Mass Failure Of 30GB Zunes Shows That At Least A Few People Actually Own Zunes
from the who-knew? dept
It's no secret that Microsoft's "iPod killer" Zune device has been a pretty big disappointment in terms of sales -- but who knew that the most attention the Zune would get in ages would be for having all of the 30 GB models fail at once. Obviously, there's some sort of software bug that caught Microsoft by surprise (apparently Zune's were never taught to understand leap years), causing a ton of Zunes to freeze up at the same time. At least, Microsoft can take a little comfort in knowing that there really are some people out there who use their Zunes.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: leap year, software bug, zune
Companies: microsoft
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
both Zunes failed
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Funny correction
Not after last night.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
"Real Regulators" at Work
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Still the Best PMP
I have 3 Zunes and guess what, never had an issue with them even once.
Bottom line, the Zune 120Gb is still the Best MP3/PMP player on the planet!
Hardware issues have not slowed down the 360, and a minor issue with the LAST GENERATION ZUNES won't be the end of the Zune either.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zune
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: "Real Regulators" at Work
See Real Regulators Aren't Magicians, And They Usually Screw Up
We unfortunately seem to live in a world where the "evil" regulator even if he or she is not involved always gets blamed. So I am going with the flow here even though Real Regulators may not have been involved. But wait, as an electronic device the Zune had to have an FCC certification, so there is a plausible link that the Real Regulators were able to get their grubby paws on the device!
My apologies, my point is that economic inefficiencies and technical incompetence are EEO concepts and private industry is not immune.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zune
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Still the Best PMP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Well only temporarily
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ah, Schaudenfreude. It Makes Me Smile...
Spare us the PC bigot invented strawman. The Apple-never-ever-didn't-do-anything-wrong-ever Fanboy user doesn't exist. It's a comfort for thrice burned Microsofties. Don't you poor suffering Windows slaves get tired of defending Microsoft's massive screwups and consumer abusing practices by stammering "But Apple..."?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Sorry to keep this short, but I really need to reboot my Vista machine, and my 360 is due it's 30 minute RROD checkup.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
new special edition zune!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Lets hope they magically work in a few hours.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
5-4-3-2-1.....yeah, my Zune works again.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It has been written many times but today it is truer than ever:
ZUNE = FAIL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zune
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Never had a problem before and we'll get a quick fix from MS. The iPod is just a music and video player. Get over yourselves Apple lovers.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Happy New Years
Maybe all you iPodfiles should get off the Apple Bandwagon and come over to the "darkside" as you like to call it. You're not a rebel if you doing samething as everybody else.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zune failure
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
leap year
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Um, can you develop apps for the Zune?
Simply put: "No"
but more accurately, "Why the hell would you want to?"
[ link to this | view in thread ]
LOL
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: leap year
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Still the Best PMP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Develope for a Zune
Is there any reason to develop for a Zune? Yes.
The Zune is just begining to spread its wings, games have been added and Xbox 360 integration is on the way. Netcast or Podcast support is growing stronger and both the Zune social and Zune pass are getting better. Sales may be slower than the better known iPods but sales are sales, and with each person that uses a Zune and realizes that hey, this thing rocks, the word will spread.
To those who say things like "Zune = Fail"
I say simply reply with "iPod = Poser"
Both statements hold about the same amount of truth.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Why is no one asking...
This problem is akin to your car not starting because the glove box isn't locked. One's got nothing to do with the other.
So the answer, of course, is DRM. The clock is used to prevent users from playing their copy encumbered files...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Still the Best PMP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
No QA = Fail in one second.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zune
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Develope for a Zune
"I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...I think I can... I think I can... I think I can...I think I can... I think I can... I think I can..."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Xbox meltdown??
sure because 21 million in sales is just another MS failure lol
Just another example of how people like to point out the bad while ignoring the good... Xbox Live..
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Xbox meltdown??
And surely these successes have been reflected in UTTERLY MASSIVE stock price increases that have occurred over the past decade.
Let's face it, MSFT products are chosen as a last-option. They should declare the new company mantra to be: "Since 1975, choosy people choose us when nothing else is available."
[ link to this | view in thread ]
only a 24 hour glitch
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Freezing ipod
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: both Zunes failed
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Tensor = SHEEP!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Xbox meltdown??
Yeah, because 90% OS market share was "forced" on people because they didn't have an alternate choice... Hahahaha!!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Wait... what?
So if it HAD been only you, would you NOT purchase (own) another Zune? This is the exact opposite conclusion this logic should lead you to...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Give Me a Break...
This the saddest and most pathetic aspect of anti-Apple bias. When Apple was in disarray in the 90's and their future was doubtful, the PC bigots major criticism of Apple was their supposed niche status. If you used a Mac you were out of step with the "reality" of a Microsoft dominated software world. Now that the revitalized Apple has the best of class products in almost every category they enter, and has earned their sales on merit, what do we have? PC bigots attacking Apple products for the fact that they *ARE* selling, and now claiming choosing a *Mac* is following the herd.
Is Apple to small too matter, so go with the herd, or is Apple so popular, to show your individuality you should follow the herd to Microsoft anyway?
Laughable nonsense.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: by tensor
After 13 months this piece of crap went down forever .
So I'm no longer stupid and I own Zune .After I drained power from battery today I just recharged and everything working perfect.So mr tensor before you post stupid opinions have a little mercy for yourself and stop act like a clown .
[ link to this | view in thread ]
tbh
I like the Zune's big bold text, hate it's 'wheel'. I hate the iPods' tiny text but love the wheel.
As of now, I use my Zune mainly, because it holds more, I like the screen for driving and working out and doesn't crash as much as my iPod Classic.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
http://blogs.msdn.com/xna/archive/2008/02/20/announcing-xna-game-studio-3-0-and-zune.aspx
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Zune
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
But ya I agree with you Mike. THe bigots on here ar enot Zune owners, its al the ones bashing MS and Zunes and anything thats gets bashed on here for the sake of not having enough intelligence to know any better, like mr Shadow....
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Still the Best PMP
Give me a break, this is total BS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Heavy Redmond Readership?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Heavy Redmond Readership?
Therefore, this must be a blog where all the Microsofties hang out.
Yah! GO TEAM!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Still the Best PMP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Confused
Wireless Sync
FM Radio
Buy From FM
Anything similar to Zune Social
How about Zune Pass (and lets not forget you can now keep 10 tracks each month)
DRM free Hey my Zune can play DRM free music too
A backwards compatible track record that rocks
The only thing it doesn't have is that feeling of "I have the right MP3 player because it sells the mostest".
As far as being stupid, hmm theres a mindless insult for ya. How about this, everyone is entitled to their opinion, right or wrong. Or were you home schooled on an Apple iPod farm ;) (no offence to actual apple farmers)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Confused
I have thousands of Legit, paid for music, and all of my mp3's our DRM free encoded @ 320Kbs.
So what does DRM have to do with anything??? ipods/itunes quality is not very good to be honest, and they charge way too much for songs. Sure we can all by a cheap MP3 player for like $25 bucks, but since when does sound quality not matter? Music has always been about sound quality, so why settle for something that does not perform to the level of a Zune for example.
Also just curious.. What other player other than the Zune has full 480p uncompressed video ouput? Ummmm not ipods that for sure. Zune TV rocks!!!!
What other player offers full uncompressed audio out?? Or did you all think the headphone jack did that?
Ontop of all the Features Mike just listed, go get the home A/V dock and experience what your digital media should look and sound like when not using your headphones!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
What's so funny 'bout peace love & understanding?
It's like arguing that your $1000 washing machine washes better and has more buttons than my $500 dollar one. Do any of these players make the music sound better?
BTW- My SanDisk Sansa works great.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Hey Look at me!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Ya...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
Fixed that for you
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Look it up kids, the firmware on the processor (that more than the Zune 30 used) has a bug. Are we all going to bag on Toshiba now as well?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
The problem with this logic is that zunes are bought from Microsoft, and not from Toshiba.
In general, a customer doesn't care whose guts or chip sets are inside any consumer electronics product, they just want a working device. Customers assume that the end-manufacturer performed due-diligence, and testing including that related to all firmware. Apple does this extensively. However, some companies have a long history of deflecting problems related to it's products, and claiming themselves to be a victim of a supplier.
But it gets confusing when an entire product strategy is based around DRM-based subscription plan, and (this may be a surprise) authorization based on dates/times. Wouldn't it be wise to test virtually every possible scenario of the clock and related mechanisms?
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
It's OK DS
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Zune player
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Not possible
If it was possible to test everything, the hacker community would be out of hobby :)
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Zune player
[ link to this | view in thread ]
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: It's OK DS
Exactly.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: It's OK DS
Heck now that we know how to solve difficult decisions, let's solve another one.. hmmm oh I know a another hard one for people. Which Operating System should people buy, hmm Windows or that thing from Apple hmm. Oh that's easy, Windows of course because there are an estimated Billion computers running it. Problem solved.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Re: It's OK DS
But have you seen the leaked pictures for Macworld? The most surprising picture is the one with the huge HP banner hanging from the ceiling. Do you think HP will be selling machines that run OSX?
The thought makes me drool.
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: leap year
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re: Still the Best PMP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Still the Best PMP
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
How I know: I've had an Ipod, it didn't meet my standards, (slow,didn't have a good UI coudn't go on the internet, slow syncing, ect) so I tried a Zune, all of my problems magically solved! And again it does more, and you can customize it the way you want to, don't see that with Ipods do you?
Now apple FOR NOW has the touch, and iphone, (ipad is seriously gay, so it's out of the question, but the Zune HD is out now, just give it some time and it will dominate!!!
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re: Give Me a Break...
[ link to this | view in thread ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in thread ]