Microsoft has thrown down the gauntlet to challenge Apple’s dominance of the portable media player market. On Tuesday, they released information regarding an updated Zune HD—a total revamp of the previous-generation media player.

Features for the Zune include the new Windows CE operating system, which may or may not be a selling point. The new Zune has larger display (3.3 inches) with touch screen, widescreen-capable movie watching, Internet browsing capability, and integration with the Xbox 360. It operates off of flash memory, but details of the memory capacity have not yet been disclosed.
The question is, does the Zune offer anything that the Apple’s iPod or Touch doesn’t? The answer is, yes. The Zune HD’s standout feature is precisely what its title indicates: it is a portable HD radio. Not even Apple has a device with a radio receiver, although reports indicate that the next-generation iPod will have such a capability. Stephenson, the marketing manager for the new Zune, explains, “It’s really one of the first portable HD radio receivers out there. It’s going to be important for us to communicate the value of HD radio since it is a fairly nascent technology.”
Not only does the device receive and play HD radio, but it can also output to TVs, using a separate dock. This is one of the device’s most-sellable features. It has been designed not only to integrate with Microsoft’s gaming ware, but also with any HDTV. True to its moniker, it will be able to output high-res video to HDTVs—at least 1280×720, according to the reports. Stephenson’s strategy regarding the Zune was this: “[The Zune is] absolutely about music as it is about video. As we prioritize the things we need to get to market, video was the thing that really lit up. The Xbox experience is a living room experience. So it’s important to think of this as a first step.”

No reliable information is available regarding the cost of the new device, but Microsoft should be releasing the new Zune HD during the fall season, perhaps in September.

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Microsoft’s ad campaign has seen some wild, and unconventional turns since the original Bill Gates/Seinfeld commercials. While those made me die a little on the inside, the latest ads at least make sense. They’re still hokey, but that at least have a point to them. The latest ‘Rookie Challenge’ ads feature a 9 year old vs. a90 year old, 8 vs. 80, and 7 vs. 70. They compete by using different functions for Windows Live Gallery. A program that Microsoft is really trying to sell to the people.

Kind of feel bad for the Windows engineers. I’m sure when they were learning computer engineering in college, this isn’t what they thought they’d be doing. Allen is my favorite competitors, mostly because I hope I’m like that when I’m 70.

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If you’ve seen a demo of Microsoft Surface, then you probably want one just like everyone else. The only problem is that they’re hella expensive right now. So, you have to have cash to burn just so you can afford one. If you go by this funny parody movie by SarcasticGamer, is the Microsoft Surface really all it’s cracked up to be?

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Microsoft, and EU are going toe-to-toe over a new mandate that the European Commission is wanting to put on the corporation. Ok, it’s not really a ‘toe-to-toe’ fight, as much as it’s the EU Commission telling Microsoft to comply with their law or incur some wrath.

The requirement that the EU Commission is looking to impose, would require Microsoft to give its OS users options for web browsers on their PCs. Besides just Internet Explorer (IE). Jonathan Todd, spokesperson for EU Competition Commissioner had this to say:

“If the Commission’s preliminary conclusions as outlined in the recent statement of objections were confirmed, the Commission would intend to impose remedies that enabled users and manufacturers to make an unbiased choice between Internet Explorer and competing third party web browsers”

This isn’t the first time that the EU Commission has thrown the law book at Microsoft for only offering one program to its users. Microsoft was fined earlier, for only providing Windows Media Player to its users. Since, Microsoft has released Windows bundles providing different options for media players.

I’m quite torn by this whole set of events. I’ll always agree that competition in any market is a good thing. Specifically for the consumer. But is government involvement really necessary here? Where’s that fine line between monopoly, and just smart dominating business practices. It’s not as if Microsoft only allows Internet Explorer as the only workable option for browsing.

Then you have to ask, what browsers is Microsoft required to include? Should they set up shop for everyone, even the remote lone browsers no one has heard of?

Could this mandate start a Pandora’s Box effect in the computer world. I think if anyone should be eyeballing this closely, it’s Apple. You want to talk about a company that leaves few options to its users. Everything in the world of Apple is proprietary. How will this new line of thinking in the EU Commission fit in Apple’s world? While I’m not a huge fan of Microsoft, this singling out by the EU Commission is fishy, and leaves an unpleasant taste in my mouth.

What are your thoughts on the situation? Feel free to leave your comments below.

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