The battle between iTune and Microsoft Zune
On Nov. 14, Microsoft will launch a new product to tackle Apple computer’s music revolution.
Bill Gate’s new MP3 player, the Zune, weighs less than one ounce more than the leading competitor’s player, but has gained a reputation in some Internet circles as a potential “iPod killer.”
With new features, new colors and a continuous ad campaign, music fanatics will have another product to consider this upcoming holiday season.
Microsoft considers the Zune is more than just a song player.
“Zune is very much a social brand,” said Microsoft’s general manager of marketing, Chris Stephenson.
Microsoft is committed to releasing an entire family of hardware and software under the Zune name, the first of which will be a 30-gigabyte music player packaged in a box printed with the words “Welcome to the social.”
The most unique feature Zune has to offer is a Wi-Fi-powered sharing capability. Product users will be able to share pictures and music between units without connecting to a computer.
Songs received from another Zune will be encrypted with a digital rights management file (DRM) allowing users to play the song up to three times in three days. There’s no illegal file sharing.
After a song is no longer payable, users can “flag” the song. Next time the Zune is connected to a computer, a playlist of songs flagged can be purchased from the iTunes store counterpart: the Zune Marketplace.
The Marketplace will have similar prices to iTunes for single downloads or users can pay for a monthly subscription allowing unlimited downloads for $14.99.
With the apparent social niche iPod has created, consumers can expect more media surrounding the social features of the Zune.
Co-Founder and CEO of Apple Computer Steve Jobs seems unconcerned with his competitor’s new foray into a market where the iPod dominates 70 percent of all portable music device sales.
Of the wireless file sharing, Jobs said, “It takes forever. By the time you’ve gone through all that, the girl’s got up and left.”
Zune users will be able to show their device to other Zunes within reach of their wireless network or make themselves invisible to other users.
Transfer authorization is required to send a file to another device.
Shortly after the announcement of the Zune, iPod announced a $50 price reduction in their 30-gigabyte model. With a commitment not to be “undercut on price,” Microsoft will release their model at $250. All first-eneration Zunes will be available with only 30 gigabytes.
Some market analysts predict Microsoft will taking a $50 dollar loss for every unit sold.
One iPod user, Nicolas Morales, a student from Chile studying business administration, is upset iPod lowered prices shortly after he purchased his one-gigabyte iPod Nano.
Zune sales will have a lot against them in the eyes of some consumers. Brent Goodwine, a junior studying technical writing, has the white ear buds commonly connected to iPods in his ears more than one hour each day. When working on a writing project, he says he probably listens to his music for three hours that day.
Apple’s device boasts 14 hours of battery life for music playback while the Zune will take an hour cut with the wireless activated. Wireless capabilities can be turned off for an extended battery life equivalent to the iPod.
While music is said to be the focus of each Zune, the unit does boast a screen 16 percent bigger than the iPod and can be rotated horizontally to view video in landscape format. The Zune also comes equipped with an FM tuner and preloaded videos, songs and pictures to get users started.
Goodwine thinks the file sharing and background customization are good ideas, but worries about Microsoft’s ability to serve their customers. When Goodwine dropped his iPod and it stopped working, he says he sent it in under warranty. Within six days, he had a new iPod arrive at his home.
“It’s Microsoft. Their not going to be quick,” said Goodwine.
The constant battle between Microsoft and Apple seems evident to some consumers.
“Bill Gates is such a [jerk],” said Zach Smart, a freshman in biology. “He just steals everybody’s ideas and makes them better and then makes money off them.”
Due just in time for the holiday season, the Zune will offer more choices in the portable music player market.Tbe battle between iTune v. Microsoft Zune