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iPod's mission accomplished: Zune is declared dead

by Kelly Hodgkins Mar 15th 2011 at 9:00AM

After a four and a half year run, Microsoft may be retiring its Zune media player. A report from Bloomberg claims the Redmond company has stopped producing new models of the Zune player due to weak sales and even weaker demand. The company will abandon its hardware efforts and focus on the software side of the media player.

The Zune launched in November 2006, and the media players never caught on with consumers. Even the flashy Zune HD, which launched in 2009 with sleek styling and a nice set of specs, never gained the retail interest that is garnered by the iPod touch. Microsoft's branded media player was always in the shadow of the iPod family juggernaut, which grabbed 77 percent of unit sales in 2010. In that same period, the Zune did not even break into the top five.

Despite the hardware's less than positive welcome, both the Zune user interface and the all-you-can-eat subscription service were popular among those using the platform. Microsoft recognized this and wisely ported the best of the Zune features to the media portion of Windows Phone 7. Windows Phone is a newcomer to the smartphone market and is currently trailing the market leaders: Apple's iPhone, flavors of Android and RIM's BlackBerry.

[Via Business Insider]



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After a four and a half year run, Microsoft may be retiring its Zune media player. A report from Bloomberg claims the Redmond company...
 

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41 Comments

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JC4

http://drunkweeaboo.com/img/reactions/JUST%20AS%20PLANNED.jpg
Shame, I liked my Zune. Regardless, with today's phones portable media players are becoming obsolete.

March 22 2011 at 5:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
bernie

this article is pathetic. it's pretty ignorant and arrogant to compare zune to ipod when zune is younger and call this ipod's mission.

March 21 2011 at 11:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
dougmcarthur0

Don't tell that guy with the Zune tattoo.

March 15 2011 at 9:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Shamil

Looks like author didn't read this:
http://www.9to5mac.com/56270/microsoft-zunes-not-dead-its-an-itunes-killer/

March 15 2011 at 7:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Anthony

Awe... The Zune HD hardware is much nicer than the iPods... (The iPod touch is the cheapest Apple can make it, the latest gen having more problems than the previous ones combined.) The Zune HD had the 1Ghz processor way before it was standard on most phones, and the audio quality is 500000x better...

And it was as small as an iPod nano (g4+g5).

:'(

I think I'll definitely pick up another one, since they will probably be selling for cheap now anyway. I like the looks of the blue one.

March 15 2011 at 3:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Edsel

I purchased the first Zune when it became available. The hardware was pretty impressive but the device firmware erratic. More importantly, the Zune music purchase & download experience was just downright awful and buggy. Apple had nothing to worry about, the Zune was simply a big Zero.

March 15 2011 at 3:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dynjo

This guy won't be happy.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h187/soulxtc/new%20pics/zune-tattoo.jpg

March 15 2011 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

Good Riddance... I had the chance to buy a new Zune from a friend for $50 (he received it as a gift). I never could get it to work with my Windows desktop. I kept getting upgrade required messages for my computer, error messages and dead ends with tech support. I uninstalled and reinstalled until my computer just gave up and started to fight me. My Zune sits in its box in the top drawer of my dresser as a symbol of why EVERYTHING is I use is now Apple. Anyone want a free Zune POS? Pay shipping it's yours.

March 15 2011 at 2:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to John's comment
Kristina

If serious I will pay the shipping. I have one and my daughter would love it. Zune software works for me and love my unlimited downloads plus 10 tracks to keep subscription for the price of a cd. Let me know if serious. My email is arinleahsmom2@AOL.com. thanks!

March 16 2011 at 2:45 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kelmon

I'm still amazed that Microsoft managed to mess up what was actually supposed to be a pretty good product. The hardware and software, by all accounts, was good but yet they managed to spectacularly fail to bring it to market. They managed to get things right with the Xbox 360 (RROD excepted) so I don't understand how they cocked this up.

March 15 2011 at 2:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to Kelmon's comment
JiN

The software was the worst. I hear of people complaining about iTunes but at least iTunes runs. And the proof that iTunes is running are the billions of songs and apps purchased. The Zune sync software had issues on release that extend for 6 months post launch. Plus it only supported Windows Vista on launch?!?!

As for the software on the actual device I guess you don't remember the "Y2k for Zune" bug. Or the sync and brick your device issue? Sure all you need to do is restore but sucks to have to restore when all you wanted to do is grab and go catch your bus. Or maybe the "Must clear content to fix bug" gotta love it if you get this one while you are on vacation!

March 16 2011 at 7:56 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Kelmon

Perhaps this is a case "those who don't like iTunes like Zune" and vice verse but it if often cited in these discussions that the Zune software itself was very good. Personally speaking, I'm quite happy with iTunes (more or less) but I've certainly read many a comment extolling the virtues of the Zune software so it can't be all bad. I honestly can't recall reading bad reviews about the software, although that doesn't mean they don't exist.

March 16 2011 at 10:39 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

Apple should put a giant cardboard Zune in a coffin and have a funeral/parade like MS did with the iPhone when introducing WP7. Karma... :D

March 15 2011 at 1:37 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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