Microsoft "Zune" Viral Marketing Website


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The teaser marketing website for Microsoft's "ipod killer" Zune.

http://www.comingzune.com/

What we know (for sure)

* Zune is the name of the project, the brand, and the device.

* The first Zune device will be launched this year, with more devices to come in 2007.

* The Zune brand encompasses not only the device, but the software that will drive it, as well as a music, movie, and media service the Zune device family will use for acquiring, sharing, and discovery of said media. Music will be the first angle of service that is launched, "connected entertainment" being the ultimate goal.

* The Zune media service will heavily leverage community aspects and recommendation; emphasis is being placed on using Zune to discover new artists, media, etc.

* The Zune media device will be drive-based, and have WiFi.

* The Zune brand is intended to be an entirely vertically integrated end-to-end solution, not unlike the iPod / iTunes / iTunes Music Store triumvirate.

* The service and device will not be PlaysForSure compliant, meaning you will not be able to use your Zune player with Napster or Vongo, for example. This will be an entirely new system. Microsoft will continue to support and develop for their PlaysForSure initiative, but all things PlaysForSure are handled by two entirely separate division that will not have any crossover.

* Zune is under Microsoft's new Entertainment & Devices Division, and is headed by, among others, Robbie Bach, J Allard (Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA Architect), and Bryan Lee (Corporate Vice President and CFO, Entertainment and Devices Division), which accounts for the division of this project from the rest of Microsoft, similar to how the Xbox project was also strictly separated.

* The logo we had is, of course, real.

* Microsoft's launched the Zune's viral marketing site. [Thanks, bv] http://www.comingzune.com/

What we think we know (and are pretty sure of)

* They'll be showing off the device by the end of next month, and will aim for a November release.

* Microsoft will buy your way out of iTunes in order to convert you to a Zune user.

* The Zune will come in multiple colors.

* Pyxis is the codename for their nano competitor which would also include video capabilities; Alexandria is the codename for the software that powers the Zune experience.

* A Microsoft portable gaming system is in the works, and will be a part of the Zune family. This device should have Xbox Live Anywhere integration. This may or may not be an Xbox co-branded portable, but is probably going to be the portable gaming / media device we've been hearing about for years.

* Microsoft's ad campaign will include a Super Bowl commercial.

* The Zune will have a bevy of accessories at launch; it'll probably be cheaper for accessory makers to develop for the Zune port than pay the Made For iPod tax.

What we don't yet know

* Whether the Zune media service will offer the same kind of all-you-can-eat subscription media services as PlaysForSure media services like Napster and Vongo. Supposedly subscription will be offered, but downplayed in favor of song purchase (which is the opposite of most PlaysForSure services).

* Whether you'll actually only be limited to sharing with up to 10 people nearby, as rumored, and that they won't get the protected files, but will "bookmark" them for later purchase.

* Exact device specifications for the first Zune device, as well as its price (though we hear it could be as much as $399).

* Whether it'll include XM and/or Sirius service as rumored (we doubt it).

Source

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Wow...what an astoundingly annoying video. I wonder if they put out an open offer of "We're looking for the most obnoxious song on the planet, send all submissions to stillborn@microsoft.com"

First initial impression; lame. Microsoft still don't "get it", but I'm sure they'll feebly attempt to compete by eating up production costs and hoping media sales make up for it...just like the xbox.

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Millions of dollars were spent to create this video, hundreds of millions more were spent testing it on monkeys in the Microsoft Zune testing labs (All of which had to be slaughtered afterwards).

The conclusion...

An ugly balding man and a unbelevably small man petting a rabbit will entice and intrigue me to check out this "Zune" product.

:laugh:

Im no iPod fanboy, and certainly not a Microsoft fanboy, however i am slightly intrigued on how they plan to steal the market of mp3 players from Apple.

Im even more intrigued on how a multi-billion dollar corporation like Microsoft plans spend there money and sway users away from the iPod...this was a surprise to say the least.

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I liked this analysis from a guy named Joe in Engadget's comments:

the big dude is Apple, the little dude is Microsoft and the bunny is music/video. They're trying to say that Apple is the big one in the biz, but Microsoft loves it more.
My point of view is. The big guy is Apple, the little one is Microsoft, and the bunny is the MP3 player business. Apple is taking control of it, until Microsoft arrives and starts to get some attention, until it gets a lot of attention, then Apple starts to worry and starts trying to get the attention back.

This video may mean a lot of things, very very weird...

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well its obvious microsoft is trying to appeal to the indie music crowd more than apple is

The only way they can compete; it'll be cheap, or it will fail completely. Origami, anyone?

so the big guy and the little guy are sharing the bunny :)

awww

(as it says "We're all friends here." and asks you if you want to share the flash video with friends)

Edited by brianshapiro
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For those who want...

http://comingzune.com/images/ComingZune_wallpaper.jpg

well its obvious microsoft is trying to appeal to the indie music crowd more than apple is

Naturally...

The Zune media service will heavily leverage community aspects and recommendation; emphasis is being placed on using Zune to discover new artists, media, etc.

Interesting observation about Apple being the big guy and Microsoft the little guy in the mp3 player market. Subliminal messages? Possibly down playing the idea of a tech war comming at the end of the year, while slamming it to Apple through adverts and marketing to push into the market.

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* The Zune brand is intended to be an entirely vertically integrated end-to-end solution, not unlike the iPod / iTunes / iTunes Music Store triumvirate.

whats with the double negative?

MS shouldn't try to copy Apple's iPod/iTunes approach. Many have tried and failed, and likely so will MS. The iPod success is a strange one, and it can't be duplicated. MS needs to make it cheaper with more interoperability, and if its true about not supporting PlayForSure, then it is a mistake.

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I smell the fish...

comingzune.com

comingzune.net

comingzune.org

comingzune.co.uk

All registered under...

Domain Name: COMINGZUNE.COM

Registrar: GO DADDY SOFTWARE, INC.

Whois Server: whois.godaddy.com

Referral URL: http://registrar.godaddy.com

Name Server: PARK28.SECURESERVER.NET

Name Server: PARK27.SECURESERVER.NET

Status: REGISTRAR-LOCK

EPP Status: clientDeleteProhibited

EPP Status: clientRenewProhibited

EPP Status: clientTransferProhibited

EPP Status: clientUpdateProhibited

Updated Date: 13-Jul-2006

Creation Date: 13-Jul-2006

Expiration Date: 13-Jul-2007

Source code...

<script language="javascript">

if (top.location != location) top.location.href = document.location.href;

</script>

<script language="javascript">

// ADAMS's RADIO CUSTOMISATION

// adam.burmister@gmail.com, Copyright 2005.

function initARC(formId,onClassRadio,offClassRadio,onClassCheckbox,offClassCheckbox) {

var agt=navigator.userAgent.toLowerCase();

// Browser Detection stuff

this.major = parseInt(navigator.appVersion);

this.ie = ((agt.indexOf("msie") != -1) && (agt.indexOf("opera") == -1));

this.ie3 = (this.ie && (this.major < 4));

this.ie4 = (this.ie && (this.major == 4) && (agt.indexOf("msie 4")!=-1) );

this.iemac = (this.ie && (agt.indexOf("mac")!=-1));

if( !(this.iemac || ie3 || ie4) ){

customiseInputs(formId,onClassRadio,offClassRadio,onClassCheckbox,offClassCheckbox);

}

}

//Add a .label reference to all input elements. Handy! Borrowed from...

//http://www.codingforums.com/archive/index.php/t-14672

Tutorials indeed...

And on the TOU...

COPYRIGHT NOTICE.

Copyright � 2004 Microsoft Corporation, One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399 U.S.A. All rights reserved.

Fake probaly, see if Microsoft will Auth it.

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Any body looked at sourcecode for that site? MS seems to have used tutorials ;)

indeed. or used someone else's code as a starting point...

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indeed. or used someone else's code as a starting point...

Well, it wouldn't be the first time Microsoft used someone else's ideas... :whistle:

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