As always, we can expect our good friends at Microsoft to try to corner a market. Whether it's a chokehold on video games or operating systems, to Microsoft monopoly is much more than a game. This time, however, Microsoft has endeavoured on a lofty, not to mention ironic, task: beating out iPod in the iPod market. During this centaury there have been two flavours of electronic music players: iPods and everything else. Creative tried to compete with the clicking giant with the Zen, but the iPod proved to be just too trendy. The solution? Create an mp3 player even more trendy, with more bells and whistles than a bells and whistles factory .The only company brave enough to do this? Microsoft. So let's get down to it.
The following is a comparison between the iPod 30GB player and the Zune mp3 player. Here is briefly discuss how they are similar, what the iPod has over the Zune, and finally what new features the Zune has to offer.
How they are the same:
- Li-Ion battery 14 hours battery life
- 30 GB storage
- $249 price tag
Comments:
Yes, deep down these weapons of mass consumption have similarities. They have very similar battery lives, right down to the understandably short battery life when watching videos.
What the iPod still has over the Zune:
- Thinner: 0.43" versus 0.58"
- Lighter: 4.8 ounces versus 5.6 ounces
- Compatible with Mac and PC
- Scroll wheel
- Tried and tested trendiness
Comments:
Although the iPod is a smaller package than the Zune, that's really just information and not an actual selling point. The fact that the Zune is incompatible with Macs seems a bit strange but is almost a non-issue; it's expected that Mac users will stick with the iPod. iPod's main selling point is what it always had: the immediately identifiable headphones, the clicking scroll wheel, the fact that portable music is virtually synonymous with iPod. Also, those looking for a smaller and/or cheaper alternative will be likely turned off by the current one size offered by the Zune and more inclined to pick up the Nano or Shuffle.
What the Zune plans to kill the iPod with:
- Wireless network: Wi-Fi access to Zune community, including file sharing, unique online tag, news blogs, as well as access to your Xbox
- Tactile control as apposed to click wheel
- Larger, better display
- Option to display in portrait and landscape mode
- Unlimited downloads ($14.99/month)
- FM Tuner (like we really care)
Comments:
As Neil Buchanan would say, "And now the messy bit."
Display:
Though the Zune itself is bigger, so is its screen. In fact, it is 44% bigger. You can use the Zune in portrait mode much like you would an iPod, but you can also turn the Zune over to its side and watch images in landscape mode. Given its high pixel density and refresh rates, this will allow you to effectively watch widescreen moves on your Zune. You can also have custom background pictures.
Wireless:
The Wi-Fi network offered by Zune is a great and novel idea. Your Zune automatically detects other Zunes in the area within a range of 30', identifying each by their unique ID tags. You can then choose to share pictures, songs or even entire albums. Shared songs can be flagged so you can go home and download them on Zune Marketplace. Why you ask? Because songs shared can only listened to three times before being automatically deleted. This greatly reduces the appeal of file sharing, especially to those who don't like paying for music, but I'm sure there's a way around it.
Miscellaneous:
Although the large, detailed screen and the wireless capabilities are the main selling point, the Zune still has more to offer. Zune Marketplace, the Zune version of iTunes, allows Zune users to download songs at 99 cents each or you can subscribe to unlimited downloads for $14.99/month. Zune Marketplace is said to have an extensive album art fetcher, a nice feature for those who don't like searching for images for each of their 500 albums. The Zune sports a scratch resistant "soft" body mad from 80 durometer plastic. It is worth noting that the Zune curiously does not function as a mass storage device. It's music, photos, videos or nothing for you.
Final thought:
With equal price tags, it is evident that the battle this Christmas will be between the Zune's superior features and iPod's near perfect marketing.
The following is a comparison between the iPod 30GB player and the Zune mp3 player. Here is briefly discuss how they are similar, what the iPod has over the Zune, and finally what new features the Zune has to offer.
How they are the same:
- Li-Ion battery 14 hours battery life
- 30 GB storage
- $249 price tag
Comments:
Yes, deep down these weapons of mass consumption have similarities. They have very similar battery lives, right down to the understandably short battery life when watching videos.
What the iPod still has over the Zune:
- Thinner: 0.43" versus 0.58"
- Lighter: 4.8 ounces versus 5.6 ounces
- Compatible with Mac and PC
- Scroll wheel
- Tried and tested trendiness
Comments:
Although the iPod is a smaller package than the Zune, that's really just information and not an actual selling point. The fact that the Zune is incompatible with Macs seems a bit strange but is almost a non-issue; it's expected that Mac users will stick with the iPod. iPod's main selling point is what it always had: the immediately identifiable headphones, the clicking scroll wheel, the fact that portable music is virtually synonymous with iPod. Also, those looking for a smaller and/or cheaper alternative will be likely turned off by the current one size offered by the Zune and more inclined to pick up the Nano or Shuffle.
What the Zune plans to kill the iPod with:
- Wireless network: Wi-Fi access to Zune community, including file sharing, unique online tag, news blogs, as well as access to your Xbox
- Tactile control as apposed to click wheel
- Larger, better display
- Option to display in portrait and landscape mode
- Unlimited downloads ($14.99/month)
- FM Tuner (like we really care)
Comments:
As Neil Buchanan would say, "And now the messy bit."
Display:
Though the Zune itself is bigger, so is its screen. In fact, it is 44% bigger. You can use the Zune in portrait mode much like you would an iPod, but you can also turn the Zune over to its side and watch images in landscape mode. Given its high pixel density and refresh rates, this will allow you to effectively watch widescreen moves on your Zune. You can also have custom background pictures.
Wireless:
The Wi-Fi network offered by Zune is a great and novel idea. Your Zune automatically detects other Zunes in the area within a range of 30', identifying each by their unique ID tags. You can then choose to share pictures, songs or even entire albums. Shared songs can be flagged so you can go home and download them on Zune Marketplace. Why you ask? Because songs shared can only listened to three times before being automatically deleted. This greatly reduces the appeal of file sharing, especially to those who don't like paying for music, but I'm sure there's a way around it.
Miscellaneous:
Although the large, detailed screen and the wireless capabilities are the main selling point, the Zune still has more to offer. Zune Marketplace, the Zune version of iTunes, allows Zune users to download songs at 99 cents each or you can subscribe to unlimited downloads for $14.99/month. Zune Marketplace is said to have an extensive album art fetcher, a nice feature for those who don't like searching for images for each of their 500 albums. The Zune sports a scratch resistant "soft" body mad from 80 durometer plastic. It is worth noting that the Zune curiously does not function as a mass storage device. It's music, photos, videos or nothing for you.
Final thought:
With equal price tags, it is evident that the battle this Christmas will be between the Zune's superior features and iPod's near perfect marketing.
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