Music, culture, and the inside scoop from Cesar Menendez,
a Microsoft employee working on Zune - Microsoft's new music project.

February 21, 2007

Gadget-Candy Reviews Zune

GadgetCandy -"Because Girls Love Gadgets, too" - got their hands on a Zune and posted their review. Calling Zune an "iPod botherer," the review concludes: "Thanks to its video and track-swapping powers, it’s a credible alternative to the iPod, if not the iPod slayer Microsoft were promising." I do disagree w/ that part of the review though, the "iPod slayer Microsoft were promising." As I've said before, we never gave Zune the moniker "iPod Killer," other folks did. Overall though, a solid review. I haven't seen a review for a while, but since Zune has only been in stores for 3 months + 1 week, it makes sense that some folks are still evaluating.

Thanks, ClicZune for the pointer.

 |  Wednesday, February 21, 2007 8:50 PM  |  20 Comments

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segadc

Yeah you can thank the media for calling it an iPod Killer.

lt.milo

you cant seriously say that this is not microsoft's attempt at an ipod killer.  I love my zune, but comon.

iPod killer?

I believe Cesar is sincere when he states it wasn't Microsoft's intention for Zune to be an 'iPod killer'.

I mean, if they killed it they'd have nothing left to copy, right?

met

then what was it? ipod copier?

Telekinetyk

I've never liked the way the media (and some individuals) insist on defining the Zune as an "iPod [something]." Zune is awesome by itself, and in my opinion, incomparable to anything the competition can offer.

that guy

I agree with Telekinetyk - zune stands on its own

ChrisMN

Cesar, does the warranty cover dust under the screen?

admin

Chris - I *think* that might fit under "regular wear and tear" which I suspect isn't typically covered under warranty.

Did your dog bury your Zune in the backyard or something ;) ?

pinksage

iPod copier,lol. God knows Ipod was the only MP3 player in the world before Zune.

anyways, goooo girl in technology. We are pretty awesome, no? :)

segadc

Awesome indeed.

John in S.Florida

Cesar, any chance of getting Zune supported by some of the premium car manufacturers like Infinity and Lexus?  Apple seems to be to have built a premium partner base to support there entertainment ecosystem.  Hopefully you guys can do the same in record time.

TomT

>we never gave Zune the moniker "iPod Killer,"

Besides, Zune has to overtake Sandisk first. The NPD-December share numbers are 11.0% for Sandisk, and 2.6% for Zune.

ChrisMN

Thanks Cesar.  No, my dog just likes to slobber on my zune.  I take care of the burying it in the back yard.

I didn't think it would be covered. It is frustrating because about 2 weeks after I got the zune, dust got under the screen.  I don't know how because I always keep the Zune in the case that came with it and never expose it to dusty places.

met

I probably should feel proud that "my Zune" is getting good/average reviews. But I'm not!!!!

Please spend some thought on that Cesar :)

Steve

Looks like Cisco/Apple suit has been settled with both using iPhone name. That should make Zune marketing team happy.

But there was also an agreement to explore "wide-ranging" interoperability between the companies products.  This one worries me abit because of Cisco's desire to get a piece of living room.

CaptainObvious

Kinda off topic Ceasar, but is there any time frame for Zune's appearance in Canada?

e-zune

Hi Ceasar,

IMHO ... the name "iPod-Killer" adds a much more sexier taste to the Zune ...

xox

e-zune

swanlee

To really compete you guys really need to up the feature set. I love my Zune but it offers almost nothing over the Video Ipod.

You guys need to enable lossless audio support on the device, every other portable device support this.

You need to add a clock

You need to open up the wirelss piece it is useless as it is now.

We also need a custom EQ not just presets.

You need to support more forms of video codecs as well.

The gigabeat supports this and it is the same hardware, why did you guys gimp the zune when it is perfectly capable of much wider range of features?

DaveWorld

"Thanks to its video and track-swapping powers, it’s a credible alternative to the iPod, if not the iPod slayer Microsoft were promising."

If this is the iPod slayer Microsoft were promising, then maybe I should build my own DAP. Credibility comes into play with such a strong statement (iPod slayer?), especially from a gadget site ladies. I think even Bill himself downplayed the Zune in comparison to the iPod.

JOhnnnnnnnnnyyyyy

I HATE MICROSOFT!!! THEIR COMPUTER SUCK!!! THEY COPIED THE IPOD BUT THE FAILED MISERABLY!!! OOOO WHAT NOW BILL GATES!!! HA HA HA HA HA HA HOW DOES IT FEEL TO NOT BE THE RICHEST MAN IN THE WORLD!!!!! LOSER!!!!!!!! GO APPLE I LOVE YOU!!!!!!

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About admin

I'm Cesar Menendez. I left the Xbox marketing world for Microsoft's new foray into music - Zune. Community, cool videos, music, discovering new music - these are things I love. In the past I wrote music reviews for RealNetworks, and before that I volunteered at KCMU (now KEXP). Get in touch w/ me using this email: AskZune (then type the at symbol) microsoft.com (please no solicitors)
(edit me)

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