Showing posts with label MP3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MP3. Show all posts

Sunday, October 01, 2006

More Zune news: Form vs. Function

Jake Ludington's MediaBlab blog just published some pictures comparing a Zune device to an iPod. The iPod, of course, is sleeker and more stylish, having been built by the masters of form, Apple. The Zune is noticably blockier and bigger.

This may come down to the age old form vs. function debate. The Zune specs out with more features than iPod (Wi-Fi, FM radio, etc.), but the iPod looks better and still has enough features for most people. So is Microsoft's Zune an iPod killer? Well, that all depends on whether you lean towards form (iPod) or function (Zune). My guess is that at first, early adopters and techies will buy the Zune for its cool features. It may even catch on beyond the tech arena to some degree. But Microsoft has an uphill battle against Apple to topple the iPod's dominance in the marketplace. They need to pretty it up, because, let's face it, humans are vain creatures who like to look cool.


Zune matches iPod pricing

Microsoft has announced Zune pricing and availability. 
Gear Factor has more...


Zune Pricing Announced



Finally, Microsoft has disclosed the salient details about the Zune music player. It will be released Nov. 14 and will cost $249.99, matching the price of Apple's 30GB video iPod. Similarly, when Zune Marketplace goes live on the same day, it will charge $.99 per song, just like iTunes.

Since a price war won't be waged as some expected, it seems Microsoft is relying on Zune's limited music-sharing capability, as well as the Zune Pass subscription -- which will let users listen to any of the Marketplace's approximately 2 million songs for $14.99 per month -- to drive people to the new music player. Users will also have the option of purchasing tracks with Microsoft Points, which lets them add money to an account, a system that's already used in the Xbox Live Marketplace.

[Via Yahoo!

 




News Feed Source
    Home Page: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/
    Feed Title: Gear Factor
    Feed URL: http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/gadgets/rss.xml

Article
    Title: Zune Pricing Announced
    Link: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/29076372/index.blog
    Author: ~
    Publication Date:


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Friday, September 29, 2006

iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!

Found this on Digg. I'm kinda rooting for the Zune :-)

iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!


BBSpot takes it to the streets, throwing Chuck Norris, a Ford Excursion, and promises of everlasting health against the reigning champion of MP3 players and its scrappy challenger from a small company known as Microsoft. Lets get rrrreeeaaaady toooooooooooo rrrrruuuummmmbbblllleee!


News Feed Source
    Home Page: http://digg.com/
    Feed Title: digg
    Feed URL: http://digg.com/rss/index.xml

Article
    Title: iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!
    Link: http://digg.com/apple/iPod_vs_Zune_SMACKDOWN
    Author: ~
    Publication Date:


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Thursday, September 14, 2006

Coming Zune...but I want it NOW!

I want one. It's cool. It's hi-tech. It's coming Zune! Microsoft's new Zune specs out better than iPods (built in Wi-Fi, FM radio, social music sharing, supports MP3, AAC, h.264, and WMA). Engadget posted information about Microsoft's Zune announcement today. Is this an iPod killer?