PC Pro clicky

As stated previously, the Zune software is being rolled out to other countries, in anticipation of the launch of Windows Phone 7. Like iTunes, the Zune will be the central repository for syncing with the new WP7 devices, so it makes sense that the Zune software will also make an appearance outside the USA.

The Zune Pass is also coming to the UK, a 9UKP a month for unlimited music, from an 11 million song catalogue.

At the same time, Americans are being to ask, whether Microsoft has missed the boat, by not releasing a CDMA 'phone for use on Verizon. While CDMA is only used in America and one or two other countries around the world, compared with the near universal use of GSM, from an international perspective, it isn't surprising that CDMA isn't a priority. Locally though, it is being seen as a missed opportunity, because the iPhone is only available on GSM and only available on AT&T (AT&T and T-Mobile are the only GSM operators in the USA, with Verizon and the smaller Sprint using CDMA), "Microsoft" are limiting their potential market.

However, Microsoft aren't making ANY 'phones, its partners are, so it is up to the partners to make deals with the networks (unlike most of Europe, where 'phones can generally be used on any network, 99.9% of 'phones in the USA are crippled versions, locked to a single network and filled with provider crapware).

The CDMA market in America is however huge, with a majority market share between the two networks.

But CDMA (and GSM) are being replace with either LTE or Wimax, with Verizon talking of rolling out LTE beginning next year, so it makes sense that a lot of hardware manufacturers are holding back on CDMA devices and waiting for the LTE and Wimax networks to make their appearance, as they don't want to have to replace their product lines in a couple of months...

Perhaps a certain forumite could be bought one as a present by her boyfriend to replace the one she had nicked.

Mark

Yes but are people willing to buy a Zune? The market is saturated and Apple dominate.

Yes. Yes they are.

Mark

I know of one owner of a Zune in the uk, and one owner of an MS Paperweight.

Are they the same person? And the same object?

Nope! I wonder if I can haz the Paperweight to sit on my desk at work. Hmmmm...

Not on the subscription services or cross device support

£9 a month for all the music I want for my pc, 360, mp3 player and phone? That is a pretty damn good deal

Not to mention the software is much better than iTunes with very limited exception

I bought 2 Zunes when I was in the US as gifts, gf loved hers until the battery died after a year and a half, my sister dropped hers and the screen smashed, other than that they hadn't gotten very scratched etc and still looked decent

The wireless sync is an epic idea too, would be brilliant if I could get the iPod in my car to do that, save having to remember it every time I want to update it

Is it? I’m not sure that I’d want to lay out £9 per month to keep the music I like to hear. That’s £108 a year on top of the hardware costs. It sounds less like a good deal when you consider that long term costs, and worse if you decide for whatever reason that you can’t afford £9 a month any more - or if MIcrosoft decides that they are going to srop the service. You lose your access to the music.

Plays for Sure? That shows that things can be stopped, and handled badly as well.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_PlaysForSure

Point being made here - Microsoft has not shown the ability to maintain such a service for any long period of time. Plays For Sure went from 2004 to 2007. Apple has been selling music from the iTunes Store since 2003. So far, I have not come across any breakage of the platform - 1st generation iPods can still play music bought in 2010, and the tracks are mine for ever.

There are some things I like about the Zune - the wireless syncing should be on WiFi equipped iPods, iPhones and iPads, and the idea that you can “share” a track for a limited period of time with another iPod user is a nice touch.

That may be £108 a month (in the US it's $15 BUT you get 10 free tracks a month included in that) but compared to a premium subscription to spotify is £15 a month it's a better deal if you get a WP7 or would use it on your games console but not phone

I'm considering a spotify premium account to get music on my phone now that the Zune has given up on living.

However the Zune software is brilliant so i'll keep it. And the Zune itself was alright, a bit chunky, but good battery and good screen quality. And mine worker perfectly for about 3 years, and I reckon it would still if it hadn't been monsooned.

This is the Zune software for Windows and the Zune Pass music service (iTunes & iTunes Store equivalents), which will work with most mp3 players. It should eventually replace Windows Media Player.

You will need the Zune software to sync your wp7 phone.

Still no word on the Zune HD being sold outside of America.

Edit: As Fin says, the Zune Pass gives you 10 Free songs a month to keep (even after you cancel your sub), so that is 10 songs for 99p each & you can listen anything else you want during the month. That is a pretty good deal, if you like music - I'd not bother, I only listen to podcasts and haven't listened to any music on my pc or iPhone for about 4 months.

I am actually thinking of a Spotify basic account, I do not listen to new music enough to justify the expense. The problem with a subscription service is that you have to keep paying to play all the music that you listened to. In the long run you might as well be better off by buying the CD instead, then at least you will have a copy to rip from. The ten tracks that you can keep make it a better deal, but only if you can find ten tracks every month that you want to keep. Then replicate that for two or three years or even longer.