On the eve of Microsoft releasing its new Zune HD platform (the one targeted at competing with the iPod touch), Windows Super-siter, Paul Thurrott is reporting that the still nascent plain vanilla Zune platform (the one targeted at competing with the iPod touch and classic) is being abandoned. (Shades of PlaysForSure?)
Likewise, the Wall Street Journal breaks word that Microsoft's general manager of Zune marketing, Chris Stephenson is also being discontinued, leaving to take a position at Universal's Interscope Geffen A&M Records.
The Zune HD admittedly looks like a more-than-compelling competitor to the 2007 iPod touch (the 2009 model, well have to see), and has bloggers strangely enthused, but it's curious Microsoft is cutting support for previous players at the same time. Though Apple also believes them to be a dwindling market, rumor has it we'll see camera-sporting iPod nano and classic come next Wednesday.
Could this actually be a sign of Microsoft gaining some much-needed focus? And will the logical, and still denied, ZunePhone be next?
(We're still hoping for an XboxPhone instead!)
Reader comments
The Competition: Microsoft Discontinues Previous Zunes, Marketing Exec
I've yet to hear a compelling reason as to why a camera on my MP3 player is a great addition...
To better clarify my thoughts. I'm in no way downing any product. But when we break it down to core functions of a MP3 player...no apps, no camera, no browser.
Which device can you truly says outshines the other?
I understand a camera on the iPod touch but not the nano. There are applications to take advamtge of with the touch. Should we expect a touch nano that could take advantage of a new app store? Just thoughts.
Same was said about cameras on phone 12 years ago.
You do it because you have a ton of storage sitting empty on the device and a camera is cheap and easy to add, and it sells.
ipod wins hands down
Icebike is correct.
I understand that. But you can't compare the landscape of technology now to that of 12 years past.
The fact that now there is not one single phone without a camera (except very low end and business phones) it kind of negates the point of having an extra camera in your pocket. It just seems that functionality is just being duplicated across devices because ideas are running thin.
It's getting to the point where the iPod is now essentially an iPhone without a GSM radio. And you would think that you'd want to keep them as separate as possible. Because now you have folks looking at it like...I want all the iPhone offers...but none of the ATT mess. And now that's giving them a viable choice. Because believe...if I had an option between ATT/iPhone or iPod w/ same features...I'd choose the iPod.
I was really hoping for more of an innovative breakthrough on the iPod front. The camera just doesnt do it for me.
Picture Caption: The only 4 zune players ever made and sold!!!! Lol
Truer words were never spoken.
I still say they are shoveling cameras into these devices while they wait for the next innovation to come along.
I don't think they know where to go in the ipod sector. Sales are dropping, everybody has 2 or three mp3 players. The sector is tapped out.
I don't see how you innovate an music player. If I did, I't patent it. But other than to add a subscription layer onto it, I think its gone the distance.
Still some room in the video player market for innovation, and maybe that's where they are headed with the camera bit.
Yeah, it's reaching the point of saturation. Everyone who wanted an iPod has one. And everyone who doesnt...dont. But that just opens up room for newer things like the ZuneHD, P3, Creative Zii to come and take some things.
A fresh look, fresh interface...these things can draw. But then again...Windows reached the point of saturation ages ago...and nothing has changed...so it's never that black and white.
All I can say is I will have fun looking at these next few years unfold.
XboxPhone IMO =D
Make one that actually works? and i'm buying it.
It does sport quite a nice OLED screen. Although the resolution is not that revolutionary it is still something that was on quite a few wishlists before release of the 3Gs.
Screw xboxphone.
Ps3phone all the way. :D
youre all forgetting that none of us actually know what they will give us on 9th.. for all we know it could be a new type of iPod with a camera that only can see music related things?? IMO:)
But many who don't, actually do.
I've never owned (nor wanted), an MP3 player until the iPhone came with one which I never use.
I think it's for the younger folks. I want my son (10) to have an iPod. But I would never buy him a cell phone (yet), nor would I buy him a Digital Camera... But an iod with a camera? Hell yeah.
I don't think us iPhone (even iPod touch) owners are necessarily the target market for iPods. Think about it, it's the only market they can really go for with the older models now, and I think it's a great idea.
But yes, we won't REALLY know until the 9th.
And Zune? The average person has no idea what it even is. Good thing they sacked their marketing guy.
The overlap that the iphone has to the itouch is so similar, the only reason to buy an itouch is if your too young for a contract, or dont want to spend an extra 30 dollars a month, or just not on a GSM carrier.
By that same token, many phones are now coming with features such as MP3 and video playback (almost every smart phone now and even feature phones have this capability) so that itself is eating away at the MP3 market as well as many people who have them arent going to just be like, fuck it i'll go buy a new one like they do cell phones.
A camera on a Media player doesnt do shit, how about some HD playback and output, higher res screens, better audio quality. I feel that while audio is going to always be a part of the PMP world, video content is really going to push the next frontier of these devices, and unless Apple has some spec bumps other than a 3.2 MP cam, the advantage goes soundly to Microsoft.
Oh, why would MS make a xbox phone....that just sounds so fucking stupid, and i'll tell you im a hardcore xbox fanboy. Rather than trying to make a new platform, they can just push "Pink" out and make it like the zune where it just has XNA compatibility.
Yup we just put the Zunes on clearance at work yesterday. Maybe they will actually sell now. Lol !