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Version History: Zune

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

Version History: Zune

The Vergecast

Nov 02
The Vergecast

The Vergecast

Nov 02
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

In 2006, Microsoft came for the iPod's throne with an innovative MP3 player called the Zune. It had a bunch of features the iPod didn't: WiFi, music sharing, a bigger screen, a beautiful UI, even an FM radio. And to hear Microsoft describe it, it was even ...

Highlights

In the mid-2000s, Microsoft made a bold move to dethrone the iPod with a device that promised more than just music—it aimed to redefine how people shared and experienced digital content on the go. The Zune was packed with ambitious features and a distinct aesthetic, but its journey was riddled with strategic missteps and internal challenges.
19:15
Bill Gates expressed frustration over Apple's iTunes success in a 2003 company email.
26:05
UMG secured a deal to receive a share of Zune hardware revenues from Microsoft
30:49
Zune's 'squirting' feature allowed limited music sharing over Wi-Fi
50:16
All Zunes failed on December 31st, 2008 due to a leap year bug
58:10
The best thing about the Zune was its UI, which became the foundation of Microsoft's Metro design language.
1:14:21
The original brown Zune belongs in the Hall of Fame.

Chapters

What Was the Zune Supposed to Be?
00:00
Why Did the Music Industry Root for Microsoft?
23:33
How Did the Zune Try to Stand Out?
30:49
Why Did the Zune Flop at Launch?
45:35
What Did the Zune Leave Behind?
57:08
Was the Zune Actually Good—or Just Mismanaged?
1:02:14
Could the Zune Ever Make a Comeback?
1:12:01

Transcript

David Pierce: Hey, it's your friend David Pierce, and I'm here to tell you, before we get started, that. This is the halfway point of the first season of Version History. We're four episodes in, we got four more to do, and we're already working on the next...