Zune Diehards(motherboard.vice.com)
motherboard.vice.com
Zune Diehards
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/8qw5ax/zune-forever-the-diehards-still-obsessed-with-microsofts-colossal-failure
71 comments
> I understand ad hominems are generally not cool, but seeing as the author's contributions to this article are, in typical Vice fashion, devoid of anything other than breathless, sneering, self-important cultural 'commentary', I find it harder to take the high road.
The authors contribution to the article is just that... the article. The author sought these people out and got them to share their thoughts on the Zune.
Also, what you call breathless, sneering self-importance (at least in this instance) I call a sense of humour.
The authors contribution to the article is just that... the article. The author sought these people out and got them to share their thoughts on the Zune.
Also, what you call breathless, sneering self-importance (at least in this instance) I call a sense of humour.
The line itself links to another article regarding sustainability and tech/device waste, a quote: "All the manufacturers talk about sustainability but when it comes down to it, their security and their brand is way more important than how the material is recycled"
The writer could be calling them out just the same. Because a lot of people use Apple and the mainstream 'tribe' subscribes to the mass brand appeal, the writer seems conscious enough of the way they operate the business.
The writer could be calling them out just the same. Because a lot of people use Apple and the mainstream 'tribe' subscribes to the mass brand appeal, the writer seems conscious enough of the way they operate the business.
Man. I had a Zune mini [0] and loved that thing. I also had their music service which gave me unlimited music for $10 / mo and 10 permanent songs per month that I could keep even if I canceled my subscription. That's a pretty darn good deal.
I never understood why the Zune never succeeded. It was a great little player.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Zune-Digital-Media-Player-Black/dp/B0...
I never understood why the Zune never succeeded. It was a great little player.
[0] https://www.amazon.com/Zune-Digital-Media-Player-Black/dp/B0...
>I never understood why the Zune never succeeded. It was a great little player.
I think it was primarily due to three things: (1) it didn't get released until 5 years after the iPod; (2) while many people loathe iTunes it was widely used and liked by everyday people, and it was introduced 8.5 months before the iPod released; (3) Microsoft wasn't viewed as a "cool" consumer brand.
I think it was primarily due to three things: (1) it didn't get released until 5 years after the iPod; (2) while many people loathe iTunes it was widely used and liked by everyday people, and it was introduced 8.5 months before the iPod released; (3) Microsoft wasn't viewed as a "cool" consumer brand.
Even when they were still new and roughly equivalent (arguably better in some ways, worse in others), the narrative seemed to be that Zunes were just wannabe iPods. They were the punchline to several late night TV jokes. Basically, the market (or at least the marketers) decided that they were the uncool poseur in the room so whatever potential they had was undermined by public perception if nothing else.
I also had one after only using cheaper Sansa Clip type mp3 players prior to that. I believe it was on sale and was a more affordable alternative to an iPod when I wanted to try something that could hold a lot of music, do podcasts, had an FM radio, and essentially avoid iTunes (which I'd tried and disliked).
Sadly, it was stolen after a few months and I gave up on the idea. I still have an old Sansa Clip in a drawer somewhere for occasional use. Otherwise, even back in the Zune days I often just streamed Shoutcast stations on my old Treos and PPCs before moving on to more modern smartphones which are more likely to be used now. I load up a USB stick to keep connected in the car for specific things I want to listen to. Otherwise it's just Youtube Music or (still) streaming Shoutcast stations.
I also had one after only using cheaper Sansa Clip type mp3 players prior to that. I believe it was on sale and was a more affordable alternative to an iPod when I wanted to try something that could hold a lot of music, do podcasts, had an FM radio, and essentially avoid iTunes (which I'd tried and disliked).
Sadly, it was stolen after a few months and I gave up on the idea. I still have an old Sansa Clip in a drawer somewhere for occasional use. Otherwise, even back in the Zune days I often just streamed Shoutcast stations on my old Treos and PPCs before moving on to more modern smartphones which are more likely to be used now. I load up a USB stick to keep connected in the car for specific things I want to listen to. Otherwise it's just Youtube Music or (still) streaming Shoutcast stations.
Another big issue is that it was only available in USA and Canada, I had to get mine on ebay, shipping from US
Similar to most of Microsoft hardware and service products it was 'Murica first.
The subscription service lived until this year, it was officially discontinued two weeks ago
Most of the people quoted seem to be using a Zune because it is just an mp3 player and don't seem to be aware of the fact that there are tons of other mp3 players out there ranging from audiophile level to cheap ipod clones. I think this says a lot about apple's total dominance of the market (that they have now abandoned). The fact that they at least knew that there was a second option indicates that the Zune wasn't a total failure.
I had a brown zune and it was great at the time.
I had a brown zune and it was great at the time.
I still have and use my Zune HD and I love it: the UI is fast and fluid, battery is decent (after 7 years!), sound quality is good, it's a pleasure to use.
Also, I can just place it in the dock and use it at home (or even for watching videos, up to 720p)
Also, I can just place it in the dock and use it at home (or even for watching videos, up to 720p)
Same. I've used my HD nearly every day since I bought it many years ago, and it still works great. Only issue is that the biggest model of HD is only enough storage for about half my music...been considering putting a SSD and a new battery into the shell of my dead Zune 120.
I really need to pick up a Zune HD, that UI is fantastic.
I remember going to a frys launch day and they had to look around for it. Sad that they treated it like a cheap knockoff iPod. The screen was fantastic for the time.
I remember going to Walmart and they had a label on the section for Zunes "Zune iPod".
I LOVED my Cowon D2 it was the best sounding player I ever listened to and it supported ogg and flac. I jumped on EBay to look and they actually cost about twice as much on EBay than when I bought mine new 9 years ago.
My LG V20 blows it away in audio quality and power plus I can do pro-level recording. I have a $250 portable recorder and my phone has replaced it.
My LG V20 blows it away in audio quality and power plus I can do pro-level recording. I have a $250 portable recorder and my phone has replaced it.
I never had a Zune and if I need something for "just music" (like in the car with the broken radio) I now take my old Android phone with the semi-working display.
If all my(2-4?) 6-10 year old cheap mp3 players had a decent UI like the Zune and didn't break... I don't see a reason why I wouldn't still use them.
If all my(2-4?) 6-10 year old cheap mp3 players had a decent UI like the Zune and didn't break... I don't see a reason why I wouldn't still use them.
I can relate to an extent. I use a USB stick music player. It's essentially like a usb drive with a headphone jack. I've had it years. I never use my smartphone for music, I don't see the need. When it breaks, I'll get another one.
Which one are you using? I'm currently on a dying first gen ipod shuffle.
I tried getting a cheap "mp3 stick" of aliexpress but it came without memory. I'd rather not waste electronics a second time.
I tried getting a cheap "mp3 stick" of aliexpress but it came without memory. I'd rather not waste electronics a second time.
It's some sort of Sony Walkman. Dunno which model as all of the printing on the device has worn away with use!
I have been looking for those. They seem to be out of production:(
I am regularly on the lookout for one which plays opus/flac plus the usual other formats and has much more than 4G storage, but I fear this type of gadget will die out before long.
Or hopefully the Arduino and Raspberry type of hardware gets small enough that I can build my own (with which I will probably never be allowed on an airplane).
Or hopefully the Arduino and Raspberry type of hardware gets small enough that I can build my own (with which I will probably never be allowed on an airplane).
>I never use my smartphone for music, I don't see the need
Shouldn't it be the inverse? Why the need for another device, if you're already carrying the smartphone?
Shouldn't it be the inverse? Why the need for another device, if you're already carrying the smartphone?
Battery life for one. I would happily take a cheaper smaller music player many places I wouldn't take my phone, as its more important that I don't loose or damage the phone. Plus I found the default Andorid music player a mess to use. No idea where teh files are stored on the device. I wanted to move music from main memory to the SD card i added later. Way more effort than it was worth.
My Sansa Clip years ago was a far better device for music and survived the washing machine a couple of times.
My Sansa Clip years ago was a far better device for music and survived the washing machine a couple of times.
Question of perspective. Why the need to use the smartphone (and look into and accept the compromises coming with that) when you already own a device made perfectly for the task of playing music? seems like an equally good question to me. (I don't own a dedicated MP3 player anymore, but have several times considered getting one again because of the downsides of using the phone)
I don't really understand what the downsides are, given the choices are "phone" or "phone + music player". Is "music player only" actually a feasible option for anyony (besides the case of runners, where you are temporarily without your phone)?
Like how is "the music player battery lasts for 5 days, and phone battery lasts 1.5 days" a pro-music-player argument: it means the options are "charge every day" and "charge every day, and additionally a second thing every 5 days", right?
Like how is "the music player battery lasts for 5 days, and phone battery lasts 1.5 days" a pro-music-player argument: it means the options are "charge every day" and "charge every day, and additionally a second thing every 5 days", right?
Phone is heavier and bulkier, so I prefer to leave it at my desk when I'm not moving between places, and I might not always want to carry it if I'm just quickly going somewhere. In comparison a small MP3 player will clip somewhere (which also would make cabling more comfortable when I'm carrying the phone).
My phones never last 1.5 days of use if they have to play music all the time as well, at least not once the battery is a year old. With my current one, having to balance usage to make sure it'll be available when I need it is getting annoying and includes "no music now".
At least in the past storage in phones was needlessly expensive and scarce, this has gotten better, and you can still get enough phones with microSD slots, despite the best attempts of some manufacturers to get rid of them.
Bluetooth also has gotten more reliable, that helps, but at least among the devices I've tried that's really a recent development, and still not perfect.
I totally get that other people will evaluate this differently (and/or buy better phones than me), but I don't see it as an obvious answer.
My phones never last 1.5 days of use if they have to play music all the time as well, at least not once the battery is a year old. With my current one, having to balance usage to make sure it'll be available when I need it is getting annoying and includes "no music now".
At least in the past storage in phones was needlessly expensive and scarce, this has gotten better, and you can still get enough phones with microSD slots, despite the best attempts of some manufacturers to get rid of them.
Bluetooth also has gotten more reliable, that helps, but at least among the devices I've tried that's really a recent development, and still not perfect.
I totally get that other people will evaluate this differently (and/or buy better phones than me), but I don't see it as an obvious answer.
>Phone is heavier and bulkier
A modern phone compared to a Zune?
A modern phone compared to a Zune?
The parent of this subthread, whose "I don't see the need to use a phone for music" you questioned wasn't talking about a Zune.
> I use a USB stick music player. It's essentially like a usb drive with a headphone jack.
This specific point clearly doesn't apply to a Zune, so we can assume remaining Zune users have other individual reasons why they like what they have.
> I use a USB stick music player. It's essentially like a usb drive with a headphone jack.
This specific point clearly doesn't apply to a Zune, so we can assume remaining Zune users have other individual reasons why they like what they have.
Tactile buttons. A touchscreen is impossible to operate without looking at it. I assume most of us MP3-stick users have listening habits which requires us to change the track or volume every few minutes, if not more often.
>Question of perspective. Why the need to use the smartphone (and look into and accept the compromises coming with that) when you already own a device made perfectly for the task of playing music?
It's not such a question for the parent though, as they said that: "I never use my smartphone for music, I don't see the need" -- which implies they ALSO have/carry a smartphone.
It's not such a question for the parent though, as they said that: "I never use my smartphone for music, I don't see the need" -- which implies they ALSO have/carry a smartphone.
Apparently my sentence wasn't worded clearly enough (sorry!), read it as:
> Why the need to use the smartphone FOR MUSIC (and look into and accept the compromises coming with that) when you already own a device made perfectly for the task of playing music?
> Why the need to use the smartphone FOR MUSIC (and look into and accept the compromises coming with that) when you already own a device made perfectly for the task of playing music?
> I never use my smartphone for music, I don't see the need.
But if you want a music player, why carry and charge a second device if you already have a phone?
But if you want a music player, why carry and charge a second device if you already have a phone?
Because it's heavy, large, battery life sucks, breaks when dropped, might not even have a 3.5 mm jack and most of all requires me to look at its display to do anything.
I have one of those Sansa Clip players running Rockbox that I use for sport and bike commute. It costs nothing, it is virtually indestructible, has more space for music than anyone ever needs and I can operate it without ever taking it out of the pocket its in. Simple physical button presses to start, shutdown, resume last playback position, adjust volume and move forward and backwards between songs and folders.
I have one of those Sansa Clip players running Rockbox that I use for sport and bike commute. It costs nothing, it is virtually indestructible, has more space for music than anyone ever needs and I can operate it without ever taking it out of the pocket its in. Simple physical button presses to start, shutdown, resume last playback position, adjust volume and move forward and backwards between songs and folders.
> I can operate it without ever taking it out of the pocket its in.
Yes! That's something so innate to my usage that I forgot to mention it.
Yes! That's something so innate to my usage that I forgot to mention it.
> requires me to look at its display to do anything
Don't phones tend to have an inline control on the headphones that you can operate by feel? Certainly mine does.
Don't phones tend to have an inline control on the headphones that you can operate by feel? Certainly mine does.
I love the Sansa Clips. Does Rockbox still produce noise when not playing music in the headphones?
Not for me unless I put the volume all the way up. The Sansa Clips are a great device, they just don't seem to make them anymore :(
Agreed, they were a good price and I managed to stick mine through the washing machine a couple of times and still use it.
Charging isn't an issue, it lasts days and days. I don't actually remember the last time it ever ran out. Not mention I use it as a handy sub storage for other files. It's ultra light, and as someone who does a bit of running I'd feel ridiculous having one of those arm patches to hold a £xxx phone.
Weight is a good reason - though I now play music on my fitness tracker/smartwatch (Gear Fit 2).
I really liked my Zune. I came from an iPod in the same generation. I wasn't a fan of the Zune desktop software but the device software was a lot nicer and the build was sturdier than my iPod. I used it for years until I got my first smartphone.
I'm on my second Zune, and when it finally dies, I'll probably buy another one, assuming I can get a cheap refurbished one online and the software still runs on the latest version of Windows. The build quality is good, the software is very clean and minimalist compared to iTunes, and it just works. In this case, the lack of constant software updates is a feature.
The testimonies seem to be of people who have no reason to throw away a perfectly good music player, rather than "obsessed diehards".
They sound pretty die-hard to me. And the majority say they'll buy another one so they aren't just keeping using it because it still works.
> I loathe iTunes with the passion of every sun in the known universe
> If my Zune breaks, definitely look for another Zune first.
> I found out that they stopped making [the Zune], so I had to go to eBay
> I vastly prefer the Zune device user interface
> I'll probably see if I can get a replacement Zune online
> I loathe iTunes with the passion of every sun in the known universe
> If my Zune breaks, definitely look for another Zune first.
> I found out that they stopped making [the Zune], so I had to go to eBay
> I vastly prefer the Zune device user interface
> I'll probably see if I can get a replacement Zune online
> I loathe iTunes with the passion of every sun in the known universe
They seem spot on
They seem spot on
I mean, besides those that might not know anything different, is there anybody that likes iTunes?
Apple, apparently.
Even Apple lately seems to be apologizing for bundling so many things into iTunes.
At a Microsoft event this year Apple said they plan to have a more streamlined iTunes in the Windows Store late this year/early next year (to target Windows 10 S users especially), and surely that is a fascinating sign of the times if ever there was one.
At a Microsoft event this year Apple said they plan to have a more streamlined iTunes in the Windows Store late this year/early next year (to target Windows 10 S users especially), and surely that is a fascinating sign of the times if ever there was one.
Do they? I have a feeling that Apple knows that much of their software is sub-par. If it wasn't for their hardware....
It must be nice to live in a world so isolated that smartphones just completely passed you by.
Imagine being the diehard Zune fan who felt his best option for a replacement was going all in with Windows Phone.
Imagine being the diehard Zune fan who felt his best option for a replacement was going all in with Windows Phone.
The article states some of the reasons one might have for still owning a zune:
> The thing is, with your phone, if you download an app like Spotify, they're asking for access to data on your phone, it's connected to the internet, and they track your location, which they sell to third-party vendors. But the Zune isn't connected to the internet at all, and what I like about the Zune is the privacy element.
> The thing is, with your phone, if you download an app like Spotify, they're asking for access to data on your phone, it's connected to the internet, and they track your location, which they sell to third-party vendors. But the Zune isn't connected to the internet at all, and what I like about the Zune is the privacy element.
> and they track your location
Having just checked, Spotify has no location permissions on iOS.
Having just checked, Spotify has no location permissions on iOS.
And do you trust them to respect those permissions?
Short of kernel bugs, there aren't really reliable ways of getting a user's location without having the permissions.
No, I mean they don't have any permissions at all - not that they're turned off. Also I'm reasonably confident in iOS's privacy settings when it comes to apps.
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I use an app that plays mp3 files off the storage.
That's pretty neat, actually - what do you use? (And for which device?)
>Imagine being the diehard Zune fan who felt his best option for a replacement was going all in with Windows Phone
It could be worst, they could be rocking the Dell Ditty.
(Yeah, someone in 2015 thought this could be answer to the iPod: https://www.cnet.com/products/dell-dj-ditty-512mb/review/ )
It could be worst, they could be rocking the Dell Ditty.
(Yeah, someone in 2015 thought this could be answer to the iPod: https://www.cnet.com/products/dell-dj-ditty-512mb/review/ )
I actually think I'm going to get one of these...seems like a 120GB one is actually pretty cheap, and I really like the idea of having a totally offline music player
This probably says more about me than the article, but the drawing at the top is of an ipod that says zune. A zune has a ‘squarcle’ rather than a circle.
I'm holding on to my old HP Calculators for dear life, especially the 41, 42 and 48/49/50s.
I am glad Swissmicros is out there!
I am glad Swissmicros is out there!
I always wanted a Zune but I don’t believe it was ever avaliable in NZ :(
Now I just use he iPhone to play music
Now I just use he iPhone to play music
I still have and use my zune.Most of my music is on it
I hope we move past this attitude that there is something strange about continuing to use something that fulfils its function perfectly well, purely because it's not the latest sexy product. This idea is not good for the pocket or the planet.
Have to agree. One day someone will come out with a service that allows you to upgrade/make usable old technology.
Not everyone lives under your paradigm of brand-tribalism, and of those who do, not all subscribe to your particular tribe.
> To my surprise, my inbox was soon filled with emails from people who claim to still use, and love, their Zunes.
Of course you were surprised. How can there be so many painfully unhip people in this world? I bet they don't even live in a hip city. Couldn't tell the difference between a cortado and a flat white, am I right?
I understand ad hominems are generally not cool, but seeing as the author's contributions to this article are, in typical Vice fashion, devoid of anything other than breathless, sneering, self-important cultural 'commentary', I find it harder to take the high road.