Information AboutZune |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT ZUNE | |
| digital audio players | |
| hard drive based audio players | |
| microsoft | |
| online music stores | |
| wi-fi | |
| 2006 introductions | |
Zune is the name of a brand of digital music products and services sold by Microsoft . It includes a Digital Audio Player and Client Software incorporating an online music store. 2 The device plays music, pictures, and videos, displays images, receives FM Radio , and on a limited basis shares files wirelessly with other Zunes and via USB with Xbox 360 s. The Zune Software allows users to manage files on the player, to Rip audio CD s, and to buy songs at the online Zune Marketplace . Zune was released in the United States on November 14 2006 and is compatible with Microsoft Windows and the Xbox 360 . HISTORY The device was created while Microsoft was in close cooperation with Toshiba , which took the existing design of the Gigabeat S and redeveloped it under the name ''Toshiba 1089'' as registered with the FCC .3 Xbox 360 overseer J Allard ran the project, Codename d 'Argo', which consisted of some Xbox and MSN Music store developers,4 who worked on 'Alexandria' and finalized it as Zune Marketplace,5 then later unveiled both products united under a single brand in the U.S. market as the Zune. The Zune represents Microsoft's attempt to enter the rich Digital Audio Player market, which is currently dominated by Apple's IPod . Although there is currently just one model of the Zune, Microsoft executives have indicated that Zune lineup will be broadened in time for the 2007 holiday season. However, Microsoft has not yet divulged any information on how many new Zune models are being introduced or what kinds of features those models will include. MUSIC PLAYER Models The consumer edition was initially offered in light black, rich brown, and pearl white, which came with a "doubleshot," or translucent glow in a different color, of blue, green, and clear, respectively. Cases are made from a Silicone rubber. Controls include a circular controller with four buttons for direction, as well as a middle button to select a song album or menu, a back button to the left, a play/pause button to the right, and a hold switch atop the player next to the headphone port.6 The words "Hello from Seattle" are inscribed on the back of the case, possibly mimicking the message "Designed by Apple in California" on the packaging of all Apple products. Some believe it was meant as a message to Apple ; Microsoft calls it simply a greeting. It also featured several songs, videos, and images preloaded on the device. The Zune sold at a retail price of $250. The limited edition came in different colors and artwork and were offered in three consecutive months. Red Zunes were put up for auction in various stores in the Los Angeles area on October 2006.11 Pink and orange Zunes,12 in quantities of 100 each, were randomly inserted into Zune boxes along with a numbered certificate of authenticity.1314 Devices in these same colors were given to the Zune team as ship gifts. They had "Welcome to the Social November 14, 2006" written on the back and came in white packaging featuring Zune artwork then were released on the very same month.1516 "Ambassador" artwork Zunes were given to Microsoft's "Zune Master" college-student marketers on December 15, 2006.17 branded Zune]] Cesar Menendez from the Microsoft Zune team confirmed Pink Zune availability around mid-May for a limited edition production run of 100,000 units.18 In the same month, as of Friday, April 13, 2007, the Pink Zune was first available on several online stores.19 A '' Halo 3 '' inspired Zune developed in partnership with the game's creators Bungie was announced at a ''Halo 3'' event in May 2007. The Halo 3 Zune comes in either dark brown or black, and features a Halo symbol on the back. Both versions are loaded with Halo content, including a custom episode of the popular series '' Red Vs. Blue '' and were designed to feel like something from that came from the game. 20 The black Halo 3 Zune will be sold exclusively through GameStop starting June 27 2007 , while the dark brown Halo 3 Zunes will be carried in the AAFES "PX" for the military. In early August, 2007, 300 of the dark brown Halo 3 Zunes were distributed free of charge by the USO to soldiers deployed to foreign soil. As of June 10th, a special edition red Zune is for sale online at Amazon.com and also at Target stores all over the United States. Zune's operating system is based on , AAC (.m4a), WMA Pro (2-channel), and WMA Standard. Like iTunes, the Zune Software will transcode, or convert, some other media formats to native ones; e.g., from MP4 video to WMV video.21 Unlike iTunes, the Zune software cannot automatically download audio or video Podcast s when alerted by a RSS Feed . But the device can play podcast files that are Unrestricted and in a natively supported format. Zune supports a single digital rights management system — Windows Media DRM (WMDRM) — incompatible with other DRM systems and not part of the PlaysForSure platform or program.23 Multimedia content is transferred though Media Transfer Protocol (MTP); however, its proprietary MTP extensions place an interoperability barrier between the Zune and previous MTP-based software. Updates to the Zune's software added sharing features (send, community, list nearby Zune users) as described in FCC filings.2627 Firmware 1.1 allowed device to inherit sharing capabilities described by Codename Pyxis. Early Firmware s patched Software Bugs . Specifications
ZUNE SOFTWARE Zune Software functions as management software for the device and library and as a (.jpg). It Synchronize s music, pictures, and videos to the device. It Streams files to the Xbox 360 . It organizes the media in its library and allows users to add to the library by Ripping from CD s and to organize the Metadata . It can automatically pull down album art and metadata tag data for some content in the library. There is also an inbox feature in the desktop client software as well on the device, which keeps track of Flagged music (for later purchase) as well as songs swapped with other Zune users. Although the Zune software is a modified version of Windows Media Player, the Zune device was designed to only work with the Zune software. The current version of the software is 1.3.5728.0 released along side 1.3 firmware update. {Link without Title} Several versions of the software were released. A history of each version reveals:
ZUNE MARKETPLACE Zune Marketplace is an Online Music Store that integrates with the device. It offers more than three million songs that may be purchased in protected WMA format (2-pass CBR @ 192kbit/s) for a per-song or per-album fee, or via a Zune Pass monthly subscription. Purchases are made through a system called Microsoft Points , in which users prepay US$5 for a block of 400 points that can be applied to downloads at 79 points per song. This works out to $0.9875 per song, plus whatever remainder is left after a user makes his or her final purchase from the Marketplace. Cost and minimum purchase varies with foreign currency Exchange Rates and Taxes . The points used for the Zune Marketplace are the same points used to buy media from the Xbox Live Marketplace . Purchased songs can be burned to Audio CD. Somewhat fewer songs are available through the US$14.99-per-month subscription service called a "Zune Pass." This allows a member to download and play participating Zune Marketplace content for a flat monthly fee. Zune Pass downloads cannot be burned to Audio CD and will become unplayable when the subscription lapses.43 Many Zunes include a 14-day Zune Pass free trial in the package. Songs downloaded from the Marketplace are protected with DRM similar to yet slightly different from PlaysForSure DRM, meaning that songs purchased from PlaysForSure partners could not be playable in Zune Software, although the reverse is true. Internally, Zune DRM is referred to as "9.1", differentiating itself from PlaysForSure DRM, which is version "9". While Removal Of PlaysForSure DRM has been facilitated with several tools, none of which are compatible with Zune. That is, until July 14, 2007 when one of the tools ("FairUse4WM" Media ) was updated to support removal of the Zune DRM wrapper, thus allowing interoperability between the platforms. Music on the marketplace is provided by the Big Four Music Groups — EMI , Warner Music Group , Sony BMG , and Universal Music Group — and smaller music labels. As of now there are no videos on sale at Zune marketplace. SALES AND MARKETING Marketing Microsoft had launched several campaigns to jumpstart the Zune. The company had planned a $100 million campaign to promote Zune with "music the way it wants to be" as a major theme.44 Also, the company had enlisted about 300 "Zune masters" to advertise the device on American college campuses, to promote the item, and to run Zune-related events as expected. In exchange, they have received free merchandise, including a Zune.45 The choice of Brand ing and Distribution were part of the Zune as a decision of "two strategies in the market right now: cross-brand ecosystems and singular brand ecosystems [... . The former is gaining in share and units sold, but the latter has enormous share and won’t give that up easily"46. Microsoft normally follows a platform (cross-brand) strategy, as exemplified by the PlaysForSure system. However, its Xbox division has gained some experience with the vertically-integrated strategy in which it controls everything end-to-end from the hardware to the online store. With Apple dominating the audio market with its vertically-integrated iPod system, the Xbox division won permission to try the same approach, separately from PlaysForSure and PlayReady . Microsoft also wanted to go beyond Apple's efforts and Promote the Tagline "the social" and Wi-Fi (wireless sharing) as key differentiators. Chris Stephenson, Microsoft general manager for marketing, said, "we see a great opportunity to bring together technology and community to allow consumers to explore and discover music together."47 Sales Despite heavy marketing, Zune failed to be launched as an immediate threat to the IPod .49 A November 2006 survey of 40 retailers found only 8% of the salespeople recommended Zune, far less than the 75% who recommended the iPod, and that most of the salespeople were unaware of the Zune or who made it.50 During its launch week, the Zune was the second-most-sold portable media devices with a 9% unit share; far behind the market-leading IPod 's 63%.51 Also, in the same week, according to hourly updated data on online retailer Amazon.com site,52 the most popular Zune model (the black one) was ranked "7 out of 10" on the "top 10 best-selling MP3 players list."53 |
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