4 Problems with Microsoft’s Zune

Microsoft’s Zune digital audio player has finally been released, and it’s…well, it’s a Zune.

If the Zune wants to compete against the iPod in the digital audio player marketplace (and you know that it does), it’s going to have to get over a few hurdles. Here are some big problems that Microsoft needs to fix-fast.

It’s Imitative, Not Innovative
The first thing you’ll notice about the Zune is how much it looks like an iPod, and how much its interface is like an iPod, and how its features are similar; Microsoft clearly designed this in order to compete with Apple, but why not set yourself apart from the competition? Microsoft has basically taken the iPod and added a horde of basic, minor tweaks (most of which are useless-I’ll get to that later), and it’s not something that’s going to grab the attention of the average person. Why get an iPod imitator when you can have an iPod? Playing around with the Zune feels like dating a hot girl’s cousin-nice, but not the same.

No Compatibility With Anything but Zune Marketplace
It would be nice if we didn’t have another proprietary mp3 player on the market, but Microsoft’s Zune disappoints in this department. In order to use your Zune, you’ll have to plug into the creatively named Zune marketplace, which gives you the option of a subscription service and offers what is essentially an iTunes-y experience. You can’t use Napster or Rhapsody or any other service to interact with the Zune, which is a massive disappointment. It’s going to be much harder for Microsoft to convince the public to buy a Zune with proprietary software than if the player interacted with other music services.

A Whole Lot of Nothin’ On Extra Features
Okay, Microsoft, there are some big problems here. If you’re trying to take on the iPod, you’re going to need a whole lot more than a theoretical wireless swap between two Zune users of a song that’s only going to last 3 days; we’ve got to have something innovative.

The Zune simply copies Apple’s lead. The interface on the hardware lacks a touch screen, and while it’s intuitive, it’s basically copying the iPod with a bit less style (scrolling around is fun to do-holding down a button doesn’t quite compare for me). The Zune Marketplace is a copy of iTunes, only with an annoying “points” system that’s a pretty sneaky way to make people think they’re paying less money than they actually are.

Okay, I’ll admit that there are some cool features; the ability to flag a track, for instance, to remember songs you heard on shuffle or to remind yourself to buy the full album of a killer single, is pretty nifty. I also like that the Zune’s wireless abilities may be further exploited through software updates that could, for instance, allow the Zune to interact with the Zune Marketplace without any need for a USB cable. But hey, that’s not here yet, and there’s not anything that really stands out that the Zune does better than the iPod. Combine this with the lack of podcasting (c’mon, Microsoft, you can call it blogcasting if you need to, but give us the ability.) and the interface which is functional but not as intuitive as the iPod, and you’ve got a less intriguing product.

Not Currently Compatible With Vista
This is just nitpicking, I’ll admit. However, it’s a good measure of how seriously Microsoft’s taking their Zune when it’s not even compatible with their new version of Windows. When Vista is released commercially, I’m sure the Zune’ll be completely ready for it-but not without a software update. That’s lazy, lazy, lazy, and that’s the overall feeling I get from the Zune.

I want the iPod to have a major competitor in the digital audio player industry, and there are a few products that surpass Apple’s high standard; for instance, the Sansa players from Sandisk have some cool features. The Zune doesn’t fit into that category, though, and until either a major software update or a new version of the device, Microsoft’s not going to stand a chance-the iPod’s quite simply got it beaten.