John Gruber, arguably one of the best writers on all things Mac puts Microsoft’s Zune under the microscope and says …
Is that not the epitome of metastatic corporate bureaucracy? One division within Microsoft spending $100 million or more to launch their own closed media player system; another division charged with lining up “partners” for the PlaysForSure platform that Microsoft’s own media player division deems not good enough. Isn’t that like inviting guests to your home for dinner and serving them hot dogs while you yourself eat a steak?
Michael Wolf of ABI Research recently emailed in response to my Zune post and added that Microsoft shouldn’t have taken the “closed model” approach of Apple. “Think if they were to let Real Networks and the MTV service and Napster sell onto the Zune as well,” he wrote in. “I think it would be a major incentive for the consumer. They can still say ‘we provide choice’ instead of ‘we’re doing what Apple is doing.’”
10 comments so far
7:32 PM PT
I think you hit it right on the head there. Microsoft is loosing focus. So big you can have two groups with competitive interests and huge budgets.
However, I can’t wait to see what they have come up with in Zune. Lord know that the other portable players are not really challenging the design of the iPod very well. BTW- I’ve never owned an iPod and hopefully never will.
7:58 PM PT
Martin Geddes said Nortel was stepping into the crocodile’s teeth. I’m beginning to see his point.
8:12 PM PT
MSN and Live are competing directly
So is MSN music and Urge
Virtual Earth & Live Local
MSN search and Live search
Mac Office and Virtual PC for Mac takes users away from Windows
They have their feet in every broad band video distribution technology.
What’s new? :)
8:33 PM PT
We are going to break digg, so check out the blog and see if you want to be part of Webreakdigg.
8:36 PM PT
So many of Microsoft’s Tools(Visual Studio, etc) customers are competing directly with other divisions/products of Microsoft.
The hype surrounding Zune is because of Robbie Bach who has the golden touch. If Zune is another success story, then expect Microsoft to release it’s own phone.
11:31 PM PT
yep, seems to it. than why they started live.com(SE), start.com(SE) and search.msn - SE too.
4:23 AM PT
I dont expect them to take control of the market, more like a nibble
5:46 AM PT
Zune in Hebrew means…
http://herenot.livejournal.com/29371.html
No, surely it cannot mean that! :)
9:17 AM PT
its microsoft. they can do just about whatever they want and no one will do anythign. they had to really screw up before the govt got on them
microsoft zune will succeed and MS will not care who they stomp
7:46 AM PT
Microsoft and Apple are kings of the Hype. But this time, Microsoft is playing the game very well. I watched a video of the interface and it is awesome. I don’t think they wanted to do just like Apple. They did their one product. But it is easier on a public communication standpoint to say “we are going after the ipod”. This way, everybody understands…
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