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Tue, Mar 16, 2010 - 04:53 AM EDT  —  AAPL: 223.84 (-2.76, -1.22%)  |  NASDAQ: 2362.21 (-5.45, -0.23%)

Report: Microsoft planning Apple iTunes-like Zune-centric online entertainment store
Wednesday, April 16, 2008 - 11:56 AM EDT

"Microsoft may be putting together an 'entertainment marketplace' tentatively named Zune VideoX, ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley reported Wednesday. In other words, it's yet another digital content store trying to take a bite out of Apple's iTunes," Caroline McCarthy reports for CNET.

"Joe Belfiore, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Devices and Entertainment eHome division, is reportedly spearheading the project. But it goes without saying that as with any of these 'iTunes killers' that seem to pop up like mushrooms after rain, well, it's going to be an uphill battle even for Redmond," McCarthy reports. "Creating a solid digital download store is that Microsoft has tried repeatedly, and hasn't gotten right yet. Its Zune Marketplace hasn't exactly been a resounding success."

Full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft's Zune is the WNBA of the digital media device world. In other words: boring mediocrity that real people couldn't care less about propped up by vastly larger organizations with agendas unrelated to the product itself. Products that rely upon ginned-up "interest," even with very well-heeled backers, cannot sustain failure forever.


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Reader feedback page 1 of 2 pages:  1 2 >
Apr 16, 08 - 11:59 am Comment from: ChrissyOne

Uh... don't they already have one...? {snicker}

Apr 16, 08 - 12:01 pm Comment from: ericdano

But Zune Tang uses the store everyday. That right there is success.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:01 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

"Just after her report, Mary Jo Foley turned and crawled back to her cave, muttering about the "Yellow Face" and how "we hates it, precious". Calls to Microsoft were answered by a 50-foot flaming eyeball."

Apr 16, 08 - 12:04 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

I think of Zune Marketplace as more of an XFL than a WNBA.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:06 pm Comment from: GermFarmer

Yawn. . .

Apr 16, 08 - 12:07 pm Comment from: 84 Mac Guy

Yet another stunningly original idea from Microsoft.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:07 pm Comment from: Mr Kite

Will the last person to leave Redmond turn out the lights and remind the Security Guy to lock up and leave the keys at the Realtors office? Thanks.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:08 pm Comment from: Cubert

Hey! I like watching women's basketball - college or pro.

I guess I'm just a basketball fanatic, having gone to the University of Kentucky.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:13 pm Comment from: iWill

Lead, follow, or just get the hell out of the way already!

Apr 16, 08 - 12:19 pm Comment from: megaME

johnny come lately, but with money to burn

Apr 16, 08 - 12:19 pm Comment from: wyorancher

Sigh - it must be "New Idea of The Day" month at Microsoft. What next? Phone - um no - um - a Ballmer training kit, complete with chair and whip? These guys are always good for a laugh. Maybe they can buy someone - like Yahoo or Subaru or something.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:20 pm Comment from: Cubert

Look at some of the crappy sentence structure in the article. Jeez.

And, someone should tell SoftAndFlaccid that a 3 syllable name for a product is too long to be memorable and doesn't roll off the tongue well like iTunes does.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:21 pm Comment from: Guy B. Jones

I don't think that citing the WNBA as standing for "boring mediocrity" makes for an accurate or apt analogy in this instance. The women who play in that league are the best at that sport among their gender, and, although the NBA is obviously more popular, the WNBA certainly has its share of fans.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:28 pm Comment from: almux

Microsoft, this ever monney maker on others ideas, won't get it this time. That hasbeen is just at it's end.
Monney makes a lot... but not everything!

Apr 16, 08 - 12:29 pm Comment from: john

I thought the Zune store was there version of iTunes. Well, it just shows you that people don't like renting or paying by a confusing points system that actually forces you to lose money because you can't use all of it no matter what.

Nothing will match iTunes.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:31 pm Comment from: Ampar

" . . . with any of these 'iTunes killers' that seem to pop up like mushrooms after rain . . ."

Also, there's obviously no shortage of B.S. to fertilize most of these ill-conceived wannabes.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:34 pm Comment from: Grifterus

Ooops, they did it again....

Apr 16, 08 - 12:34 pm Comment from: January 24, 1984

Instead of the Genius Bar, they'll have the BSOD Bar.

So blue, you cry in your beer.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:36 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ Cubert

I'm going to call you Colonel Cubert from now on.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:36 pm Comment from: Ampar

Right now, Ballmer is scribbling out an idea on a cocktail napkin with Burnt Sienna and Midnight Blue crayons for a video game console from MS capable of movie rentals, Zunecasts, YouTube and photos to be called the VideoXbox.

So much brilliance and originality.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:37 pm Comment from: ron

No 'PLANNING' needed. Just try to copy, as always.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:38 pm Comment from: tz

This just looks like more knee jerk MS "me too"-ism in full bloom. The big monopoly has to stick its fingers in every pie and then brag about their innovation, which often is in fact bloated, and half baked imitation.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:41 pm Comment from: LordRobin

That's it Microsoft. Just keep chucking money down the Zune hole!

------RM

Apr 16, 08 - 12:42 pm Comment from: alansky

MS should change the Zune's name to the iTurd. Then they can call their new media store the iTurd Store.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:46 pm Comment from: Raymond in DC

Poor, pitiful Microsoft. They can't beat 'em (Apple); they can't join 'em. They can't threaten or bully them. They can only copy them.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:48 pm Comment from: Jim - TIV

well, at least the 2 people I've seen with Zunes since it's release over a year ago will now have a place to purchase music. Wait, it was only one person twice. My bad.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:50 pm Comment from: Ampar

" . . . which often is in fact bloated, and half baked imitation.

Also known as "Ballmer Pie" consisting of fourteen pounds of margarine, a cardboard crust and hot air filling for fluff. It ships in eight versions, half baked, covered in stickers, punched with holes and susceptible to infestation.

Apr 16, 08 - 12:50 pm Comment from: Ricardo

Zune Zucks!

Apr 16, 08 - 12:53 pm Comment from: shen

please never compare anything MS does to women's basketball. women actually know defense, and we all know about MS's security issues.....


Jim - TIV: you know ballmer?!?

Apr 16, 08 - 12:55 pm Comment from: shen

"The big monopoly has to stick its fingers in every pie and then brag about their innovation, which often is in fact bloated, and half baked imitation."

tz: often? name one thing they do that isn't!

Apr 16, 08 - 12:58 pm Comment from: Voorhees

There was an article some months back that stated that a big chunk of Mac users are gay.

The MDN take "WNBA is boring" is another followup proof-of-concept?

If you think watching women in limited clothing is boring well uhh..what more is there to say.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:08 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

me too.
Me Too.
ME TOO!
MEEEEEEEEEEEE TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Apr 16, 08 - 01:08 pm Comment from: macbones

and you were wondering why itunes hasn't gotten over a thousand movies yet- conspiracy to hold apple back while microshaft scrambles.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:10 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

This proves it.
Microsoft is nothing but an elaborate money laundering operation.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:12 pm Comment from: Mr. Peabody

Bottom line: The more colossal failures MS gets itself into, the better for the entire planet.

VISTA = Failure
Zune = Failure (didn't even make onto the competition radar screen.)
Zune-Centric Store = Failure

Personally I think things are going great.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:12 pm Comment from: Zune Tang®

Great news! Microsoft's fantastic Zune Marketplace is only going to get better!

Consumers are hugely disappointed with I-Tunes and for years have been clamoring for an alternative—and who better to deliver a digital entertainment marketplace that's user friendly, doesn't cower to the whims of music and movie corporations, doesn't rely on proprietary formats to lock users in, and works with superior hardware than the fine folks at Microsoft? Buh-bye Apple.

Your potential. Our passion.™

Apr 16, 08 - 01:15 pm Comment from: HMCIV

I was JUST thinking there wasn't any news about the Zune lately. But seriously guys is that any reason to take a swipe @ the WNBA? wink

-H

Apr 16, 08 - 01:15 pm Comment from: Harry

What fashionable do they have to sell ?

Apr 16, 08 - 01:16 pm Comment from: Cubert

@C1,
I have been told by many women that I taste like chicken.

wink

Apr 16, 08 - 01:27 pm Comment from: Mr. Reeee

Sheesh, you can 10 tall, athletic women running around in shorts and tank tops boring?
Gay indeed, boys. I'd say you be Log Cabin Republicans!

You want boring sports? You forgot to mention golf and baseball. The perfect soporifics for a lazy afternoon.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:33 pm Comment from: Mark

It's fairly evident that most of what Apple does, Microsoft will eventually do.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:37 pm Comment from: ChrissyOne

@ Cubert

EVERYONE tastes like chicken. The question is how you taste with 11 herbs and spices and covered in bbq sauce.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:39 pm Comment from: chair-throwing, simian-like CEO

"It's fairly evident that most of what Apple does, Microsoft will eventually do."

Newsflash: Ballmer spotted in black turtleneck and jeans ...

Apr 16, 08 - 01:45 pm Comment from: Billytech

I know I'm walking in a lions den here...But I own a Zune and an i pod. I tunes is infinitely bigger and nicely thought out when compared to the Zune Marketplace. But truth be told...The both have their weakness, and their own strengths. In some applications, the Zune stands out. It works seamlessly (REALLY) with a Mediacenter PC. Mine records my favorite TV shows and podcasts, then opens the program, converts it to WMV, and wirelessly syncs it to my Zune in its cradle downstairs unattended. It also works nicely with my XBox360. If they actually "Marry the XBox live service and the Zune marketplace, they may be onto a pretty good thing. The marketplace even lets you burn your songs/videos to CD in the marketplace, which also acts as the Zunes "operations center".The Zune as a product itself is a pretty good product. It DOES need better support from its makers though.
Just my two cents.

Apr 16, 08 - 01:49 pm Comment from: Missy Pants

Wow, a vapourware, Microsoft online entertainment store?!
Well then, I'm not bothering to download iTunes updates, buy the latest iPod, purchase green bananas or put any long-playing records on the turntable!
Just you wait!....

Apr 16, 08 - 01:57 pm Comment from: silverwarloc

Great news! Apple's fantastic iTunes Store is only going to get better!

Consumers are hugely disappointed with the Zune, XBOX, XBOX360, Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2008, Windows 2003, Windows 2000 (please, feel free to add yourfavorite) and for years have been clamoring for an alternative—and who better to deliver a digital entertainment marketplace that's user friendly, doesn't cower to the whims of music and movie corporations, doesn't rely on proprietary formats to lock users in, and works with superior hardware than the fine folks at Apple? Buh-bye Microshit.

Think Different.™

Apr 16, 08 - 02:06 pm Comment from: Cubert

@C1,

"EVERYONE tastes like chicken."

Not my girlfriend. wink

"The question is how you taste with 11 herbs and spices and covered in bbq sauce."

I haven't tried that one. I'll let you know after the next time I see her.

Apr 16, 08 - 02:28 pm Comment from: Jubei

So if we spread a rumor that Steve Jobs and his high level execs all wear thongs during the day. Will Ballmer wear them too and start bragging about it? Errr somehow the image just came to mind and I just barfed! YUCK!

Apr 16, 08 - 02:40 pm Comment from: Mr. Peabody

@Jubei,

I don't know, but that is definitely an idea that should be immediately followed up on.

Apr 16, 08 - 02:50 pm Comment from: Spudly

Microsoft being exposed for what they've ALWAYS been... FOLLOWERS!

Apr 16, 08 - 03:24 pm Comment from: fisherman

"EVERYONE tastes like chicken."

Not my girlfriend. wink

Your right!

She sorta has a fishy taste... wink

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