RSSJobs: Apple Not Worried About Zune
By Ed Oswald | Published October 16, 2006, 11:55 AM
In a question-and-answer session with Newsweek, Apple CEO Steve Jobs slammed Microsoft's Zune music player, saying he was not impressed with the Redmond company's entrant. Jobs said the music sharing abilities of the player were too complicated and slow.
"It takes forever," Jobs chided. "By the time you've gone through all that, the girl's got up and left! You're much better off to take one of your earbuds out and put it in her ear. Then you're connected with about two feet of headphone cable."
In a three-page online interview, Jobs also touched on other aspects of the iPod, whose fifth anniversary is October 23. He said early on, the project had a feeling that it was going to be a success as developers and everyone who saw the players wanted one themselves.
"We believe that customers are smart, and want objects which are well thought through," Jobs said of the iPod.
A common thread as of late with the introduction of the Zune has also been the discussion of how the iPod could lose its "cool factor" due to its overwhelming popularity. "It doesn't make any sense," Jobs shot back. "We don't strive to appear cool. We just try to make the best products we can. And if they are cool, well, that's great."
Finally, speaking of interoperability, Jobs dismissed notions that users did not know they were buying into a closed system when purchasing the iPod. The user has known that all along, he said.
"People know up front that when they buy music from the iTunes music store it plays on iPods, and so we're not trying to hide anything there," Jobs added.
"Where's the beef?" - Clara Pellar - January 10, 1984
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Here's an idea that I am sure has escaped all of the poor entitled victims here.
First, you had to be dumb enough to update the firmware.
Two, why couldn't a resourceful person, who wasn't so preoccupied with whining, post the old firmware code online and make it available for download to restore the functionality or to provide it for purchasers of new units?
Oh, sorry, I forgot where I was...OK, everyone back to whining.....
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I think you did forget where you were. I think you meant to post that comment here:
http://www.betanews.com/...FM_Recording/1161106079
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The real tragedy in this entire 'debate' is that anyone thinks of the iPod, or any of the genre, as 'high fidelity'!!!
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The fact that they aren't making anything bigger than 30gb just proves that Apple is WAY ahead in this game.
What good is the video feature if I can only fit a few minutes worth on the device after putting my whole music collection on it.
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your music collection must be really huge.
as for me, screen size is much more important than storage size. you can control and manage storage size but you cant do much abt the screen.
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I'm PROCLAIMING right now: This is the beginning of the end for the IPOD...
UNLESS Apple:
1.incorporates a tuner. FM, TV or otherwise. Literally, every other player has this feature.
2.Opens up the itunes network. Why? Because pretty soon every other player who uses a windows based software will allow them to interchange players. Results: No need for an Ipod.
3.Make a bigger screen
4.Improve the sound capabilities.
5.Make it .WMV compatable. (The hours wasted converting?? RIDICULOUS!)
Believe me... my 21 yo boyfriend who owns 3 IPODS (Hellooo APPLE! THIS is your market!) is about to ebay them all off for a zune. And why not? He's researched the hell out of these players just to make sure he gets the rt one. The zune has a HUGE 3 inch or something screen (while Creative's is a whopping 4.3), an FM tuner, and 30Gs (60Gs for Creative; he has the 80G ipod but says it's worth the switch off; he claims it's comparable because he could use the .wmv files).
And of course, if all else fails...they'll go run and hide from REALLY improving on their product or FACING competition by doing what they always do :-T :
1.Adding an obscene amount of memory
2.Significantly Lowering the price
Jobs...Just out of touch with his own market :(. Why do I say that? It seems he tends to forget...if it weren't for AAPL (NYSE ticker) making their itunes interfacable with windows... the ipod wouldn't be the trendy little gadget it is now. They were trying to keep it a mac oriented dealy. It's because of PC's and PC users that ipod is worth anything in the market. My point? My point is that without opening up this system and device to the market...AAPL will do JUST WHAT it did from the late 80's to 90's... DISAPPEAR and STRUGGLE.
Wake up, Steve-O. Listen to the ppl... we're giving ALL THE TOOLS TO WIN! Gosh! We WANT you to be the victors. I mean, c'mon... you started this from your garage?!?! Shoot, the AAPL dream is what every nerd has aspired to since we all heard the story! Now WAKE UP AND GET OFF OF YOUR BUTTS! (Like anyone from Apple has time to read my little comment LOL haha - ya gotta laugh!)
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Well folks, there you have it!
The end of an era!
And not only are we provided with insight into just what constitutes the iPod market, we are also provided insight into what constitutes the Betanews market. So is there anyone here with a perspective older than that of one just out of high school?
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Um, actually I have a master's in Philosophy & and am working on my doctorate's in Psychology. I've been out of "high" school for quite a while there, mr. chide. ;) What is it? Almost 10 years. Sorry Grandpa, most of the ppl who actually BUY ipods (and plenty of them) are not fuddy duddies.
And it would've been nice for someone of your GREAT "WISDOM" to actually Attempt to address the areas of your contention rather than attempting a character assasination which, btw shows a great ineptitude in argumentation department of your communicational skills. Who implied that I know the audience of "betanews", I know who buys most ipods. And I'm sure it's not you.
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This is my opinion (I don't wish to upset anyone). The majority of people (the majority) who own an ipod know nothing about technology or computers.
They own a player that's really pretty and that other people have told them is marvelous, amazing, fantastic and mad freakin' cool (and it's not all completely untrue). But pride blinds many people and they don't admit mistakes easily. I've known 3 ipod users that have had their ipods break within months of the expiration of the warranty who's excuses were "oh I treat it badly" or "it was just time for it to go"....HUH??
The boom of the players are due to the fact that many of the buyerbase are people (esp in college) who just rip cds and trade mp3s, as well as download them, illegally. Not to mention lots of them given as gifts.
While Itunes is booming, I suspect there are many people who don't know about the subscription system. My point is, awareness will change the popularity of itunes and thus the ipod drastically. People are now learning about yahoo music engine, virgin digital, urge and are realizing they can't do this with itunes and that these techs aren't compat. with the ipod. Itunes isn't horrible, you can always burn the songs you buy and rip them back to a non drm format, but the music is rather expensive for some people. And as all these ituners become aware of services offering similar or better quality for cheaper, you bet your buttons their next music player won't be an ipod. At which point, apple will either come up with their own subscription system or open up the format a bit, we'll see. I love the ipod, I had one for a while...it's solid, classy and feels like a well built product. But I also love the freedom to pay a service the cost of 1 cd, and download as many albums as I can, so the player just wasn't for me. Freedom won.
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Didn't Bill Gates or some Microsoft rep say that the zune was not an Ipod killer but more of a companion? Even though Ipod pretty much owns the music player market, I'm still happy to see more comeptitor's come out. It's what drives businesses and changes.
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MS should stick to operating systems and office suites. Ok, maybe some infrastructure products (SMS, MOM, etc.), but consumer products is not their forte. It's nice they try. I'm sure it keeps Jobs focused on moving forward to avoid letting anyone else catch up. That's good for us.
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MS generates too much cash from Software, and the only way to invest these free cash is to go into other markets
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"but consumer products is not their forte"
Yea...that whole XBOX thing...man thats just the next MS Bob
/sarcasm
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Citing a product that's costing Microsoft billions of dollars with no clear benefit isn't exactly supporting your argument.
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XBOX, consumer product...widly successful in the marketplace...which part of this is confusing you?
As for the benefit...its called games, the liceses to build and sell those games, and accessories. Even if the base system is sold at a loss, they more then make up for the difference or they wouldnt be doing it.
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Just observing the grammar would have been sufficient to mock the understatement of that post!
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Jobs is too much of an arrogant p***k to worry about anything.
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Nothing beats good design. Look to timeless success from Europe. Hell people will sometimes buy crappy products that just look great. The success of the iPod is that the design is great and the function is great. I find it funny that people can't just accept a cool thing. If you don't like it don't buy it. I think most of the people who are complaining about the iPod are people who want to load it with stolen music. You don't buy a BMW and take it to a discount service center do you? Apple has made a great product. Don't hate them for it. Don't tell them how to run their business either :-) But do buy their stock as its also done great.
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I think Jobs is absolutely right about the threat from Zune. Why would he worry? Most everyone who own iPOD bought music from iTune. And all iTune music only play in 1 player, iPod. Unless there is a court order that force Apple to open up the format or a hack that make the iTune music work in order player. I highly doubt people will make the swich.
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The Itunes music works on ANY device. All you have to do is burn a CD backup, remove the Itunes purchased songs, Import them back as mp3's and install them anywhere you want. Heck, there is even software to convert to mp3 which does not contain the password.
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gee, isn't it would be easier just to d/l it of P2P
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I don't see how you say that "Most everyone who own iPOD bought music from iTune." I'd say over half the people I know with iPod's have never purchased anything through iTunes. iTunes is too expensive to pay for a lossy format.
Yes, I am an iPod owner and I love it but if something better comes along then I'll move my mp3's to that device.
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Piracy is usually the easiest option. Your point?
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Burning a playlist to CD and then reimporting it is not piracy. It is a slightly time-consuming but nonetheless completely available and legal solution for people who want to take their playlists to other systems (car players, cell phones, et cetera). Pratically speaking you're way less locked in with iTunes than you are with whatever collections you have on 8-tracks, your cassettes or your LP's. ~Brian
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That was his point.
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Reading comprehension, friend. I was replying to a comment advocating piracy, not advocating iTunes downloads.
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Then it was even more shallow than I thought. "I hate iTunes, let's stick it to The Jobs by downloading this stuff off BitTorrent!"
Stupidity incarnate.
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If you look at were Apple has taken OS X, I'd say they are trying there best and have been succeeding. The same can easily be said for the iPod.
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I have seen where Apple has taken OSX, you can change the outside of an OS but never the insides. OSX is so poorly writen. If it is not why does Vista RC2 run better and faster then OSX on the same hardware?
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Please, ...tell us about FreeBSD!
And please tell us how you got a 64 bit Vista to run, let alone 32 bit Vista with its wonderful array of drivers.
Tell us more about your in depth knowledge of OS design...
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Why should I. Running Vista on a Mac just proves that Windows is better then a Mac.
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Of course Apple isn't worried. In 1981, Apple took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal which said, "Welcome, IBM. Seriously. Welcome to the most exciting and important marketplace since the computer revolution began 35 years ago. And congratulations on your first personal computer... When we invented the first personal computer system, we estimated that over 140,000,000 people worldwide could justify the purchase of one if only they understood its benefits... And we appreciate the magnitude of your commitment... Welcome to the task."
In the years that followed, IBM sold a PC to 139,999,997 of those people. The other 3 people each bought 22 different Apple computer models, still have every one of them, spit in the direction of Redmond twice daily, and still insist that Apple is the only "personal" computer ever made. Every few years, these people get haircuts.
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Macz drool PCz rool, am i rite?
Macintosh more like CRAPintosh. rofl rofl
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And you think Jobs is being unrealistic? Wow.
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Such an impressive display of your lack of knowledge regarding hardware!
And while the PC market became marketeers for Microsoft and Intel products, Apple became the TRUE IBM clone using architecture licensed form IBM ranging from SCSI to what became the PowerPC chip based on IBM's Power series.
Not only that, but IBM variously manufactured many models of the Mac for Apple, and during the mid and late 90's, the Mac Quadras were basically rebranded RS6000 43Ps - the only basic difference being that Apple utilized an onboard PROM for the OS! In fact, the Apple servers from ~1997 on included, NOT the MacOS, but AIX4.x!!! IBM's UNIX!
Yup, as IBM's largest commercial client, Apple sold more IBM owned and developed technology than Microsoft or Intel PC ever did! The irony is that so many still refer to the PC as an IBM PC!
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So now we know what the 14 year old Mongoloids think...
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bla bla bla bla bla blah
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anyone else getting tired of hearing about media players? it's sorta like when we heard about v92 modems comming out years ago. By then no one really cared.
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I normally stick up for Microsoft, as their business decisions are normally more than successful. However--either there is something huge that I am missing, or this just seems kinda stupid of them. I mean, why wait this long? At this stage, it's just another uphill battle for Microsoft, and right now they have too many of those. Earlier in the success of iTunes I think MS could have had a chance, but they waited way too late.
I think Jobs is right, Zune will likely affect Apple Ipod sales, but so did Dell, Creative, Samsung, etc. The problem is it will not be too significant of a problem for Apple to worry about.
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"I think Jobs is right, Zune will likely affect Apple Ipod sales, but so did Dell, Creative, Samsung, etc. The problem is it will not be too significant of a problem for Apple to worry about."
Not too significant???
As I recall in the 1980's Apple dominated the computer market. Now almost 30 years later Apple now holds barley 4% of the market they dominated in the 80's. A responsible CEO should never ignore the competition even if it seems to be a minimal threat. That's what happen to Apple the first time when M$ rolled over them. Let see 10 years down the line if the zune or any other small unknown company is not too significant.
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You have a good point--what I think is Microsoft will not be able to catch up with Apple here though (likely he thinks that as well). By all means, if Apple sits idley without improving the Ipod design/etc., someone will take advantage of that. Apple is not ignoring Microsoft this time, I think, but at this stage they don't believe there is anything to worry about.
Now, if/when MS takes/approaches 10% or more of that market--Jobs would be a fool to ignore Zune. I have a feeling Jobs has half a brain and will not repeat history, though. If you think Jobs wants to risk having that happen to Apple again, perhaps Jobs is an idiot, but I don't think so :)
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I'm sure he would not want history to repeat it self.
But at the same time never underestimate the human animal’s power of stupidity:-)LOL
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"We just try to make the best products we can. And if they are cool, well, that's great."
baahahaha
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The Zune is equal to the iPod in every way. I just wish that I could use WMP11, and download songs from any store in WMP11. I don't like the CLOSED, poor consumer option.
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I think the Zune has features like radio that at least my Nano doesn't have. Apple is an advocate of the "Cult of Simplicity" that makes a feature out of not having features, so they would consider not having radio an actual advantage to the product.
That said, both the Ipod and Zune are/will be overpriced, since an ILO player is $78 in Wal-Mart and has radio, voice recorder and an SD slot to expand from 1G to whatever you want. No video, though. This is a problem if you like watching video on a tiny screen while walking. Too many forehead contusions for me. :-)
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"The Zune is equal to the iPod in every way."
You know this without using a Zune? Amazing. So, can you use your time machine to tell me which lotto numbers to pick this week?
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Agreed, and that is a nice device
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I think I am gonna puke.
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hahaaa!!
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I dare you - right now - puke!
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Nah, I don't wanna mess up my keyboard.
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wow you guys really put alot of thought into somthing as simple as listening to your music. its nice to hear.. it definately proves that the market for all the good bands and artists out there is stable.
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well i hope that Ipod hang on and kick arse, jesus isn't microsoft into enough already, they are so greedy, if the world does ever crumble and gets tacken over by corporations, it's obvious who it will be,
i just can't believe that there not happy with what they got already, i guess this is why goverments all around the world have to keep watching them closely,
long live apple, they don't have much, i can't help wondering if MS is just doing this because it's apple, lets face it, MS have the money to throw away on any project they please, even for laughs, and anything to do with attacking Apple legally is always money well spent,
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