14 DAY TRIAL // A lot of people say that Zune is no match for the iPod, and the evolution so far didn't show otherwise; but the good part about the release of this player from Microsoft is that Apple has to go a little faster now. The reason? When Zune was released, the iPod was a little older than five years. In the IT world, five years means a lot. When you have no real competition, you don't need much innovation, after all. There is no second Mona Lisa, there will never be a second iPod. I am no art critic, but since Mona Lisa can't be painted in a modern and improved version, the iPod can wake up without its crown one day. Let's dig in a little deeper and see what the catch here is.
After climbing up to the second place, far below the almighty iPod, the Zune began to look better. No, no, it's not about the design, because they really have to work on that for a future improved version, it's about some of the features. Just think about the fact that the latest iPod update isn't much of a revolution, but only some improvements using today's technology don't seem to be enough, since a facelift would be a really good move at this time too. The battery life and the capacity were increased, and the iTunes Music Store has a library of movies now.
I am not crazy about watching videos or movies on the road, and music is enough for me, but the iPod would be a lot more attractive to the masses with a larger screen and some unique features, as Apple is used to include in its products. The Macworld can be the host to an event that can leave Microsoft stunned for a while, since the rumors around make me think about 100GB iPods with video games, iPhones, iTV, maybe even some iConsoles from Apple, which - by the way - has recently hired some game designers, as we already know.
Anyway, the Zune did a good thing by pushing the iPod. The rumors say it pushed forward, but only time will tell. Stay tuned for the Macworld and, of course, all the news and rumors that are going to flow until then!