Very cool. However they are missing the "Note: Zune will not reanimate the dead" fine print...

--Bill

Love this spec piece.

I think I saw a larger version over on istartedsomething.com (here it is: http://www.istartedsomething.com/20080505/zune-spec-spot-music-is-life/)

Hey Cesar,

Good work on the Zune blog. I love what you guys are doing. A few weeks ago I was walking through the Zune building with my father (a MS employee) and randomly ran across your cubicle. It was sort of weird.

Michael

Just now you've seen this? Where've you been?  It's a shame Zune didn't think of it themselves.  Perhaps you would have had a decent chance at marketing the product.  

It's sad when outsiders make better ads for Zune than Zune can come up with.

very nice, why is it unofficial?

@Mark:

Because it wasnt made by the actual Zune Marketing team but by a fan.

@JonnyC

Whoa there, that's a little rough don't you think? I myself dont think its THAT good. I kinda like the Ballad of Tina Pink one (I forget the name, I think that was it) better than this.

It is unofficial and made externally because it was part of a pitch from an ad agency trying to land a marketing contract with Zune.  Think of it like a pilot episode is for TV... a test run that often doesn't even make it on the air.

This one is probably the best. Loved it the first time I saw it. Love it everytime I see it.

Microsoft should buy that ad and use it.  Very well done.

This could hurt

http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/newsanalysis/hardware/10418052.html

US video game retailer GameStop has thus applied yet another slap across the face of Microsoft’s attempt to produce an ‘iPod-killer’. Zune has sold two million units since launch, proving itself an unwanted minnow in the sea of Apple competitors.

"'We have decided to exit the Zune category because it just did not have the appeal we had anticipated,' said a GameStop spokesperson," Priya Ganapati reports for TheStreet.com.

The retailer has hundreds of stores across the US. Apple has sold 85 million iPods in the same time period, outselling Microsoft by a factor of 42.5 to 1.

Why does not Zune team have a good advertising team? Just look at the Apple advertisements. For average user, it is definitely making the case to buy apple products.

Wakeup MSFT idiots. Have a PR campaign to promote Zune. I have not seen any single advertisement that convinces me to buy a Zune even though it has all the features.

Is Zune marketing team living in Caves? Try understanding the consumer market rather than saying "your potential our passion" crap....

Why not get permission or pay the company to use the ad? This ad is quite better than the typical Zune ads we've seen (though the one spotlighting ZunePass wasn't bad).

A whole series of "Music is Life"-like ads where there's a drab setting or person, and the Zune shows up, and brings things to life. Something like that would sell.

If most people are saying positive things about this ad, and most people say negative things about previous Zune Marketing-made ads, then that does mean something to you guys, right?

Microsoft in general needs to hire a better professional marketing team. Do you guys ever wonder what makes Apple successful besides their products? It's their advertising. Their ads are usually top-notch (not counting arrogant Get a Mac ads), and do a better job of getting me interested in the actual product. Product placement in many movies and TV shows instills Apple culture into peoples' heads.

I hope to see more creative juices flowing, rather than "the typical".

@Ron & Tom : Gamestop never even sold iPods. Does that mean iPods will sell less? The thing is, is that Gamestop is not the place to buy music, and nobody really ever went to Gamestop to specifically buy music or Zunes. It would be natural for Gamestop to stop selling them. The big-box retails sell way more, and Gamestop not selling them is really a non-factor. Just a way to cast doubt on Zune.

Cesar, do you know if it's possible for the Zune team to purchase the rights to this ad and use it?  Also is this something you guys might think of doing?  

I agree with most of the thoughts here.  This is a great ad!

Hi cesar, you may want to link mine instead if you want. it got the high res version along the info on how the video was made and it was approved by the author.

I uploaded it from the original author source just as Zheng did so they are identical versions where nothing was unchanged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTXa6Ztuu3s

funny enough even the grandma of the boy in the video saw it and wrote to me thinking i was involved somehow in the distribution of the commercial. i just liked it.

@LjtJ28:

actually yes, when you do a spec ad, the brand owner got all the rights to buy you the commercial just like it happens when a ad agency offers a mock up of the ads they want to do and choose which one they will go with.

in this case the ad is already finished and it only need to be certified by the brand involved.

Apple, nike and others have bought spec ads in the past. MS should buy this one. it is that good.

The zune spot with the album covers for zune pass is cool.  And, the quality of this one fits in so well, you would believe that MS did it too.  I would suggest finding out who did this and bringing them onboard.  Hey, it couldn't hurt.  They're doing them free now...

I weep for zune's future and my enthusiasm is wanning.  such great potential in aprehensive hands.

i do hope i'm proven wrong.

Apple will buy this ad first and adapt it to their 3G phone. mark my words.

I think MS has more Zune sites registered than they do non MS posters. How sad.