Is Zune still the iPod killer

Launched in November 2006 by Microsoft the Zune was hailed as the killer of iPod. The Zune is a digital media player made for Microsoft by Toshiba. Video and podcast stores as well as online music will be provided by the new software which includes the Zune Marketplace.

Zune has a few features that they thought would help them overtake iPod in the market but and although the features are good they did not reckon with the faithful followers of iPod. Zune comes with a built in FM radio, it has the ability to share its songs wirelessly on Windows PCs computers and with other Zune’s. On Windows XP and Vista users can, rip audio CDs, manage files, and buy songs, TV shows and video music using Zunes software.

The Advantages of Zune

The first Zune was released with a 30GB memory. The player although larger and heavier than iPod’s 30GB issue, has a bright colour screen that is half an inch larger than the iPod's.

Zune supports unprotected AAC files which is better than using the default settings for ripping CD’s with the iPod and the FM tuner should give it a big advantage over the apple iPod.

The Zune Wi-Fi connectivity put portable media players on new territory. Users will be able to socialize with there music universe with the Wi-Fi feature. The portability is attractive to younger people who want to exchange songs with there friends.

The Zune Marketplace is subscription based and integrated so that there online database can be accessed without having to download to your computer before accessing new music. The ability to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee is another important aspect.

The interface combines horizontal and vertical scrolling, with many top-level menus displaying horizontally across the top of the screen, while lists of tracks or track information run vertically which is another great advantage. The Zune interface runs almost instantaneously through playlist tracks and during shuffle play and are generally much faster than the iPod. The circular main control is touch sensitive on Zune and has four-position directional control as well as a central select button.

Zunes larger display screen makes a big difference over the course of extended viewing and also boasts great quality audio, with clear and crisp video. It has tons of cool features, and synchronizes nicely with windows media centre. Because Zune also works with Xbox 360 most people think it's fun to use.

The disadvantages of Zune.

The first disadvantage is as we have already said it is larger and heavier than an iPod.

Zune had a lot of early problems and needed firmware updates from the start. And quite a few people had reservations about Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management policy.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation, in opposition to the Zune’s DRM, wrote:

“ Microsoft’s Zune will not play protected Windows Media Audio and Video purchased or ‘rented’ from Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, iTunes, or any other online media service. The Zune will not even play content previously purchased from Microsoft’s own MSN Music service. ...The media that Microsoft promised would Play For Sure doesn't even play on Microsoft’s own device.”

The following year saw less strict DRM from Microsoft and the allowed about 1/3 more tracks to be without it.

Zune like rival iPod will only be compatible with its own software provided by Microsoft's from September 2008.

Another problem is when you receive a song from a friend as you are only allowed to listen to it three times before it will expire. You cannot resend it to a third party.

Zune Marketplace is not easy to use and iTunes is a much simpler option. iTunes is simple and very elegant to use and is very intuitive. With iTunes you can just click on a song and pay your 99 cents with your credit card. You have to buy at the very least $5 of points when buying from the Zune Marketplace. So if you only need one 99cent song Microsoft are holding onto your other $4.1 until you want to purchase another song. It is not easy as it is based on a points system. One song will cost you 79 points which you may think is cents while the actual 79 points costs 99cents. So buying music from Microsoft is over complicated and not easy to figure out?

So Will the Zune overtake iPod?

One question everyone is asking is can Zune catch up to iPod. Well a recent survey from Piper Jaffray's bi-annual teen survey showed that Apple's share of the portable media player market among high school students increased to 84 percent, it was 80 percent a year ago. 78% said that if they where going to buy a MP3 player then it would be an iPod. Zunes share of the market is up from the 2% last year and it now commands 3%. Now 15% of the teen’s surveyed plan to buy a Zune if they purchase within the next year. An increase from the 13% of last year.

So it looks like the Zune is progressing in the MP3 player market but not at a rate that will cause the Apple iPod and problems in the near future. Zune does is not supported on Mac computers and a lot of youngsters are using them so creating another problem for Zune.