Zune may be closer to expanding internationally than we thought. A few new job postings at Microsoft point to the possibility of seeing a 10-foot-interface for Zune designed for TVs – perhaps via the XBox – as well as a call for more music reviewers.
Ars found the two postings here and here. The gist:
>Job Title: Software Development Engineer We’re Zune Services and today we’re selling over five million music tracks, music videos and television episodes to customers across the United States. Moreover, we provide rich reviews on more than twelve million music tracks and biographies on almost a million artists. And we do it all with a small team of very passionate people. However, we need to grow. We have big plans that extend around the world. We have fierce competition. Are you up to the challenge? Is music a part of your life? Does the thought of taking on an industry leader excite you? Do you know better ways to introduce music to your friends; how about to the world? Are you ready to write systems that can scale to the millions and beyond? Are you ready to see your ideas come to market in months versus years?
Job Title: Software Development Engineer Primary responsibilities include development of innovative user interfaces for delivering a rich, deep interactive media consumption experience in a living room environment. Experience with online services API development is a must, product will provide a rich online media experience delivering music and video from the cloud. A passion for UX and digital media is a must.
Most of us iPod nerds are looking for Zune to fail but if they can turn the Zune into a service concept rather than a lumpen music player, they may have a chance.
Compared to the iPod, the zune is a better built machine, but the computer software is lacking when compared to itunes. Hopefully this news leads to software improvement, because the device is a true pleasure to use. I think it gets an unfair negative stigma because of how widespread the ipod is.
The iPods themselves are not quality pieces of hardware, and everyone I know that has bought a zune because their Ipod(s) fail doesnt not regret it.
Also, don’t compare the zune to the iphone or ipod touch. It’s like comparing a cell phone camera to a SLR. It doesnt match up.
Doesn’t not regret it?
Double Negative much? Do you mean they all regret getting a zune?
I own a zune 120 and love it. The software sucks but if that was fixed it’d be awesome. I’d love to see a television app. Via the 360 makes me even more interested.
Wow what an epic grammar typo. What i meant to say was that everyone I know that got a zune after having ipods they have owned fail love their zunes, and DO NOT regret leaving the apple arena.
Yeah. A 360 app sounds hot.
I would have agreed with you when Zune was released. At launch, the Zune software was terrible, and not even close to iTunes. It was the main reason to choose an iPod over Zune.
Now, the tables have been turned. At this point, Zune’s desktop software blows iTunes out of the water. It’s quick, easier to use, and looks better.
I say this as someone who owns both iPods and Zunes, and uses iTunes and Zune daily. IMO, iTunes has become a resource hog that I dread using. Zune is the opposite.
I like my zune, and people on my campus seem to be slowly trying it out. I was an early adopter (brown brick) and have since updated to an 80 for more storage. The brown brick still works great though, ive never had a problem with it, and I tend to beat the crap otu of my electronics.
I see more and more people on buses and what not using zunes. No squirting of songs that I can tell, but it is nice to see some variety out there. all music players have their positive and negatives.
can’t we all get along?
Doesnt the zune have games? do they work on TVs?
if they do, I can see this going over very well or very poorly. Guess the quality of the game matters. A serious TV interface alongside things like games could change the entire purpose of the zune for some people. Zuneboy anyone?
The zune has decent enough games, but they don’t work on the TV with the AV cable. I never thought about the game potential. Now I’m very interested in where this goes. If it connects to the 360, maybe things like arcade games could be taken on the road or something.
Say you buy Tetris on the xbox arcade. Perhaps a zune version could be synced to the zune that is also registered to your gamertag you used when buying the acrade title. It’s the Dreamcast VMU all over again, only more advanced!
The desktop software for the Zune is nothing short of beautiful. I love my Zune and have discovered so much music through the service.
I hope they continue to innovate.
I am an iPod user (iPod Touch) and I am watching the Zune stuff very closely. Apple is not doing a lot with the Zune and I would love a device that does some of the stuff the Zune does. At this time I do not think it is worth the switch. But I think this year and with all the news I am hearing, it may finally be worth it.
I like the Zune software a lot. And i agree with “Seravicious” about more people using Zunes. I am seeing them out in the wild more and more these days.
I meant to say “Apple is not doing a lot with the iPod Touch”
To be honest, I use my zune for radio playing and podcasts more than anything else. The ipod line does podcasts (almost all devices support podcasts) but having a radio built in is a HUGE convenience for me. If I knew nothing about technology, I’d still pick the zune because of the radio.
I kinda wish the zune software handled podcasts a little more like Itunes though. Ratings and comments within the software is a nice feature. All the zune does is let you browse and subscribe. Hopefully they expand this in the future.