Is 'The Social' Dead? (Update: No, It's Not)

Update: After nearly a week of downtime, apparently somebody found the error and fixed it. Thanks guys.

For anyone who's familiar with the Zune service & devices, one part that's largely unused, but still present, is the Zune Social. Recording everything you play and part of the engine that helps you find new music, it's essential to the service.

There's one problem. It's down. 

Image202011-09-2020at2010_50_3820am

Its been down. For five days or more.

@ZuneSupport replies with essentially non-responses.

Zunedown

That's great, but truthfully, I'd love to hear something out of you guys to explain this. Our servers failed and we're recovering data. The application is broken and we're working on a fix. Everything was destroyed and we're in the end times. Anything.

It's working online; I can see my profile online is having its play count updated, but no sign of it working in the application in sight.

Come on!

Filed under  //   Zune   microsoft  
Posted September 20, 2011
 

Oh @Zune, such a tease!

Zuneemail

So, it's April 2nd, and you know what that means? New apps! Why? No clue.

*sigh* As goes with owning a Zune HD, we get these sporadic and apparently non-planned app releases, this round bringing us a decent enough e-mail client, plus a new game, BBQ Battle.

So, how do they hold up?

The e-mail client is a mixed bag, browsing and managing your e-mail accounts (Windows Live, Gmail, POP) simple enough with a Windows Phone style UI, but there's a glaring miss here: HTML support. So, instead of regular looking e-mails, some appear with odd [bracketed] elements. Nonetheless, the experience is surprisingly good once you get it down, everything readable with a basic black-and-white scheme, and Metro-style buttons to help you finish actions.

As for the game, BBQ Battle actually is enjoyable as well, defending a piece of food from an impending group of insects, and is a solid edition to what's available.

So, Zune, I'm wondering, any chance of a Spring firmware update? I'd love some improvements to the browser, if possible, plus maybe some minor bug/performance fixes.

Filed under  //   Zune   microsoft  
Posted April 2, 2011
 

Heil, mein Führer! Sieg Heil!

Zune

RIP Zune Hardware: 2006-2011

I'll admit it, I was late to the social, only diving onto the Zune banwagon after the HDs release, being convinced through the Pass, and iTunes frustration, and it looks like we've hit the end of the line.

Ala Bloomberg, it looks to be all but confirmed that Zune hardware is going to be phased out, Microsoft focusing in on its Windows Phone devices with Zune integration, and the platform as a whole moving forward.

As for why the devices failed, there's any number of reasons. Advertising was awkward, if non-existent. Devices were clunky early. Software was lacking by many accounts early on. Etc. Etc. Even the HD, for the advantages it had, it doesn't have apps in numbers.

So, what's next for a Zune devotee? I'll keep using my Zune HD 32, and I'm going to keep my eyes set on getting a Windows Phone, probably a Samsung Focus, if any of them.

Can't deny my disappointment. Bye Zune.

(Oh, the German solute is for Apple. Long live your ugly world of gradients, centralized power, and one man controlling the world.) 

Filed under  //   Zune   microsoft  
Posted March 14, 2011
 

Pipedream: Zune HD2

Music
I can dream, can't I?

Why should Microsoft do this? To be honest, it would allow those who can't afford a smart phone plan to have a Windows Phone based device with thousands of applications, plus XBOX Live support, and Zune intergration. It would expand the base of users for Windows Phone, making apps that much more needed, plus have that many more eyes in front of them to be bought. Plus, as a devoted Zune owner, it would give us a route to a product truly on par with an iPod Touch.

As a device, what would it need?

  • 3.5 or 4" Super AMOLED display, with a resolution of 800x480
  • 16, 32, and 64 GB capacities
  • Intergrated Speaker
  • Rear facing camera
  • HD Radio
  • Windows Phone 7 OS, with access to apps, XBOX Live, and alike services.

So, it's essentially a Wndows Phone 7 spec device.

As for pricing, targets should be parity with iPod Touches, though whether that can be achieved is a whole different issue.

Maybe, just maybe, I can hope that's what this announcement coming up is, but believe me, I am in no way holding my breath.

Filed under  //   Zune   microsoft   pipedream  
Posted March 8, 2011
 

Death to the Zune: Where's the Advertising?

With all of the talk of the looming death of the Zune brand, I have a question: Where was the advertising?

During this last holiday season, Microsoft did push out an ad for the Zune HD, "available at Best Buy" as I remember it, but prior to that, was there any real advertising? But what about the Pass, has there been any advertising for that?

Looking back, the only real ad for I remember seeing for the Zune Pass aired after each program on [adult swim] on the Cartoon Network in the US (this ad). They did push out there one with the financial analyst, but seriously, beyond the financially focused, does this really speak well for the service? Then there's this ad, longform, on the Zune YouTube page, which is heading in the right direction, but have you seen any piece of that on TV?

Microsoft can say the brand is dead, they're going to rebrand it and throw it into XBOX or Windows Live, but do they really have anyone to blame but themselves? Even with Windows Phone, their flagship portable device now, they've advertised the XBOX Live games, but not the Zune portion, unless I've missed an ad somewhere. I mean, it's a compelling service in the states, and they really should be hawking it in front of consumers in ads.

But, alas, maybe that'll come post-rebranding, whenever that's supposed to happen, if it happens.

 

Filed under  //   Zune   microsoft  
Posted February 22, 2011