MS Zune / Alpine Headunits

[OldOneEye 10+ year member]

I'm not saying MS does a better job or was the innovator. I'm saying they are a big enough player that it wouldn't make sense to exclude them (or anyone else) if you are a car audio company (or a car company for that matter).

Juan

 

[jjski78 10+ year member]

I'm not saying MS does a better job or was the innovator. I'm saying they are a big enough player that it wouldn't make sense to exclude them (or anyone else) if you are a car audio company (or a car company for that matter).
Juan

And this is where we disagree. It makes total sense for the automakers and the audio aftermarket to ignore the zune. The iPod accounts for over 90% of all mp3 players sold and in use. I don't see that changing any time soon, especially with all the DRM crap microsnooze has loaded the zune down with. The iPod is the most user friendly, has a gigantic online store dedicated to media to be run on it, has the largest aftermarket support out of any portable device, I could go on.

So basically, considering that microsnooze is, actually, a very small player in the portable media market...it makes perfect sense to not even bother with them. Do you see any cars or aftermarket HUs with Creative mp3 player controls like they do for the iPod? I'm pretty sure Creative already has a much larger installed base than microsnooze, but yet, no real aftermarket support. So it's pretty easy to speculate that the Zune will be a quickly forgotten flop by the almighty microsnooze.

Maybe Bill Gates will learn from this. It's just not cool to rip off other people's ideas. First they did it with whinedoze, which is and always will be nothing more than a cheap copy of Mac OS. Extremely cheap at that, since whinedoze has never been able to even come close to the stability and security of Mac OS. So, he stole his OS, he stole his mp3 player design, seriously?? And people still buy crap from him. About the only thing I can say his company has built entirely on their own (as far as I know) is the XBox. Maybe they should throw in the towel in the world of home computing and portable media and become strictly a video game company. Of course, then they will just revert to their old ways and steal designs from Sony and Nintendo when they run out of ideas.

 

[OldOneEye 10+ year member]

And this is where we disagree. It makes total sense for the automakers and the audio aftermarket to ignore the zune. The iPod accounts for over 90% of all mp3 players sold and in use. I don't see that changing any time soon, especially with all the DRM crap microsnooze has loaded the zune down with. The iPod is the most user friendly, has a gigantic online store dedicated to media to be run on it, has the largest aftermarket support out of any portable device, I could go on.

Lets see, who Window Media Player is written by who? And the Plays For Sure standard? Don't you think if they made the Zune a little less DRM driven (make it work like a regular USB drive) that they could push their way in? As much as you don't like Microsoft, most people don't bet against them when they start throwing money at something (very few losses, with a replacement for Quickbooks being one of the few that they have had little luck).

So basically, considering that microsnooze is, actually, a very small player in the portable media market...it makes perfect sense to not even bother with them. Do you see any cars or aftermarket HUs with Creative mp3 player controls like they do for the iPod? I'm pretty sure Creative already has a much larger installed base than microsnooze, but yet, no real aftermarket support. So it's pretty easy to speculate that the Zune will be a quickly forgotten flop by the almighty microsnooze.

What kind of market cap does Creative have? Microsoft was willing to lose how much on each Xbox and Xbox 360 to buy marketshare. What if they made the Zune $150? If they sold it at a loss (Apple reportedly has a gross margin of 50 points on some of the Ipods), how would they compete. They don't have to make better product, they could easily just lower the profit on each player enough to make Apple respond.

Maybe Bill Gates will learn from this. It's just not cool to rip off other people's ideas. First they did it with whinedoze, which is and always will be nothing more than a cheap copy of Mac OS. Extremely cheap at that, since whinedoze has never been able to even come close to the stability and security of Mac OS. So, he stole his OS, he stole his mp3 player design, seriously?? And people still buy crap from him. About the only thing I can say his company has built entirely on their own (as far as I know) is the XBox. Maybe they should throw in the towel in the world of home computing and portable media and become strictly a video game company. Of course, then they will just revert to their old ways and steal designs from Sony and Nintendo when they run out of ideas.

What is he ripping off? Its an off the shelf design someone else is making for them they tweaked a little.

While the fact you don't like it (hell, I bought an Ipod as well after the Zune came out for similar reasons you describing), doesn't mean it won't sell and doesn't mean that big players will avoid it because Microsoft is a dominant player. Tons of the accesory guys have already signed up (monster cable, belkin, griffen) to make stuff for the Zune (some just black/grey versions of the Ipod stuff they already had).

I wouldn't buy a Zune, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to capture some market share.

Juan

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

And this is where we disagree. It makes total sense for the automakers and the audio aftermarket to ignore the zune. The iPod accounts for over 90% of all mp3 players sold and in use. I don't see that changing any time soon, especially with all the DRM crap microsnooze has loaded the zune down with. The iPod is the most user friendly, has a gigantic online store dedicated to media to be run on it, has the largest aftermarket support out of any portable device, I could go on.
So basically, considering that microsnooze is, actually, a very small player in the portable media market...it makes perfect sense to not even bother with them. Do you see any cars or aftermarket HUs with Creative mp3 player controls like they do for the iPod? I'm pretty sure Creative already has a much larger installed base than microsnooze, but yet, no real aftermarket support. So it's pretty easy to speculate that the Zune will be a quickly forgotten flop by the almighty microsnooze.

Maybe Bill Gates will learn from this. It's just not cool to rip off other people's ideas. First they did it with whinedoze, which is and always will be nothing more than a cheap copy of Mac OS. Extremely cheap at that, since whinedoze has never been able to even come close to the stability and security of Mac OS. So, he stole his OS, he stole his mp3 player design, seriously?? And people still buy crap from him. About the only thing I can say his company has built entirely on their own (as far as I know) is the XBox. Maybe they should throw in the towel in the world of home computing and portable media and become strictly a video game company. Of course, then they will just revert to their old ways and steal designs from Sony and Nintendo when they run out of ideas.

Uhhh.....why don't you and Apple go get a room.?? Sheesh, I've seen alot of fanboys in my time but you definitely take the cake. Not only do you love Apple you are an incontrovertible Microsoft hater. Don't get me wrong I don't care for either mfg. I wish there was a better alternative to both of them. But I realize going with Microsoft Windows gives me the best selection of aftermarket software for my computer. But when it comes to gaming I'm Sony all the way. We've all heard the Bill Gates story and how he ripped off Apple and don't need to hear it again. So give it a rest.

 

[jjski78 10+ year member]

Uhhh.....why don't you and Apple go get a room.?? Sheesh, I've seen alot of fanboys in my time but you definitely take the cake. Not only do you love Apple you are an incontrovertible Microsoft hater. Don't get me wrong I don't care for either mfg. I wish there was a better alternative to both of them. But I realize going with Microsoft Windows gives me the best selection of aftermarket software for my computer. But when it comes to gaming I'm Sony all the way. We've all heard the Bill Gates story and how he ripped off Apple and don't need to hear it again. So give it a rest.

I'm sorry, was someone talking to you??

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

I'm sorry, was someone talking to you??

Thats the whole beauty of the public internet forums. You don't necessarily have to be spoken to. I just decided to comment is all. Why??

 

[jjski78 10+ year member]

Lets see, who Window Media Player is written by who? And the Plays For Sure standard? Don't you think if they made the Zune a little less DRM driven (make it work like a regular USB drive) that they could push their way in? As much as you don't like Microsoft, most people don't bet against them when they start throwing money at something (very few losses, with a replacement for Quickbooks being one of the few that they have had little luck).


What kind of market cap does Creative have? Microsoft was willing to lose how much on each Xbox and Xbox 360 to buy marketshare. What if they made the Zune $150? If they sold it at a loss (Apple reportedly has a gross margin of 50 points on some of the Ipods), how would they compete. They don't have to make better product, they could easily just lower the profit on each player enough to make Apple respond.

What is he ripping off? Its an off the shelf design someone else is making for them they tweaked a little.

While the fact you don't like it (hell, I bought an Ipod as well after the Zune came out for similar reasons you describing), doesn't mean it won't sell and doesn't mean that big players will avoid it because Microsoft is a dominant player. Tons of the accesory guys have already signed up (monster cable, belkin, griffen) to make stuff for the Zune (some just black/grey versions of the Ipod stuff they already had).

I wouldn't buy a Zune, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to capture some market share.

Juan

Creative has basically the 10% market share that Apple doesn't have. Since iRiver went down they have been the only competition for the iPod until now..now we have the Zune, or Zpod as I like to call it. Microsoft is already taking a hit on the Zpod. They were originally supposed to sell for $300, but they realized the iPod doesn't go for that much. They are losing money with every one they sell. And as for not having to make a better product....well, they never have made a better product. Bill Gates has made his billions selling junk. Except the XBox, only thing the guy got right. So I'm sure that's not entirely out of the question. But even if they drop the quality of the Zpod down enough to sell it for $50, once they start breaking people are gonna boycot them. Hell, it's already starting, a lot of complaints about the video not working, the wifi not working, etc....

As for what he's ripping off.....!!!!! Do you not see the resemblance between the Zpod and the real thing?? It's a blatant copy. Bill Gates has made his money selling ripoffs of other people's stuff. I've already been through that.

And of course Monster and Belkin are gonna jump on the wagon..their stuff is universal pretty much, so it's a simple color change to mark it made for Zune. I'm talking about automakers, and car audio manufacturers adopting it. I don't see it happening. Besides, like I said before, I'm sure Apple already has contracts in place with at least the automakers for at least a few years exclusivity, just like with the movie studios. Steve Jobs is trying to give Bill Gates a taste of his own medicine. They may not be able to strangle out windows, but they will defeat the Zune.

 

[jjski78 10+ year member]

Thats the whole beauty of the public internet forums. You don't necessarily have to be spoken to. I just decided to comment is all. Why??

Well, for one, I don't appreciate being called a fanboy. Especially when you refer to me as one for stating facts. Second, what exactly did your post add to the discussion?

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

Well, for one, I don't appreciate being called a fanboy. Especially when you refer to me as one for stating facts.

Well, I apologize for that then. But you were really on a tirade and needed to cool off a little bit. But just because you have a problem with Gates and Microsoft doesn't mean what you say is referred to as facts. Therefore you were no more than stating your opinion of Microsoft and their new MP3 player.

Second, what exactly did your post add to the discussion?

Nothing less than YOUR opinion.

Anyway, don't take it so personal. I didn't mean it as a personal stab at you. Sort of a joking manner is what I was shooting for.

 

[jjski78 10+ year member]

Well, I apologize for that then. But you were really on a tirade and needed to cool off a little bit. But just because you have a problem with Gates and Microsoft doesn't mean what you say is referred to as facts. Therefore you were no more than stating your opinion of Microsoft and their new MP3 player.


Nothing less than YOUR opinion.

Anyway, don't take it so personal. I didn't mean it as a personal stab at you. Sort of a joking manner is what I was shooting for.

No harm, no foul. It's cool. But Gates still sucks big donkey balls.

 

[adam71 5,000+ posts]

No harm, no foul. It's cool. But Gates still sucks big donkey balls.

Agreed. Almost as much as Rupert Murdoch.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[onilink67]

Wow first of all I have to say this is the most flamming I have ever seen in a single thread. Would anyone like to put down Alpine at the same time since this is the only one left with a good name.

1. A large number of high level computer people will not touch an apple product. I myself find them too simple I actually like a little bit of complexity in my products it opens a lot of doors to alterations for custom uses.

2. This whole macintosh fan boy crap. I'm fine with mac if your into graphics or your just too retard to use windows. Also for the record macintosh stole the GUI design from Xerox back in the 80s so stop all this crap Bill Gates only stole what was already stolen.

3. iPOD being 90% of the product on the market right now great i see that and it is a good point. Lets also point out the Windows is 97% of the computer market 2% linux and 1% mac os. So before we start using this as a way of saying it has to be better you just defeated your whole argument in one sentence.

4. The zune hard drive crack is a registery tweak in windows. Because you need to do this on each computer you hook it up to its quite obvious that this well never work on the alpine adapter. Just the same way as you cannot hook up the iPOD to the USB adapter. I also tried this on my samsung TV using the USB port and wiselink software because of the firmware in the zune it blocks it out.

5. Go back to last year with the bill gates crap he is no longer in charge of microsoft so stop putting down his name. I myself say he has a lot of inferior products on the market but anyone that holds this much percentage of the market is bound to get all this crap about how hes in idiot. Unlike Steve Jobs at least he has a decent computer backround, while Steve Jobs is a great market man he does not have the technical expertise of his original parter Steve Wozniak.

P.S. - don't bother flamming me back because this tread has just left a bad taste in my mouth about this forum and I will not be coming back. Moderators have some serious flamming bans to do.

 

[Macklessdaddy 10+ year member]

Wow first of all I have to say this is the most flamming I have ever seen in a single thread. Would anyone like to put down Alpine at the same time since this is the only one left with a good name.
1. A large number of high level computer people will not touch an apple product. I myself find them too simple I actually like a little bit of complexity in my products it opens a lot of doors to alterations for custom uses.

2. This whole macintosh fan boy crap. I'm fine with mac if your into graphics or your just too retard to use windows. Also for the record macintosh stole the GUI design from Xerox back in the 80s so stop all this crap Bill Gates only stole what was already stolen.

3. iPOD being 90% of the product on the market right now great i see that and it is a good point. Lets also point out the Windows is 97% of the computer market 2% linux and 1% mac os. So before we start using this as a way of saying it has to be better you just defeated your whole argument in one sentence.

4. The zune hard drive crack is a registery tweak in windows. Because you need to do this on each computer you hook it up to its quite obvious that this well never work on the alpine adapter. Just the same way as you cannot hook up the iPOD to the USB adapter. I also tried this on my samsung TV using the USB port and wiselink software because of the firmware in the zune it blocks it out.

5. Go back to last year with the bill gates crap he is no longer in charge of microsoft so stop putting down his name. I myself say he has a lot of inferior products on the market but anyone that holds this much percentage of the market is bound to get all this crap about how hes in idiot. Unlike Steve Jobs at least he has a decent computer backround, while Steve Jobs is a great market man he does not have the technical expertise of his original parter Steve Wozniak.

P.S. - don't bother flamming me back because this tread has just left a bad taste in my mouth about this forum and I will not be coming back. Moderators have some serious flamming bans to do.

**** ,you guys pissed him off

 

[Calikid 5,000+ posts]

Wow first of all I have to say this is the most flamming I have ever seen in a single thread. Would anyone like to put down Alpine at the same time since this is the only one left with a good name.
1. A large number of high level computer people will not touch an apple product. I myself find them too simple I actually like a little bit of complexity in my products it opens a lot of doors to alterations for custom uses.

2. This whole macintosh fan boy crap. I'm fine with mac if your into graphics or your just too retard to use windows. Also for the record macintosh stole the GUI design from Xerox back in the 80s so stop all this crap Bill Gates only stole what was already stolen.

3. iPOD being 90% of the product on the market right now great i see that and it is a good point. Lets also point out the Windows is 97% of the computer market 2% linux and 1% mac os. So before we start using this as a way of saying it has to be better you just defeated your whole argument in one sentence.

4. The zune hard drive crack is a registery tweak in windows. Because you need to do this on each computer you hook it up to its quite obvious that this well never work on the alpine adapter. Just the same way as you cannot hook up the iPOD to the USB adapter. I also tried this on my samsung TV using the USB port and wiselink software because of the firmware in the zune it blocks it out.

5. Go back to last year with the bill gates crap he is no longer in charge of microsoft so stop putting down his name. I myself say he has a lot of inferior products on the market but anyone that holds this much percentage of the market is bound to get all this crap about how hes in idiot. Unlike Steve Jobs at least he has a decent computer backround, while Steve Jobs is a great market man he does not have the technical expertise of his original parter Steve Wozniak.

P.S. - don't bother flamming me back because this tread has just left a bad taste in my mouth about this forum and I will not be coming back. Moderators have some serious flamming bans to do.

wow thats a good 1st post.//content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[tEh koRnDog 5,000+ posts]

Wow first of all I have to say this is the most flamming I have ever seen in a single thread. Would anyone like to put down Alpine at the same time since this is the only one left with a good name.
1. A large number of high level computer people will not touch an apple product. I myself find them too simple I actually like a little bit of complexity in my products it opens a lot of doors to alterations for custom uses.

2. This whole macintosh fan boy crap. I'm fine with mac if your into graphics or your just too retard to use windows. Also for the record macintosh stole the GUI design from Xerox back in the 80s so stop all this crap Bill Gates only stole what was already stolen.

3. iPOD being 90% of the product on the market right now great i see that and it is a good point. Lets also point out the Windows is 97% of the computer market 2% linux and 1% mac os. So before we start using this as a way of saying it has to be better you just defeated your whole argument in one sentence.

4. The zune hard drive crack is a registery tweak in windows. Because you need to do this on each computer you hook it up to its quite obvious that this well never work on the alpine adapter. Just the same way as you cannot hook up the iPOD to the USB adapter. I also tried this on my samsung TV using the USB port and wiselink software because of the firmware in the zune it blocks it out.

5. Go back to last year with the bill gates crap he is no longer in charge of microsoft so stop putting down his name. I myself say he has a lot of inferior products on the market but anyone that holds this much percentage of the market is bound to get all this crap about how hes in idiot. Unlike Steve Jobs at least he has a decent computer backround, while Steve Jobs is a great market man he does not have the technical expertise of his original parter Steve Wozniak.

P.S. - don't bother flamming me back because this tread has just left a bad taste in my mouth about this forum and I will not be coming back. Moderators have some serious flamming bans to do.

you think the flaming is bad in this thread check out the rest of the forum:veryhapp: