Launched in November 2006 by Microsoft the Zune was hailed as the killer of iPod. The Zune is a digital media player made for Microsoft by Toshiba. Video and podcast stores as well as online music will be provided by the new software which includes the Zune Marketplace.

Microsoft thought they could grab a large slice of the market from iPod with its new innovations for MP3 players but did not count on the iPod faithful followers. Zune’s great new features include FM radio built in as well as the wireless ability to transfer songs to other Zune’s and Window’s PC,s. Using the Zune’s software on Windows XP and Vista enables users to, rip audio CDs, manage files, and buy songs, TV shows and video music.

Zune’s advantages over iPod

The first Zune was released with a 30GB memory. The new Zune 30GB music player has a screen that is brightly coloured and half an inch larger than the iPods although it is larger and heavier.

The FM tuner should give it a big advantage over the Apple iPod, and the Zune supports unprotected AAC files which is better than using the default settings for ripping CD’s with the iPod.

Wi-Fi connectivity was an innovative feature that put Zune in new territory from other MP3 players. Using the Wi-Fi feature will open up a new music socialising universe. If you want to exchange songs with your friends then this portability is an attractive prospect.

The Zune Marketplace is subscription based and integrated so that there online database can be accessed without having to download to your computer before accessing new music. The ability to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee is another important aspect.

Other advantages are it is easy to use the interface combines horizontal and vertical scrolling, with many top-level menus displaying horizontally across the top of the screen, while lists of tracks or track information run vertically. The Zune interface runs almost instantaneously through playlist tracks and during shuffle play and are generally much faster than the iPod. Zunes touch sensitive circular main control has four-position directional control with a central select button.

Zunes larger display screen makes a big difference over the course of extended viewing and also boasts great quality audio, with clear and crisp video. Synchronizing nicely with windows media centre it has tons of cool features. One cool feature is Zune’s ability to work with Xbox 360 which is fun to use.

The disadvantages of Zune.

As we have already spoken about it the Zune is heavier and larger than the iPod.

Firmware updates where needed from the start as Zune had a lot of problems. Lots of authoritive people did not like the Digital Rights Management policy from Microsoft.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, in opposition to the Zune’s DRM, wrote:

“ Microsoft’s Zune will not play protected Windows Media Audio and Video purchased or ‘rented’ from Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, iTunes, or any other online media service. The Zune will not even play content previously purchased from Microsoft’s own MSN Music service. …The media that Microsoft promised would Play For Sure doesn’t even play on Microsoft’s own device.”

The following year saw less strict DRM from Microsoft and the allowed about 1/3 more tracks to be without it.

Zune like rival iPod will only be compatible with its own software provided by Microsoft’s from September 2008.

Other disadvantages include the fact that after you are only allowed to listen to a song three times before it expires after receiving it from a friend. You cannot resend it to a third party.

Zune Marketplace is not easy to use and iTunes is a much simpler option. The intuitive iTunes media is simple and elegant to use. With iTunes you can just click on a song and pay your 99 cents with your credit card. You have to buy at the very least $5 of points when buying from the Zune Marketplace. So if you only need one 99cent song Microsoft are holding onto your other $4.1 until you want to purchase another song. This system based on points is harder to use. One song will cost you 79 points which you may think is cents while the actual 79 points costs 99cents. So buying music from Microsoft is over complicated and not easy to figure out?

Can Zune every out manoeuvre iPod in the MP3 player market?

This brings us to the question can Zune overtake iPod. Well a recent survey from Piper Jaffray’s bi-annual teen survey showed that Apple’s share of the portable media player market among high school students increased to 84 percent, it was 80 percent a year ago. 78% said that if they where going to buy a MP3 player then it would be an iPod. Last year Zune commanded 2% of the market which has increased to 3% this year. Now 15% of the teen’s surveyed plan to buy a Zune if they purchase within the next year. This is up from 13% last year.

So it looks like the Zune is progressing in the MP3 player market but not at a rate that will cause the Apple iPod and problems in the near future. Another thought that goes agains Zune is that lots of young folk use Macs which Zune does not support.

 

 

 

 

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