Microsoft Plays a New Zune

摘要

Zune represents an abrupt reversal of Microsoft's earlier music strategy, which was supplying software to music vendors and independent hardware makers. These iPod wannabes have improved of late, but they still haven't caught up to Apple, and the various music offerings fall far short of the seamless experience on the iTunes Store. With Zune, Microsoft adopts Apple's model of end-to-end control of hardware, software, and content retailing. Microsoft hopes Zune's ability to share music will be the killer distinction, as implied in its marketing slogan "Welcome to the Social." The players use Wi-Fi wireless to detect any other Zunes within about a 30-foot radius and send them songs. A shared song can be played just three times in a three-day period unless the owner cables the Zune to a PC and buys the tune from the Zune store. Unlike the player from startup MusicGremlin, which also offers Wi-Fi sharing, the only wireless downloads the Zune can receive are songs sent from other Zunes.