I have to say that Microsoft have surprised me this time round, not only have they created a device that I would like to get my hands on due to its sumptuous looks, it has had decent reviews, sold out (though from what I’m told, not many Zune’s were actually available anyway) and improved the software on it no end.
What really surprises me is that they don’t seem to have entirely worked out why the original Zune was a such a huge flop – to me one of the main reasons was the lack of any attempt to sell it on an international level, along with a lack of any decent updates to firmware for an entire year, and right off the bat they have failed to correct this major mistake with the Zune HD.
The Zune HD is very nifty machine. It uses an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) multitouch screen, an Nvidia Tegra HD processor and has HD radio capabilities with software improvements such as the new Quickplay menu, a web browser and music and video playback features.
Word of mouth helps sell devices like this, friends I know have bought them in America and recommended it to me as a music fan. I would certainly like to have one, don’t get me wrong, but I am certainly not going to import one because the Zune account setup doesn’t allow purchasing of music (and probably apps) unless you have an American account.
Because worldwide coverage of a device like the Zune HD would improve sales even in America, it does seem very strange that it hasn’t been launched anywhere else, are Microsoft trying to work out if they have another flop on their hands first before selling it elsewhere? Do they believe they can’t break the iPod/iPhone hold outside of America?
None of it seems to make any sense to me, especially as later this year, Europe and 16 other places around the world will have the Zune Video Store launched on Xbox Live! – now where is the logic here, unless the Zune HD launches in these places at the same time as the service, which I doubt. Not many people will know the brand name and the idea of pushing the Zune Video Store is to use it with your Zune.
There are a lot of other problems with the Zune HD at the moment, it has been a month since it was released in America and there hasn’t been one new app released for it. To me it feels as if Microsoft don’t really care about the Zune HD, either that or it was launched in a rush without any forethought about when new applications might be released, but with the iPod having at least a 1000 new apps released each week, it is a pretty sad thing to see such decent hardware having nothing to use on it. Keeping the marketplace a closed environment has pushed most developers away from it.
There are so many questions that I would like to see answered, especially as I am someone who would love to have a Zune HD in my hands, but I feel that Microsoft are treating the rest of the world badly when it comes to the Zune brand, heck even their current customers haven’t had anything new to use on it in a month. It is even starting to remind me how poor support was with the original Zune which took nearly a year to get a decent basic firmware update.
With Microsoft this past week stating they don’t want to compete with iPod gaming either, you do wonder if they even know who or what they are aiming the Zune HD at. Don’t get me started on the HD part of the Zune either – you have to pay another $90 for that – but that is another story altogether!
You actually don’t need to get the $90 dock, you can get the $49 sync dock, and just use your own HDMI cable, or buy a cheap one from Overstock. The $49 version also comes with the remote.
Ahh didn’t know that – but still means extra cost and not actually HD out of the box again!
This so reminds me of TiVo. They did actually make some for us here in the UK years ago but they didn’t make any effort to advertise them at all. Eventually they stopped making them for the UK and now HD is here they have no plans to make one for us…
apps are an afterthought for MS, unfortunately. the device is almost a proof of concept that i’m not sure they ever mean to fully support. it’s a shame, the hardware is nice and tegra has great potential.
Agree completely there – the hardware is excellent and it is a real shame it isn’t being given the full pounding from devs that it should be at the moment.
I don’t get the fierce loyalty of the few Zune people out there. They seem willing to do anything to support the myth that it is a compelling device, a home run for MS. I think it has promise, yes, but as it stands now, even with the recent firmware update and a handful of new games, I wouldn’t have one.
I won’t bore you with all my reasons, but here’s a couple:
Customer service from MS, especially for Zunes, is notoriously awful.
Do your own Googling or read http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/microsoft_zune.html for a sample.
Also, people deride Apple for their supposedly “closed” App Store policies. But you CAN’T even develop an app for the Zune. MS does not allow it. That seems more draconian to me. As long as your app is within the realm of decency you more than likely get to deliver for an iPod touch, but MS controls utterly and completely what will be delivered on Zunes, so how’s that for tight-fisted control?
People love to take pot shots at Apple, but without them, the PMP market as it is now might not exist, and they simply make an excellent product and stand by it. You can get them on the phone, and they speak native English. I have had numerous, amazing experiences with them on the phone.
Of course, I know, Apple make mistakes, too.
Much has been written on how MS feels it needs to “answer” to the iPod or iTunes — but why? Why not be content with their Windows/Office cash cows? They don’t seem to be able to hire people with talent and style that works for the U.S. and abroad, though why, with all the $$$ they have, I can’t understand.
Nice post.
If you’re still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you’ll know which is right for you.