Jul 28, 2006
by Cesar Menendez at 11:55 AM

Robbie Bach, the guy who runs the division that Zune is in, gave a presentation yesterday to all of Microsoft's financial analysts (Robbie is the president of the Entertainment and Devices Division, and reports directly to Steve). I posted yesterday about Steve Ballmer's take on Zune, and now here's Robbie's.

Finally, one of the things that we just announced last week is a move into the music and video space in portable entertainment, something we call Zune. I want to spend a few moments here talking about Zune and give you a little bit of context. I think the first thing to understand about Zune is that we are taking a more integrated approach to this. Microsoft will be involved in the hardware, in the software, and the services. We think that's important to produce the number one thing that has to happen in this marketplace, which is a great customer experience. And we have to tie those things together in some ways like we have in the Xbox world, where in the hardware, software, and Xbox Live service we have tied things together in a great experience.

. . .

I'll also point out that we're not just introducing Zune to do the same thing that other people do. We think there are real advantages to what Microsoft has to offer here. I think the number one thing I would point to, and I talked about this briefly earlier, is community. When you go to any music site today, what do you do? Well, today, you can buy music, but it's hard to meet your friends there, it's hard to share music there, hard to share music experiences there, hard to find out information about your favorite bands, and what they're doing, and where their next concert is, and how you can get there. That whole community aspect, which is what we do on Xbox Live, absolutely applies in other entertainment spaces as well. And so we think community is a fundamental part of what has to happen here, and a place where we have real experience, both from our Xbox experience, as well as from our Windows Live and MSN experiences, where we can drive some very exciting things here.

. . .

We also think discovery is key. Figuring out new ways for people to find their favorite music, certainly, but in some ways more importantly their favorite video. Video now is not just a list of things that are produced by Hollywood, it's video that's produced by individuals around the world. It's family videos. It's friends' videos. It's funny community videos. It's user-created content. And so figuring out how you help people discover the world of what they want, and then enabling them to share it with their friends are two sort of sides of the same coin that are secret to what we have to do with Zune and the services that we're going to drive there.

And then the third secret I'll say is looking at Zune as part of our broader picture. You know, in the case of Apple, they have certainly an iMac business, they have their iPod business, and they've sold a few things in the home that compete with Media Center, although the numbers there are actually quite small. Look at our business: We have a burgeoning IPTV business that we think is going to grow and be successful in the home. We have Media Center in over 14 million units and growing around the world. We have Xbox 360 in place and growing around the world. We have Xbox Live, MSN, and our Windows Live initiatives expanding. Put all of those things together, and then take Zune and put it in the context of that. It enables us to complete the picture. It enables us to have the full entertainment and connected entertainment experience that we want to have. And so that's why Zune is important, and it is a way we're going to differentiate ourselves, because the experience of having Zune in that connected environment is going to be a dramatically better experience than you get just from having a portable music player.

 

So there you have it, from the top guy in my group. In my opinion, this one quote stands out as the unique thing about our approach:

I'll also point out that we're not just introducing Zune to do the same thing that other people do. We think there are real advantages to what Microsoft has to offer here. I think the number one thing I would point to, and I talked about this briefly earlier, is community.

What we're trying to here w/ Zune is unique. It's about more than just a long list of features (and overly complicated box ;). It's about how the technology enables people to get to cool music.

[Edit 12:01 Fixed formatting]

18 Comments
Comments
So what happens when I fire up Windows Media 11, I take a file I bought at Walmart and I want to drag it onto my Zune? Does it tell me that I can't do this?????
John Doe, sorry man, but I can't provide any specific details on that right now. More info's coming.
Check out www.will-zune-beat-ipod.com to see what the public really think of Zune’s chances against the iPod.
Microsoft slips details of grand plan for Zune and Live Anywhere The Zune Insider provides some information about a recent financial presentation given by Robbie Bach the President of the Entertainment and Devices Division for Microsoft. The Zune Insid...
Hey thanks for the heads up on the up and coming information about the zune! WE are all excited and cant wait to get our hands on one! I gather the best of the news and post it on my site: zuneArchive.com check it out on a daily basis, it gets news stuff loaded in it. This will be the zune guys iPodArchive it will have loads of videos you can download on your zune.
"We also think discovery is key. Figuring out new ways for people to find their favorite music, certainly, but in some ways more importantly their favorite video. " -- Have you guys looked at pandora.com for instance? If I was able to hook up my Zune to my Zune software and it could suggest me songs as superbly as Pandora does, then it would be great service.
Why is it, that among the 15 Zune blogs and websites, there is not a single one with enough balls to post the 30 or more negative (or meh) analyst opinions or Real's Glaser reaction or digital music news's opinion that studios are unimpressed, etc...?
I really hope the Zune Live service has an online digital locker. I want my music and playlists stored on a central server so that I can play or download my music from anywhere. "Anywhere" includes my 360, my laptop, media center PC, and my Windows Mobile cell phone. A Zune Live friends list which can be linked to my XBOX Live account would be incing on the cake. I can't wait for more. Considering I have high hopes for this thing, I hope I'm not dissappointed with the final product.
The post was on the strategy and that is what is in fact most remarkable. The Zune is a small piece of the puzzle as Cesar is aware. Working in marketing he has full grasp the importance that this project has towards the Live Anywhere initiative. The Zune is the mobile piece that ties them all together. In order to defeat the market leader Cesar is going to have to be very good at his job. Ipod strength lies in its advertising and sales are tied directly to the advertising budget. The Zune Marketing team must figure out how to make the Zune more hip than an Ipod. You guys did a great job against Sony with the Xbox marketing but the battle against Apple may prove more difficult. Got any more Zune Insider information from the marketing department Cesar? Tell us more about this viral marketing campaign. What are you guys working on? When will we get to see some more pictures?
I'm really interested about developing for Zune: are the SDKs already available?
As you might of heard, Microsoft is entering the digital entertainment space with their player/software/digital entertainment store called Zune which as you rightly guessed is to take on Apple and its iPod/iTunes/iTunes music store. Here is a picture o...
Iwonderifitwillbeabletoplaysomeof myalbumsliekthisasthisishtewaytheycameout. gapless playback, please.
Hey all, Supremus - no details on how people can use Zune to discover music yet, but I personally love pandora. I've also found bands through www.liveplasma.com (it used to be called musicplasma.com). Highly recommended way to get music. Actually I'm curious to see how you guys all find bands you like - I'll make my next post about that.
Zune Insider sheds light on a presentation given by Robbie Bach, who runs the division that Microsoft's Zune is in, and is President of the Entertainment and Devices Division. The Zune presentation was given to all of Microsoft's financial analysts,
I sure hope the designers have the foresight to make the right decision on aspect ratio for the screen for viewing video media. The main reason I don't have an video ipod is the 4:3 screen. And the iRiver Clix got the screen wrong too (plus many other shortcomings). My Sons' PSPs screens are great but there's no HD and too hard to get media onto.
Even though Microsoft claims and re-claims that they are not eyeing Apples territory day in and out, everyone and their grandmothers know that we are headed for a Microsoft vs Apple battle all over again. And this time its going to be their...
Too bad it looks like shit... If if works at the same high level as everything else Microsoft, it is so gonna fail... :) Fredrik

dd

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