Microsoft's problem.

[MorganX]

So what, on when hour was that first photo taken anyway? Before the shop opened? Anyway, the difference between Microsoft and Apple is very important if you want to compare those pictures, because Microsoft has a lot, if not, a sh*tload of third party vendors and doesn't need to sell everything themselfs. Apple products are mostly only available (available, not possible to buy) at Apple stores.

 

True. I take this as lighthearted platform banter. Eventually Microsoft will overtake iPad and iPhone in raw numbers based on enterprise sales alone. And Apple will still be popular and profitable and probably have more satisfied and happy users, lol.

[MorganX]

The Google Play Music has gotten a lot better. 

 

I have about 40 GB of music in 320Kbps, and Google Play Music has an option to allow playing for 320Kbps. I don't keep any media on my Nexus 5, and streaming works perfectly at full quality. If you can't stream it, there's an option to keep media on your device. It is far better than managing a local library - who wants to maintain a playlist and sync it to all devices, too much work. I was very skeptical of cloud based systems, but Google Play Music has knocked it out of the park for me. I find Google Play Music far more transparent than a local iTunes/media solution. Besides, iTunes on Windows is the most bloated piece of software. I use other alternatives to sync an iPod Touch

 

That's what's so great about iTunes. It's no work at all, and quite fun. Everything syncs wirelessly, and I like building playlists on my desktop, not my phone or laptop, for my big fingers, that's too much work. I just want my mobile device to need one button, play.

[MorganX]

You've a prety good point, with Windows, it's completely different... we don't need 3rd party apps, nor do we need another program then the actual OS to sync our stuff.

 

That is one of Windows' theoretical benefits. But with the current state of Integration, to do what I can with iTunes, you have to use Xbox Music, Xbox Video, and Windows Media Player. When MS puts all that together into Zune Client 8, I might consider ditching the iPhone/iTunes/iPad. There's still the problem of having to manually move your library to the Surface. Synced playlists still do not find 100% of local files, 100% of the time.

[tsupersonic]

That's what's so great about iTunes. It's no work at all, and quite fun. Everything syncs wirelessly, and I like building playlists on my desktop, not my phone or laptop, for my big fingers, that's too much work. I just want my mobile device to need one button, play.

Same with GPM - you can create playlists on phone/tablets/web interface. 

[BajiRav]

That sounds good but it's false. I'm a Microsoft person, but reality is what it is. Here's an example of why the MS store is empty and Apple is full.

 

In the gym, I can Soundhound a song I hear playing with my iPhone 5S. I can tap a button twice and purchase and download it with my fingerprint for pw, quickly and easily add it to playlists and be playing in less than 5 minutes max, never mission a bit of my workout. I can go home, plug it in to it's' cradle and sync it to my desktop and iPad. With iTunes I can quickly drag and drop it to several other playlists, and it will sync and I'm good with my new songs wherever I go, on the device I want, on my playlists, with very little effort.

 

Do that with a Surface, WP8, & Windows 8.1 Desktop.

Let me take a shot at this

1. Take out windows phone, tags a song using bing - no need for app
2. Tap the result
3. Buy on Xbox Music (could be better if I had Xbox Music Pass)
4. Log into my Windows8.1 system at home
5. Start Xbox Music
6. Look the song is already there, no need to connect or sync

How did I do?

 

(I don't have a Surface but it is essentially same as my desktop).

[MorganX]

Let me take a shot at this

1. Take out windows phone, tags a song using bing - no need for app
2. Tap the result
3. Buy on Xbox Music (could be better if I had Xbox Music Pass)
4. Log into my Windows8.1 system at home
5. Start Xbox Music
6. Look the song is already there, no need to connect or sync

How did I do?

 

(I don't have a Surface but it is essentially same as my desktop).

 

You did good Baji, and as long as you only purchase or stream Xbox Music you can get by. Video is another story but MS promises it for WP8

(you'll still need 2 apps and will have the same issue syncing your own video library). Unfortunately that system breaks with your own library except for the few songs MS may recognize in their cloud database.

 

Xbox Music has gotten better, particularly the search. Unfortunately, though you can search and find all your local music (once you've added all your locations to the app), synced playlists still do not find all of the songs. Exact same files. Music app finds them, synced playlists 50/50. It can all be fixed and eventually may be, but I have an Apple solution that just works right now.

 

Trust me, I want this to work. Netflix is much better on the Surface, if not as consistent (app quits).

[Shadrack]

Yeah, you just tell yourself that if it makes you feel better.

 

How does it make me feel better?  I'm indifferent either way.  I own MS and Apple products, but most folks here would label me as an Apple fanboy.

[BajiRav]

The apple store near me is usually just filled with kids playing with the ipads and computers.  I dont see people actually buying anything, usually just genius support and killing time.  Ive never gone into an MS store so I cant compare

 

I always go to apple store whenever they have a new iToy out but I haven't bought any Apple product since my first (and last) iPhone in 2008. I do see a similar crowd at my local mall (Natick, MA) where Apple store is full of kids playing with iPod/iPads and MS store is comparatively less crowded but is certainly not empty. Most of the kids at this particular MS store are playing at the Xbox which is actually outside the store.

[Michael Scrip]

The apple store near me is usually just filled with kids playing with the ipads and computers.  I dont see people actually buying anything, usually just genius support and killing time.  

 

Apple Stores have the highest revenue per square foot compared to other retailers. 

 

They wouldn't have that if people weren't buying anything.

[siah1214]

That sounds good but it's false. I'm a Microsoft person, but reality is what it is. Here's an example of why the MS store is empty and Apple is full.

 

In the gym, I can Soundhound a song I hear playing with my iPhone 5S. I can tap a button twice and purchase and download it with my fingerprint for pw, quickly and easily add it to playlists and be playing in less than 5 minutes max, never mission a bit of my workout. I can go home, plug it in to it's' cradle and sync it to my desktop and iPad. With iTunes I can quickly drag and drop it to several other playlists, and it will sync and I'm good with my new songs wherever I go, on the device I want, on my playlists, with very little effort.

 

Do that with a Surface, WP8, & Windows 8.1 Desktop.

The only thing you can't do here is add it directly to a playlist on your phone.  However, everything else here is possible. 

And this is something  I've done on a regular basis.   Hear a song I like while driving with my friend, hit the search button on my phone and tap the music button. It listens for a few seconds, and pops up a link to the xbox music store. I have an xbox music pass, but I don't want to download it now, I'm on 4g.  Get home to my wifi, hit the search button again and tap "music history", the last few songs are still there.  Tap the result, download, done. 

Now I want to go listen to it on my computer: there it is! It's already downloaded. Want it in my favorite rock playlist? Quickly quick and drag it to the playlist in the Xbox Music app, go for walk, play the playlist, and the song's already in it. 

 

So yes, don't bash a platform when you don't know the possibilities. 

[MorganX]

The only thing you can't do here is add it directly to a playlist on your phone.  However, everything else here is possible. 

And this is something  I've done on a regular basis.   Hear a song I like while driving with my friend, hit the search button on my phone and tap the music button. It listens for a few seconds, and pops up a link to the xbox music store. I have an xbox music pass, but I don't want to download it now, I'm on 4g.  Get home to my wifi, hit the search button again and tap "music history", the last few songs are still there.  Tap the result, download, done. 

Now I want to go listen to it on my computer: there it is! It's already downloaded. Want it in my favorite rock playlist? Quickly quick and drag it to the playlist in the Xbox Music app, go for walk, play the playlist, and the song's already in it. 

 

So yes, don't bash a platform when you don't know the possibilities. 

 

 

I didn't bash it. I said all the things it can't do that Apple can do easily, I'm not constrained to "what" works. And I made it easy by allowing an example of buying from the store.

 

Now manage your existing music and video library across all 3 devices with playlists. Don't bother ...

 

But that is why I remain with iTunes/Apple. And that is the complete ease of use that keeps Apple quite popular in mobile devices.

[greenwizard88]

Where I live, the only store that sells Mac's is the Apple store - the Microsoft store, Best Buy, at al all sell and repair PC's. That might have something to do with it, too.

[Growled Member]

Now manage your existing music and video library across all 3 devices with playlists. Don't bother ...

 

But that is why I remain with iTunes/Apple. And that is the complete ease of use that keeps Apple quite popular in mobile devices.

 

My wife has an iPhone and she goes on and on about it, and she's no even a tech person. Apple is indeed doing something right when they can get ordinary people like her excited about their tech.

[+Red King Subscriber²]

My wife has an iPhone and she goes on and on about it, and she's no even a tech person. Apple is indeed doing something right when they can get ordinary people like her excited about their tech.

Well it is cheaper than a diamond.

[vcfan]

 

And here's the Apple Store:

It is crowded.

 

is that the annual mac os install base meeting?

[greenwizard88]

Maybe an expensive diamond, but you can definitely find diamonds or designer brand stuff for less than $600.

Well it is cheaper than a diamond.

 

[Growled Member]

Well it is cheaper than a diamond.

 

Not on QVC. :D

[exotoxic]

The design of the shop floor does not look nice, maybe its just the photo/camera but it looks really dark too.

[cooky560 Veteran]

I think its the camera, our local Apple Store is very airy and light, that Microsoft Store looks amazing though.

[Hum]

 

These Two Photos Show What a Disaster Microsoft Is Today

 

Here's the Microsoft Store:

 

 

This is not a trick of the camera. There were zero shoppers in the store. At noon. On a Sunday in December at peak retail shopping season.

 

Maybe if those XBox One cartons were not empty ... :p

[GotBored]

 

Here's the Microsoft Store:

 

 

 

 

 

Looks like they got heaps of Xbox One stock. :/

[gohpep]

Apple Stores have the highest revenue per square foot compared to other retailers. 

 

They wouldn't have that if people weren't buying anything.

 

Well that's because their computers cost $1,300...

 

Oh, and here's my Microsoft store :) :

[Growled Member]

^ That's more like it. :)

[AWilliams87]

Well that's because their computers cost $1,300...

 

Oh, and here's my Microsoft store :) :

That's the pic that came off of Microsoft website themselves. They would post best possible picture. It's the same store that rapper got arrested in for destroying the laptops.  :laugh:

http://www.grantland.com/blog/hollywood-prospectus/post/_/id/58993/machine-gun-kelly?src=mobile

[123456789A]

is that the annual mac os install base meeting?

 

And at least 3 of them are Apple employees.