Zune to help iPod Users?
At first we thought this was just another rumor, but it’s been going around the net on some credible sites, so it is appearing more and more likely that some form of this is to come true. To help iPod users make the switch (If they decide to) Microsoft is said to be letting users re-download the song they previously downloaded and purchased via iTunes. The songs that get re-downloaded by the users will be in .wmv format.
On the surface this does sound like a pretty good idea, as some iPod users have over hundreds of dollars worth of songs downloaded via iTunes and to lose all that if they made the switch to the Zune would be a big expence. As great as this seems, there does appear to be some holes within this plan. First off, how does Microsoft plan to do this? As they are really are just giving away a song. You can think of it this way, a game on Xbox and PS2, same game, different format/system. Same deal goes for the songs, same song, different format. Would Microsoft give a Xbox game for every PS2 game? Not likely. But who knows, maybe they have worked some sort of deal to allow this capability for their new former iPod users.
There is also the fact that Microsoft has said it does not plan to go after iPod users, they only plan to grab the rest of the market, the remaining 20%. After all, iPod accounts for more than 80% of the portable music market.
It does appear this could go both ways, but be sure, we will keep you updated.
A few things…
First, GREAT site! I’m looking forward to this iPOD killer and I hope that MSFT delivers!
Second, can you make your logo at the top a hyper-link to your main page? I think a should do the trick
Third, if MS does convert the music it will be both WMA (Windows Media Audio) and WMV (Windows Media Video).
Keep up the great work!
Hey don’t give credit where its not due. Apple has only 70% of the digital portable music player market in its ipod line. And actually, they don’t even have 80% in the digital portable music downloads (itunes). They only have 75% there. Shame Shame.
Those two comments above are hilarious.
In response to MicroFan….
What other business can you say 70%,75%, or 80% Marketshare? NONE! Apple has dominated this, and will continue to do so. Just watch the copyright and security issues swarm MS. When was vista do out again?! Oh thats right, it will be after FOUR releases of the MacOS? Go Microsoft. Yeah, watch those Mac’s run Windows better then a PC. It’s plain and simple folks, MS is great with office and any kind of games, that is where credit is due. Other then that MS deserves no credit, as they lack the ability to effectively put out a good product, that is beneficial to the consumer.