Zune sales...

[JackisNimble]

Zune sales may be getting a huge step up in the next month or two. Why? Due to some smart advertising on Microsoft's part. What am I talking about? Why, the Zune: Halo 3 Edition, of course. Yeah, you heard me right, Microsoft is releasing a Zune with Halo 3 all over it. What is included? Well, here you go!

The Zune™ - Halo® 3 Edition comes preloaded with a collection of music, videos and artwork, including:
# Music:
- Halo Original Soundtrack – Complete Album
- Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Volume 1 – All tracks by Marty O’Donnell and Michael Salvatori - Halo 2 Original Soundtrack, Volume 2 – Complete Album
# Videos:
- Halo 3 “Starry Night” advertisement
- Halo 3 E3 2006 announcement trailer
- Halo 2 theatrical teaser trailer
- Three Halo 3 “making of” documentary videos
- A custom episode of Red vs. Blue – just for Zune!
- The first six episodes of Red vs. Blue Season 1
# Artwork:
Over 120 different images, including game concept art, storyboards, paintings, and conceptual marketing imager

Pictures:
http://www.gearlive.com/thegallery/category/C34/

While I am not a huge fan of Halo 2 and don't anticipate I will be a fan of 3, I do think this was a wise marketing decision on Microsofts part. I personally love my Zune and would hate to see them not continue with this great product due to the sickening growth of the iPod "fad".

[o_O]

I hope I don't come across as a dogmatic Apple/iPod freak, as I'm not. I just like debating.

What is truly challenging the iPod as an in-it-for-the-long-haul contender in the portable music player market? They've been in it for many years, so why would it suddenly change? My point is, even if the majority of people somehow move to alternatives and the iPod still has a dedicated, less than 50% of the market following that won't have any plans to stop using them, then they're not a fad. You can argue that more and more people will be convinced to change, but it doesn't work that way, as computational/technological evangelism exists; Some people are always going to blindly keep buying certain companies' products without even wanting to try the products of other companies. The word fad in this situation usually pertains to a product generally sold by only one company that goes completely out of popularity. If competitors exist for a product such as the portable music player and the one company with the most sales of it isn't driving those competitors out of business, the product is not going to quickly fade out of popularity like a fad.

[JackisNimble]

Well, you do come across as a dogmatic Apple/iPod freak. But then again, if anyone knows me, they would know I am a dogmatic anti-iPod freak. To be honest though, this topic has nothing to do with whether or not the iPod is a fad. It's about Microsoft's new Zune.

[potthole]

Not really having a preference for either the iPod or Zune, I can say that honestly this 'new' Zune does not really make me feel any stronger desire to purchase it.  Microsoft wants me to buy their product and not Apple's?  Undercut the competition, and slash your prices like mad, that'll get me (and many others) flocking to your Zune. 

To me it seems it really only will cater to hardcore Microsoft/Halo fans, and I'll bet there are already a fair number of those who have purchased a Zune already.

[Revan/anakinjmt]

The Zune will never pick up speed until they add what Apple has: a music store that will also let you buy music videos, TV shows, and movies.

[potthole]

The Zune will never pick up speed until they add what Apple has: a music store that will also let you buy music videos, TV shows, and movies.

Personally, that wouldn't have any influence on my decision.  The only thing I care about with an iPod/Zune is music.  Give me access to all the music I'd like, and I'm a happy customer.

[Revan/anakinjmt]

Personally, that wouldn't have any influence on my decision.  The only thing I care about with an iPod/Zune is music.  Give me access to all the music I'd like, and I'm a happy customer.

And, besides CD's, how else would you get music? (assuming you don't use a service such as Morpheus or Limewire or Kazaa) iTunes is a huge success for Apple, and a huge reason IMO why the iPod does so well. You can buy songs from the iTunes music store and they only work with an iPod. If Microsoft did something similar, I think the Zune would do a lot better. But, they'd have to have a huge selection of stuff to buy, considering you can get from iTunes music, audiobooks, podcasts, music videos, TV shows, movies, and games. If Microsoft did just songs and not nearly as many as iTunes has, it would fail.

[stinkoman k]

Microsoft has a system where you give them like 15 bucks a month and they let you download as many songs as you want. I'm pretty sure.

[Revan/anakinjmt]

Microsoft has a system where you give them like 15 bucks a month and they let you download as many songs as you want. I'm pretty sure.

Really? I've never heard of any store like that? That may help, but is it anywhere near as large as the iTunes store? And, that would be a waste of money for me, because I can go months without downloading any songs. Hence why pay-per-song works best for me.

[potthole]

And, besides CD's, how else would you get music? (assuming you don't use a service such as Morpheus or Limewire or Kazaa) iTunes is a huge success for Apple, and a huge reason IMO why the iPod does so well. You can buy songs from the iTunes music store and they only work with an iPod. If Microsoft did something similar, I think the Zune would do a lot better. But, they'd have to have a huge selection of stuff to buy, considering you can get from iTunes music, audiobooks, podcasts, music videos, TV shows, movies, and games. If Microsoft did just songs and not nearly as many as iTunes has, it would fail.

If I had either a Zune or video iPod, music is still really the only thing I'd be interested in purchasing.  Watching a show or movie on a tiny little screen like they have doesn't really appeal to me that much.

 

[Revan/anakinjmt]

If I had either a Zune or video iPod, music is still really the only thing I'd be interested in purchasing.  Watching a show or movie on a tiny little screen like they have doesn't really appeal to me that much.

Comes in quite handy on a flight though.

[Conner]

While the iTunes Store does help Apple, my belief is that they secretly are glad people pirate things. People pirate things, movies, songs, whatever, then need the space to store it. That means more 80 gigs sold, and accesories, word of mouth from them, then they may buy a mac (if all goes well). But, piracy is illegal, but DRM is just as bad, if you ask me.

I did a year long report on Piracy, which I will prep for here, and share it with everyone. The results were interesting, to say the least.

[potthole]

Please do post your report, I'm quite interested in taking a look at it.

[Revan/anakinjmt]

I'm with potthole; that sounds quite fascinating. If it's too long, just upload it to like Sendspace or something so we can read it for ourselves.

[Conner]

I wrote a paper, made a website, did a slideshow, and made a handout. I was triyng to take screenshots of the slideshow, it didn't work though.

The website is: http://connerdowney.com/piracy.

My paper is at: http://connerdowney.com/dump/capstonepaper.doc.

and I will do the slideshow. I did a poll of people in my grade (8th grade) on piracy, and the results were pretty cool.