If not, there will be a consumer issue with that. “If that’s the case, it could be a very powerful differentiator.
“We need to be able to hear it’s all of the content from all of the labels, all of the majors and independents,” said Mike McGuire, analyst for Gartner Dataquest Research. Nonetheless, analysts say it could be a compelling feature not offered by Apple.
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The major labels are still reportedly in talks with Microsoft and have yet to license this type of music sharing, sources say.
Recipients of the music can keep the tunes three days or three plays before they’re prompted to buy. The built-in wireless connection lets one Zune owner transfer a song or complete playlist to another Zune device. The 30-gigabyte media player has a wireless feature designed to accommodate how enthusiasts learn about new bands or tracks - namely, through recommendations or mix tapes exchanged with friends. In music, Microsoft designed the Zune for music aficionados - with an emphasis on community and music sharing. It’s the same strategy Microsoft pursued with the introduction of the Xbox game console in November 2001 it designed a high-powered machine for the hard-core gamer, then bought Bungie Studios for exclusive rights to the game “Halo.” “Can you make something that fits into how I feel, in my wardrobe?” I mean, I respect it for what it is - just like Prada - but I don’t rock Prada. They’re like, it doesn’t fit into my wardrobe. And Allard said Zune would initially target those other consumers - starting with music enthusiasts who don’t see their personal style reflected in Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs’ minimalist design sensibilities. Only about 21% of Americans own digital music players. Microsoft has not said how much the device will cost. People familiar with Microsoft’s plans said Zune would be released in mid-November. And, this week, Apple turned up the heat on the competition, announcing new versions of its iPods and adding full-length movies to the music, television shows and music videos already sold through the iTunes store. “The number of people who listen to music versus the number of people that own an iPod - that’s not daunting at all.”Īpple holds a commanding 76% market share for digital music players and sells 88% of all legal music downloads. We’re just getting started,” said J Allard, Microsoft’s vice president of design and development. “In some ways, it’s like the Pong or Model-T of digital music.