'Zune', the iPod rival? Microsoft's biggest tech failure.......

Most of you might Be wondering what this Zune is? Well, most of you might not even have heard about "ZUNE." It's primarily because Zune was not that popular, especially outside the United States. Zune is a music player developed by Microsoft as a rival for apple's iPod. Even though Zune came out with pretty respectable specs, it couldn't compete against the already popular iPod versions. By that time, several manufacturers started making their versions of mp3 players.

It's hard to forget the Zune. After all, Microsoft's mid-2000s bid to sink the iPod with an MP3 player of its own was notable for its immense thirst.

Zune was a line of digital media products and services marketed by Microsoft. Zune consisted of a line of portable media players, digital media player software for Windows PCs, a music subscription service known as a "Zune Music Pass," music and video streaming services for the Xbox 360 game console via the Zune Software, music, TV and movie sales, and desktop sync software for Windows Phone. The first generation of Zune came into production in 2006.

The Zune, which was clunkier than the iPod and came in black, white, pink, and putrid shit-brown, desperately wanted to be cool. Unluckily, at the time of the Zune's release in 2006, Apple also began airing its "Get a Mac" ads, which cast Microsoft as terminally lame. Still, the anti-Apple sentiment was strong even then among the nerds, and so the Zune was an underdog. Microsoft tried to capitalize on this, and counter Apple's messaging, with its own "edgy" ads and stunts like sponsoring a VICE event in Toronto.

It didn't work. The writing was on the wall for the Zune as early as 2008, as stores pulled it from shelves and revenues dipped. In 2010, the final model was released, the Zune HD, and in 2012, it was discontinued. The software was abandoned in 2015. Apple won the war and barely broke a sweat.

Zune vs. iPod

Zune HD handles all of the basics -- music, video, podcasts, apps, games, and photos. The Zune HD and the iPod touch 4G share many of the same features, including a touch screen interface and built-in WiFi. The Zune HD's screen is smaller than the one on the iPod touch -- 3.3 inches compared to 3.5 inches, respectively. The Zune HD also features an HD radio tuner, something the iPod touch doesn't have. But the newest iPod touch features two cameras -- the HD Zune doesn't have a camera at all.

Both the Zune HD and the iPod touch can export video, though you'll need additional accessories to pull it off. The Zune HD can export video at 720p, but its native resolution is standard definition. The newest iPod touch has a retina display and can play videos at 720p.

The Zune HD also comes up wanting in a few other departments, including battery life. Apple claims the iPod touch can play music for up to 40 hours without recharging. Microsoft's Zune HD is rated for 33 hours of music before you'll have to plug it in.

The Zune HD comes in three different storage capacities: 16, 32, and 64 gigabytes. The iPod touch has a slightly different lineup with 8, 32 and 64-gigabyte models. One of the biggest differences between the Zune HD line and Apple's iPod touch is the price -- Microsoft's product is, on average, $50 less expensive than the comparable Apple product. As of this writing, Microsoft prices the Zune HD at $179.99 for 16 gigabytes, $229.99 for 32 gigabytes, and $349.99 for 64 gigabytes. Apple's iPod touch retails for $229 for 8 gigabytes, $299 for 32 gigabytes and $399 for 64 gigabytes.

Zune Music vs. iTunes

While the Zune store may not have the same vast library as the iTunes store, it does offer a subscription service that iTunes doesn't: $15 a month to download everything you want. It's called the Zune Pass -- you can keep everything you download as long as the Pass is active. Once you let the Pass lapse, you lose the content you've downloaded. Microsoft also allows you to download and keep ten songs per month while you have a Zune Pass.

Microsoft's Zune holds its own in the media-player world. But the iPod is the product of Apple's single-minded dedication, and it shows. It looks sleeker, and it's lighter, slimmer, and smaller. The iPod is taller and wider than the Zune HD, but it's more than 1.5 millimeters thinner than Microsoft's mp3 player. The iPod supports Windows, but Zune doesn't support Mac OS X. Apple's FairPlay DRM scheme, while far from perfect and arguably not all that fair, is play-oriented, not time-oriented, which most people see as a more logical way to track and limit usage. The Zune Pass is a time-oriented digital rights management (DRM) scheme, while Apple abandoned the FairPlay DRM strategy in favor of DRM-free music.

Both the Zune HD store and iTunes allow users to purchase television shows, movies, and music videos in addition to music. You can subscribe to podcasts using either store. And both have social networking elements: Microsoft calls its implementation The Social, while Apple has Ping. These integrated social networking features allow users to share their musical tastes and habits with friends and followers. Microsoft gets the edge here -- if you have a Zune Pass, you can stream music on your friends' social profiles to your device. It's an innovative way to discover new music.

Making playlists has become an art in itself. Apple has iTunes Genius, a feature that can create playlists from your existing music and suggest new songs that you might like based upon what you already listen to. Microsoft calls its version the Smart DJ. It, too, can create custom playlists automatically. If you have the Zune Pass, Smart DJ can create a streaming playlist for your device based on an album, artist, or song title.

The iTunes Store is such a tremendous plus for the iPod, and it's hard to give it its due props. Not only does it offer an exceptionally broad range of media, but its payment methods are more straightforward than the Zune Store. For Zune, you need to purchase chunks of points, and points don't match up to dollar amounts. For some reason, 79 points are the equivalent of 99 cents, which is the cost of a song at both stores. Both players automatically sync with their media-player software to download purchased songs.

The Zune HD faces some tough competition. The HD Radio tuner in the Zune HD may not be enough to tempt customers from choosing the iPod touch. And Apple has other iPod models aimed at other users: the Shuffle and Nano models are small mp3 players that have clips on them so that users can attach the devices to clothing. The iPod Classic can hold 120 gigabytes of data. But for people who don't like iTunes, the Zune HD's interface and lower price point may be just what they're looking for.

Almost everybody had a different reason for getting one, and for hanging on to it. For some, it was the features—you could share tunes with friends, subscribe to a Spotify-like music service, and it could be synced wirelessly (all features the iPod lacked)—and for others, it was simple hatred of Apple. Some kept their Zunes for those same reasons, or the connection is now sentimental. For others, the app-less Zune is a sanctuary from endless smartphone notifications.

Bad timing, lack of innovation, and insufficient marketing were the main factors for why it failed. The first Zune launched in 2006, five years after the release of its competitor, Apple's iPod. The Zune came much too late, as the iPod had already rapidly become the go-to source for portable entertainment.

The Zune HD's screen is smaller than the one on the iPod touch -- 3.3 inches compared to 3.5 inches, respectively. The Zune HD also features an HD radio tuner, something the iPod touch doesn't have. ... Apple claims the iPod touch can play music for up to 40 hours without recharging.

So overall, Zune was a good product launched at the wrong time. If Microsoft developed Zune soon after the iPod was out, it might have made a difference.

Kudos to the diehard fans of Microsoft and Zune ……………