Five things Microsoft needs to do to fix the Zune

Last week marked the fourth month the Zune has been on the market, and its sixth month since being officially announced. We know the Zune was in development all the way back into 2005 -- so why the hell is Microsoft having such a hard time ironing out even the basic kinks, let alone adding features? Wasn't the whole reason Microsoft went into the portable media hardware business because only vertically integrated solutions seem to be able to guarantee a vaguely acceptable DRM user experience?

In month four it's not cool for the Zune to still have bugs causing skipping in (DRMed) content, nor any of the other severe issues, bugs, and limitations that keep the product from approaching likability by a larger audience than the handful of thousands of Zune users out there today. (Let's not kid ourselves here, Zunes haven't been selling, and most people don't take the Zune seriously at this point.) We're not trying to hate, but we think it's about time Microsoft acknowledged that the ball's been dropped -- and then pick it back up. Stop promising bug fixes and vaporous new features, and stop talking about future Zune products when the current product is ailing. Here are five simple things Microsoft should do to fix the Zune right now, and even make it into a somewhat aggressive contender in one of the most cutthroat gadget categories. In order:

1. Fix the DRM, syncing, and system bugs, and get firmware v1.3 out the door!
2. Add useful WiFi features: wireless streaming to friends, Zune Pass (subscription) song transfer to friends' Zunes (á la MusicGremlin), computer-free downloads content downloads.
3. Add podcast and vidcast support. It doesn't even have to be as comprehensive as the iTMS, just a basic RSS reader / enclosure scraper or something.
4. Increase codec support. Go out on a limb and add open (read: free) codecs like FLAC, APE, OGG, XviD; if you really want to make your customers happy, belly up to the bar and license DivX.
5. Drop the price. For most consumers, there is still a huge mental barrier in paying $250 for a Zune when you can pay the same $250 for an iPod. One isn't necessarily better than the other, but people really love the iPod. Make it $230 MSRP, and let that sink down to like $210 for online retailers. People will freak out that this player, that does all these things it does, is barely more than two bills.

See, that wasn't so hard, was it? We didn't even ask them to do anything vaguely unreasonable, like open up the Zune Marketplace for other players, drop the 3x3 pseudo-DRM, drop the silly over-marketing, or add 3G and a QWERTY keyboard. We know these things won't happen tomorrow, but it would be nice to know Zune has some intentions of actually improving its product, as promised.

[7of7 @ Mar 20th 2007 10:19PM]

Judging from their numerous fixes to the EULA in Vista I'd say Microsoft is listening to what you want. It's only a matter of time before such features are added. Further, pending the price drop from bulk sales it's possible the price will be dropped also.

[Robert @ Mar 21st 2007 5:55AM]

its $210 on newegg!!!

[Unis @ Mar 20th 2007 5:09PM]

I am happy with my Zune the way it is. Sure Microsoft will eventually add features but if they never do I'd be happy with what I have.

It is not like I am planning on keeping it 5 years. After a year I'll be ready to purchase another. I hope it will be the new Zune but it may not be, that depends on what is available.

What the Zune does, it does well!

[paloooz @ Mar 20th 2007 5:07PM]

So true. When I download my music and my TV shows, movies, videos etc. I don't want to have to transcode them to a format that the player can read. I just want to stick them straight from my Azureus downloads folder, directly onto the player. I don't care about wireless internet, podcasts, or whatever.. All I care about is vorbis, xvid, divx, flac, h.264, and those weird .mkv files that some HDTV rips of Battlestar Galactica come as.

So far, the only player than meats most of my needs is the Cowon A2, and perhaps a few Archos players, but they don't have enough storage, and cost too much!

[paloooz @ Mar 20th 2007 5:09PM]

Sorry to reply to myself, but I couldn't find an edit feature here.

If this widescreen multi-touch iPod ever comes out, I'll sacrafice some dough and I'll start transcoding now.

Either load the player with codecs, or give us one hell of an awesome gadget.

[steve Johnson @ Mar 23rd 2007 12:32PM]

How about this Micro$oft: GIVE UP! You got your butt kicked by the iPod, just like Dell did with their pathetic Jukebox. The war is over...you lost. Deal with it.

[DS @ Mar 21st 2007 3:33AM]

Zen! I have a Zen Vision M, and LOVE it (the hardware). the syncing/organizational software it comes with and the way it interfaces with windows is CRAP, straight up.

[Joseph @ Mar 22nd 2007 11:54AM]

The Zune was meant to be sold around $299. Apple suprised everyone at the last minute and lowered the price to 249. Microsoft had very little time to react and started selling the Zune at a loss at 249

[Nikropht @ Mar 20th 2007 6:57PM]

We want linux on the Zune!

[carl @ Apr 9th 2007 10:58PM]

one word. rockbox.

[JON BLAST @ Mar 20th 2007 5:14PM]

they also need to release a good version

[Tim @ Mar 20th 2007 5:16PM]

All I hear about Zune's a iPod's is how sh$t they are.

Has anyone actually considered buying a media player from a reputable company who's field is specifically solid state memory?

[Jeff @ Mar 20th 2007 5:31PM]

"Has anyone actually considered buying a media player from a reputable company who's field is specifically solid state memory?"

Not really applicable in a discussion about players that rely on a hard drive for storage.

Not that it'd matter anyway; solid state memory is not rocket science. Nobody buys the iPod mini because of how awesome its solid state memory is, and nobody who does have problems with it has problems with its memory. I mean, it would make more sense to buy a music player from a company that makes batteries for a living; at least that's a component that does cause issues for some people.

[Tim @ Mar 21st 2007 4:51AM]

People buy iPod (e,Pod) mini's to avoid: socializing on public transport, getting peeved while doing a clerical jobs, bad fashion sense (who the hell uses a Zune with a MacBook, OMG! Eww!); and many many more valid* reasons.

I mentioned SS memory because it's another thing Microsoft could look at if they decide to release another edition of the Zune (maybe they designed one last year and will hope to launch it by 2010). The read speed is pathetic. If you're loading media onto the device you can take your time.

What's more important: the write speed for loading content onto the device, or the read speed for using it everyday? Rhetorical question.

[Loban @ Mar 20th 2007 5:21PM]

It would also help if they released a redesigned version that wasn't as ugly as my dog's butthole. Seriously, the zune is one ugly piece of electronic equipment.

[Kevin @ Mar 20th 2007 7:01PM]

I agree about the looks. I finally saw one in the flesh and it was bigger and uglier even than the impression you get with photos.

I think it is fair to say that an awful lot of the iPod's appeal is the cool factor. The way people hang them round their necks with pride just to show everyone their sleek new nano.

Whilst all us Engadgeteers are obsessed with the alphabet soup of OGG, DRM and DivX the average consumer cares much more about its fashion statement. Obviously they want it to work, but after that all they care about is that it is easy to operate and impresses other people.

You look at some of the industrial design competitions and see some gorgeous designs of new devices, often done by students. It never ceases to amaze me that with MS's massive R&D budget they can't come up with something more like that.

[CarbonFree @ Mar 20th 2007 7:23PM]

How about Mac OS X support? Eh? That'd be wonderful, and maybe I'd actually buy one!

[Kev50027 @ Mar 20th 2007 5:19PM]

Unfortunately, it appears the Zune was DOA. I'm still happy with my Samsung YP-T9 4GB flash player. It can do video, pics, and it sounds great, and it's smaller than the iPod nano, and has a bigger screen, longer battery life, and the same price. What else could I ask for?

I'm so over hard drive mp3 players.

[Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 12:34PM]

So you are over having enough space for a large collection? A lot of us aren't.

[Kev50027 @ Mar 21st 2007 3:56PM]

Well.. I do have 1.15 terabytes on my computer, and over 100 GB worth of data counting all of my mp3 players (I have 7 or 8.. too lazy to count them now). When I go on long trips, I'll bring my Creative Zen Vision:M or Archos AV400 or iRiver iH120, but for every day use (when walking to classes, flights, and long trips in the car), flash players are by far the best with longer battery life, smaller and lighter form factors, and enough storage for several days worth of my favorite tunes.

[KZ91 @ Mar 20th 2007 7:27PM]

If they could just slim it down to ipods size and weight, maybe throw in a browser for that wifi and do all these things i'd buy 2 today and a few every holiday for gifts

[Ratnakar Garikipati @ Mar 20th 2007 10:38PM]

I read somewhere that the next version of the Zune is featuring a smartphone which runs Windows Mobile O/S 6.0?? plus integrates with XBOX 360 to stream video from the game player to the phone...??? and tentatively planned to be released next holiday season?...

[Dave T. @ Mar 20th 2007 5:36PM]

i tried posting earlier and didn't go through maybe the long link to Target.com with the $228 price on Zune. I saw a few places in the sunday paper with the $230 price.

Also I like my Zune just fine except for the missing gapless playback/burn function. it took iTunes time to fix that too but still long before zune even came out. It kills concert recordings.

[Nobody important @ Mar 20th 2007 5:41PM]

This is *Microsoft* we're talking about here.

They don't pick up the ball, they spend billions in marketing cash to try to convince us that the ball is actually better on the floor, and that we should play with it there.

[doctorSpoc @ Mar 20th 2007 8:07PM]

the best thing they can do is to just stop selling them... they are just throwing money away.. it's an FUGLY piece of crap and nobody's going to buy them (ok.. 10-15 people including gates, balmer and their families...).. when iPhone comes out then what are they going to do then.. Apple is so far ahead they are kidding themselves if they think they are going to catch up.. Jobs must have pissed himself laughing holding an iPhone in his hand when he saw the zune for the 1st time... i remember him being interviewed after the zune came out it must have taken everything he had to not just burst out laughing.. the zune is a joke time to put it out of it's misery.. just shoot it!

[anonymouspimp @ Mar 20th 2007 5:50PM]

I don't think Microsoft is sitting on their hands right now feeling defeated and overwhelmed.

You KNOW they are in redesign right now... I think they actually came out and said they would have a second generation out by the 4th quarter (just in time for Christmas). It will be smaller, better looking, and will have additional features (my guess is some of the features listed in this article).

This is Microsoft. They will do whatever it takes to get market share. They have the resources to do it. They have the fanbase (although you wouldn't know it from this site) to make a dent.

That being said, I own an iPod and a Zune, and I like BOTH. I like the Zune for video, music, FM radio... and I take the iPod places where I get worried my player might get damaged/broken or something and i'm only listening to music (don't like the video and no FM on iPod).

[DavidA @ Mar 20th 2007 6:29PM]

Thanks engadget, us over at zunescene and other forums have been getting so annoyed with the lack of updates but seeing as they are only fan forums very little is seen of it and so not much will be done, whereas now you guys have commented on the lack of updates it opens up a much wider audience of the problem, more people knowing of the problems demotes sales so microsoft will be forced to do something about it. Aside from that B Gates himself reads engadget so something might get done, i hope. It is a serious issue and it really bugs us few who risked it and spent money on the zune when promised devotion to the product and received next to nothing. so thanks again, one step closer to a better zune.

[SOSdan @ Mar 20th 2007 6:30PM]

How about unicode support for us foreign music lovers? I mean how many languages can the iPod support? How many can the zune support? Well, not many. I'm getting sick of all these squares on my song list.

[mrsalty @ Mar 21st 2007 10:41AM]

Well, in 4 months I have yet to see a human soul walking around with a zune or even in class or on the bus. I have seen a few at Sears and Best Buy and that's it. Oh, and were did the commercials go? The ipod is about marketing the zune is about?? who, the heck even knows what it's for. Ask someone on the street if they have a ZUNE and 99.9999% will say WHAAAAT

[tekdroid @ Mar 20th 2007 6:50PM]

open-source codecs on a Microsoft device I'd put in the 'impossible' category.

This would dampen their proprietary plans pretty easily. Don't expect it anytime soon (that goes for Apple and Sony, too).

In the meantime, I'd buy from a company who gets it, along with native drag-n-drop with no crappy software...like Cowon, among others.

[Chris @ Mar 21st 2007 12:39PM]

Drag and drop is fine for a small collection but having a metadata driven database like iTunes is far superior for larger collections.

[dSharp @ Mar 21st 2007 8:40AM]

I agree with this post. Although my Zune is the bomb, I really would like the above outlive features/fixes and:
The playlist structure supports videos, but video playlists aren't enabled yet. Why?
Zune created audio playlists should already have been in it to start, I mean my old Nomad Zen Xtra did.
Please fix the video tags!
Please fix the video tags!
Please fix the video tags!

[OG Style @ Mar 20th 2007 8:44PM]

I traded in my Zune for a Zen Vision W. I wanted to have all the video codecs. The Zunes supported codecs suck. The Zen plays about everyting I can throw at it and it can record radio. Plus it was $50 cheeper.

[Ed @ Mar 20th 2007 6:59PM]

I wonder if Microsoft will see this and actually consider at least 3 of Engadget's suggestions? Someone please give this article to Microsoft A.S.A.P. if they want to save the Zune name.

[BillPeng @ Mar 23rd 2007 1:15AM]

Microsoft noticed this already. :)

[NeoK182 @ Mar 20th 2007 7:01PM]

1. Fix the DRM, syncing, and system bugs, and get firmware v1.3 out the door!

-This is one problem i've never had with my Zune but i know lot of people have and yes V1.3 should of been out a long time ago.

2. Add useful WiFi features: wireless streaming to friends, Zune Pass (subscription) song transfer to friends' Zunes (á la MusicGremlin), computer-free downloads content downloads.

-very true. we keep getting promised and hopefully something will happen.

3. Add podcast and vidcast support. It doesn't even have to be as comprehensive as the iTMS, just a basic RSS reader / enclosure scraper or something.

- The Zune has podcast support but just tosses them in the the music. Yes they should have their own categories, this was something we were promised in january and still has yet to be done.

4. Increase codec support. Go out on a limb and add open (read: free) codecs like FLAC, APE, OGG, XviD; if you really want to make your customers happy, belly up to the bar and license DivX.

-I have no problem with the WMA/mp3 for audio, but video is ridiculous it should support MP4, WMV, and DivX Avi with no converting needed.

5. Drop the price. For most consumers, there is still a huge mental barrier in paying $250 for a Zune when you can pay the same $250 for an iPod. One isn't necessarily better than the other, but people really love the iPod. Make it $230 MSRP, and let that sink down to like $210 for online retailers. People will freak out that this player, that does all these things it does, is barely more than two bills.

-true, it would help, but until it starts selling, or until the 2nd gen comes out i wouldn't expect a drop.

And in final, I've been a Zune supporter since the announcement was made and i play an active roll in a few Zune communities and i'd like to thank you engadget on posting this. Hopefully it will help some since the Zune Team hasn't been listening to anyone else lately.

[cesar @ Mar 21st 2007 12:16PM]

Thanks, Ryan, you raise some good points - I'll make sure folks on the team see this post.

Cesar
www.zuneinsider.com

[kizildere @ Mar 20th 2007 7:09PM]

6. Fix the damn software used to sync your music.

Damnit Microsoft, I love Windows, Xbox, Office, etc. but you frickin sunk with the Zune software. The worst piece of crap I have ever experienced.

Anyone know an alternative to it?

[Juaquin @ Mar 21st 2007 4:44AM]

I agree. An absolute must for any player I buy is FLAC support and high sound quality. Also, the Zune needs to put that Wifi to use. If they made a Zune that could browse the net with Wifi, played FLAC, and was about $200, I'd buy it.

[dave @ Mar 20th 2007 8:35PM]

Yep the Zune's WiFi is nothing but a bullet point on a PowerPoint slide. After 4 months I still haven't located another Zune player. For all I know WiFi in my Zune is busted.

No Pod casting support or even a clock show this platform was not well managed or planned. Oh well there is always eBay and then an iPod.

[cpurdy @ Mar 20th 2007 10:33PM]

Microsoft has sold less Zunes than Engadget has posted articles on the Zune .. go figure.

[Ricardo @ Mar 20th 2007 8:00PM]

w00t. My spot on comments was lost..ok brick. here we go again:

*** Add useful WiFi features: wireless streaming to friends, Zune Pass (subscription) song transfer to friends' Zunes (á la MusicGremlin), computer-free downloads content downloads. ***

Where is ipod Wifi ? ey, wait it doesn't even have a FM tuner inside its pearl white and chrome scratch-tastic body. Uh ?


*** Increase codec support. Go out on a limb and add open (read: free) codecs like FLAC, APE, OGG, XviD; if you really want to make your customers happy, belly up to the bar and license DivX. *****

Does ipod supports any of those formats ? Just 1. Tell us which one.


**** Drop the price. For most consumers, there is still a huge mental barrier in paying $250 for a Zune when you can pay the same $250 for an iPod. One isn't necessarily better than the other, but people really love the iPod. Make it $230 MSRP, and let that sink down to like $210 for online retailers. People will freak out that this player, that does all these things it does, is barely more than two bills. ****

Ask Apple to drop the price on the nano and shuffle. My GF Samsung YPt8 and mine Insignia Video can do video and line-in recording with bigger screen than the nano and are cheaper than the nano..or even the shuffle.
(Mr. ETIRCOPYH. ETELED TI RO TI NAB.) Don't care. At least I know you read IT.

[manfesto @ Mar 20th 2007 10:57PM]

It seems that you failed to notice that this is an article about what should be fixed with the Zune, and not the iPod. Not that I disagree with any of your points, but bashing the ipod in a discussion about how to fix the Zune then feeling superior about having done it is a straw man argument and, frankly, makes you look stupid.

[Chris Schmidt @ Mar 21st 2007 12:49PM]

Your points show exactly why the Zune is a failure. If the wifi sucks why not get an iPod without it? If the Zune doesn't support more video formats, then what makes it better (other than that gorgeous battery draining screen)?. Why can't everybody just give them away for free? Really, these categories should be where the Zune blows away the iPod, not where we defend "well, the iPod doesn't do it either". There is no excuse for the Zune.

[Austin @ Mar 20th 2007 8:03PM]

I don't care about the weight, the programing, or really the sharing (there's no one for me to share my zune music with since no one else has one). all i want is to allow me to have music other than that blasted, weird WMA format. i can't listen to 70 hours of my music just because i got it off of WMP 10 instead of Urge when it's just about the same! if the zune just opened up it's formating (not that they will 'cus thats how the make their money/screw the customer) then i would shove my zune in everyone's face. but how can i when all i can really use it for right now is for its radio.

[Derka @ Mar 20th 2007 8:48PM]

Heres my 5:
1. Wireless syncing
2. Wireless connectivity with Xbox 360
3. Fix Drive problems in Vista
4. Various lag in the Zune device
5. DRM issues

[FrankTheCrank @ Mar 21st 2007 7:19PM]

Micro$oft will continue to spend money until their piece of hardware becomes relevant.

This is what they did with the 360. And although I don't think the 360 is that relevant given it's sales numbers compared to the PS2, the media seems to be inlove with the 360 for the time being. I think their just catering to the readership. The adoption rate for the 360 is already falling. 225K last month's not that great. They wanted to be above 300K/month. A price drop might do it.

Both projects are still in the hole. How much has M$ lost on both these projects? I know it's in the billions.

[Derka @ Mar 20th 2007 8:50PM]

Oh ya, and one more, Zune software should be able to convert all video codecs, formats, etc, to a zune compatible format.

[JasonB @ Mar 20th 2007 8:57PM]

You're kidding, right? $250 is too much but at $210 people will "freak out that this player, that does all these things it does, is barely more than two bills."

Can I see your marketing diploma again?


--
Baseball for Nerds: http://www.scoutingbook.com/

[capn pugwash @ Mar 20th 2007 9:11PM]

If apple start supporting Vista soonish with iTunes, then MS and the Zune are totally screwed..