I don't get where Microsoft is going with the Zune. It's clearly worse then the iPod. It clearly sells a lot less. It's not going to catch up anytime soon unless Apple abandons the iPod line completely in favor of the iPhone, and it would only do that if and when flash media players become a niche market. So why is Microsoft keeping on keeping on?Certainly, I'd guess there's an element of stubbornness, Ballmer and crew don't want to lose any battle to Jobs and crew. But overall it just seems like another bad strategy. Once again, Microsoft, which is a huge money-making machine in certain fields, is distracting itself with a fight it can't win -- much like it's doing in battling Google in search and advertising online.
And if they must insist on battling their rivals (Google and Apple) in every market, why not go for the real golden goose -- the iPhone? Microsoft keeps indicating that it has no intention of making a piece of hardware for a phone, but it really should consider it. (And I'd be willing to bet it's prototyping ideas despite denials.)
If it thinks it can win the next (and really already here) huge battleground, mobile, it's going to need something a hell of a lot better than Windows Mobile. I've spent the past several months at a lot of mobile conferences, the consensus on Windows Mobile ranges from "complete crap" to "mostly complete crap." And most of the people with those opinions are mobile developers.
That is not a good sign.
It's true though. While the company will never admit it, if Windows Mobile doesn't improve in a hurry, it's going to be completely obliterated in the mobile sphere by the iPhone and Android, and maybe, if they can pull their act together, Blackberry.
Compared to just the current generations of those devices, Windows Mobile looks like it should be running on my old TI-83 graphing calculator. Image matters, functionality matter, developers matter. Microsoft doesn't have the first two, and it's in danger of losing the third group in a major way.
Microsoft should scrap Windows Mobile and build a single (like the iPhone) mobile computing device with a completely new mobile OS. Sure, it's easy for me to say that, but if it wants to fight a meaningful battle against its rivals, that is the fight. Not the goddamn Zune.
It has the clout and the money to make something happen, even if it is starting from scratch on a new project. It's succeeding the with Xbox gaming console.
They're not saying "Zune," they're saying "Boo...."
I'm still surprised whenever I see any type of reference to the Zune, I thought that device had been discontinued some years ago.
ReplyDeleteA Microsoft mobile device, an interesting idea but I'm left wondering how many iterations of the hardware/software it will take before the design is fit for purpose?
But ultimately, I'm just left hoping that it doesn't choose the same shade of brown as it did for the Zune.
"It's succeeding the with Xbox gaming console."
ReplyDeleteHuh? What? You're giving the Xbox a compliment?
What annoys me about the Zune haters is that a) you always use the Zune 1.0 to point out how bad it is and b) you assume the iPod is better becuase it has the larger market share.
ReplyDeleteI think it's fair to say you've never tried a Zune beyond the 2.0 update or perhaps even at all?
I understand the point of your post, and in many ways you're correct - this market will perhas grow more insignificant with time, however it's still a huge market and Apple's lack of innovation for large Mp3 devices isn't something a competitor like MS should follow.
I purchased a Zune 120 a couple of months ago and I (and anyone else who has also used a Zune from about the 2.5 update onwards) can tell you it's a fantastic product and really is better than an iPod Classic/Nano.
Don't believe me? Seriously, try one sometime - you'll find the the device interface incredibly intuitive, the desktop software provides an awesome experience and the Zune Pass is an unbelivably great service.
The Zune pad is also as good as if not better a navigation tool than the click wheel.
I don't want to come across here as just an iPod hating fanboy or something, I can genuinally say that if I thought the iPod was better than the Zune I would have bought one - but I just found the Zune that much a better product + service.
I would be really interested to see you try one and then give an opinion on it =) Everyone who has seen mine does the "are they really as bad as everyone says" thing, but after trying it and seeing all the features end up loving it.
However, yes, Microsoft doesn't put anywhere near enough effort and marketing behind it as they should.
Sure, if you don't mind being trapped in one OS.
ReplyDeleteMy Pod is OSX Linux, and Windows. Why would I buy a device that locks me only to Windows, the only Os I don't care about and barely use?
I am a Microsoft developer for a living.
ReplyDeleteI have made almost a million dollars in my career developing on the windows platform during the last 10 years.
If Microsoft doesnt get thier act together soon I will be going to another platform. Period.