Wow.
I mean....wow!
I have no words to adequately describe what Microsoft is about to pull off. I am actually, in a perverse way, impressed!
Even their marketing site for Zune expresses their deep, twisted hatred of their customers
Microsoft's Zune marketing site
Auto-conflagrating birds and weirdos with bunnys. Says it all.
They are pushing the message of sharing your music, emphasizing the WiFI aspect but then have DRM up to the keister to stop you er, sharing.
Also if you went and bought into the whole Plays for sure system then you are completely b0rked. The DRM in the Zune system (which includes software, hardware and an online music service) is completely incompatible with the DRM for Play For Sure. I haven't been able to find a clear migration strategy for such users either - maybe Microsoft thinks that customers will continue to use both services? Maybe Microsoft is mad.
To "paraphrase" Paul Allen:
Deliberate, deliberate, deliberate, deliberate, deliberate, deliberate, deliberate.....
Some people see this as a power move on Microsofts behalf, a cynical effort to grab market share from Apple and iTunes and keep them using heavy handed DRM. Lets have a quick round up of the pros and cons for that argument:
- Pros : Zune player and iPod look extremely similar
- Cons: Compared to iPod / iTunes the Zune message is diffuse, slightly ugly and un-compelling
- Pros: Microsoft is offering a 'buy out' plan for iTunes users to migrate to Zune (they have not yet offered such a thing for Play for Sure customers...)
- Cons: Microsoft aren't actually offering anything new, its a very 'me too' message - wheres the differentiation? Apple does the 'me too' thing with such style that people think they innovated the product/service in question. True to their history, Microsoft still thinks in beige.
- Pros: Microsoft is increasing the amount of DRM with no good reason other than to lock users into their systems. They are doing this across the board with the new Windows Media player 11 having onerous DRM 'capabilities'. This is plainly a case of locking down the borders and strengthening defences before going into battle.
- Cons: Not many for this argument I would think. People are being good little drones and swallowing the line about DRM 'protecting' them. This is true for Apple as much as for Microsoft.
- Pros: The Zune allows you to share your music with others by using WiFi
- Cons: three days, three plays - 'nuff said
No doubt the zune will be bought in small droves and leave the shelves like slightly warm cakes but in terms of splash - what's it all about?
