<![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac? - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac? - Gizmodo Comments]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> OK, I have an actual on-topic question. My computers are all Macs, and my music library is managed with iTunes. If I'm running XP on a Mac, using Bootcamp or Parallels, is it possible to point the Zune software at my iTunes library? Or, would I have to maintain two complete copies of the same library, one in iTunes on the OS X partition, and one in Zune software on the XP partition? That's really the only thing that would keep me from trying a Zune. I have an iPod Classic and an older Nano, but the Zune looks really cool (and is for sale on Woot about three times weekly).

biker_ray_pa

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Wait, Zunes still exist?

I have so far seen 1 (one, unos) Zune out in the real world at my school, and I easily spot ~50 iPods per day when walking through my neighborhood.

Eruanno

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Mac users buy Apple products because they know Apple products are going to work perfectly with Apple products (at least they're supposed to).

Nobody wants to buy non-Apple product and hear from tech support "OSX? Which version of MS Windows is that!?"

prnlsls

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @vicsells: @NicleT:

I agree. But from what I heard from developers over at xnjb project, they need the key in order to begin development. Microsoft has yet to give this key up.

Galavoxx

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Syndication: Doesn't Asustek build Macbooks?

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Comment on Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac? If Microsoft were to support the Zune on a Mac (which I feel they would have to do to have any chance of seriously eroding the iPods marketshare), then without a shadow of a doubt, the software would completely and utterly suck. It would be ugl(ier) than the Windows version It would be slow(er) than the Windows version It would be missing half the (few) features of the Windows version Microsoft have for years shown they are completely and utterly incapable of writing a decent Mac program. As Mac users have more/better taste than Windows users (or they would be using Windows), the fact Microsoft (the world's biggest software company) is so piss poor at _writing_ software means they have not got a snowballs chance in hell of succeeding. How ironic that the world's biggest software company is better at making hardware (Mice, Keyboard, Xbox360, even [gasp!] the Zune itself) than they are at writing software. Note: Joseph Stalin's famous quote of 'Quantity has a quality all of its own' clearly does not apply to Microsoft software.

LauraSalamander

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @bms: ...or (by the same logic) a Mac... ;)

AnONeamus

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> M$ doesn't provide Zune support for the Mac because no one has yet to purchase a Zune.

bms

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> There is only one reason that the Zune is not supported on OSX: Microsoft does not want to. If you want to get a hint as to how interested MS is in enabling the Windows Media 'experience' on OSX, have a look at what they're doing with Windows Media Player for OSX (if you haven't been following that endeavour - they abandoned it around 2003).

In fact, everything about the Zune is very deliberate and thought out (although how well is debatable). Zune on other platforms does not make any sense from Microsoft's point of view (and certainly as other posters have said - at this time). Their philosophy is about building a (closed) ecosystem, which (for many reasons) does not include OSX (it doesn't even include some of their own products!). It's far more likely (although still not very) that they would add ActiveSync (for Windows Mobile devices) to Office on OSX as a financially attractive 'next step'. IMHO the closest thing you'll see to either Zune or ActiveSync on OSX in the forseeable future is Virtual PC (for Intel chips).

AnONeamus

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Bokusatsu_Tenshi: Partly true. The iPod was originally intended by Jobsie to get people to switch to a Mac. Jobsies theory was that people would see the UI and say to themselves that they wanted that kind of ease of use in a computer too.

Apple fought tooth and nail to keep it Mac Compatible only. The prospect of spending well over $1,000 (the price of the iPod and an iMac) for a glorified Walkman, though, did not sit well with would-be customers.

At this point, Apple hadn't fully developed the software for the iPod and was, in fact, just using a rebranded version of MusicMatch Jukebox. After several months, hackers eventually figured out a way to make the iPod PC-compatible, to Jobs' chagrin. It took some time, but Apple relented and released actual PC support for the iPod. By giving up the switch-strategy, Apple was able to win the PMP war.

No DAP manufacturer was able to come out with decent software. Creative, whose Zen was well designed and comparable in size to the iPod, packaged its players with terrible software and compounded its problems by not advertising its players outside of PC magazines. The lack of advertising was particularly egregious given that Apple had started saturating the airwaves with the original "dancers" ads.

Apple locked in the market by doing what no one else could - by putting out decent software support for the DAP. However the iPod never could get its halo bright enough to rope people into actually buying an iMac as planned. One of the great fun facts is that, after one year, the Apple "Switch" campaign was not only not successful in getting people to switch to a Mac, but, in that year, Apple lost market share.

Ask yourself: would you buy a $400 PMP if it had a hidden price tag $1000 higher?

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> i think its because if you buy a pc. than get a zune-your stuck with the pc. your not gonna move to mac knowing your zune will become useless.

jewsrock

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> s/change/chance/

krom

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> make the Zune iTunes compatible. Then you would have the biggest change for people to switch their mp3 player.

krom

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I love the market share argument. Microsoft has barely sold 2 million Zunes -- it's not as if their target market is actually 500 million PCs. It's not as if the Mac market has to be 120 million users. If Zune attracted 1% of the 20 million + Mac users, Zune market share would increase 10%.

Tim Faulkner

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @mricpx: Dual boot your MBP... I thought I had lots of reasons to stay with Windows too... Till I just broke down and switched. I dual boot on my system... runs like a ninja. seriously, I've never seen windows run as stable as it does on mac...

elephantattack

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> S@krizoitz:

"The actual number one reason not to buy a Mac is if you are a serious gamer, but even that is starting to change."

Sorry, not buying it, video cards in Apple computers still suck and will always suck because they can't be upgraded easily or are too expensive.

I could pay $400+ for an 8800GT that is mac compatible or $150 for a 8800GT without a mac rom. People who play games are always going to go with a more flexible pc that can be upgraded.

Granted, I hardly play games anymore, but building your own computer gives you better quality than Apple. In the past, Apple used foxconn motherboards, they probably still do.

Let me just say that Foxconn makes shitty motherboards.

Asus > Intel > other brands > Foxconn > ECS

Foxconn is barely better than ECS

Syndication

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @vicsells:

REASON #1 (AND THE MOST IMPORTANT) REASON NOT TO BUY A MAC::: YOU CAN'T BUILD YOUR OWN COMPUTER.

You do realize that the actually number of people who build their own computers is incredibly small compared to the number of people who use computers right? Again, as I mentioend above, the gadget/tech enthusiast market is dwarfed by the overall market. Most people are NOT like you or me or most of the people who comment here. Most people (including myself) don't want to have to deal with 12 different warranties fi something goes wrong. We want to buy something that lets us work/play without thinking about any of that. Its fine if you enjoy buildnig computers, just like its fine if you enjoy building cars, but it is a niche market and not a solid reason NOT to buy any product in the minds of most people. The actual number one reason not to buy a Mac is if you are a serious gamer, but even that is starting to change.

krizoitz

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I would imagine the sheer crappiness of Zune software v1 is influencing their decision to not (yet) support OS X. They stripped out a ton features from the new Zune software just to make sure it wouldn't suck balls, and now they are slowly adding those features back now that they are confident it won't suck balls. I think they feel they might be getting ahead of themselves porting it to OS X, and that might lead the software to (you guessed it) suck balls.

Charles

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @vicsells: Convenience, a unified warranty for all components, and having it in the occasional LAPTOP form is a pretty good reason to avoid home-building for some folks. I could very well build a system if I pleased, but that shit's just not something I'd want to spend time doing.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> faslane wrote : "Sounds like a PRIME opportunity for a 3rd Party (ahem, Markspace?) to come up with a solution such as they did with the Missing Sync for Mac to support WinMobile devices."

One of the most wise comment over here!

NicleT

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @SecretAsianMan: That exercise in illogic clearly explains why it makes no sense whatsoever for Microsoft to port Microsoft Office to the Mac.

Oh, wait...

ghmlco

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> All players should support drag and drop and do away with proprietary software to handle uploading music. Perhaps make the folder filing system universal so software can be used to keep track of the library, but that should really be the extent of software intervention.

xeijix

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Manufactured PMPs are for sheeple. DIY, bitches.

SlinkyDink

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I don't wanna add to the obvious flames this topic will have, but I see a reason.

The iPod is supported on Windows machines because there are just too many Windows PCs. It's a high percentage of PC users.

The Zune being ported to Macs is different... Microsoft might not have enough interest to port the stuff to Macs.

But yeah, I think they should.
But if was a reason you asked for, a reason you got.

And you know, it's not "port it and voilá!"... they'd have to deal with costumer support, maintaining the stuff compatible, and lots of other stuff they probably also have to do with Office.

Bokusatsu_Tenshi

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Im a Mac user, probably will be forever (Unless Windows 7 is really good) and I have and love my Zune. I would love to see mac support!!! The Zune is way way way better than the iPod! but its so annoying to have to go back and forth between my mac and my moms PC.
as for dual boot, maybe not all of us can afford to go out and buy Windows. not to mention Hard drive space (i barely have enough for my Linux partition). not to mention PowerPC users, they have no option at all!
Is it so wrong to want support? what if apple droped windows support for the iPod? how would you feel then? i happen to know a few people who would like a zune, but use mac.

wiigee

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I like my mac, but i don't like my ipod.

I think the zune needs more 360/zune friendlyness. When i buy a show on xbl, it should be transfer/play on the zune .. the zune should play DIVX. mac compatibility could be limited to file access and i'd be happy.

se5k

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Microsoft wants to have every kind of social product and eventually they want them to all link together. Thats why when you use the same windows live account with zune and xbl it will import your xbl friends list to your zune friends list.

CCCombobreaker

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @OMG! Ponies!:

I know, i wasn't saying it is a bad product or destined to fail. It is just a strange business decision to start making mp3 players. the products themselves don't have a high margin, and xbox aside, Microsoft isn't in the hardware business. I'm guessing they started zune to get their name further entrenched in the digital media business, test the waters in that market

now with the acquisition of Danger, I guess they have a better feel for some of the dynamics. When you are a huge company, you can experiment.

MrBlahBlah

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Kissing Mac-using tech journalist butt is definitely a reason unto itself. The PR value that comes from sites like this is increasingly critical. Microsoft has done a horrible job of reaching out to this crowd - for somewhat understandable reasons. Some of you guys are jaded and hate anything Microsoft does. Some are blind Apple fanboys that just want to be seen as cool. But some actually are open-minded and would appreciate a little love.

And as much as I like to poke at Mac users I realize some (particularly long time users, not recent converts still in the honeymoon phase with the cult of Mac) actually can look past their fanboyism to appreciate a good product. I'm the only PC guy in a department full of Macs, but even my Mac bretheren (after making the usual scoffing remarks about the Zune) had to admit it was really nice after tinkering with mine. The twist interface is beautiful and far more usable than the iPod classic interface. The twist interface is also robust enough to serve on a broader OS level (it appears it will be the primary interface of the next gen WM.)

Ron-Mexico

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> "suggesting Mac users bought Apple products more for the logo than the actual product"
Um, no. Research clearly shows that Macintosh users are better educated than Windows users. Instead of buying Windows by default, because we didn't know better than to purchase a computer at Wal-Mart or Best Buy, we researched our purchase and bought the superior system. It just happens to have a really cool logo.

Still, a good question is asked. If Microsoft really believes the Zune is a good product, they should be pushing their product everywhere. The Mac world might be small (though growing fast) but it is a lucrative world. Having sold a paltry couple million, Microsoft really cannot afford to sell just to the Wal-Mart crowd.

davidwb

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> It's hard to believe that some devices/programs do not support Apple computers - Garmin is my last tie to Windows - Project Bobcat sucks and nRoute is not mac compatible. I didn't get a Zune as I haven't purchased a media player since it was released, but without proper mac support, I likely will not.

Lizard_King

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Haha. The reason I buy an iPod isn't for the logo but because the Zune sucks in comparison. I don't see a huge development community for the Zune. The iPod has a huge community though.

CarbonatedWater

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @ Yeebles: VMware Fusion > Parallels

@ vicsells: I've built my own PCs before. I'm tired of the grief. It was "fun" the first time. It's not "fun" anymore. It's just not worth the time spent for the money saved to me. YMMV.

My iMac is my favorite computer I've ever owned.

Back to the silly logo argument, is it not fair to say that a lot of Zune buyers buy Zunes only because it's a Microsoft product (and consequently it's not an Apple product)? Of course it's fair to say that.

LagunaSol

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Microsoft has less to gain from OS X support than Apple has to gain from Windows support. I really think Microsoft would be making a huge blunder to support OS X. If OS X had a ~30% or greater marketshare then I'd support the decision.

Double the code base is double the dev cost, double the management overhead, double the test cost, double the support cost. Supporting software on two platforms in tandem is very expensive. I'd only do it if there were large tangible benefits (e.g. 93% of computer users use the competition's platform). Doubling your software development cost to expand your target market by 7%, most of whom are likely to dislike your company and your products, makes very poor business sense.

How do tech journalists and reviewers test out things like video cards, sound cards, etc if they all use Macs? I'd wager every serious tech journalist who uses a Mac as their main machine either also owns a PC.

[en.wikipedia.org]

SecretAsianMan

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I think Apple is secure enough to feel that the non wifi iPod is starting to get long in the tooth hence it's called Classic. iPod's future belongs with the Touch. If the Zune's competition is the iPod Classic, then Microsoft is very short sighted not to start making motions towards bringing it's media players to the connected PDA era. Android will become the platform of choice for non Apple devices further to keep MIcrosoft from forcing propriety code on the industry. The future IS about real openness from a standards perspective and companies who have been creating lock in strategies and played games not keeping every supported platform up-to-date (Adobe with Flash) will be deliberately banded for not playing fair.

eon2010

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Yeebles: VMWare Fusion! [web.mac.com] or go here

+ Watch video

A good rating would be appreciated, please? I'm trying to win a Macbook Air! (I wouldn't pay for it but winning it? I wouldn't mind :-) )

Late_Night

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I do resent the statement that Apple users just get iPods for the logo. My first Apple product was an iPod, before I hadn't used a Mac (well that doesn't include years ago when my school used Macs before switching to PCs, Windows 95). I have since stuck with iPods. I have a 5G Video iPod (60GB) and my wife has a 5.5G Video iPod (80GB) and we both love them. I know there are other MP3 players with more features such as built in radio but here's the thing, RADIO SUCKS! I have an iPod to ignore the radio. If I wanted to listen to the radio well now the shows I enjoy are podcasted and that keeps my talk radio thirst quenched. I have picked up a Zune 2.0 (the first one was bad in my opinion) and I was impressed by it and happy to see a good competitor to the iPod. We need strong competition to the iPod otherwise we'll get more Classics (Yawn). Neither my wife or I have ever had any iPod trouble thankfully and hopefully we won't but I'm not surpised people experience this as when you have a device so popular there's bound to be more errors reported. Plus I can't fault the device so much. I see people treat them horrible, it's still a hard drive with moving parts! Some people let them just charge all the time and wonder why the battery won't hold a charge anymore. Thankfully I've trained my wife on the proper use of a hard drive based MP3 player.

Now as a Mac user would I switch to Zune? Honestly it would take a lot. The marketplace would have to drop the subscription deal and the software would have to work better than iTunes. I know some people hate iTunes but I feel it works really well and hasn't let me down yet, for what I want it to do it does it well.

I do have an iPhone (8GB) and now my iPod's UI looks a lot less attractive. Apple really needs to drop the Classic's UI and come up with a new one or just make the Touch the iPod to have. Or better yet give us 5G iPod owner's the Classic's interface, I might not like it but an upgrade is an upgrade.

Late_Night

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> REASON #1 (AND THE MOST IMPORTANT) REASON NOT TO BUY A MAC::: YOU CAN'T BUILD YOUR OWN COMPUTER.

Seriously people, whats he fun in using a computer you didn't build? Where's your pride of ownership when your computer says "Dell" or "HP" or "Apple" on it?

I've only built a computer once in my life (the one I'm using right now, and I'm only 19...trust me..I'll build more in time) but I can truthfully say it was the funnest 'gadget-like' experience I've ever had.

All this to say.....try building your own! its cheaper, more upgradeable as new techs come out, and just plain fun!

Oh..and Antec 900 case is the hottest case money can buy :D I mean seriously, look at this thing? its so sexy [www.antec.com]

vicsells

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> "Mac users bought Apple products more for the logo than the actual product"

I better stock up on those free Apple stickers that come with iPods and macs.

Yeebles

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I guess by the "Microsoft is not Number One DMP and is therefore a failure" line of reasoning, that Apple is a failure when it comes to making computers.

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> comment on seriously, where's the zune support for mac I'm a mac, windows, and linux user and I own a Zune. I love the zune and once you are able to get your music/videos/podcasts on it then thing works great. But industry standards based support needs to be there for it. And lets face it, when asked to use industry standards Microsoft has never just said " ok we'll do it ". A few things that no one has pointed out yet: MP3 support is mainstream for it. But when it comes to video the zune only plays Windows Media video containing Windows Media audio. Everything else gets transcoded when sync'ing to the zune. this takes forever and sucks balls. The Zune software supports downloading of podcasts but then it transcodes them all (again takes forever). This is all while using the Zune software for WINDOWS! They need to work this all out and use codecs/methods that are standard across the board + add MAC support. Only then will the Zune be a great product.

ChapmanEmu

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Camperton:

i agree...

r u nuts?

jpbraconi

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Surely if somebody really wanted a Zune they'd virtualize. On that note which is better Parallels or VW ware?

Yeebles

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> "Mac users bought Apple products more for the logo than the actual product".

THAT is the biggest load of crap I have ever heard.

Camperton

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> You see, Zune software is based on Media Center Markup Language (MCML). Since there's no such thing like WMC on Macs, they must rewrite whole interface and that's a hell of a job, so that's the main point.

Roundup

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I am a Mac user and all I want is Zune Mac support so I can make the switch

The Zune is the best deal in mp3 players

oh also I need doubletwist mac support to get my music over

hatboysam

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> "...Mac users bought Apple products more for the logo than the actual product, meaning they'd never abandon the iPod for a Zune."

I'm getting sick and tired of this ignorant argument. Talk about brainless fanboyism. Claiming the only reason people buy a competitor's product is for the logo is as fanboyish an argument as you can make. Weak sauce.

What if I said the only reason people buy Microsoft products is because they are ignorant lemmings?

I expect to see such nonsense in the comments section, but not in the original story.

That said, there are many Mac owners (me included) who wouldn't entertain the thought of purchasing Microsoft's "Me Too" iPod for philosophical reasons, primarily for Microsoft's chronic lack of originality.

And from what I've read about the Zune desktop software, it's still lacking in comparison to iTunes. So why, as a Mac user, would I care about Zune exactly?

@ OMG! Ponies!, if you truly believe Microsoft is content with the #2 DAP position, you don't know Microsoft very well. Don't believe the spin.

LagunaSol

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> They know the name Zune just sounds way too stupid for a Mac user.

LindsayJoy's MBP is into S+M

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Why would you want the Zune on a Mac? Isn't that a sacrilege?

baristabrawl

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I tried out the new Zune and was extremely tempted to buy it - there are a few things it does better than the iPod, if you ask me. But the "whoops, can't use it as a USB drive!" thing was a dealbreaker for me, since I use my iPod for backup as well.

Ubik2501

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I love that your first reason is "Tech Journalists and Reviewers Use Macs." Imagine EGM telling Sony to release games on the Xbox because they have more 360's lying around.

What a ridiculous thing to say! If you're tech reviewers and only using Macs, then you're closing yourself off to what 80 percent of your audience uses. That seems incredibly stupid to me, and is far more a fault of you guys than Microsoft.

DGUW

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Kaiser-Machead: Yea, but most or their other wares are glossy white. Mostly chrome is the dumbest design element for anything PMP.
It is reflective, scratches easily, shows finger prints and is slippery.

fastm3driver

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I actually much like the new Zune. I'll admit that iPod growth has sort of stopped dead (Short of a UI retooling and the iPod touch), whereas MS seems to be moving forward with the Zune.

Anticitizen

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Want: Standard connectors (MiniUSB)
Mass Storage Class capability

Do Not Want: Proprietary Dock connectors
Proprietary Protocols

mitchx3

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> well zune doesnt hav mac support!
neither does mac hav pc support!

nidinp

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I think the Zune will get Mac support for one reason EU think about it. If Micrsoft launches the Zune in EU nations, the EU is gonna be down there throat bitching about how its not competitive because only Windows Users can use it when they make software for Mac.

utube2007

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @wcnghj: Um, no, we finally got new numbers recently. In 2006, it was 2% by the way. Zune has 4% U.S. market share for 1st Q 2008.

[itspot.wordpress.com]

Tim Faulkner

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I actually bought a freakin Zune just to try it out but I am a mac guy. Didn't realize that it is totally worthless without a windows computer.

Tried using it with my wife's PC and it's just the most confusing thing in the world. Zune is the name of the device and the name of the software that connects to the device. The Zune equivalent of iTunes is the least user friendly program on the planet.. oh wait i guess that goes for most windows programs.. well anyway - anyone want it. Cause it's collecting dust at the moment.

badweasel

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> On the 4% marketshare, you trust one website, to my knowledge, no marketshare % has been released sense 2006.

wcnghj

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> You can use bootcamp, Microsoft won't void the warranty, know you facts before you flame.

wcnghj

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @OMG! Ponies!: And you do realize they are #4-5 and have less than half, almost a third, of the market share of #2 in the U.S. only (4% for Zune versus 11%, right?

You can redefine "success" as "intentionally failing" and they are still failing.

Tim Faulkner

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> oh and adrian covert you know you can turn off that red outline in the snipping tool in Vista. Open the snipping tool and choose options and then uncheck the box that says "show selection ink after snips are captured"

danielsmi

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I didn't read all the comments to see if someone else said this but I'm gonna say it anyways. I'm sure they want to add mac compatability but I think they should at least release the Zune in Canada and Europe to really increase sales before it bothers with the mac. That's more important to their bottom line than the Mac.

danielsmi

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Lets face it, phones will shortly take over all the portable music player market. People will be buying either WinMo phones with Zune branding, or an iPhone with iTunes branding. Apple and Windows are slowly setting themselves up to take over the entire hardware gadget and software distribution markets with these all in one devices. I wouldn't be surprised to see Windows to eventually close the WinMo software to only allow Zune branded media control, much like the iPhone does with iTunes.

AlexNC

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @mullingitover: Agree

Xenocide

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Kaiser-Machead: woops. I meant to reply to fastm3driver, not kabron.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @kabron: Apple no longer makes white PMP's :P

Also, girls seem to like the colors, so I guess you don't necessarily have to be gay. I got mom a teal nano for Mother's day, and she does love that color. =D

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Zune on Mac I have a MacBook and a bunch of PCs and two Zunes (8 & 30). I've had many iPods in the past and prefer the Zune. While I think a Mac client would be handy, there is still a lot of work to be done on the Zune client and I think there would be a better return on improving the Zune client. I would prefer a Zune client for Windows Mobile personally. I'm sure that Mac Users who post on tech blogs might by a Zune, but the vast majority of Mac users I know would only buy an iPod. iTunes is integrated into the OS!

AsherCato

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @flyboy: Yeah, dual booting. This is an argument I see too often with this sort of thing, but to be quite frank, unless you have software that is necessary for your business concerns, buying a copy of Windows just to dick around with a PMP on your system is bullshit. If you buy XP or Vista just so you can use a Zune on your Mac system, you're increasing the price of the Zune by the *legal* copy of Windows you get with it. That makes it a rather bad deal if you have little else to do with Windows.

@fastm3driver: "because no one in the real world cares about macs"

Really? The amount of people that actually own a Mac system, namely a laptop, is greater than you think. This constant bleating of the market share figures don't accurately reflect upon how many systems there really are in the wild.

Kaiser-Machead's Chips Ahoy!

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> More importantly, where is the support for Windows XP Media Center 2002... They don't even support their own operating system.

Ngagen

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @OMG! Ponies!: good point. i doubt anyone will ever convince an apple fanboy to switch to a zune. but giving the zune osx support may just get the attention of consumers that like using products from both companies. and honestly besides the head honchos at these big companies...who gives a rats ass about market share, its boils down to the product. and the zune does have some better featues than the classic.

kabron

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @ihavenoimaginationwhenitcomestopickingausername: While I'm on a roll. What's with the nono and shuffle colors? I often wonder if that come with Easter bonnets you can wear to let people know you are gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
It's actually brown/green but would buy red. I hate white and shinny PMP's because I hate fingerprints.

fastm3driver

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @itchytooth: I knew if I put the mac lovers as the majority I'd get flamed upon, so I took the smarter path.

Sam_Zebian

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> If they port Zune to OS X they'd need to port the library software as well, and that means porting the DRM, and that means actively managing the DRM against exploits in an entirely different ecosystem.

This is a non-trivial project that's unlikely to gain any users since OS X peeps aren't going to ditch iTunes for the janky MS attempt at music management. It would lead to articles like "Zune on OS X: Epic fail, or just regular fail?" and no real progress. I can see why they're sticking to Windows.

mullingitover

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @OMG! Ponies!: yes, and I can't wait until they do unseat their throne! (I'll be able to squirt everyone!!! HAHAHA!)jk lol

Sam_Zebian

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> The biggest strawman argument ever created is "Mac users only buy stuff from Apple cause of the Apple logo on it."

The fact that the anti-Mac crowd is so deluded as to come up with some sort of obessesion based rationality rather than the simpler more obvious explanation points more fingers at the source than at the target of their cluelessnes.

The simpler more obvious explanation is that people buy Apple merchandise because they like it. Because its good quality. Because its enjoyable and easy to use. Because its reliable. Because when it comes to features quality is prefered by many over quantity.

Apple's success isn't because of a cult mentality, its success is because it makes products that work and that people can use. Consumer reports June issue shows rankings for satisfaction in both laptop and desktop support:

[www.macworld.com]

In laptops Apple scores an 83, Lenovo comes in second with a whopping 66. In desktops Apple gets an 81. Second place? Dell with 56. Fifty Six.

No one is forcing anyone to use a Mac if they don't want to, and many of us will use products from other companies if they offer a better experience.

Seriously though, while it may soothe your bruised ego to pick on Apple, you only make yourself look foolish to the non-anti-apple crowd with the hyperbole and rhetoric. Apple's not perfect and there is room to criticize, same for Dell, Microsoft, Toshiba, Google, Yahoo, etc. But get overyourself and stop painting Apple as some sort of popularity contest. Sure it helps that the iPod is popular, but it got to BE popular by being good at what it does.

Yes I am a Mac user, I'm also a PC user. I work on PC's all day at work, I have for years and have experience on both sides. Sometimes the PC is better, other times the Mac is better. Each person has different needs and should find the solution that works best for them.

Oh and one last thing, believe it or not, the uber-gadget freaks (aka those of us who post here and read Gizmodo) represent a small fraction of real world users, so pretending like our wants and needs should dictate EVERY product that comes out is down right hilarious. Not everyone wants the fastest, feature crammed, uber device. Most people want a device that does what they need it to and does it well.

krizoitz

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> "Devices And Platforms Should Never Be Exclusive"

And that, in a nutshell, is why Microsloth will never support anything other than Windows.

sgodun

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I own both a Zune and a Mac and, all fanboy-ism aside, they are each good products.

I used to dual-boot into XP to use my Zune, but that has become too much of a hassle. I cancelled my subscription and have not used my Zune in months.

That being said, if MS did offer Mac support, I would pick up my subscription again immediately.

Here's to hope.

regnez

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Mine works great, more specific please....?

Faslane

faslane

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Why does iTunes work like garbage on a PC?

Captain Angry

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I'm loyal to Price and functionality, period.

I have to have a Mac for my business, but like i said above, I have PC's too. My Computers are my Tools, each one for a specific job, the mp3 players are just extras that make life fun and work not to "work" Hell, I'd try a Zune if it had Mac support just to give it a whirl, but I really like my iPod too so can't say whether or not it'd make me sell my iPod...who knows...prob. not for me.

Faslane

faslane

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]>

Totally agree. I think there are plenty of Mac users who might flirt with a Zune. Especially, if they want a solid MP3 player with a built-in radio.

Also, as long as we're talking about what MS should do with the Zune. I can't understand why they don't make a Zune application for Windows Mobile. That would give anyone with a WinMo smartphone a great media player, and the ability to use the Zune desktop app and Zune Marketplace. Essentially, they could turn every WinMo phone into a "ZunePhone". It seems like such low hanging fruit software-wise and an effective way to challenge the iPhone.

But hey what do I know...

getgreg

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @ Sam_Zebian

I'm Cool!, I think anyway, Been using Macs for 20 years, BUT, I have a pc laptop and a desktop gaming rig too, so...there is a tool for every job. I'm not starting that debate either, just saying I'm cool! LMAO

Faslane

faslane

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I use mac and i would buy a zune for sure if it had mac support, but apple have their heads screwed on, and good old DRM means lockdown for a heck of a lot of the music i own

hired_geek

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Sounds like a PRIME opportunity for a 3rd Party (ahem, Markspace?) to come up with a solution such as they did with the Missing Sync for Mac to support WinMobile devices.

That is if there were a market for the Zune, what is it anyway? just kidding.....not for me, but to each their own

Just a thought.

Faslane

faslane

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Good points. As a mac user (along with the ever-increasing number of new mac users), Zune really isn't an option. If it were, I would at least look into it.

Mac users are not ALL loyal to Apple, and many (including myself) make decisions based on price, functionality and design rather than JUST brand. The Zune is priced competitively, very functional and looks pretty good. And it is arguably better than the iPod for some people's needs.

Sounds like Mac users would fit into their target market very nicely. First, though, they need to increase awareness of the Zune brand. Most people don't even knows the Zune exist, so for the majority of consumers it isn't even considered as an option.

justinpe

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Sam_Zebian: I'm guessing most Mac users are average Mac users, by definition. Glad to see you kept those embarrassing types out of the majority.

itchytooth

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @sho38: then why all the effing fuss then?

vote Obama

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> How about booting to XP or Vista in Bootcamp? (not pratical or possble for all, I realize) That voids your warranty? I don't see how actually, it plays COD4 and many others etc. how would it void your warranty when you had to purchase the OS to run under BootCamp to get the proper support for the Zune? See what I mean? Voiding warranty using boot camp to me doesn't make sense.

Weird.... iPod!
Done!

Faslane

faslane

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I seriously wanted a Zune (it's brown, I can't help it!), but with no mac support I'm just not loving it. I've had a play with the software and it just doesn't beat itunes for ease of use (plus it's kinda ugly, in a 'where the hell is anything' sort of way).

ihavenoimaginationwhenitcomestopickingausername

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Save it...

we mac fanboys are happy with our ipods/iphones!! No zune for us!! No MS products on our Macs :P

sho38

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @jiffy: Maybe but it's still tiny. And many of their sales are to schools and businesses that probably lock out syncing like they do at my work.
I also work with 2 people with Zunes and the new ones are awesome. If my ipod died today I would get the Zune 80 instead. While many more people around here have ipods, I see more of them break. Like 3 in the last 3 weeks. The zune interface/screen is better for music and that's what I use it for.
The classic interface is slow and the touch is really for video's. No tactual feedback. I use mine players more in the car and the "touch" interface sucks for that. In fact the wheel isn't that great either.
While I'm at it, video on the nano is retarded and the 2nd gen design was perfect, just up the memory.

fastm3driver

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @OMG! Ponies!:

so true - like the early Toyotas and Hondas. Make, learn, dominate.

vote Obama

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @MrBlahBlah: @Dr. Paul Proteus:

You guys do realize that MS is not currently trying to unseat the iPod, don't you? Their strategy has been clear from the beginning - lock down the No. 2 spot. The guys in Redmond know that they have to walk before they can run. This was MS' strategy with the XBOX (don't try to defeat either Nintendo or Sony out of the gate).

Calling the Zune a failure is a bit premature.

God made the pretty girls pretty because he likes them more

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @jiffy: Great point. Now if you want Zune for Mac, after you get a Mac, you have to buy Windows. Ingenious plan!

Joseph

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Who the hell seriously thinks that owning a Mac is the "Cool thing to do"? Just because you own a mac, doesn't make you cool. Your either an average Mac user, a Steve-Jobs worshiper or a dumbass with computers, so you thought the mac would be a little easier. None of those are reasons to be cool.

Sam_Zebian

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> excellent points, hope someone in Microsoft is reading, I have a zune myself and ipod baiting aside, i feel it is the best MP3 player this side of an iPod Touch.
A certain case for Mac support


pradster

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @jiffy: Nope...

It would triple it!

MikeSWelch

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> The Zune is a sleeper - its better than you first realise. Might get me one.

vote Obama

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @Adrian Covert: really?

How come - Its either running Windows or it ain't.

Windows on an Intel chassis - the case doesn't matter.

vote Obama

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Comment on Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac? i need a way to get media from my mac to my xbox 360 the zune software does it on my pc but i have everything on my mac i have seen some software that will do it but is like 30 bucks anyone know of any freebies

DenleyCabbie

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I would ditch my iPod tomorrow if Microsoft gave the Zune OSX Support. I feel the Zune is a quality product I would use, and its a shame that their loosing another customer.

NeoXY

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> I own a Zune and I'm going to be getting a new laptop soon and I was considering getting a macbook pro, but if I can't use my zune on it, I'll just stick with a dell. I didn't realize that I wouldn't be able to use it on a mac.

mricpx

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @fastm3driver:

Doesn't apple have a larger portion of the personal computer market than MS has of the mp3 player market?

Wouldn't it be more appropriate to say nobody in the real world cares about zunes?

jiffy

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> "suggesting Mac users bought Apple products more for the logo than the actual product"

how about not? is it THAT hard to believe that a lot of us mac users are such because we feel that it is the best product available for our personal usage?

HAGE

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> You don't call a retarded person a retard. You call your friends retard when they are acting retarded.

Basically, I'm saying that Microsoft is a retard.

IKEACAR

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> @flyboy: dual boot is unsupported by zune warranty.

Adrian Covert

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> If they make it mac compatible and two mac users buy them then wouldn't the Zune double it's market share?

jiffy

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> Um, because nobody in the real word cares about mac's. Only Mac people care about themselves and think they are owed something. I mean what do they have a couple percent of the market? Peanuts, I say.
This article should read "Why aren't mac users switching to Windows so they can use all the cool gadgets." Like ipods and Zunes.
Flame on....

fastm3driver

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> wait- you mean people are still buying Zunes??

Who knew.

Dr. Paul Proteus

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> It runs in XP if you dual boot - what the problem?

You Mac guys have MS Office what more you want?

vote Obama

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> The mentality of the people building Zune will be the death of Microsoft.

ianmac47

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> If you do Zune support for the Mac, then you lose money because Microsoft isn't getting your Windows subscription dollars.

The Great Aussie Evil

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> although clearly I welcome competition in the gadget space

MrBlahBlah

]]> <![CDATA[Seriously, Where's the Zune Support for Mac?]]> why does microsoft even make an mp3 player? the margins can't be very high...

MrBlahBlah

]]>