Social Networking & Inter-connectivity Sets Microsoft Zune Apart from Apple’s iPod

Microsoft’s 30GB digital media player with a twist may have just stolen the thunder from Apple’s iPod with its unique social networking feature. Dubbed the “iPod killer” by blogwatchers and industry watchers alike since the time of its announcement, the two features that could indeed establish Zune as the “iPod killer” is its social networking capability and the ability to connect across a network of devices.

Zune’s social networking capability will be based in Zune Marketplace, the equivalent of iTunes. Zune will, in the near future, be able to connect across to the Microsoft PC, Xbox, television, and so on, thus taking a lead over Apple’s inter-connection plans with iTV (announced earlier this week). “We feel that music is inherently social. The ability to share music from device to device allows people to discover new options/new experiences, and that is very important. That is how we are going to change the current digital media space.”, says Chris Stephenson, GM Global Marketing Zune On the social abilities of zune.