Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

driven · Nov 6, 2006, 01:53 PM

I have no comment. The article says it all:

BBC NEWS | Technology | Zune problems for MSN customers

Calimus · Nov 6, 2006, 02:12 PM

This was announced when we first heard about the Zune(or shortly thereafter). I'm not sure why they didn't want "plays for sure" support on the device, especially since it may alienate customers who were already in the Microsoft camp.

Dakar² · Nov 6, 2006, 02:15 PM

Wow, way to completely cut the meaning out of "Plays for Sure"

driven · Nov 6, 2006, 02:16 PM

This seems like:

turtle777 · Nov 6, 2006, 02:16 PM

OMGWTFBBQ ?!?!?!?!

Timeline, please !

-t

mitchell_pgh · Nov 6, 2006, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

OMGWTFBBQ ?!?!?!?!

Timeline, please !

-t

I wonder how many times this is going to come up over the next few months.

I feel bad for Zune users.

SirCastor · Nov 6, 2006, 02:43 PM

The reasonings for this are really pretty simple:

1) Closed software/hardware model is emulating the most popular digital music player on the market (quite possibly in history): The iPod. You buy a Zune, you buy Zune music, you buy another zune, and another, and another...

2) DRM issues. You'd be double DRMing something. Once at the PFS level, another at the Zune level.

turtle777 · Nov 6, 2006, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by mitchell_pgh

I wonder how many times this is going to come up over the next few months.

I feel bad for Zune users.

Well, yeah, the user's I pitty.

It'll teach them again that M$ is just bad for business.

-t

turtle777 · Nov 6, 2006, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by SirCastor

2) DRM issues. You'd be double DRMing something. Once at the PFS level, another at the Zune level.

What many people don't realize: once you rip your music into the Zune software, it's DRM'ed, no matter what. No way to convert it later to something else. You better keep a DRM free copy somewhere. What a POS.

At least, with iTunes, you can keep your collection as MP3 if you don't trust Apple's future.

-t

willed · Nov 6, 2006, 05:43 PM

"Plays for Sure™"

Oh. The Irony.

SirCastor · Nov 6, 2006, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by willed

"Played for Sure™"

Fixed.

SirCastor · Nov 6, 2006, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

What many people don't realize: once you rip your music into the Zune software, it's DRM'ed, no matter what. No way to convert it later to something else. You better keep a DRM free copy somewhere. What a POS.

At least, with iTunes, you can keep your collection as MP3 if you don't trust Apple's future.

-t

I had and have no doubt that Microsoft's interests lie with it's business partners, not it's consumers. It has been many many years since MS has put it's customer's first. Leander Kahney made a good point saying that the Zune will be "locked down tighter than the queen's knickers". And it will be because MS (I think) is willing to bend over backwards to appease the record companies. They'll be more than happy to set tiered pricing, Make songs that only last a month, and keep the consumer from being able to do what they want when they want how they want to what they buy...

The only thing I worry about is the Record Companies seeing it as a valid alternative to the iTMS and jumping ship because they can get what they want with MS. If that happens, the consumers will follow the Record Companies.

turtle777 · Nov 6, 2006, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by SirCastor

The only thing I worry about is the Record Companies seeing it as a valid alternative to the iTMS and jumping ship because they can get what they want with MS. If that happens, the consumers will follow the Record Companies.

I doubt that will happen. Consumers will NOT make a concerted shift way from iTMS. Why would they, there is nothing compelling about Zune and the MS Store.

As long as there are big $$$ to be made with the iTMS, the record companies will nilly willy support it.

-t

SirCastor · Nov 6, 2006, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

I doubt that will happen. Consumers will NOT make a concerted shift way from iTMS. Why would they, there is nothing compelling about Zune and the MS Store.

As long as there are big $$$ to be made with the iTMS, the record companies will nilly willy support it.

-t

Right, that's the trick of it though. Consumers are (esp. here in America) very short attention-spanned. I think the Zune might catch on long enough to draw in a crowd. The Record companies have been dying to find a way out from under Apple's proverbial thumb.
I think if MS can show them there's a substantial user base for the Zune, they'll pull out from Apple first chance they get. I've got mixed feelings about the Zune, I don't like it, I don't think it's a competitor truely against the iPod, but I can't write it off as a failure right away.

driven · Nov 6, 2006, 07:28 PM

If the UI ends up being anything like we are used to with MS then it's game over before it starts. Even if they improve what they have now, it's still far to *ed up for most regular consumers to deal with.

turtle777 · Nov 6, 2006, 07:38 PM

Originally Posted by SirCastor

I think if MS can show them there's a substantial user base for the Zune, they'll pull out from Apple first chance they get.

Well, Apple's has to manage that. That's it, end of discussion.

Wait, uhm, no

Sorry, that was my boss from Germany speaking. I apologize.

-t

ghporter · Nov 6, 2006, 07:49 PM

Left hand, meet right hand. Right hand, left hand. You two are actually coworkers, you know, and I think it's time you started cooperating. Let's start with letting each other know what you're doing and why. Thanks. Love, Bill.

Too bad Bill isn't that smart...