a cell phone the size of a normal hand set? I think not.
Besides the size, all interfaces should be a no brainer. Market test on Grandma and then you will know for a fact anyone can use the system. You could even call it the Banana. Eddy Murphy could do the commercial. The apple guys could say ” were not gonna fall for the Banana in the tail pipe”. Banana yellow with a Banana scratch and sniff packaging. Scoble’s Naked conversations could buy advertising on the all yellow box.
Just a thought.
Robert,
Shame, shame. Just think if your Dad could have limited your exposure to Ozzy or NIN.
I still think the Zune should have gone micro in size with attachments for a Titanium bullet proof screen which could be carried in a back pocket without fear of being damaged. Envision, the mini-shuffle as a base unit. The unit would plug into a screen and have additional attachments to plug into a standard TV screen or computer for use of the full size displays. The base unit could be used for music without the screen attached or you could use a friends screen or computer to auto view. Kick the memory up 3 gigs beyond apple and you may, just may have a snatcher.
I don’t have a way to insert a sketch into your blog, but I think you can see the concept. Screens now exist for GPS displays which the proto-type team could easily implement for proof of concept. Standard USB double plug with covers would yield a unit 1/2 the size of a standard NANO. Do you still use a cell phone the size of a normal hand set? I think not.
Besides the size, all interfaces should be a no brainer. Market test on Grandma and then you will know for a fact anyone can use the system. You could even call it the Banana. Eddy Murphy could do the commercial. The apple guys could say ” were not gonna fall for the Banana in the tail pipe”. Banana yellow with a Banana scratch and sniff packaging. Scoble’s Naked conversations could buy advertising on the all yellow box.
Just a thought.
As an Apple fan, I hope that Zune puts more pressure on Apple to innovate. I think that they should offer some sort of radio functionality. FM is lame, IMHO. The whole reason we wanted walkmans and cd players was because FM radio sucked so hard. But I do want better batteries that can easily be removed and better QA and protection against scratches. Those are brain dead things that Apple should have already provided.
As for DRM, the only people who care about that are those locked out of iPods or people who frankly, aren’t buying.
As an Apple fan, I hope that Zune puts more pressure on Apple to innovate. I think that they should offer some sort of radio functionality. FM is lame, IMHO. The whole reason we wanted walkmans and cd players was because FM radio sucked so hard. But I do want better batteries that can easily be removed and better QA and protection against scratches. Those are brain dead things that Apple should have already provided.
As for DRM, the only people who care about that are those locked out of iPods or people who frankly, aren’t buying.
I have to agree with Sina with the comments about the msft guy who was the Zune product manager. No sense of humor at all. I think he just says whatever he thinks we want to hear, with all the buzz words he used about a gazillion times. If Microsoft believes just repeating “community” “interaction” and “experience” will do the trick, good luck to them. Wrong person for the job. And he doesn’t know the resolution? Come on.
The main differentiation factor between the iPod and the Zune is the wifi capability of the Zune, pretty cool but will it be used? How popular will it actually be? The number one reason I’m happy Microsoft is launching the Zune is to bring some decent competition to the market.
I have to agree with Sina with the comments about the msft guy who was the Zune product manager. No sense of humor at all. I think he just says whatever he thinks we want to hear, with all the buzz words he used about a gazillion times. If Microsoft believes just repeating “community” “interaction” and “experience” will do the trick, good luck to them. Wrong person for the job. And he doesn’t know the resolution? Come on.
The main differentiation factor between the iPod and the Zune is the wifi capability of the Zune, pretty cool but will it be used? How popular will it actually be? The number one reason I’m happy Microsoft is launching the Zune is to bring some decent competition to the market.
I disagree that WiFi is the “main differentiation” bewtween Zune and iPod.
What about these?
Zune supports more audio formats (MP3, WMA, AAC).
Zune supports more video (H264, WMV, (I forget the rest)).
Zune has larger screen (and better quality screen; last month ExtremeTech.com has a portable player display quality shootout, and iPod came in last with washed out picture, poor color saturation, and horrible contrast).
Zune’s UI (which seems to be a successor to the already very good PMC 2.0 UI) blows the iPod’s away.
I disagree that WiFi is the “main differentiation” bewtween Zune and iPod.
What about these?
Zune supports more audio formats (MP3, WMA, AAC).
Zune supports more video (H264, WMV, (I forget the rest)).
Zune has larger screen (and better quality screen; last month ExtremeTech.com has a portable player display quality shootout, and iPod came in last with washed out picture, poor color saturation, and horrible contrast).
Zune’s UI (which seems to be a successor to the already very good PMC 2.0 UI) blows the iPod’s away.
I have 3 iPODs, so why not buy a ZUNE? I love the fact that it has an FM tuner. And I don’t think iPOD shows slide shows. IMHO, the device that does the most for me is the one to buy. I could care less if it’s MSFT.
I have 3 iPODs, so why not buy a ZUNE? I love the fact that it has an FM tuner. And I don’t think iPOD shows slide shows. IMHO, the device that does the most for me is the one to buy. I could care less if it’s MSFT.
Amen to the last comment by Adam. I don’t know if it’s fair to consider that msft guy representative of the Zune team, but he’s the embodiment of why people hate msft. They may as well have rolled out PC from those Apple commercials to do this movie.
His mind-numbing repetition of the buzzwords, and complete lack of any passion or excitement nearly made the video unwatchable. He sounded like a sociologist trying to scientifically understand a “strange, foriegn people”, not an actual member of that community. It was only Scoble’s excitement that got me through the video.
And not knowing the resolution? Clearly, that guy has ZERO passion for his zune.
I was gonna give zune a chance, but this guy has me worried…
Great products come from
Amen to the last comment by Adam. I don’t know if it’s fair to consider that msft guy representative of the Zune team, but he’s the embodiment of why people hate msft. They may as well have rolled out PC from those Apple commercials to do this movie.
His mind-numbing repetition of the buzzwords, and complete lack of any passion or excitement nearly made the video unwatchable. He sounded like a sociologist trying to scientifically understand a “strange, foriegn people”, not an actual member of that community. It was only Scoble’s excitement that got me through the video.
And not knowing the resolution? Clearly, that guy has ZERO passion for his zune.
I was gonna give zune a chance, but this guy has me worried…
Great products come from
Scoble – I’m betting that you’ll be hugely successful at PodTech, but I’d also bet you could make a small fortune giving corporate drones like that guy a few simple pointers on how to speak credibly in a movie like this. He reeks of corporatespeak and inauthenticity. I hate to say it, but I’ll bet his “performance” on this video loses more sales than it gains.
Matt and Adam are both right on. If Microsoft really seems to want to improve their image, then this is the perfect example of what needs to change. There was barely a hint of passion for the product, it was dry dry dry.
Scoble – I’m betting that you’ll be hugely successful at PodTech, but I’d also bet you could make a small fortune giving corporate drones like that guy a few simple pointers on how to speak credibly in a movie like this. He reeks of corporatespeak and inauthenticity. I hate to say it, but I’ll bet his “performance” on this video loses more sales than it gains.
Matt and Adam are both right on. If Microsoft really seems to want to improve their image, then this is the perfect example of what needs to change. There was barely a hint of passion for the product, it was dry dry dry.
Is is really that tough to add an FM Tuner to your existing iPod? How hard can that be? The wireless functionality is misleading. You can’t connect to your network and pull down songs you own. Who cares if you can only connect to another Zune….Snooze….
If it doesn’t ship with support for podcasts the person who made the decision should be fired immediately.
I’ve had the chance to spend some time with the Zune and for $250 it’s not bad if I was into portable video. The screen is really nice. But it doesn’t have the cool factor like the iPod and people will pass. I thought the Xbox team was supposed to bring the coolness. I’d only get one if it was hackable like the first Xbox.
Is is really that tough to add an FM Tuner to your existing iPod? How hard can that be? The wireless functionality is misleading. You can’t connect to your network and pull down songs you own. Who cares if you can only connect to another Zune….Snooze….
If it doesn’t ship with support for podcasts the person who made the decision should be fired immediately.
I’ve had the chance to spend some time with the Zune and for $250 it’s not bad if I was into portable video. The screen is really nice. But it doesn’t have the cool factor like the iPod and people will pass. I thought the Xbox team was supposed to bring the coolness. I’d only get one if it was hackable like the first Xbox.
>
No, it uses Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)to transfer files. Zune doesn’t have bluetooth.
You can see this and other Zune specs at http://www.zunerama.com/zune_specs.php
or at the Zune FAQ: http://www.zunerama.com/zune_faq.php
>
No, it uses Wi-Fi (802.11b/g)to transfer files. Zune doesn’t have bluetooth.
You can see this and other Zune specs at http://www.zunerama.com/zune_specs.php
or at the Zune FAQ: http://www.zunerama.com/zune_faq.php
Some observations:
• Robert said: “My videos are at least twice as large as at Microsoft.”
THAT is the problem. The Zune video is both too large and too long. Take it from a former reporter, anything that needs to be said about the Zune for a general audience can be said in 15 minutes or less.
• Zune does NOT offer more formats than iTunes.
• One can buy an optional FM tuner for the iPod.
• The iPod has done slide shows since its first generation, ie., five years.
• Zune does NOT have a brighter screen than the most recent video iPods. Its screen is comparable to the one on my 60 GB iPod. (Which, btw, is just fine unless you have to be on the cutting edge.)
• Russ Henry’s idea is the worst possible. Further complication is the last thing the Zune needs. Though M$ is impervious to getting it, the key to iTunes and the iPod is simplicity.
I doubt that Podtech will last more than a year guys. So, your hope that Robert do something else (toothpaste commercials?) will likely be fulfilled.
Some observations:
• Robert said: “My videos are at least twice as large as at Microsoft.”
THAT is the problem. The Zune video is both too large and too long. Take it from a former reporter, anything that needs to be said about the Zune for a general audience can be said in 15 minutes or less.
• Zune does NOT offer more formats than iTunes.
• One can buy an optional FM tuner for the iPod.
• The iPod has done slide shows since its first generation, ie., five years.
• Zune does NOT have a brighter screen than the most recent video iPods. Its screen is comparable to the one on my 60 GB iPod. (Which, btw, is just fine unless you have to be on the cutting edge.)
• Russ Henry’s idea is the worst possible. Further complication is the last thing the Zune needs. Though M$ is impervious to getting it, the key to iTunes and the iPod is simplicity.
I doubt that Podtech will last more than a year guys. So, your hope that Robert do something else (toothpaste commercials?) will likely be fulfilled.
Podesta: I’m not doing videos for a general audience. I am doing them for smart people who want to really know more about a product and don’t want to read some reporter’s bullet list. Thanks for noticing!
As for lasting only a year, want to bet on that?
Podesta: I’m not doing videos for a general audience. I am doing them for smart people who want to really know more about a product and don’t want to read some reporter’s bullet list. Thanks for noticing!
As for lasting only a year, want to bet on that?
The first time, that i saw Robert on video and i liked it. While he obviously had a lot of fun asking questions, the other guy had no sense of humor, doesn’t know the product he is talking about and just can’t communicate the whole idea…
As for showing the “killer” wifi-feature: Why not just take the second unit from the suitcase (Timecode 00:06:07)?
The first time, that i saw Robert on video and i liked it. While he obviously had a lot of fun asking questions, the other guy had no sense of humor, doesn’t know the product he is talking about and just can’t communicate the whole idea…
As for showing the “killer” wifi-feature: Why not just take the second unit from the suitcase (Timecode 00:06:07)?
digg it!
http://digg.com/gadgets/Zune_in_depth_Scoble_style
digg it!
http://digg.com/gadgets/Zune_in_depth_Scoble_style