Microsoft Zune Chief Praises, Criticizes iPhone

Edward Kirk · November 18th, 2007, 05:34 PM

Chief of Microsofts Zune division, J Allard, both criticized and praised the iPhone during an interview, as well as revealed intentions to compete more effectively at Microsoft. Among his complaints are that Apple focused more on the phone as a whole and not enough on the "iPod" aspect of it. He also says that it's a step back for the ergonomics of music playback.

"Itâ€™s a lousy iPod," Allard explains. "You canâ€™t skip a track without looking at it. You canâ€™t go running with the thing."

Despite this, he acknowledges it as the first cellphone to offer a truly strong browsing experience, calling it "beautiful" and "simple" compared to most other phones. He also notes that it might have a benefit for Windows Mobile by increasing competition and forcing carriers to "check their ego at the door" and allow them to handset designers to have more control over the final output, rather than limiting hardware and software to what suits the carrier's profit levels.

So what is Microsoft planning in response to the iPhone? Quite simply, they plan to play the same card Apple did for the iPhone with the iPod and integrate their own Zune into WIndows Mobile. While they note that a Zune-phone is unlikely, he says that the basic core functions will influence the media and calling features of the OS. However, they say "never say never". If they decide working with a third party won't work, they might make their own cellphone.

"If we can put the customer first, we prefer to do it with partners. We didnâ€™t create the Zune because we were dying to get into the hardware business and take inventory risk. We felt we had to do it," he says. "Windows was incredible. We got to create most of the magic and take none of the financial risk. History isnâ€™t going to repeat that with consumer goods."

[via New York Times]

agent6998 · November 18th, 2007, 05:50 PM #2

He's dumb:

He doesn't know that you can skip tracks without looking at it. Heard of the mic button on the headset?

And who says it's a lowsy iPod?

He better say that the browsing experience is beautiful.

Who says u can't run with it?

Hans · November 18th, 2007, 06:59 PM #3

well it is hard to skip unless you use the crappy headphones it came with or buy some super expensive ones made just for the iphone. i use it with my car stereo and you have to look at it that way no matter what but i deal with it because i love my phone and i think its the best ipod yet
the ability to skip through the alphabet so easily is great and i love the touch screen. i don't like the small font size and it doesn't scroll the names if they're too long for the screen. those things and the fact that you cant scroll too easily on longer songs (i listen to live sets that are 2+ hrs sometimes) So I am sure they will eventually fix those things but even with those, it's my favorite ipod so far.

bwilliams18 · November 18th, 2007, 08:05 PM #4

the ipod isnt the greatest if your just comparing to mp3 players but its the best mp3 player in a phone the only really good one that you can transfer songs from your computer it might not be perfect but that was apples idea that with updates it could get much better
y cant u go running with it
"Windows was incredible." haha funny joke

hal128 · November 18th, 2007, 08:17 PM #5

Quote:

Originally Posted by bwilliams18

"Windows was incredible." haha funny joke

Actually, I agree, it was incredible. Incredible that people would put up with that garbage. OH SNAP

In honesty, I think he means that the iPhone is keeping them on their toes, wereas Mac isn't challenging Windows, thus windows = crap. I'm with him on half of that statement.

November 18th, 2007, 10:26 PM #6

"Among his complaints are that Apple focused more on the phone as a whole and not enough on the "iPod" aspect of it."

-But i think that's why Apple called it an iPhone because if their main focus as a whole is a music player, then it would be called, hmmm let's see, an iPod.

**M$ Guy is Right** - November 19th, 2007, 10:23 AM #7

Allard made some good points aside from Windows being incredible...I guess that depends how one defines incredible, ha. (Let's face it, the poor dude couldn't trash how own company or he'd lose his job!) But he was spot-on with the other comments. I'm an iPhone owner and an AAPL stockholder -- I drink as much of the Apple Kool-Aid as the next guy. And I see this iteration simply for what it is: a good starting point with a few rough edges. Future sw and hw will doubtless have greatly improved customization and UI improvements.

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Edward Kirk WrAdminterizer Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Illinois, USA Posts: 3,084 Thanks: 19 Thanked 26 Times in 25 Posts	Microsoft Zune Chief Praises, Criticizes iPhone - November 18th, 2007, 05:34 PM #1
	Chief of Microsofts Zune division, J Allard, both criticized and praised the iPhone during an interview, as well as revealed intentions to compete more effectively at Microsoft. Among his complaints are that Apple focused more on the phone as a whole and not enough on the "iPod" aspect of it. He also says that it's a step back for the ergonomics of music playback. "Itâ€™s a lousy iPod," Allard explains. "You canâ€™t skip a track without looking at it. You canâ€™t go running with the thing." Despite this, he acknowledges it as the first cellphone to offer a truly strong browsing experience, calling it "beautiful" and "simple" compared to most other phones. He also notes that it might have a benefit for Windows Mobile by increasing competition and forcing carriers to "check their ego at the door" and allow them to handset designers to have more control over the final output, rather than limiting hardware and software to what suits the carrier's profit levels. So what is Microsoft planning in response to the iPhone? Quite simply, they plan to play the same card Apple did for the iPhone with the iPod and integrate their own Zune into WIndows Mobile. While they note that a Zune-phone is unlikely, he says that the basic core functions will influence the media and calling features of the OS. However, they say "never say never". If they decide working with a third party won't work, they might make their own cellphone. "If we can put the customer first, we prefer to do it with partners. We didnâ€™t create the Zune because we were dying to get into the hardware business and take inventory risk. We felt we had to do it," he says. "Windows was incredible. We got to create most of the magic and take none of the financial risk. History isnâ€™t going to repeat that with consumer goods." [via New York Times] __________________ About my iPhone: iPhone & Color: iPhone 3G 16GB White iPhone Version: 3.0 Computer & OS: MacBook Pro 15", Mac OS X 10.5.4 Twitter

agent6998 Rocks the Board Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Beirut, Lebanon Posts: 194 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	November 18th, 2007, 05:50 PM #2
	He's dumb: He doesn't know that you can skip tracks without looking at it. Heard of the mic button on the headset? And who says it's a lowsy iPod? He better say that the browsing experience is beautiful. Who says u can't run with it?

Hans Super Moderator Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 391 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	November 18th, 2007, 06:59 PM #3
	well it is hard to skip unless you use the crappy headphones it came with or buy some super expensive ones made just for the iphone. i use it with my car stereo and you have to look at it that way no matter what but i deal with it because i love my phone and i think its the best ipod yet the ability to skip through the alphabet so easily is great and i love the touch screen. i don't like the small font size and it doesn't scroll the names if they're too long for the screen. those things and the fact that you cant scroll too easily on longer songs (i listen to live sets that are 2+ hrs sometimes) So I am sure they will eventually fix those things but even with those, it's my favorite ipod so far.

bwilliams18 Rocks the Board Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 257 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	November 18th, 2007, 08:05 PM #4
	the ipod isnt the greatest if your just comparing to mp3 players but its the best mp3 player in a phone the only really good one that you can transfer songs from your computer it might not be perfect but that was apples idea that with updates it could get much better y cant u go running with it "Windows was incredible." haha funny joke __________________ Paintballer and Proud Viva La Nation

2.5mL Guest Posts: n/a	November 18th, 2007, 10:26 PM #6
2.5mL Guest Posts: n/a	"Among his complaints are that Apple focused more on the phone as a whole and not enough on the "iPod" aspect of it." -But i think that's why Apple called it an iPhone because if their main focus as a whole is a music player, then it would be called, hmmm let's see, an iPod.

*Guesty Guest Posts: n/a	M$ Guy is Right - November 19th, 2007, 10:23 AM #7
*Guesty Guest Posts: n/a	Allard made some good points aside from Windows being incredible...I guess that depends how one defines incredible, ha. (Let's face it, the poor dude couldn't trash how own company or he'd lose his job!) But he was spot-on with the other comments. I'm an iPhone owner and an AAPL stockholder -- I drink as much of the Apple Kool-Aid as the next guy. And I see this iteration simply for what it is: a good starting point with a few rough edges. Future sw and hw will doubtless have greatly improved customization and UI improvements.