First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers - Gizmodo Comments

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

bazdeluxe — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 11:48:34 EST

So Microsoft, the company known to suck the money out of everyone's pockets, is providing this free update. Apple on the other hand is charging $20 for the January update to their practically brand new iPod Touch. Pretty wild.

-- Karim Baz

bazdeluxe

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

SmileyBry — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 13:21:31 EST

Just got an email from MS announcing the Zune updates to come out on Nov. 13...if you have a subscription you've probably already gotten this, if not, heres what it says...

Beginning November 13, Zune® will be providing service and software updates for your device and your PC. The updates will be automatic, but you'll need to accept the terms of service in order to receive the latest features. See the latest features >

By accepting the updates, your Zune will have the same software that comes preloaded on all new devices.

Wireless Sync
Set your Zune to automatically sync with your music and video library through your home network, when docked or charging with an AC adaptor.

New Marketplace
Re-stocked with thousands of new tracks, podcasts, videos, and DRM-free MP3s.

Zune Online Community
Connect and share the music and pictures that define you.

Zune will send you a reminder on November 13 to let you know the updates are available.

Thank you very much,
The Zune Team

SmileyBry

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Aero7 — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 22:13:18 EDT

This is great news. Anyways people, compare apples to apples, oranges to oranges. In my opinion, the new zune wins against ipod classic. In my opinion, the archos 605 wi-fi 160 gig beats the touch. Sure the touch has alot more apps, but then what is a pocket pc for? Ppc's have much more apps and is basically can do anythings. And the touch sure cant record 720 hd tv. Anyways, I think the touch is still great, but stop copmaring apples to oranges.

Aero7

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Palestina — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 22:38:37 EDT

Amazing! Take that, Apple!

Palestina

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

AshtonK — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:46:21 EDT

OF COURSE they must do this!!! zune's are no match to the iPod. so What does microsoft do? free upgrades!!! "will you please buy our still-semi-crappy-ipod?" Apple won't do this with they're iPods because they're sucessful. I thought microsoft would just give up on the device.

AshtonK

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

darthhelmer — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 20:06:19 EDT

I have used Mac and MS computers for at least 20 years. Before that, it was my beloved Commodore 64, in the early days of pirated software.

I currently prefer Apple hardware/software and avoid anything MS.

However, this was a very good move by Microsoft.

This is the way to do business.

Don't alienate us by making new toys the only way to enjoy new features.

Tech moves fast enough. I like it when my toys do all the neat, new things for longer than 6 months. Kudos MS.

(I can't believe I typed that...)

darthhelmer

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

arrgh406 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:05:43 EDT

way to go Microsoft!

everyones all "3rd party blah blah blah" what could you possibly need? its a music player! it plays music and does it well, like its supposed to.

arrgh406

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Cleverboy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:00:58 EDT

@omg-ponies:
At what point... my friend, does my MacOS upgrade actually warrant the fees that Microsoft charges. I totally disagree that your can't compare an XP->Vista Upgrade to a Tiger->Leopard upgrade. But, let's be honest here, can't we? I can upgrade from OS 9 -> Leopard and still pay $129. So, you might as well stop right now, because you have NO POINT. The way Apple chooses to address numbering is NOT indicative of the level of upgrade. It's just a branding decision. I have the scars to prove it. People still running version 10.3x of the OS, are rapidly losing support due to the massive architecture differences for developers. That's why I had to move to Tiger. Keep it straight.

Cleverboy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

eufreka — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:53:23 EDT

What can I say, I have spent the last year enjoying THOUSANDS of tracks using my ZunePass. It has cost me $180...

Of course, for $180, I could have spent the last year with an iPod listening to 180 of my favorite songs over, and over, and OVER, AND O-V-E-R...you get the idea.

What is still missing: Audible book support (com'on M$, buy the company already) and bluetooth (I mean really, how hard would that have been?).

And though it makes me throw up a little when I say it, it looks likes M$ has actually found a way to force me to upgrade my XP MCE machine...

Very clever, Bill, very clever.

eufreka

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

LastVigilante — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:49:47 EDT

@macserv: We're talking about software, not the phone part. The Calendar, Events, Contacts, Email, Maps functions that are on iPhone but not on iPod Touch. Click on the "it's artificially gimped" link in the article for an update.

LastVigilante

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

CountDragula — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:09:24 EDT

Great job MS. Competition is always good. Something about Microsoft that I've never really got to understand (given they have the largest talent pool in the world) is how their products only skim the status quo, and rarely offer anything groundbreaking. (Sure MS Surface is revolutionary, but it really isn't a consumer device yet).

It took Apple over 5 years to make MP3 players mainstream. Next thing you know, MS comes up with the Zune.

Google changes the world with Google maps, now MS has Live maps, which offers little more than what already existed.

The new Zune is good. But, seriously, you need to pushing technological innovations harder. I'm not impressed.

CountDragula

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 17:03:15 EDT

Great move, MS. Bravo.

Isn't it funny that in the OS-space, it's the exact opposite, with MS selling the artificially-gimped products?

HeartBurnKid, creepy morbid freak

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Gujustud — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 16:43:20 EDT

Bravo MS, Bravo.

Funny enough, I've seen a bunch of Apple cores being tossed out the windows. Ipod jumpers?

Gujustud

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

kzooguy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 15:38:52 EDT

As much as I'm an Apple fanboy, I've got to say that Microsoft has been doing better lately (besides the 360's not working...) and Apple has been pulling some bullshit moves (as described in the Macworld article...) I'm starting to think that my next computer will be Linux instead of Leopard. (No matter how nice Microsoft is to me, I'm not touching Windows.)

kzooguy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

DMF — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 14:10:54 EDT

Damn. If only it had AD2P I'd be online for a 80gb.

DMF

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

kabron — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 13:13:29 EDT

i like the new zune...looks nice, i love the screen size. i already own the original zune and was thinking of buying the zune 2 but if im going to have the same features as the new zune ill just hold off a bit til this one dies thanks ms!

kabron

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

o0adam0o — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 12:11:58 EDT

WoW Giz, you used Fantastic and Microsoft all in the same article! Im soo proud of you...wait..is there a catch?

o0adam0o

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

NotMe — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:53:33 EDT

I generally love to talk shit about Microsoft whenever I get the chance, but there's nothing to say here but "way to go, Microsoft".

Apple has been all about screwing their loyal customers recently, and it's really nice to see Microsoft step up and do something genuinely non-greedy to show them up. I'm a hardcore Apple fan, but I'm feeling a little bad about the recent iBehavior.

Congratulations to Zune 1.0 owners, and to Microsoft for setting the right example here. I'm going to go glare at my iPhone for a while.

NotMe

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

ANoel — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:29:06 EDT

This is good news.
Aside from learning that @iPhoney: doesn't suck, @iPhoney: swallows,
does anyone know when the new into old upgrade is available?

ANoel

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

macserv — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:27:05 EDT

@LastVigilante: Apple has not locked anything out. Even if you had the iPhone applications on it, the iPod Touch does not have the physical hardware necessary to make or recieve calls. There are no mobile phone radio electronics in the iPod Touch.

The same goes for Bluetooth... there is no Bluetooth module in the iPod Touch, only WiFi.

These are big reasons why the device is less expensive, and insanely thin, with amazing battery life.

macserv

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

NotMe — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:21:36 EDT

I'm an Apple fanboy, and generally love to talk shit about Microsoft at every opportunity. I've got nothing to say but "way to go Microsoft" about this development.

Apple has been acting like the greedy, lumbering, idiotic company they accuse Microsoft of being lately. Microsoft has really one-upped them with this move.

Good for Microsoft, and good for Zune owners. For once, I'm actually envious.

NotMe

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

macserv — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:20:40 EDT

Yeah, you guys go ahead and hack the Zune to put all kinds of 3rd-party apps on it. See how well it functions after Microsoft releases a firmware update. I'd bet real money that it doesn't go well for you.

As far as "2.0 features getting integrated into 1.0 devices" goes, Apple has already done this. A lot of features and improvements from the iPod Touch have made it back into the iPhone (icons, double-click home button, iTunes Wi-Fi, etc.).

You really need to realize that Apple doesn't owe us the ability to use 3rd-party apps, and in reality, you really don't want that support... yet. At this stage of the game, Apple's frameworks are in great flux, and need to be able to change with great volatility. I don't want anyone at Apple thinking, "Hmmm, I'd better not do this because it would break 3rd-party apps, even though it would be a significant improvement to the system".

When they get the 1st-party apps down pat, then, let's talk about 3rd-party usage and support, OK? I know they're building toward it... cut them some slack, and suck it up when you have to bend over backwards to use your phone in an unsupported way.

macserv

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Falconfire — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:20:14 EDT

@Bodypainter: Does your iPod still play songs? It does?

THEN WHY DO YOU NEED A FUCKING UPGRADE.

Seriously I never bitched once when they got to the point where my 1st gen wasnt being upgraded with the newest firmware anymore because I accepted the fact that it was older, it did have a slower chip (as well as being the only gen not to have a docking port) and more importantly... I only bought it for one thing and it still did that excellently...

IT STILL PLAYED FUCKING MUSIC.

Falconfire

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

LastVigilante — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:06:20 EDT

Hopefully this development works in favor of iPod Touch owners too. Maybe Apple will back-pedal and say "Well, wait! We can do that too!" and unlock the iPhone features on the Touch in a firmware update. It would be ill advised of them not to.

LastVigilante

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

WD40 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:02:52 EDT

M$ products will never be as good as Apple's, I mean they are cheaper and they have actual features MP3 players trend to have like a radio, wifi, a screen that won't make u go blind and stuff but no, Apple puts out prettier stuff with things like a calendar & contacts you can't even edit.

Or we can do what iphoney does, compare the Zune to the iPhone and see for yourself that the Zune makes the worst cellphone you will ever see (although it's not one)

Good job M$, and good job Giz...u both went up a notch in my book.

WD40

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Bodypainter — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:46:25 EDT

i wish apple would also update the OS of my old ipod 60 gig. it would be possible for them, but they dont do it, because they want us to buy a new ipod classic. money! that is what apple is interested in. if they could, they would also love to charge us for even recharging the batteries...

Bodypainter

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

jriga — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:45:26 EDT

@adamgamble:

Really? What part of the Zune will Apple use to 'innovate'? Squirting? An FM radio? Gimme a break.

And to Giz - why turn a pro-Zune post into an anti-Apple one? Just praise the fucking Zune for making a step forward - why all this Anti-Apple bullshit since your hacked iPhone bit the dust?

This is how to treat your customer. Jesus. Riiiight. You didn't even get invited to the press event! Apple at least gives you guys the newest greatest stuff to play with - MS didn't even invite you to their cafeteria launch 'event'!

And let's see MS issue a credit to Zune owners because of price drops or changes to the technology.

I once considered Gizmodo to be a news source... everyday, more and more it looks exactly like the blog of a 15yr old kid.

jriga

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

GoPadge — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:37:17 EDT

Hmm, perhaps it is time to replace my ZVM....

GoPadge

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Angus — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:34:22 EDT

i dont think the os on iphone / ipod touch is really "full featured" i mean it's essentially about as complex as the os that my local supermarket has been running on its self checkouts for the last 5 years

Angus

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

mario — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:25:32 EDT

Wonderful news from a recent adopter of a Zune. Just bought my first Zune, my first PMP ever, last week. (Couldn't resist Woot.com $130 deal)

I love my new Zune and with this news of free upgrades, now I think I couldn't have made a better decision by choosing it over other overhyped, overpriced, underfeatured players (cough... that one of the bitten fruit.. cough).

Way to go Bill!

mario

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

geschmidtt — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:21:35 EDT

As with everything M$, when they get to version 3.0, the iPod will be only known for starting the revolution not for winning it. Having an upgrade path is very appealing, not making everyone feel like they are wearing bow ties 3 mos. after they forked over big bucks to join the illuminati is a fair and intelligent gesture. I have five different iPods laying around the house, but this makes me start thinking Zune for the future.

geschmidtt

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

EMoShunz — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:17:46 EDT

if the ipod touch had all the iphone features, minus phone (and maybe add wifi syncing like zunes new one) i would be sold in a heartbeat. for something that awesome, i could get over the proprietary-ness of it.

EMoShunz

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

CajunGuy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:56:24 EDT

Hmm. Looks like I might have to pick up a "Zune Classic" (copywrite Cajunguy, 2007). WiFi syncing!? New codecs!? That's the Gizz...I mean, the shizz!

CajunGuy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Falconfire — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:41:10 EDT

@omg-ponies: 10.5 is a new OS, NOT a point upgrade.

How many times do we have to explain this

Apple OS as of X goes

Base:Feature set:update

The 10 is because its still the Unix derived base os, the 5 is because this is the 5th set of features added to the Unix base OS, and point upgrade is the equivalent of a service pack in the Windows world

Basically think of the differences in 10.1 10.2 and 10.3 so on as the differences between 95, 98, ME, and XP. They all have pretty much the same base OS under them, but they all changed many of their features (some cases drastically)

I mean I understand the confusion because Apple changed their OS labeling when X came out, but its been 7-8 years now people need to freaking learn it by now.

Falconfire

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Average-Dudes — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:36:10 EDT

To be fair, the iPod Touch can easily be upgraded and no one has said that it won't. The thing about Apple is, they don't like to put something out unless it works properly (current iPod line notwithstanding). It just takes time..and they're not going to issue software updates every week, so you have to wait for them to address each little problem in one big software update.

Average-Dudes

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

sumocat — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 09:20:16 EDT

I think it's great that MS issued a firmware upgrade for the Zune, but how is that a lesson for Apple? They issue firmware upgrades all the time. Most recently, they added direct downloading from the iTunes Store to the iPhone after announcing it for the iPod Touch. And that actually happened, whereas the "gimping" of the iPod Touch is opinion based on a false perception that it's just an iPhone without phone service.

sumocat

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

DaIntellectual — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:53:56 EDT

Why is the Zune being compared to the Touch in the photo for the post instead of the classic. Why is it that people feel they need to market for Apple and mislead the public. Post the correct picture. The Zune with the Classic, so people like myself visiting your siter for some tech news and brief reviews and can judge for ourselves and make an educated decision. It only benefits you or those apple fanboys to post such a picture as to say "hey, its still not a touchscreen, etc". Well of course its not. Thats not its purpose. Its was aimed to compete with teh classic with its much larger screen and much larger storage, as well as, premium headphones. Again, Please post the correct comparison.

DaIntellectual

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

justrick — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:50:53 EDT

Still no movies/TV shows?! Man, what a continued waste of that big, juicy screen. Hook up with Amazon Unbox at least, stupid Microsoft!

justrick

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

DocGratis — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:49:50 EDT

Actually Apple does do that except where the technology advance doesn't allow it.

Didn't the last product line upgrade (before the Ipod classic) change the function of the Ipod (brightness controls and other features) and the older models got the upgrade except for the searching because the older processors couldn't handle it?

I'm just saying it is not like apple specifically restricts new features to the next gen Ipods.

DocGratis

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

strider_mt2k — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:42:35 EDT

I still think they suck, but that's a very very cool thing for MS to do.

Kudos for taking care of your loyal customers.

-this time.

strider_mt2k

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

FlashSandbox — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:22:27 EDT

@DW: Don't we elect to upgrade and buy the newest and hottest stuff? Do you expect your TIVO to magically work like next year's model? Maybe your PS2 should have an optional blu-ray drive add-on that's free.

The point is that the hardware as well as the software is changed. And while the software may run on he older hardware, it shouldn't be expected. If the 'old' model of whatever device you love could run the new software, you'd have little reason to upgrade as the only unique features would be hardware, and that's not always enough.

@SlightlyLessDeliciousNoise: Now that's some common sense.

FlashSandbox

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

pupaboy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 08:13:14 EDT

I don't own a Zune but I think this is great. Thumbs up Microsoft for giving your customers more value for purchasing your product!

pupaboy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

SlightlyLessDeliciousNoise — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:49:46 EDT

This is a move to maintain a customer base. Remember, consumer hardware is a long war, not a series of minor battles. This is a tactical maneuver to build support for a new product.

Compare in context. Microsoft is late to this segment, but appears to be making moves to slowly, steadily increase their share of a profitable market. As the ocean gets redder and redder in this segment - and it will, now that Toshiba, Sony, and MS are making this a race for Apple - it forces comparisons in the store. That's good for consumers; why all of this "fuck you MS because Apple is bettar!@!" nonsense? This is great for current or potential owners of the hardware!

SlightlyLessDeliciousNoise

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

DW — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:35:36 EDT

@iPhoney:

Good point; Apple did come out with a totally new iPod design with the Touch. But how about the other 3/4 new iPods that mostly simply changed form-factor? And how about the previous generations where you'd have to buy a new iPod simply to get a feature such as gapless playback (which I'm still annoyed by). And how about the NEW generation of iPods where you have to purchase your games all over again?

It's no secret that Apple nickel-and-dimes the folks most loyal to them (us) and that truly sucks, no matter how you spin it.

"makes us ask why Microsoft would be so generous as to kill half the reasons why you'd ever upgrade to a new Zune"

If I recall correctly, MS said they would do this when they released version 1 of the Zune. Sure, no one expected them to give early-adopters ALL of the new features, but it seems they more than kept their word. I think they are simply trying to build the community that Apple keeps royally screwing over.

Just my 2 cents.

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

OMG! Ponies! — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:27:27 EDT

@Cleverboy: Wrong comparison. Service Pack = Point Upgrade. $130 > free.

And let's not forget that during XP's cycle, MS was a lot better than Apple with its sub-point upgrades. What is the .10 update if not a patch? It addresses stability issues and other bugs. Historically speaking, MS offered more updates, more frequently, and in the most transparent manner.

OMG! Ponies!

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Cleverboy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:22:05 EDT

@omg-ponies:
Seriously. Leopard compared to Tiger has more notable NEW FEATURES in it than Vista compared to XP. Apple uses "points" to keep it inside the OS X nomenclature. The fact that you would think $130 isn't a hellof a better deal than Microsoft's multifarious choices is laughable.

You're right though. No one said Zune would kill the iPod overnight. They're going to have to do a lot more than what they ARE doing though. Microsoft will need to decide what they're PMP strategy is, just as Apple is reinventing it.

I have deep misgivings on whether Microsoft will decide to cannibalize its PocketPC/Windows Mobile Standard/Windows Mobile Professional/Windows CE world, simply to give more capabilities to its Zune line, which exists in an entirely different architecture and development group (unless they're is something they're not telling us yet).

Will Zune be getting Mobile Office features soon (viewing & limited editting features)? If you're holding your breath, I wouldn't. Meanwhile, Safari support is trucking along for Google Docs & Spreadsheets. iPhone and iPod Touch owners seem to be quickly "leaving the station" as far as Zune is concerned, and they're not coming back.

Cleverboy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

premraj — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:20:38 EDT

whoa... never thought i'd say this but...

MICROSOFT - 1, APPLE - 0.

well done, bill.

premraj

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

bigpolla — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 07:14:05 EDT

props

bigpolla

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

OMG! Ponies! — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:55:19 EDT

@iPhoney: So if Apple comes out with players in other colors, it's ok, but if MS does the same, they're "raiding the Revlon color book"? Nice double standard.

FWIW: No one, MS included, ever said that the Zune would kill the iPod - not overnight, not in a year.

Finally, how much does Leopard cost? How much does MS charge for its point upgrades (service packs)? On several fronts, MS is a bit more customer-friendly.

OMG! Ponies!

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Cleverboy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:05:14 EDT

Windows Vista / Mac OSX. Nuff said.

Cleverboy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Cleverboy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:58:43 EDT

Just to reiterate(my hit and run post in retrospect reads muttled)... you're comparing what Apple is doing to differentiate their iPhone from their iPod Touch. Instead, you rightfully compare pricing and positioning of the Zunes with their iPod counterparts.

Apple has now expanded the screen realestate of the iPod Nanos and given them video and games... effectively NOW doing what you say they're not, giving all iPod's of that category the same featureset. The iPod Touch now goes into a different featureset, and doesn't even support the games (software) on the other iPods (we're still waiting to hear about the radio remote aren't we?) To compare the iPod Touch to the iPhone and complain that Apple has left out and gimped features makes sense, but don't PRETEND that Microsoft has a similar dichotomy to compare it to.

ZUNE HD -> iPod Classic
ZUNE FLASH -> iPod NANO
iPod Classic iPod Nano (same features)
Zune HD Zune Flash (same features, far as we know)

Is there something on the iPod Classic that's not on the iPod Nano that we don't know about? You're extra commentary about gimping players sounds like self-righteous ignorance from someone not watching the market.

Even note what you're comparing! Where's the Zune Calender and Address book? Oh, wait... THERE IS NONE. Is Microsoft GIMPING the Zune from their PDA/Smartphone market. --Hold on... doesn't Microsoft gimp their mobile OS' all OVER the place??? I seem to remember the distinguishing features of which OS you're using, to be based on things like "has touchscreen support". Do me a favor.

Can you distinguish why there are these two categories?

+ Windows Mobile 6 Professional - Pocket PC
+ Windows Mobile 6 Standard - Smartphone

DISINGENUOUS Gizmodo. SHAME.

Cleverboy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

x23 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:54:46 EDT

@jbhitter24: shouldn't you be at Engadget? or some other place where you can be coddled with only the "Pro" and never a "Con".

[gizmodo.com]

x23

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Cleverboy — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:41:44 EDT

Interesting. So Gizmodo is actively comparing the app support policies of devices with a full operating system, with the cramped and limited featureset of the Zunes? Comparing the iPod Classic to the iPod Nano. They BOTH HAVE THE SAME FEATURES! (GASP!)

Giz, you're sounding like a spurned lover, so much you're not making any sense. If Zune had the capabilities of OSX on a portable device, then let's talk. Until then, you're creating a false dichotomy, and you KNOW IT.

Praise the Zune for what it does right. I'm all for that. Don't celebrate it for doing what Apple already does. As Apple ventures out into new product lines, and only wants to support certain features on certain devices, criticise them for the move... don't compare them to something crappier that's not even in the same league.

You're sounding like you don't know what you're talking about. --And that's just not right, 'cause we know you do. I can't even begin to compare the iPod Touch to the Zune, because (Flash vs. harddruve) they're NOT COMPARABLE.

Cleverboy

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Darkest Daze — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:17:19 EDT

@freakshow1:
You could go on, but you'd still sound like a whiny baby who had his lollipop taken away. Just give a company props when they do something right and keep your bitch-fest for a more appropriate topic.

Darkest Daze

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

freakshow1 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:04:53 EDT

Damn i forgot plays for sure. Way to treat your business partners.

freakshow1

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

freakshow1 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 05:04:11 EDT

Oh how people forget. Updates that bricked 360's. A machine that runs so hot, the power brick needs to be elevated, and a window opened. Zune firmware updates that never came, then they did and didn't seem to fix anything. A Vista upgrade that almost requires a serious hardware upgrade to get all the bells and whistles. The stupid EOL and virtualization. Offering a horrible security package.
I could go on... But why...

freakshow1

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

nikeplr — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:46:56 EDT

Steve Jobs wasnt paying attention in class when they were teaching "customer satisfaction".....
Apple's design sense is fabulous,but their greed is wut will get them down...

nikeplr

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

lucky_you — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:40:06 EDT

Before ya get all gushy Giz.. remember Plays For Sure?

lucky_you

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

trebas — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:37:04 EDT

Crap, with the new firmware update, my Zune won't run iPhone 3rd party apps either.

trebas

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

crazyindian — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 04:16:06 EDT

i wish i can sync my divx and other files without converting them. Will have to wait for the firmware update. Dont know when this happens.

Al I can say is that I am very happy my zune 1 is still a good player and becomes great with these new features!

crazyindian

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

twoohfour — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:50:25 EDT

@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...

twoohfour

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

josejuan05 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:20:15 EDT

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.

josejuan05

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

begemot — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:02:12 EDT

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).

begemot

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

endless — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:52:29 EDT

ZUNE TATTOOS FOR EVERYONESS!!1

endless

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Macgyver — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:36:30 EDT

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...

Macgyver

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

lafond66 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:29:31 EDT

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.

lafond66

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

XsTatiC — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:20:11 EDT

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.

XsTatiC

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:13:03 EDT

@freakshow1: Oh we're not. But they definitely deserve praise when appropriate.

Jason Chen

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:12:40 EDT

@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.

Jason Chen

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Retlawmacpro — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:12:30 EDT

@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.

Retlawmacpro

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Brian Lam — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:12:01 EDT

@Archipod: Respect!

Brian Lam

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Brian Lam — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:09:30 EDT

@EQC: xbox was not designe dto be hack friendly. It was made hack friendly by bunnie huang and the other xbox hackers.

Brian Lam

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Brian Lam — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 02:09:00 EDT

@Marty_MacFly: hahahahaha, thats a good way of putting it. Oh it stings!

Brian Lam

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

EQC — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:54:31 EDT

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 :) .

EQC

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

eltoro2827 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:54:12 EDT

Kudos to MS i'll be getting an 80gig, i'e seen the ipod social,many are just followers trying to look cool.

eltoro2827

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Marty_MacFly — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:45:52 EDT

Giz, you still feeling butthurt over those iPhone hacks? Just soak in the tub for awhile.

Marty_MacFly

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Ultraorange — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:44:49 EDT

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.

Ultraorange

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

freakshow1 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:36:32 EDT

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.

freakshow1

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

ComposMentis — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:24:58 EDT

@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.

ComposMentis

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

skeeveAGAIN — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:20:57 EDT

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.

skeeveAGAIN

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Falconfire — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:14:04 EDT

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.

Falconfire

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

lafond66 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:09:19 EDT

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.

lafond66

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

tucker — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:09:15 EDT

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.

tucker

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

spenc938 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:06:03 EDT

@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?

spenc938

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

wetworker — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:04:36 EDT

does anyone know if it's the same material with the double shot effect.

wetworker

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

iPhoney — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:03:22 EDT

@spenc938:

I think if MS could compete on level terms they would....

iPhoney

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

wetworker — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 01:01:37 EDT

Props MS,been waiting for this all summer , proud zune owner since dec '06. brown is the new black. :)

wetworker

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

spenc938 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:55:53 EDT

@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.

spenc938

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

dangrossman — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:51:10 EDT

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...

dangrossman

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Jason Chen — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:49:30 EDT

@scarf: Look here: [gizmodo.com]

Jason Chen

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Brian Lam — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:48:03 EDT

@iPhoney: Very true.

Brian Lam

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

scarf — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:47:40 EDT

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.

scarf

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

iPhoney — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:46:49 EDT

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.

iPhoney

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

lindtdale — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:44:39 EDT

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!

lindtdale

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Sunatic — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:43:24 EDT

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...

Sunatic

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

spenc938 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:43:17 EDT

@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.

spenc938

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Teh Emo Penguin — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:40:51 EDT

@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.

Teh Emo Penguin

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

lpxxfaintxx — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:38:58 EDT

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. =(

lpxxfaintxx

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

adamgamble — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:38:42 EDT

kudos microsoft, thats really classy.

I have an iphone, but competition is always a good thing and this can only cause apple to innovate.

adamgamble

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

jbhitter24 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:36:19 EDT

oh, and nice to see pro-zune post. good job! ;)

jbhitter24

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

jbhitter24 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:35:42 EDT

well it took them almost a year. but they did add features and codec support...

jbhitter24

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

Archipod — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:34:54 EDT

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

Archipod

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

gary_slamson — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:30:56 EDT

That is really something:)

gary_slamson

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

djay1717 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:27:32 EDT

proud zune owner since DAY1

djay1717

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers

djay1717 — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 00:27:20 EDT

this is how to treat a customer..... thank you so much MS

djay1717