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Sports Unit's Zune60.net Zune and 360 BlogMy thoughts on Zune, XBOX 360, Media Center PC's, Windows Mobile, and Windows Live... February 17 Windows Phone 7 Series: Microsofts outclasses Apple, Google, Rim and Palm... The new windows 7 phones have zune + xbox inside. Microsoft has figured out how to combine their immense resources into something that looks connected, sensible, and most of all, beautiful. I own an Android-based Motorola Cliq. Everything on the phone "force closes" which means that the OS is basically broken. I will welcome the change. I can now have my Zune Pass subscription, XBOX live friends and activities, and phone functions in one, excellent device that brings the best of the Media Center and Zune HD user interfaces to the table. Microsoft has finally done it. Can't wait to get my hands on one, and I hope they really polish it to death. Anything less than the brilliant Zune HD won't be acceptable. August 12 Zune HDWill the Zune HD era save Zune? As far as I can tell, the MAJOR deficiency in the Zune HD device will be it's software. No, I'm not talking about the already slick-looking interface. I'm talking about the lack of Apps on the device. I also think Microsoft should have placed a camera in this thing. If it's not going to do double duty as a phone, they should have at least went the camera route. To get back to my point, the applications available for this device, especially games, will make or break it. No one wants an additional device in their pockets. Existing iphone customers definitely don't want another device to carry around. Creating compelling social games that leverage the XBOX Live brand would create that incentive. As we all know, many, many people have latched onto the Nintendo DS. Going that route is a more viable alternative than chasing their iPod-killing dream.
My advice: start developing some great apps for the device, make games a primary strength, and for God's sake, connect the thing in meaningful ways to XBOX 360 if you want to have a chance. XBOX Live Anywhere remains the top piece of vaporware of this decade. In a time of losses, MS has to reinvent itself and prove it can deliver, starting with Zune and Windows Mobile. Come on Mr. Softy, prove to the people you can still do it. Live Anywhere will be a hit if you simply finish what you started. March 13 Zune Software - WTF?!?!What is with the search bar in the zune software? You type in it and you don't see what you've just typed for up to 10 seconds sometimes. This is extremely annoying. December 17 Microsoft's Last StandApple is slowly attacking all the major forms of consumer electronics. They've conquered the portable media player market. They have taken the lead in the mobile phone market, which Microsoft had been entrenched in for years. Next up is the gaming market. If Microsoft allows Apple to come into this market and dominate in the same way that they allowed Apple to dominate the mobile phone market, they are in big trouble. The videogame market is one area where Microsoft is dropping the ball despite having a very solid brand in the XBOX and XBOX Live. Instead of quickly getting a mobile platform to market with a unified solution for portable gaming that leverages XBOX Live, they continue to drag their feet. To protect their entertainment division's presence and be successful in catching up in the portable media market, MS wil have to:
-Build a Zune Marketplace onto the XBOX 360 Platform. Increasing awareness in Zune is a priority, as it has a substantial lead on the Ipod in many areas, but remains relatively obscure in terms of mind share.
-Transform Windows Mobile or build a Mobile Phone Platform that builds on the excellent user interface work done on Zune, leverages XBOX Live & XNA, has an easy to use application stores, and makes use of other Live properties such as Live contacts/Live Calendar/Live Photos/etc on day 1.
-Unify the Zune and Mobile Phone Ecosystems into a cohesive whole. Windows Mobile Phones should be able to sync with Zune. The Mobile Device Center in Windows stinks...get rid of it.
-Provide a unified mobile gaming platform with downloadable games. Games should should have compatibility between Zune and WinMo with very little hassle on the part of the user. Right now, the Zune marketplace has no game stores even though it is managed by arguably the biggest game console & software manufacturer in North America. If Microsoft doesn't attack the portable game market aggresively, all of their progress in the current console war will be lost. Mark my words. The stalled Live Anywhere initiative shows their current ignorance in this arena. Hurry up or Apple will eat XBOX & Live for Dinner, much like the way you guys ate Sony and the Playstation brand this gen.
-Over the air downloads on all carriers. Apple doesn't even have it on one carrier. This is an easy way to upstage them and have a credible advantage. the Musiwave and Danger acquisitions should make this a piece of cake once the the legalities get worked out.
-Last but not least, court Nokia aggresively. There are no Winmo phones that can upstage the Ipod in ease of use, speed, and graphics ability. Getting Nokia onbard would change that. And, they already have their feet wet in the portable games department with their N-Gage platform.
I genuinely believe that if this is not done, the XBOX 360 will be MS's last successful console and they will be forced to basically exit the phone and gaming markets somewhere between 2010 and 2012. September 17 Microsoft and Zune leapfrog Apple/Ipod/ItunesOn Tuesday, September 16th, Microsoft did the unthinkable. They released a Zune software and device upgrade that essentially helped them leap past Apple in the portable device market. While their marketshare for portable mp3 players may not reflect what they have done, they have nonetheless cemented their position as the most comprehensive and functional digital music ecosystem. In a short list, Microsoft and Zune has beaten Apple in these key areas:
1)Music Discovery - I have found and discovered more music using the Zune software than I could ever have using any other ecosystem. Zune's new mixview system of looking at artists, other related artists, influential peers, and fans of the artist, is so far ahead of Itunes "Genius" system that Microsoft should be applauded by Jobs himself for delivering here.
2)Wireless Accessibility - Wherever there is a wifi hot spot, Zune pass users can stream live or download any songs they can find using the built-in search tool in the Zune. You can even update dynamic playlists and Sync your friends most played music to your device using wifi.
3)Lists - Although this is technically related to music discovery, it deserves an entry of its own. Microsoft has included a dynamic playlist feature called channels that updates weekly and spans different genres. So, for example, you can subscribe to a top 40 list and get top 40 songs delivered to your device whenever you sync. To top it off, you can sync the top 40 songs using wifi no matter where you are as long as you have access to a hot spot. If you don't want to download the songs in your channels, simply stream them through wifi. "Picks" is an extension of this idea and allows you to have music picks delivered to you based on your listening habits, which is super cool.
4)Universal features - Gone are the days of the smaller flash devices being inferior to their larger hard drive counterparts. Microsoft has made 99.9 percent of all Zune features compatible across devices. This makes purchasing a device much easier and rewards all users. Also, there's no charging for firmware updates here. Microsoft is taking care of their customers and IMO, the Zune is 1 device away from not only stealing the hearts of power users, but also stealing general market share away from the big dog.
To ultimately get the ball rolling, Microsoft will need a super large, but thin, touch-screen Zune that
August 13 Super Monkey Ball does 300K on Iphone!!!!Super monkey ball did 300K in its first month on the iphone's app store. Microsoft, what are you doing here? Let's see....you have windows mobile, zune, and now sidekick. Why are Apple beating you to the marketplace with a credible online game store? MS better get on the ball or they'll be playing catchup to Apple in yet another area. The sad part is, gaming is an area that they had a super headstart in. August 12 Windows Live and Mesh
I recently signed up for and downloaded the Mesh client. In short, the most technologically advanced piece of software and services that I've come across in the last 10 years. If MS plays their cards right and integrates this platform with their other Live and mobile services, they'll be well on their way to crushing the bugfest that is MobileMe. I have a T-mobile shadow that is still missing calendar sync, which is disappointing. When Windows Live Wave 3 drops, I hope a mobile version accompanies it with push email and calendar sync. I don't think MS can wait on mesh's rollout schedule to provide this sort of functionality. It is very annoying to get an urgent and important email 15 late. Bring push hotmail to windows mobile and bring it now Microsoft. Nonetheless, the future of all the Live services looks bright due to the exciting new platform that is known as Mesh. My person top XBOX 360 games of all-time and wanted list of fall 08A simple list of my personal top 360 games in descending order. Ghost Recon AW Most Anticipated titles of fall 08: Left 4 DeadLips beyond 08: Halo Wars Zune V3What will Microsoft do this fall in the MP3 player market? As an avid Zune user, I have many thoughts on what MS needs to do to be successful in this market. As we approach back-to-school season in many parts of the U.S. and millions of students and teachers begin their buying sprees for new PC's and other gadgets, now would be a good time to explore this topic.
Apple is surely to roll out new MP3 players this fall. There are rumors of a new Nano with a more old school form factor that is taller and skinnier than the current models. Microsoft is surely kicking themselves because their Nano competitor has a similr shape but a goofy name (Zune 4/Zune 8) and did almost nothing at reail against Apple's most popular Ipod product. Well, what can and what should Microsoft do to increase their presence in this Apple dominated market?
First, I can't speak enough on the importance of an under $99 Zune player. Cutting the cost of the Zune 4 models to 100 dollars is't what I'm talking about eithr. MS will need to do very little to produce a worthy competitor to the Ipod shuffle line. The shuffle line has no screen, holds very little music, and has none of the extra features that make Ipods a top of the line product. Start with a tiny base form factor, then throw in a small but viewable screen, and the Zune design and style will do the rest. Let's not forget to give it a name that is more clever than Zune + storage size and they should be good to go.
In terms of the Zune 80, Microsoft needs to do very little on the hardware front. Tidying up some of the small issus like crooked zune pads and unsecured lock switches and they will be all but done. I think more work needs to be done to the software on the device. The Zune is known for it's no frills approach when it comes to the onbard software. Microsoft should waste no more time, as they are a software company that is more than capable of adding a clock, games, and wireless store to the device. A few more surprise features that utilize the wireless chip in the zune are also sorely needed. Off the top of my head, I can come up with at least a few that would be interesting, including a DJ'ing feature allowing zune social users to get a live internet radio feed of your currently listeing activity. While a full internet browser would not be appealing on a non-touch device, an app to subsribe to and download feeds on the go would also be useful.
Now, onto the premium devices, which is where MS needs to make a huge splash. Apple has the Ipod Touch and Iphone to rely on. AT the moment, MS has no answer for these products. Although many see the odds stacked against Microsoft, I think there is a relatively simple recipe to beat the touch. Simply do what the Touch can't in it's role as the underpriviledged sibling of the Iphone. The Iphone has GPS, the touch does not. The Iphonehas a microphone, the Touch does not. Use this scenario against Microsoft by bundling these features into a high-end Zune. GPS and a Microphone by themselves would mean very little for the future of Zune, but I believe that some very enticing scenarios can be enabled if they include these two items....
Microsoft can utilize GPS by leveraging their incredible Virtual Earth technology for one. But, combined with a microphone, they can tap into their expertise with voice-activated technologies (i.e. Ford Sync) to make GPS a compelling feature for the Zune. There is no reason to make a standalone GPS product, but including this technology in the Zune could give them a huge feature advantage over the competing Touch. Even if you remove the GPS and simply throw in a microphone, voice-activated music navigation would be a welcomed interface option for users who do their primary listening while commuting in an automobile. No more driving with the Ipod on your lap. Simply purchase a Zune and shout out commands to change your music. Last but not least, what would a high-end mp3 player be these days without touch-screen capabilities. However, I think MS should not just throw this in haphazardly. They should focus on the user experience and ensuring that they bring a few new and intriguing scenarios utilizing touch to the table.
Don't hold back MS and Zune. Follow my recipe and you will have a compelling product line this holiday season in the U.S. January 29 Windows Mobile Browser Skyfire leaves Iphone/Safari in the dust...Ever wanted a cell phone web browser that could render exactly as your PC does. Well, Skyfire promises this and video demonstrations on the net have proved that this browser is indeed a winner. Check it out here: http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/28/skyfire-browser-for-windows-mobile-is-game-changing-does-flash/ January 16 Reaction to Apple's annoucements...XBL Video store vs. Itunes rentalsApple's annoucements at Macworld weren't earth-shattering by any means. The Macbook air is a nice-looking device that is notable for what it lacks rather than what it brings to the table. The ommission of a cd drive and ethernet port are game-changers for most people. The fixed battery is also a big deal. And, at $1800, I wonder if Steve Jobs is losing it.
Apple TV remains a niche product that won't sell although it did become slighly more compelling. Steve Job's ability to get all the major film companies on board for this rental service says something about Microsoft's once touted ability to work well with partners. Steve came in and did something in one fell swoop that Microsoft couldn't accomplish in over a year with the XBOX Live Video Store for the 360. The XBL video store will remain my primary service for digital rentals though. There is more HD content and I could never justify paying over $200 for an apple TV. I'm not invested in apple's ecosystem and from the looks of things, I never will be. To make matters worse for Apple, Amazon's unboxing service offers over 4,000 titles to rent that can also be played using an xbox 360.
The fact that Apple is charging $20 for an update to the Ipod touch says something about Apple's blindly devoted fanbase. They are not only willing to dish out money to upgrade an mp3 player they may have just bought yesterday, but they aren't even calling Apple out on this one. If Microsoft had done this sort of thing, we'd never hear the last of it. I guess J Allard was right when he said Apple can do no wrong these days. Touchsmart PC and Directv PC TunerI have major plans for my entertainment setups throughout my house. I've been hearing some rumors about the Directv tuner being released for Vista Media Center. If this does indeed see the light of day in 2008, I will be purchasing one of these units along with the touchsmart PC by HP for a nice dining room TV setup that won't be too over the top. January 02 Top XBOX 360 Games of 2007My Top XBOX 360 Games of 2007
1.Ghost Recon 2
2.Bioshock
3.Crackdown
4.Forza 2
5.Halo 3
6.PGR 4
7.The Biggs
8.Scene It
9.Mass Effect
10.Lost Planet
November 16 A few quick points about the Zune 2 Software and Device....Zune Team, are you listening?
November 09 David Pogue continues pro-Apple propaganda with T-Mobile Shadow Review, ZDnet's Matthew Miller responds skillfully...Check out this article on the T-Mobile Shadow written by Matthew Miller, an objective smartphone and technology columnist, unlike David Pogue.
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