The Furture of Zune

coasterfreak212 · 07-26-2008, 11:19 PM

This post I'm starting is mostly inspired by mszunefan's leave. He made some valid points on MS. The zune does seem to be falling in MS eyes, and it does seem to be phasing out. Here's my idea list for what MS should do to profit from the zune.

Zune 3:
The 3rd zune seems to be inevitably a wide touchscreen device. It's just how the market is established now ever since the iphone. What MS needs to do is not necessarily copy the iphone, but expand on some of their ideas. I think that MS should go all the way with the whole "social" aspect and make it a totaly "social" device. If the 3rd zune were to be touchscreen, it's bound to support a web browser, it's the only logical way to support inputting text. With the web browser. Then they can include integrating their social website into the actual device. From their users can add friends, look at what they're listening to and so on.

Zune Marketplace built in:
If the zune store were to be on the device, more people will be inclined to buy from their store. Going to a department store, buying a zune markplace card, inputting the code into the zune and buying music on the spot online (giving your near a wifi spot) would mean that more people would buy music from the zune market place.

Zune, Xbox, and Danger Merger:
Having the Xbox and Danger devs working with the Zune devs would work wonders. The Xbox is MS number one accomplishment in the hardware field. Danger is the masters for the sidekick. If they were able to cooperate more then integration between xbox, zune, and cell phone would be more likely to happen. It's strange how Zune intergration isn't full speed on the xbox in the firstplace. To be able to download movies on your xbox, but not able to sync to the zune just seems strange.

Completely Intertwined Marketplace:
Your media on your computer, tv, car, and cell phone. A concept started by apple, a concept capable with the zune. If your media was intertwined with the xbox, played in cars by microsoft sync, and on a supposed zune phone, Microsoft wouldn't have to worry about the not being successful in the online stores. Having all your media available wherever you are, whatever you use is more simple than spending microsoft point in the xbox live marketplace over the zune market place.

Phone:
Many people don't want a zunephone, and that's not a smart move for microsoft either. They already have Windows Mobile, a very successful phone operating system. But if these phones were to have the zune marketplace, or have zune manager the software side of media in future phones with Windows Mobile then Microsoft can profit from zune. Also, if Windows mobile was able to share media with zune users, more people will be likely to get a zune. There are more Windows Mobile users than zune users, for them to be able to "squirt" media from zune to cell and vice versa, then it'd help sell more zunes, more Windows Mobile phones, etc.

Games:
There is no reason why Microsoft shouldn't go full throttle with games. Xbox live games on zune. Being able to use your Xbox live id and get gamerscore. Having the community make games rather than third part devs selling them exclusively. It just makes sence, especially with the iphones powerful gaming capabilities, apple is going to offer serious gaming competition. It just makes sence.

Camera:
This is a personal idea of mine, but for the whole "social" aspect, if the next zune were to have a camera alongside the Zune Social integration I could theoretically share photos with my friends. Basically "twittering" on the spot with pics.

Streaming Content:
Now here's a possibility, lets make use of that wifi. If I could play videos from a website, then the zune would have a major advantage over the iphone/ipod. Using rss the zune could tap into many forms of media. This is introduced on the psp and is really wonderful, especially since psp users can get new content wherever there's wifi without the need of a computer. Things like internet radio, video rss feeds, music rss feeds, picture rss feeds, all kinds of content that takes advantage of wifi. It seems logical. Heck, I might even rent movies that could stream on the zune (like how netflix has instant on)

Wifi on full throttle:
The major thing that doesn't make sense when it comes to the zune is the wifi. The only pupose currently is sending music/ podcasts to friends and syncing wirelessly. There is so much potential with wifi that MS is not using. Integration wirelessly with the xbox would be great since there's a large majority of xbox users. Like I mentioned before, other possibilites.

Media Center Intergration:
Media Center is an often overlooked feature on Vista. It's great software, but not many people seem to be using it. However, if the zune were to become a Media Center Extender device, that would certainly turn some heads. Zune has wifi, and with it can be able to recieve content from a media center capable device. Since Media Center is included on every Vista except basic and buisness, there's many people who'd be able to take advantage of Media Center and Zune, two great things from microsoft that don't get enough credit. Imagine streaming live tv to the zune with media center, having the full on epg. As well as the rest of the Media Center platform (msn tv, weather, etc.). Wheather the Zune is an extender device or Media Center itself gets a zune software overhaul would be good for the company.

These are just some of my thoughts. What do you guys think? I really love my zune, but ms needs to get their act together. They seem to like giving up on projects that are succeeding to their liking. What they need to understand is that they could group up the xbox with it and have it be sucessful device.

SilentWalrus · 07-26-2008, 11:47 PM

Those seem like very good ideas.
Would the Zune 3 have a clock?
Who knows.

ACE · 07-27-2008, 03:52 AM

Nicely put. I would agree with just about every point made

and +rep

Matt · 07-27-2008, 10:30 AM

make the zune capable of being a media center remote

mortified · 07-27-2008, 10:34 AM

Sounds like some good ideas....*sigh* almost makes me want to go grab an xbox....

But I REALLY think that MS should work on zune software b4 another hardware device. 3/4s of what was up there ^^^ was about software, and the cohesion of it with other softwares/hardwares. The social is pretty limited right now, i think they could make some very interesting stuff with it, I'd love to be able to put my Zune card on my facebook.

+1

Mortified

soccerfreak24 · 07-27-2008, 10:55 AM

+rep Very well thought out ideas, I really think you need to be able to "tune into" others devices... that'd add to the social, having the option to "broadcast" your own music as you listen.

Tough Gandhi · 07-27-2008, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soccerfreak24

+rep Very well thought out ideas, I really think you need to be able to "tune into" others devices... that'd add to the social, having the option to "broadcast" your own music as you listen.

That sounds awesome, they need to include a built in FM transmitter

AceofSpades1005 · 07-27-2008, 11:17 AM

Kinda like radio broadcasting, Good ideas coasterfreak212!

Tough Gandi, I guess we think alike.

bluwlf_8503 · 07-28-2008, 01:36 AM

I certainly agree that a Zune Phone would be a phenomenal device. Even with the first gen Zunes, MS showed us that they could do anything Apple can do and make it better. However, regardless of how much better the Zune models are in comparison to their Apple counterparts, MS just can't seem to grab the market share that the device warrants. Apple put the mobile media industry in a headlock and I just don't know if MS can really do anything about it at this point. Unfortunately, the iPhone is not the poster-child for just about everything mobile and I don't know if it would really be in MS' best interests to try and take it on head to head. Alas, I don't think a Zune branded phone is really meant to be.

ESPKH2 · 07-28-2008, 01:03 PM

You can't just go straight into the phone market and start creating a Zune branded phone. The reason the iPhone has its modest success is because the leverage Apple has with releasing ipod 7 years prior! The ipod is already such a popular consumer device that a phone with an integrated ipod is something desirable.

Sadly, a Zune phone would only have worked if Microsoft sold more zunes in the 2 years since its inception.

Bigbol7734 · 07-28-2008, 01:44 PM

These are amazing Ideas and I really like the GT integration but the only way we could get games on zune is buying them and I dont think their gonna start a new portable game system thing again

th986 · 07-28-2008, 07:04 PM

I think it would be cool to integrate a webcam in the future zunes. It would be a great addition to the "social" aspect.

coasterfreak212 · 08-04-2008, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluwlf_8503

I certainly agree that a Zune Phone would be a phenomenal device. Even with the first gen Zunes, MS showed us that they could do anything Apple can do and make it better. However, regardless of how much better the Zune models are in comparison to their Apple counterparts, MS just can't seem to grab the market share that the device warrants. Apple put the mobile media industry in a headlock and I just don't know if MS can really do anything about it at this point. Unfortunately, the iPhone is not the poster-child for just about everything mobile and I don't know if it would really be in MS' best interests to try and take it on head to head. Alas, I don't think a Zune branded phone is really meant to be.

I never said I wanted a zunephone. In mater of fact I hate the idea. Read what I originally wrote about the phone. Windows Mobile is one of the biggest phone operating systems in the world. It's included in almost every smart phone. If microsoft were to add zune software to that it would be AMAZING. Mostly, I want to send music, podcast, and picks to all my friends who have smartphones from my zune via wifi. That includes all Moto Qs, Blackjacks, ACEs, all HTCs, Tmobile Shadows, the list goes on. Thing is, Microsoft is not a hardware company, it's software mainly. The best hardware products that they make are their keyboards/mice, the Xbox & 360, and the 2nd Gen zunes (firstgen was just a rehash of Toshiba's Gigabeat, and I think it's cool, but out of date for its time). I can't imagine MS making a phone.

David · 08-04-2008, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sinistermaniac

make the zune capable of being a media center remote

kinda like the iphone with the apple tv?

haha...

Man. · 08-04-2008, 06:22 AM

Very nice ideas but they may make the device very expensive to build and therefore expensive to buy.

Jimmy1 · 08-04-2008, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coasterfreak212

I never said I wanted a zunephone. In mater of fact I hate the idea. Read what I originally wrote about the phone. Windows Mobile is one of the biggest phone operating systems in the world. It's included in almost every smart phone. If microsoft were to add zune software to that it would be AMAZING. Mostly, I want to send music, podcast, and picks to all my friends who have smartphones from my zune via wifi. That includes all Moto Qs, Blackjacks, ACEs, all HTCs, Tmobile Shadows, the list goes on. Thing is, Microsoft is not a hardware company, it's software mainly. The best hardware products that they make are their keyboards/mice, the Xbox & 360, and the 2nd Gen zunes (firstgen was just a rehash of Toshiba's Gigabeat, and I think it's cool, but out of date for its time). I can't imagine MS making a phone.

I don't see them dipping into the phone hardware waters, as they'd create a whole new batch of hardware partners to piss off, especially after the whole PlaysForSure fiasco.
I'm sure there's some kind of contract we don't know about between MS and phone hardware companies like Motorola, etc. that bars Microsoft from making a 'Zune phone' if companies continue to support Windows Mobile.

ESPKH2 · 08-04-2008, 08:28 PM

Exactly right. It's the same reason why Microsoft doesn't make computers. Dell, Hp, Sony, and other manufacturers would go crazy. It would be bad strategy for MS to start getting into phones.

I don't support the Zunephone. I would, however, love a nice capable wifi enabled Zune 3.

Ricardo Dawkins · 08-05-2008, 12:34 PM

I have high hopes and doubts about Generation 3 software and hardware. Hope they are up to the challenge and doubts about their commitment to the Zune towards making it the ALTERNATIVE to the ifarse.

Steve Ballmer · 08-05-2008, 07:44 PM

The next Zune will be the ZunePhone people!

charmed61 · 08-05-2008, 09:50 PM

lol those are great ideas, but it sounds like you're trying to make a mini pocket computer when i read all of those stuff XD

07-26-2008, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
coasterfreak212 Experienced Zuner Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 127 Reputation: 29	The Furture of Zune This post I'm starting is mostly inspired by mszunefan's leave. He made some valid points on MS. The zune does seem to be falling in MS eyes, and it does seem to be phasing out. Here's my idea list for what MS should do to profit from the zune. Zune 3: The 3rd zune seems to be inevitably a wide touchscreen device. It's just how the market is established now ever since the iphone. What MS needs to do is not necessarily copy the iphone, but expand on some of their ideas. I think that MS should go all the way with the whole "social" aspect and make it a totaly "social" device. If the 3rd zune were to be touchscreen, it's bound to support a web browser, it's the only logical way to support inputting text. With the web browser. Then they can include integrating their social website into the actual device. From their users can add friends, look at what they're listening to and so on. Zune Marketplace built in: If the zune store were to be on the device, more people will be inclined to buy from their store. Going to a department store, buying a zune markplace card, inputting the code into the zune and buying music on the spot online (giving your near a wifi spot) would mean that more people would buy music from the zune market place. Zune, Xbox, and Danger Merger: Having the Xbox and Danger devs working with the Zune devs would work wonders. The Xbox is MS number one accomplishment in the hardware field. Danger is the masters for the sidekick. If they were able to cooperate more then integration between xbox, zune, and cell phone would be more likely to happen. It's strange how Zune intergration isn't full speed on the xbox in the firstplace. To be able to download movies on your xbox, but not able to sync to the zune just seems strange. Completely Intertwined Marketplace: Your media on your computer, tv, car, and cell phone. A concept started by apple, a concept capable with the zune. If your media was intertwined with the xbox, played in cars by microsoft sync, and on a supposed zune phone, Microsoft wouldn't have to worry about the not being successful in the online stores. Having all your media available wherever you are, whatever you use is more simple than spending microsoft point in the xbox live marketplace over the zune market place. Phone: Many people don't want a zunephone, and that's not a smart move for microsoft either. They already have Windows Mobile, a very successful phone operating system. But if these phones were to have the zune marketplace, or have zune manager the software side of media in future phones with Windows Mobile then Microsoft can profit from zune. Also, if Windows mobile was able to share media with zune users, more people will be likely to get a zune. There are more Windows Mobile users than zune users, for them to be able to "squirt" media from zune to cell and vice versa, then it'd help sell more zunes, more Windows Mobile phones, etc. Games: There is no reason why Microsoft shouldn't go full throttle with games. Xbox live games on zune. Being able to use your Xbox live id and get gamerscore. Having the community make games rather than third part devs selling them exclusively. It just makes sence, especially with the iphones powerful gaming capabilities, apple is going to offer serious gaming competition. It just makes sence. Camera: This is a personal idea of mine, but for the whole "social" aspect, if the next zune were to have a camera alongside the Zune Social integration I could theoretically share photos with my friends. Basically "twittering" on the spot with pics. Streaming Content: Now here's a possibility, lets make use of that wifi. If I could play videos from a website, then the zune would have a major advantage over the iphone/ipod. Using rss the zune could tap into many forms of media. This is introduced on the psp and is really wonderful, especially since psp users can get new content wherever there's wifi without the need of a computer. Things like internet radio, video rss feeds, music rss feeds, picture rss feeds, all kinds of content that takes advantage of wifi. It seems logical. Heck, I might even rent movies that could stream on the zune (like how netflix has instant on) Wifi on full throttle: The major thing that doesn't make sense when it comes to the zune is the wifi. The only pupose currently is sending music/ podcasts to friends and syncing wirelessly. There is so much potential with wifi that MS is not using. Integration wirelessly with the xbox would be great since there's a large majority of xbox users. Like I mentioned before, other possibilites. Media Center Intergration: Media Center is an often overlooked feature on Vista. It's great software, but not many people seem to be using it. However, if the zune were to become a Media Center Extender device, that would certainly turn some heads. Zune has wifi, and with it can be able to recieve content from a media center capable device. Since Media Center is included on every Vista except basic and buisness, there's many people who'd be able to take advantage of Media Center and Zune, two great things from microsoft that don't get enough credit. Imagine streaming live tv to the zune with media center, having the full on epg. As well as the rest of the Media Center platform (msn tv, weather, etc.). Wheather the Zune is an extender device or Media Center itself gets a zune software overhaul would be good for the company. These are just some of my thoughts. What do you guys think? I really love my zune, but ms needs to get their act together. They seem to like giving up on projects that are succeeding to their liking. What they need to understand is that they could group up the xbox with it and have it be sucessful device.

07-26-2008, 11:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
SilentWalrus Large Walrus Support Team Jr. Staff Premium Member Super Zuner Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Omaha, Nebraska Posts: 1,850 Reputation: 247 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Those seem like very good ideas. Would the Zune 3 have a clock? Who knows. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Thanks for the sig stkr. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-27-2008, 03:52 AM	#3 (permalink)
ACE I Scream, U Scream, We... zB Writer Section Staff Elite Zuner Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fresno, CA USA Posts: 2,132 Reputation: 209 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	Nicely put. I would agree with just about every point made and +rep __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. I'm an To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. ...Do you know what the original ZuneMarketplace looked like?

07-27-2008, 10:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
soccerfreak24 Support Team Expert Zuner Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,921 Reputation: 181	+rep Very well thought out ideas, I really think you need to be able to "tune into" others devices... that'd add to the social, having the option to "broadcast" your own music as you listen. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-28-2008, 01:44 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bigbol7734 Zuner Join Date: May 2008 Location: Why are you een reading this stalker?!!? Posts: 96 Reputation: 10	These are amazing Ideas and I really like the GT integration but the only way we could get games on zune is buying them and I dont think their gonna start a new portable game system thing again __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

07-27-2008, 10:34 AM	#5 (permalink)
mortified Experienced Zuner Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: USA NY Posts: 168 Reputation: 11	Sounds like some good ideas....sigh almost makes me want to go grab an xbox.... But I REALLY think that MS should work on zune software b4 another hardware device. 3/4s of what was up there ^^^ was about software, and the cohesion of it with other softwares/hardwares. The social is pretty limited right now, i think they could make some very interesting stuff with it, I'd love to be able to put my Zune card on my facebook. +1 Mortified

07-27-2008, 11:17 AM	#8 (permalink)
AceofSpades1005 Experienced Zuner Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 139 Reputation: 17	Kinda like radio broadcasting, Good ideas coasterfreak212! Tough Gandi, I guess we think alike.

07-28-2008, 01:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
bluwlf_8503 Squirt Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 29 Reputation: 10	I certainly agree that a Zune Phone would be a phenomenal device. Even with the first gen Zunes, MS showed us that they could do anything Apple can do and make it better. However, regardless of how much better the Zune models are in comparison to their Apple counterparts, MS just can't seem to grab the market share that the device warrants. Apple put the mobile media industry in a headlock and I just don't know if MS can really do anything about it at this point. Unfortunately, the iPhone is not the poster-child for just about everything mobile and I don't know if it would really be in MS' best interests to try and take it on head to head. Alas, I don't think a Zune branded phone is really meant to be.

07-28-2008, 01:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
ESPKH2 Experienced Zuner Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 111 Reputation: 14	You can't just go straight into the phone market and start creating a Zune branded phone. The reason the iPhone has its modest success is because the leverage Apple has with releasing ipod 7 years prior! The ipod is already such a popular consumer device that a phone with an integrated ipod is something desirable. Sadly, a Zune phone would only have worked if Microsoft sold more zunes in the 2 years since its inception.

07-28-2008, 07:04 PM	#12 (permalink)
th986 Zewbie Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 10	I think it would be cool to integrate a webcam in the future zunes. It would be a great addition to the "social" aspect.

08-04-2008, 06:22 AM	#15 (permalink)
Man. Supreme Zune God Support Team Zune Freak Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,205 Reputation: 82	Very nice ideas but they may make the device very expensive to build and therefore expensive to buy. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-04-2008, 08:28 PM	#17 (permalink)
ESPKH2 Experienced Zuner Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 111 Reputation: 14	Exactly right. It's the same reason why Microsoft doesn't make computers. Dell, Hp, Sony, and other manufacturers would go crazy. It would be bad strategy for MS to start getting into phones. I don't support the Zunephone. I would, however, love a nice capable wifi enabled Zune 3.

08-05-2008, 12:34 PM	#18 (permalink)
Ricardo Dawkins Jr. Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 356 Reputation: 30	I have high hopes and doubts about Generation 3 software and hardware. Hope they are up to the challenge and doubts about their commitment to the Zune towards making it the ALTERNATIVE to the ifarse. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Black Zune 80 & Samsung YH-J70 + Zune 80 Premium + AKG K26p + JVC HA-FX33 Blue -Marshmallows- *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

08-05-2008, 07:44 PM	#19 (permalink)
Steve Ballmer Zuner Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Redmond Wa. Posts: 55 Reputation: 19	The next Zune will be the ZunePhone people! __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-05-2008, 09:50 PM	#20 (permalink)
charmed61 Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Gold Rush State! Posts: 651 Reputation: 4	lol those are great ideas, but it sounds like you're trying to make a mini pocket computer when i read all of those stuff XD __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Advertisement