apple doesn't even need marketing... they're too well known... on the other hand, every time someone sees my zune, and i explain that microsoft made it, they're like, microsoft makes more then windows??
If microsoft had a better marketing team, i think you'd be right. they would've had some serious competition.
My wife was an iPod user and swore by it for years. She happened upon a Zune at her job - it had been sitting in lost-and-found for six months and they were about to throw it away (they didn't know what it was) but my wife took it instead. Now she swears by Zune. She thinks the interface and the software is easier and better than that of the iPod.
She and I agree that Microsoft could have marketed the Zune better - they would have found many more people like my wife, and they wouldn't find themselves having to phase the damn thing out now. Personally I don't think it would be too late for the Zune if Microsoft started an effort to market the hell out of the thing.
I dont know why companies have a hard time marketing...I know its tough and theres a style to it, but I mean even myself have a thousand great ideas for many products, commercial and marketing wise. I dont know how MS can NOT think of good ways to market their shit. They do well with the 360.
But Microsoft doesn't really market the Xbox either. The last time I saw an Xbox ad was last summer when the new xbox came out, which I bought on day one (of availability).
I don't think Microsoft is really performing a discontinuation of a product because I read that Zune is a prevalent feature on Windows Phone 7.
true, but they kinda include 360 advertisements on their games, at least the 360 exclusives, they sorta weave a good way to ad the 360 in the same commercial.
All that confirms is that Microsoft hasn't completely eliminated the possibility of future hardware yet.
I haven't seen any indications yet that there is any new hardware currently in the works, and there may never be, as MS may decide that new Zune hardware will stop before the next generation even starts being worked on.
So Mango is now in the process of being released to phones around the country on all carriers. I have a pending update to a pre-mango version, then I don't know if I have access to Mango at the moment. Will report back later.
