“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.
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.
Uh… don’t they already have one…? {snicker}
But Zune Tang uses the store everyday. That right there is success.
“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.”
I think of Zune Marketplace as more of an XFL than a WNBA.
Yawn. . .
Yet another stunningly original idea from Microsoft.
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.
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.
Lead, follow, or just get the hell out of the way already!
johnny come lately, but with money to burn
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
” . . . 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.
Ooops, they did it again….
Instead of the Genius Bar, they’ll have the BSOD Bar.
So blue, you cry in your beer.
@ Cubert
I’m going to call you Colonel Cubert from now on.
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.
No ‘PLANNING’ needed. Just try to copy, as always.
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.
That’s it Microsoft. Just keep chucking money down the Zune hole!
——RM
MS should change the Zune’s name to the iTurd. Then they can call their new media store the iTurd Store.
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.
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.
” . . . 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.
Zune Zucks!
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?!?
“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!
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.
me too.
Me Too.
ME TOO!
MEEEEEEEEEEEE TOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
and you were wondering why itunes hasn’t gotten over a thousand movies yet- conspiracy to hold apple back while microshaft scrambles.
This proves it.
Microsoft is nothing but an elaborate money laundering operation.
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.
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.™
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?
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-H
What fashionable do they have to sell ?
@C1,
I have been told by many women that I taste like chicken.
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.
It’s fairly evident that most of what Apple does, Microsoft will eventually do.
@ Cubert
EVERYONE tastes like chicken. The question is how you taste with 11 herbs and spices and covered in bbq sauce.
“It’s fairly evident that most of what Apple does, Microsoft will eventually do.”
Newsflash: Ballmer spotted in black turtleneck and jeans …
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.
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!….
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.™
@C1,
“EVERYONE tastes like chicken.”
Not my girlfriend.
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“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.
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!
@Jubei,
I don’t know, but that is definitely an idea that should be immediately followed up on.
Microsoft being exposed for what they’ve ALWAYS been… FOLLOWERS!
“EVERYONE tastes like chicken.”
Not my girlfriend. wink
Your right!
She sorta has a fishy taste… wink
Who asked for this? (chirp, chirp . . . )
And maybe chicken tastes like people. Ever think of that, smarties?
The WNBA IS boring! And, the NBA is subsidizing it because it doesn’t make any money, and probably never will, before it is quietly folded.
Some here have posted that not liking women running around in shorts and tanktops is somehow gay. That’s nonsense. Have you seen a WNBA game? There’s nothing sexy about women, wearing baggy shorts down to their knees, like the NBA. They might as well be men, if all you can see are their calves.
@Mr. Peabody
We need to find a brave soul that is willing to photoshop an image. I’d do it, but I may not survive the ordeal! LOL
Microsoft Exec, “Apple has OSX and they’re successful. It’s that capital X I tell ya! We need a capital X too!”
“I propose Zune Video”X”!!!!!!”
Drooling Microsoft Drones, “Yayyyy! Now we can be successful just like Apple!”
You know, I think the original ZuneTang is back. He’s funny again!
Is the Zune still around? Microsoft needs to focus on getting a popular version of Windows out the door in three years, even if it is Windows XP SP4.
Was going to say: “Well reported, Captain Obvious”.
But then I saw the byline… pretty funny when a byline casts doubt on an assumed fact.
But if it is true, whatever MS calls it is what Mary Jo will say that the iTS looks like. =)
“Zune VideoX”
Creative juices are going wild at headquarters…
@ Cubert
“I’ll let you know after the next time I see her.”
You could film it and let us all know…
=)
Baseball is by far the most Boring Game To Watch Ever™.
I mean, my God. They need to give the game a time limit for god’s sake. Limit a game to 90 minutes and make those sickeningly rich boys run a bit harder. And give them some pads and encourage roughhousing.
Why… a game that short, and the Action becomes palpable. Your heart would skip a beat, hanging by a thread as anyone rounded third. You’d have guys leaping in the bleachers, yelling GOAL like a Spaniard. Quit standing around like you really deserve 30 million dollars and give me a goddamn SHOW.
Hell, the Mariners might even win a few more if they could just get rid of those last three pesky innings. It would be fantastic!
And another thing… Your games happen at 7PM or later. There is no earthly reason why you have to clog up the ENTIRE greater Seattle area just because some genius decided to put your stadium in Old Towne. Yeah, put it right between the viaduct and the freeway. Good. That’s perfect.
That’s why the Sonics are leaving… Their stadium is too far away from the arterials. They can’t bring a city to its knees like the M’s can. Ho ho.
Trouble is.. you start a game at 5, and you do just that. And we commuters miss valuable time with our families.
I saw a 40 year old man walking to the stadium with a mitt. And no kids.
A mitt? Really?
Anyway. Yeah.
-c
But why?
Unlike baseball just because one builds doesn’t mean that anyone is going to come (i.e show up and walk through the door)!
Next we’ll be hearing that MS plans to put there units next to Apple’s units… guess where the flocks will nest, if that should happen… not in the zuna tree… that’s for sure!
Hopeless!
@ Ampar
“Also known as “Ballmer Pie” consisting of fourteen pounds of margarine, a cardboard crust and hot air filling for fluff.”
Won’t do. You forgot the lard.
Actually, I thought about lard. But lard is pig fat (rendered or unrendered) and therefore too real to be included. That’s why I chose margarine. <cue “The More You Know” rainbow banner>
Of course, if you’re trying to pass off fake lard . . .
(NYT, published: December 5, 2006)
“A factory manager in eastern China has been arrested for using grease from swill, sewage, pesticides and recycled industrial oil to make lard for human consumption, the state news media said Monday.
Ying Fuming, a manager at the Fanchang Grease Factory in Taizhou, a city in Zhejiang Province, sold the lard at half the price of lard sold by other wholesalers while promising that his product met safety standards, the Shanghai Daily said.
”Some was recycled edible grease, such as oil refined from swill and cooked oil,” it said. ”Some was grease rendered from sewage, and some was recycled industrial grease.'”
“Please. Let me… tongue the crack of the Liberty Bell.”
-Stephen Colbert