Remember Microsoft’s Zune Media Players? No? Me neither. They didn’t seem to take off in the UK, and it seems the US didn’t like them too much either. Bloomberg are reporting that Microsoft will be ceasing to release new Zune music and video players due to “tepid demand”, quoting a source familiar with the decision.
We reviewed the Zune HD back when it came out and stood it up against the iPod Touch. The Zune HD won, and it seemed to be a great alternative to the iPod range. Apple had long since asserted their dominance in the portable media player market when Microsoft launched the Zune HD, so they were up against it from the start. Microsoft’s Zune software on the PC seemed to do a bit better however, and they’ve since transferred it to the Windows Phone 7 platform.
Microsoft are reportedly going to switch their attention to Zune and the mobile phone market, looking to take on the likes of Apple and Google who both currently hold much higher shares in the market. Personally I’m a fan of the Zune PC software, it’s nice and easy to use, easy on the eye and works well. Will it ever be able to loosen Apple and iTune’s stranglehold on the mp3 market though?
Via: Bloomberg