K5 in time for Christmas?
The Apple iPod’s relaunched. And though I’m one of the last 10,000 holdouts in the United States without one, I do have the Motorola ROKR. Contrary to the millions of negative reviews, this is a very nice phone/MP3 combo device. I’ve enjoyed it.
...with the introduction of their K5 mp3 player. Looks pretty nice (and would share quite nicely into my Christmas stocking!).But “music’s meant to be shared” says Samsung...
Now, speed ahead 5 years and who do we see running into the marketplace, cash money wildly spewing out of their back pockets? Well it's big ole’ Microsoft! Ladies and gentlemen...introducing ZUNE. (Campaign suggestion...“Zune, Zune, Zune”). Again, I may be the only person who doesn’t get it, but apparently this disturbing and unhelpful website is Microsoft’s concept of what information might quench the thirst of their hungry and loyal customer base.
Hey, Race ya’ to iTunes to buy that catchy Ashtar Command song they use on the site called “The Second Coming of the Monkey God.” Last one there’s a...well...a rotten Monkey. And while I'm on the subject, ya’ suppose Apple would employ a song on their website from a band named after this organization?
posted by studiosmith @ permalink
6 Comments:
ashtar command, the band, has nothing to do with cults etc, its part of ufology, predating the freemasons and other secret societies.... it's kinda tongue in cheek. you think the police were linked with law enforcement agencies? check out their myspace page : http://www.myspace.com/ashtarcommand
Thanks for leaving a post here and for stopping by. Know I was picking fun at Microsoft, not the band. Thanks for the myspace point. Law enforcement...that's just plain funny.
I might be wrong, but something in the way back of my brain tells me this isn't the first time you've posted a comment defending this band's name.
What is Microsoft thinking? This is their answer to the iPod: a flaming bird and a rabbit that's huggable? This site tells you nothing about the product. I have to go to c|net to get the info? That's about the amount of usefulness I expect from MS. And naming their website under the bad pun of "comingzune" only reinforces the bad pre-launch of this product.
Dean, you're not going to believe this...”To attract current iPod users Microsoft is going to let you download for free any songs you've already bought from the iTunes Music Store. They'll actually scan iTunes for purchased tracks and then automatically add those to your account. Microsoft will still have to pay the rights-holders for the songs, but they believe it'll be worth it to acquire converts to their new player.”
Mommy was wrong. Looks like money DOES buy friends after all.
For more check out http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/06/microsoft-planning-wifi-enabled-portable-media-player-working-o/
www.comingzune.com has the typical "borrow design elements from Apple" starting with the abundance of white space, the "counter-clockwise" loading animation icon, and the refection of the navagation buttons faux "3D" space.
Maybe Microsoft should go after something a little more their speed. See Disney link below. [short and long links]
http://tinyurl.com/q9wum
https://licensing.disney.com/Login/minisite.do?siteId=disney_electronics&articleId=disney_mix_max_player_main_page_091806
Your observations are intriguing. I personally don't see much borrowed from Apple, perhaps with the exception of the reverse plexiglass reflection effect that has become so synonomous with apple.com, and ripped off everywhere. I'm trying to see and understand your perspective though. And if I understand your comments correctly, it's kinda hard to associate abundant white space with anyone specifically. Apple is the best at being intentional and consistent with this, but white space has been used well and by many since before Paul Rand's time.
Again, not 100% sure I understand your perspective, but regardless I appreciate you taking time to comment, stop by, and share that link. The Disney interface on that device is very cool, and meant to be Mickey. I saw those devices when a few colleagues and I visited the Licensing Show in NYC last year, where that interface feature escaped me somehow.
Very cool. Thanks and stop by again. And use your name. Anonymous is so much less fun.
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