WishList
ZuneNetNews
10/14/2008 04:57 PM Filed in: Zune IssuesAudio
Podcasts
Welcome
to episode two, of the zune net news
podcast. This
is October 14, 2008. Our Zune Wish List!
As mentioned in our first episode and posting, Microsoft has addressed many of the early Zune short comings and now has the software, hardware, and service infrastructure to capture a headline grabbing share of the portable media player market. The Zune strengths are quality construction, excellent video and audio, well designed user interface, enhanced wireless access, subscription music model, significant resources of the 800 pound Gorilla that is Microsoft, and encouragement by the music and film industries to give Apple a bit of a run for its money.
On the down side are relatively limited offerings in the Zune Market Place, poor market recognition, lagging promotional campaign and a nagging need to take full advantage of the wireless technology that has the potential to set the Zune apart from competitors.
We have many MP3 players with which to compare the Zune. In order of preference are the Ibiza 30 gig Rhapsody, 5th generation 30 gig hard drive iPod and Zen 4 gig flash player. We have a hand full of other players each with something to recommend them but no longer used often enough to make useful comparisons. The Ibiza is a relatively obscure player manufactured by Haier, principally known for products such as air conditioners and heavy kitchen appliances. The Ibiza allows wireless access to Rhapsody music accounts as well as podcasts. Unlike the Zune, the Ibiza can update podcasts without the need to make a hardwire connection and a more productive means of creating custom music play lists.
There always seems to be a flip side to all advantages. Haier offers a podcast directory from which to search and add new audio podcast but no easy way to add podcasts not listed. Although the Ibiza maybe used to play back video files transferred via USB connection to your PC, it does not support video podcasts. The Ibiza almost looks like and industrial grade prototype but is built like a Sherman tank. The controls are exceptionally intuitive and easy to use. For example: even when the control lock is set, you can still change volume using a large and protected control bar on the side of the device.
We fervently hope the Zune team is looking at all competing devices and willing to borrow good ideas when not protected by our out of control patent system.
Even though we are very fond of the Ibiza Rhapsody, the excellent video and support of video podcasts albeit, via, hardwired connection, coupled, with the option to dock the Zune with television or audio media center has moved us away from the Ibiza and perhaps more importantly, for Microsoft, toward the Zune Market place. One of the unsung perks of the Zune is the availability of a quality interface to HD television replete with an easy to use remote control. Even though our large screen digital TV is connected to a liquid cooled Sony tower PC with XP Media Center and TV tuner, we often find it easier to simply walk our Zunes over to the Zune Audio Video cradle and watch podcasts or use the external speakers to listen to our music.
At the top of our generation 4 Zune wish list is the ability to wirelessly access podcasts as well as PC and Home Server media files. Adding, and more importantly promoting these features, would give customers a very compelling reason to drool when spying Zunes behind the locked glass display cases at their retailer.
The second item is an improved means of creating and adding songs to play lists as they are streamed to the Zune from the Market Place. The Ibiza design team has implemented a simple, yet very powerful pop up menu allowing streamed Rhapsody tunes to be downloaded, purchased or added to the playlist of your choice.
Third on our list is a more responsive means to add podcasts to the Zune Market Place. The Market Place needs to become a one stop shop. At present, we all too often have to use iTunes to locate podcasts,or other media and manually add them to our player.
This is by no means our complete list, but a few of most desired enhancements. The Zune is well on its way to becoming the player of choice for more and more consumers. Perhaps a fitting last wish for episode II is that Microsoft more aggressively promote the Zune and take advantage of the momentum gained with generation three.
Thank you for downloading and listening. Please subscribe and remember, change is forever with us, and tomorrow, tomorrow a new adventure!
As mentioned in our first episode and posting, Microsoft has addressed many of the early Zune short comings and now has the software, hardware, and service infrastructure to capture a headline grabbing share of the portable media player market. The Zune strengths are quality construction, excellent video and audio, well designed user interface, enhanced wireless access, subscription music model, significant resources of the 800 pound Gorilla that is Microsoft, and encouragement by the music and film industries to give Apple a bit of a run for its money.
On the down side are relatively limited offerings in the Zune Market Place, poor market recognition, lagging promotional campaign and a nagging need to take full advantage of the wireless technology that has the potential to set the Zune apart from competitors.
We have many MP3 players with which to compare the Zune. In order of preference are the Ibiza 30 gig Rhapsody, 5th generation 30 gig hard drive iPod and Zen 4 gig flash player. We have a hand full of other players each with something to recommend them but no longer used often enough to make useful comparisons. The Ibiza is a relatively obscure player manufactured by Haier, principally known for products such as air conditioners and heavy kitchen appliances. The Ibiza allows wireless access to Rhapsody music accounts as well as podcasts. Unlike the Zune, the Ibiza can update podcasts without the need to make a hardwire connection and a more productive means of creating custom music play lists.
There always seems to be a flip side to all advantages. Haier offers a podcast directory from which to search and add new audio podcast but no easy way to add podcasts not listed. Although the Ibiza maybe used to play back video files transferred via USB connection to your PC, it does not support video podcasts. The Ibiza almost looks like and industrial grade prototype but is built like a Sherman tank. The controls are exceptionally intuitive and easy to use. For example: even when the control lock is set, you can still change volume using a large and protected control bar on the side of the device.
We fervently hope the Zune team is looking at all competing devices and willing to borrow good ideas when not protected by our out of control patent system.
Even though we are very fond of the Ibiza Rhapsody, the excellent video and support of video podcasts albeit, via, hardwired connection, coupled, with the option to dock the Zune with television or audio media center has moved us away from the Ibiza and perhaps more importantly, for Microsoft, toward the Zune Market place. One of the unsung perks of the Zune is the availability of a quality interface to HD television replete with an easy to use remote control. Even though our large screen digital TV is connected to a liquid cooled Sony tower PC with XP Media Center and TV tuner, we often find it easier to simply walk our Zunes over to the Zune Audio Video cradle and watch podcasts or use the external speakers to listen to our music.
At the top of our generation 4 Zune wish list is the ability to wirelessly access podcasts as well as PC and Home Server media files. Adding, and more importantly promoting these features, would give customers a very compelling reason to drool when spying Zunes behind the locked glass display cases at their retailer.
The second item is an improved means of creating and adding songs to play lists as they are streamed to the Zune from the Market Place. The Ibiza design team has implemented a simple, yet very powerful pop up menu allowing streamed Rhapsody tunes to be downloaded, purchased or added to the playlist of your choice.
Third on our list is a more responsive means to add podcasts to the Zune Market Place. The Market Place needs to become a one stop shop. At present, we all too often have to use iTunes to locate podcasts,or other media and manually add them to our player.
This is by no means our complete list, but a few of most desired enhancements. The Zune is well on its way to becoming the player of choice for more and more consumers. Perhaps a fitting last wish for episode II is that Microsoft more aggressively promote the Zune and take advantage of the momentum gained with generation three.
Thank you for downloading and listening. Please subscribe and remember, change is forever with us, and tomorrow, tomorrow a new adventure!
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