Gizmodo
The first generation 30GB Zune—which 1.2 million of you already purchased—is getting all the new Zune's features. All. Sure, the new Zune is more of a half step forward than a completely new design. But Microsoft's done something fantastic here by rewarding first gen buyers with cool new stuff that also happens to be free by software upgrade. And talk about spin—Microsoft just took a middling jump in hardware and turned it into a genuinely good move for loyalists (as well as a PR miracle). Are you paying attention Apple?
Contrast this to what Apple did between the iPhone and the iPod Touch. The iPod Touch is running the same OS as the iPhone, but it's artificially gimped. There's no email. There's no weather or stocks. No notes. No adding events to the Calendar. When old hardware can't support new features, that's not anyone's fault. But all this stuff that's right there in the software and costs nothing for Apple to put in, and they leave it out to artificially differentiate the product line.
Back to Zune. Not only is the old 30GB getting the new Wi-Fi syncing, it's getting the updated sharing features, the new codecs, the podcasts, and the new Windows Media Center TV on the go. It's essentially the new Zune, except thicker and with less storage space...which makes us ask why Microsoft would be so generous as to kill half the reasons why you'd ever upgrade to a new Zune. But as buyers, we'll just say thanks.
If you're now interested in what Microsoft's throwing your way, you have the option of picking either the 4GB, the 8GB, 30GB or the 80GB, which only differ on size and storage space (plus the 80GB comes with premium headphones). You get to decide what you want. We appreciate the gesture of supporting your old hardware to the end, when it makes sense from a customer's point of view, and when technically feasible. (Keep ignoring the marketers, thanks.) No artificially gimped players here.
Comments
this is how to treat a customer..... thank you so much MS
proud zune owner since DAY1
That is really something:)
if I didn't know any better, after looking at the front page I'd think you guys had become major Zune fanboys..not that theres anything wrong with that! good to see some balance..:P
well it took them almost a year. but they did add features and codec support...
oh, and nice to see pro-zune post. good job! ;)
kudos microsoft, thats really classy.
I have an iphone, but competition is always a good thing and this can only cause apple to innovate.
I really like the new updates and upgrades, but I was quite disappointed by the lack of new features. Sure, wireless syncing, new codecs, and renewed sofrware is cool, but where are other features? After a whole year of development, I was expecting more. =(
@iPhoney: Considering your last post, I'd start considering you an Apple troll.
I have an iPod, but I also think this is great.
Not something a so called "M$" would do.
I don't bash Microsoft for everything.
I applaud them for doing this.
@iPhoney: Dude, just shut the fuck up. We aren't talking Gen 1 Vs. Touch. We are talking Video Vs. classic. There is absolutely no reason the games should have to be repurchased, except for the fact that Apple is greedy. The hardware changes in the classic are just as insignificant as the hardware changes in the Zune 2. Apple just wants to force people to update.
seems like apple really pissed gizmodo since they screwed with the iphone update thingie. i half-dont consider some as fanboys anymore...
Btw JC ur my hero...
This is awesome. To think I have 2 zunes(black and brown) and I live here in the philippines. Great job MS! great job!
My point: Microsoft was not stupid enough to limit the capabilities of its flash based DAP. It simply gives people a choice of capacity or portability with all the greatness of a player. Uber cool stuff MS.
I cant wait to try the new Zune pad. Zune owner since day 1!
I'm mearly pointing out that while Apple have developed a new multi-touch interface, loaded a full featured OS on the device, provided web-browsing via wi-fi, provided a wi-fi download service via iTunes etc etc
MS have copied the old flash based iPod Nano and raided the Revlon color book for some glossy new shades...
Not exactly pushing the envelope.
Wow the new one looks great. I wanna see a side by side thinness comparison of the zune and the new 80 gb classic. I love that screen size. If its even close to as thin as an ipod, I'm all over it.
@iPhoney: Very true.
@scarf: Look here: [gizmodo.com]
Tell me when your iPod has an FM tuner, 3.2" screen, automatically syncs its entire library over 802.11 wifi, and gets tons of new features for free. I'm waiting...
@iPhoney: You have no reason to be pointing that out. The Zune 2 is not meant to compete with the Touch. They are aimed at completely different groups of people, especially with the $150 price difference.
Props MS,been waiting for this all summer , proud zune owner since dec '06. brown is the new black. :)
@spenc938:
I think if MS could compete on level terms they would....
does anyone know if it's the same material with the double shot effect.
@iPhoney: So because Micrsoft chooses to not build a device most people can't afford anyway, that automatically means that a $250 model should be compared to a $400 model?
wait... so it's ok for MS to go a full year before an update, but you require Apple to turn the iphone into the perfect hackable do-all device within 90 days lest you withhold your endorsement?
Giz, i agree, Apple is not perfect, but could you just take a deep breath and one step back, then look at the range of products they offer, look at the features they have that no one else has, look at the quality they offer. they're pushing the envelope on technology - give them a chance to correct some mistakes.
I think the Zune 2's more for either customers that want to upgrade for the space, or for new customers. Meanwhile exsisting customers are encouraged to keep their MS player and not be tempted to switch to a rival player because they just gave their old player new life.
you know Apple used to do this too back in the day. Its kinda sad they stopped but I guess thats how it is when the money starts pouring in.
Microsoft wants to hold on to as many of its Zune customers as it can. The minute the Zune becomes popular though (and I mean popular in iPod terms) you can expect the freebies to stop.
At the risk of getting flamed or whatever else, why is it that Microsoft and Apple products seem to be the only ones that get full (or almost full) pages of stories? Even if your inbox is full of requests for them there are still loads of people who care more about other stories. I come to gizmodo to find new cool gadgets, not to hear a thousand stories that you can find on every other site. Just saying.
@Falconfire: You nailed it with your comment. I'm surprised the author neglected this point. MS did a great thing by updating the gen 1 product, but make no mistake, they did this because gen 1 owners are probably in the market for a new device soon and Apple released a few intriguing products recently. So we can thank MS for their interest in existing users, but don't think for a second it was because they care about us.
Boy a hit piece on apple from the Giz. What is the world coming too.
Can't you just enjoy the Zune 2 release without bringing up Apple in every post.
Please try not to make Microsoft look like the patron saint of technology. The have done more than their share of screwing the customer.
I just was at the apple store today to see what Ipod I was going to buy. Yeah touch will get greasy and the classic was dog ass slow, the shuffe isn't even in the running. I had ben thinking about a Zune gen one not I'm going ot have a run with the 2 so far the specs are winning me over and 80gb is all I would need.
MS not a bad effort sure no multitouch but jeez I can actually watch a video on it with that screen.
Giz, you still feeling butthurt over those iPhone hacks? Just soak in the tub for awhile.
Kudos to MS i'll be getting an 80gig, i'e seen the ipod social,many are just followers trying to look cool.
FALCONFILRE and COMPOSMENTIS:
You're definitely right about that. Microsoft was indeed kind with the update to the original zune...
But, when they have a market-leading product, they really close down all friendliness. Just think about the XBOX vs the 360: original XBox used a standard (ie: user-upgradable) hard drive, was Linux- and hack-friendly, etc. One generation later, when Microsoft expected an advantage due to the PS3's late arrival, their whole system is locked down, even including a stupid overpriced proprietary hard drive. No Linux anymore...except on the PS3, hmmmm.
Still happy about their kindness with the Zune though :) .
@Marty_MacFly: hahahahaha, thats a good way of putting it. Oh it stings!
@EQC: xbox was not designe dto be hack friendly. It was made hack friendly by bunnie huang and the other xbox hackers.
@Archipod: Respect!
@tucker: Woot tucker! You hit it right on the head. People are giving grief to Apple just because they're not giving hackers everything they ever dreamed of. Apple has so much better technology than MS its not even comical. MS has givign me grief for how long and I'm supposed to praise them for this bs? Blow me.
@Marty_MacFly: Heh, nice. Actually, it doesn't have anything to do with the hacks. It's praising Microsoft for doing a good job, and pointing out where its competition can improve.
@freakshow1: Oh we're not. But they definitely deserve praise when appropriate.
Hmm... seems a lot of comparisons in the comments that completely miss the point. Anyways, this is a great step for MS.
Of course we're curious as to how it fits in pants.
The thing I hate about Apple is how the grilled on Vista because you needed to upgrade your system to run Aero. They're the worst culprits to screwing old faithful customers and forcing them to buy new Macs. Case in point, with for no reason they discontinued the support of firewire in iPods meanwhile anyone who had a mac that wasn't approx. 1 year old (at the time) was screwed because all they had was USB 1.1 and Firewire. Trying to download 40GB of songs via USB 1.1 would have taken days. The crippled iPod Touch, and the forcing you to rebuy games from the video to the classic is just the latest example of apple screwing their past customers.
Dropped firewire for no reason?
Yeah, they just did it to screw you. Or maybe had something to do with lowering the cost of every iPod by about $30.
Oh, and allowing the iPod to play on Windows.
Those may have had something to do with it too...
ZUNE TATTOOS FOR EVERYONESS!!1
That IS how Apple generally treats its customers, in terms of adding new Apple-designed features.
Your problem is that Apple crippled unauthorized features. Well, Microsoft is pretty good at that too (think Windows and Media Player software updates, sometimes involuntary).
well shit! I didn't think anything this consumer-friendly could ever come out of Redmond. This is a treat, and a real surprise. Compared to all the foul news about Apple of late, this is making Microsoft look positively saitly! Also, on a completely separate note, from what I understand about programming (and I'm no noob) you should be able to have several toolchains for several different platforms and compile the same code for different hardware quite simply if that's what you're looking out for. Just my $0.02.
@Falconfire: I wish it wasn't so true...
And I'm thoroughly surprised, to be honest, that nobody has really noticed the disturbing trend a that the previously customer-loving Apple is exhibiting... More and more the company is moving towards the things that make the thinking person hate corporations...
No longer do you walk into an Apple store with your broken iPod and walk out with a new one no matter what...
No longer is every product generational jump a true leap into another realm of technology...
No longer is quality control at any sort of par as it was before...
The list goes on, but truly we are seeing some terrible things and trends in Apple's seeming "change of heart"...
Artificial product differentiation (touch vs. iPhone OS)...
Gimping product lines for the sake of future "mini upgrades"...
Coming down hard on the true innovators of software, third party developers, and the productive people that adapt them....
The list goes on...
Sad times...
:(