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powerbook867 · Nov 12, 2006, 11:28 AM

Woman looks like her foot got run over by a bus. I guess a Best Buy someplace broke the release date...Gotta love the woman's picture though! Full story is on Engadget.

Mastrap · Nov 12, 2006, 11:39 AM

Link

IFLY2HIGH · Nov 12, 2006, 11:48 AM

Maybe the install software checked the date and it's smart enough to know that it's before release date and won't install? You wouldn't think so but then again the way some software is written today I wouldn't be surprised either...

chris v · Nov 12, 2006, 11:51 AM

Welcome to the social what?

And the box looks... familiar.

vmarks · Nov 12, 2006, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by chris v

Welcome to the social what?

And the box looks... familiar.

Social. noun.
An event that is held between a hosting fraternity (or sometimes two fraternities) and a sorority, (or sometimes two sororities). Typically these events have a theme.

Dark Helmet · Nov 12, 2006, 12:20 PM

"Can someone explain me why it says "Hello from Seattle" on the back?"

Simple, the iPods says "Designed in California" on it.

SpaceMonkey · Nov 12, 2006, 12:29 PM

The packaging is slick in an almost-iPod way, but it's a little busy.

analogika · Nov 12, 2006, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by vmarks

Social. noun.
An event that is held between a hosting fraternity (or sometimes two fraternities) and a sorority, (or sometimes two sororities). Typically these events have a theme.

The Social. noun.

British for welfare. The theme generally doesn't include a $300 walkman.

Nodnarb · Nov 12, 2006, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dark Helmet

"Can someone explain me why it says "Hello from Seattle" on the back?"

Simple, the iPods says "Designed in California" on it.

I thought Microsoft was in Redmond not Seattle?

Either way, it seems like they are trying wayyyyy to hard..."Hello from Seattle" seems like they are trying to be "hip"...maybe it's just me trying to pick it apart.

vmarks · Nov 12, 2006, 01:08 PM

Since we're on about local differences in definitions, "walkman" was not originally the name for the tape player outside of Japan.

Plans were made to call it Soundabout in the United States, Stowaway in the United Kingdom and Freestyle in Sweden.

I wonder if MS went with the social (my definition, party) because it evokes a party, fraternity, community among users - the same sort of fraternity success that Sony just had recently with Mylo.

Nodnarb · Nov 12, 2006, 01:11 PM

I think the social part is the whole thing that they're banking on sharing your music over wi-fi. Makes sense to me at least.

I think the wi-fi sharing is a good idea, but at the moment it's worthless for the zune. On the iPod, it would be a great feature, becuase the probability of riding on a bus or subway or whatever, and having someone else have an iPod is extremely high. Microsoft won't have as large of an installed user base for a number of years (hopefully never), so for right now I think it would be very unlikely to find anyone with a zune who is willing to share songs at any given moment.

Kerrigan · Nov 12, 2006, 01:11 PM

The brown color looks quite nice.

Velocity211 · Nov 12, 2006, 01:13 PM

can that box look any more apple like?

chabig · Nov 12, 2006, 01:18 PM

I get a kick out of the instruction to restart the computer...

Buckaroo · Nov 12, 2006, 02:26 PM

Someone posted this comment. That would suck for anyone that doesn't have the latest M$ OS.

The Zune software works only on Windows XP and Vista. Do you have XP?

Posted by: Dave73 | November 12, 2006 07:56 AM

Buckaroo · Nov 12, 2006, 02:30 PM

This is my favorite quote:

Haha, you bought a Microsoft product and expected installation to go smoothly?

Posted by: Samtherocker | November 12, 2006 09:42 AM

mduell · Nov 12, 2006, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by Buckaroo

Someone posted this comment. That would suck for anyone that doesn't have the latest M$ OS.

Good luck using your iPod Video with OS 9.

Buckaroo · Nov 12, 2006, 02:41 PM

MaxPower2k3 · Nov 12, 2006, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Good luck using your iPod Video with OS 9.

...or even Jaguar. All new iPods require 10.3.9, an OS released at the end of 2003, 2 years after Windows XP.

davesimondotcom · Nov 12, 2006, 02:54 PM

Oooh oooh! A free 14 day Zune Pass!!!

Well, at least they aren't hiding where they were "inspired."

"Hello from Seattle" = "Designed in California by Apple"

But the packaging seriously reminds me of aa certain video.

imitchellg5 · Nov 12, 2006, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Nodnarb

I thought Microsoft was in Redmond not Seattle?

Either way, it seems like they are trying wayyyyy to hard..."Hello from Seattle" seems like they are trying to be "hip"...maybe it's just me trying to pick it apart.

Microsoft is in Redmond. I used to live by them. Seattle is often viewed as an artful city, so they are trying to imply that the Zune is a work of art. It does look like something that would come out of Seattle.

Art Vandelay · Nov 12, 2006, 06:00 PM

I think it's more likely they are saying Seattle instead of Redmond because more people know of Seattle than Redmond.

Or maybe the Zune team is based in Seattle. MS has offices in Redmond, Seattle, Bellevue, Issaquah and probably a few more suburbs.

- - e r i k - - · Nov 12, 2006, 06:21 PM

More funny comments:

Hahaha! "The social" in Britain means "welfare". Welcome to welfare.

How can that one have got through?

Jawbone54 · Nov 12, 2006, 06:27 PM

Originally Posted by mduell

Good luck using your iPod Video with OS 9.

This is a huge problem? I'm guessing not a ton of people are using OS9 anymore, and even fewer are trying to use an iPod with it.

Chuckit · Nov 12, 2006, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jawbone54

This is a huge problem? I'm guessing not a ton of people are using OS9 anymore, and even fewer are trying to use an iPod with it.

If it's a problem that the Zune can't be used with an OS more than five years old, isn't it a problem that the iPod can't be used with an OS more than three years old?

Interestingly, the iPod supports Windows 2000 while the Zune doesn't. Strange world.

davesimondotcom · Nov 12, 2006, 08:58 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

If it's a problem that the Zune can't be used with an OS more than five years old, isn't it a problem that the iPod can't be used with an OS more than three years old?

Interestingly, the iPod supports Windows 2000 while the Zune doesn't. Strange world.

Difference being that XP is, technically, the latest release of Windows, despite being 5 years old. So Zune SHOULD work on it.

Jawbone54 · Nov 12, 2006, 09:12 PM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Difference being that XP is, technically, the latest release of Windows, despite being 5 years old. So Zune SHOULD work on it.

*bing*

Chuckit · Nov 13, 2006, 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

Difference being that XP is, technically, the latest release of Windows, despite being 5 years old. So Zune SHOULD work on it.

It does. I just don't get the thing about older systems — like, the iPod doesn't support any versions of Mac OS half as old as XP. It would be nice if both did, but I don't see how you can criticize one and not the other.

goMac · Nov 13, 2006, 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by Nodnarb

I thought Microsoft was in Redmond not Seattle?

Either way, it seems like they are trying wayyyyy to hard..."Hello from Seattle" seems like they are trying to be "hip"...maybe it's just me trying to pick it apart.

I'd assume they're saying Seattle because that's more hip than Redmond.

I find it hilarious. Redmond only has... ohhhh... I don't know.... a large body of water and Washington's second largest city in between it and Seattle. But yeah. Sure. Microsoft is from Seattle. : rolls eyes :

turtle777 · Nov 13, 2006, 04:07 AM

Originally Posted by Buckaroo

"All your music has been hosed" a fatal exception ?

That's standard behavior for this DRM infected POS.

-t

JoshuaZ · Nov 13, 2006, 04:30 AM

My favorite comment on that thread.

"If you want to be social, go to a bar.

If you wan the best portable music player get an iPod.

By the way, is the girl in the picture being raped?
get usrd to it, you'll see it a lot.

Posted by: pollo | November 12, 2006 03:01 PM"

powerbook867 · Nov 13, 2006, 10:18 PM

Now I see why the woman in the picture looks like she is in agonizing pain...

Installing the Zune... sucked - Engadget

They must be trying to fail...

Oneota · Nov 14, 2006, 09:22 AM

Hm. I was thinking she looked like she was in the midst of..shall we say, a good time. Especially considering what it looks like the couple next to her are doing.

kikkoman · Nov 14, 2006, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by Oneota

Hm. I was thinking she looked like she was in the midst of..shall we say, a good time. Especially considering what it looks like the couple next to her are doing.

I was waiting for someone else to say it but yeah I had the same thought.

residentEvil · Nov 14, 2006, 10:28 AM

she is the backup catcher; and hasn't gotten into the game yet

davesimondotcom · Nov 14, 2006, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

It does. I just don't get the thing about older systems — like, the iPod doesn't support any versions of Mac OS half as old as XP. It would be nice if both did, but I don't see how you can criticize one and not the other.

Last I checked, iPods supported XP, but Zune doesn't support Mac OS X at all. Correct?

That means Apple supports more than MS.

Besides, Apple users are pretty good at upgrading to the "latest thing" whereas many Windows users never upgrade. Which is why I fear having to design for IE 5.5/6 until I'm 93.

Hell, I know of Windows users who still use Netscape 4.

davesimondotcom · Nov 14, 2006, 11:35 AM

Bad interface design example number 1a:

See the "next" and "cancel" buttons? See how the "cancel is on the right? Where do you normally expect a "next" button? On the far right. Arbitrary placement with no meaning. Nice one.

chabig · Nov 14, 2006, 11:57 AM

Not only that, but why would you want to cancel? I don't think a cancel button is even necessary. If you don't want to install the software, just quit the installer.

Chris

TETENAL · Nov 14, 2006, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

See how the "cancel is on the right? Where do you normally expect a "next" button? On the far right. Arbitrary placement with no meaning. Nice one.

The Cancel button is always on the right in Windows. That may be wrong, but it's the standard for Windows, so the installer is correctly placing it.

zwiebel_ · Nov 14, 2006, 12:27 PM

Dark Helmet · Nov 14, 2006, 01:55 PM

Ya here is another link:
CNN.com Video

I love in the end it goes to a pro-shuffle review and the comment at the end sums it all up nicely.

chris v · Nov 14, 2006, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by zwiebel_

CNN reviews da zune. Good laugh

YouTube - CNN ridicules Micosoft Zune

"Why don't they get some decent designers?

"It's clunky.. it's clunky."

"Ahhh... oh. No comment."

turtle777 · Nov 14, 2006, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by chris v

"Why don't they get some decent designers?

"It's clunky.. it's clunky."

"Ahhh... oh. No comment."

ROFTLMAO @ M$

-t

kikkoman · Nov 14, 2006, 02:56 PM

free your inner dj? WTF? lame.

SirCastor · Nov 14, 2006, 03:09 PM

My favorite line:

"Now see, that's the thing that's a lot sexier than this..."
in reference to the iPod shuffle over the Zune...

Art Vandelay · 04:49 PM

It's been 15 minutes now and it still isn't done installing. It's not frozen and the hard drive churns every so often.

Also, I was unable to download it with Firefox 2. The site claimed it wasn't able to determine my OS which is bull since the user agent string for FireFox includes the OS.

Update:
I stepped away and it's now been 90 minutes and still no progress. Starting over...

Update2:
Apparently it installed successfully before because the installer said it was up to date when I ran it again. Yup, there it is in the Start menu. Great QA on the installer, MS.

Update3:
After creating a Zunetag (took a while getting one accepted as several other derogatory names were already taken), Windows Live ID, and signing away my first-born, I finally get to the store. It took a while for it to load. I clicked on the current top album (FutureSex/LoveSounds) and there's no tracks, just the cover art. It says the tracks are unavailable. So I click the back button and then the tracks properly appear, not the home page as expected.

MS, you've got a winner!

davesimondotcom · Nov 14, 2006, 03:45 PM

I loved the CNN spot. And they are right, the new Shuffle is 100% sexier than the Zune.

That's what Microsoft isn't getting yet - it's not about adding tons of new features that nobody will ever use. It's about doing the ones that people do use well.

BTW, Art, can I be your latex salesman?

G4ME · Nov 14, 2006, 04:02 PM

not if you act like that

::maroma:: · Nov 14, 2006, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

BTW, Art, can I be your latex salesman?

Or your architect?

parsec_kadets · Nov 14, 2006, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by JoshuaZ

My favorite comment on that thread.

"If you want to be social, go to a bar.

If you wan the best portable music player get an iPod.

By the way, is the girl in the picture being raped?
get usrd to it, you'll see it a lot.

Posted by: pollo | November 12, 2006 03:01 PM"

Oh, but she did get raped. She just realized when she tried to play her "Plays For Sure" songs on her Zune.