What is Digg?118 Comments
- I922sParkCir, on 10/12/2007, -2/+84Man, the Zune is decent hardware but has a crappy firmware.
If it ran Linux and I could do whatever I want with it (including syncing through wifi) I would see this a better than the iPod. - neko, on 10/12/2007, -4/+62Very interesting article, although the title of this digg isn't really accurate.
o_O Just imagine, "Three days or three plays!!! .....((or you could put linux on it and it will do whatever you want it to do))"
This was my favourite:
"""
I went to work before the appetizers were served at the opening supper by asking event organizer Nick White (whose business card describes him as "Product Manager, Windows Marketing Communications") why I should trust a company whose CEO consistently threatens to sue me and other Linux users over unspecified patent violations.
"That's history," Nick said. "We're trying to move forward."
"I was referring to some comments Steve Ballmer made just a week or two ago," I said.
"Well, that's not really anything I can comment on," he replied. "I'm a product marketing guy."
"""
Pure gold. - lustre, on 10/12/2007, -5/+36Straight from the damned if you do and damned if you don't society.
- coolspray, on 10/12/2007, -5/+25Reasonably well?
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -8/+26Microsoft will never be desperate, want to know why? Well for starters they can murder your whole family and your dog and get away with it.
- tylerman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+18zune has great potential, remember its version 1
The hardware just needs to be fine tuned a bit better and scaled down.
Great things inside the zune- wifi,proc,screen ..
down sides - os,drm,size,.....
I am not a MS fanboy but I still believe this thing has potential.
remember this thing -> http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/7639/appleipod12fc717fs6.jpg
fat as hell wasn't thaaaat great back then for 5 gigs but now look at it - dtd00d, on 10/12/2007, -6/+21Defeat the three plays/three days rule and Zune > iPod
And if with Linux, Zune = God - profOblivion, on 10/12/2007, -2/+12The title is way, WAY off base. Marked inaccurate. RTFA, folks. "a _developer_ who wants to put Linux on it..." (emphasis added, and the developer referred to is NOT a MS developer)
- lustre, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11Yes, they are deperately adding several million square feet to their main campus as they are desperately trying to accomodate all of their desperate growth.
- Phlag, on 10/12/2007, -6/+15Yeah, because the average person who buys a Zune definitely wants to have to install and configure an OS before he can listen to MP3s.
- SoCalChris, on 10/12/2007, -4/+13More like they tried giving him a freebie, he refused, and told them that the crowd he is in wouldn't be interested in it without Linux support for it, so they casually said to give it to someone who would work on that instead of him keeping it.
That's a big difference than MS wanting Linux put on it. - reevolutn, on 10/12/2007, -1/+9FTA: "For many years I have maintained that Windows is too geeky for me; that as a mere user it is easier and safer for me to stick with Linux"
ummmm ok - krinthekuz, on 09/16/2008, -0/+7@phlag: lots of linux geeks get the iAudio x5 solely to put rockbox on it.
- shoez, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8That is 3 observations.
- ArnoldTPants, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10I922sParkCir
"Man, the Zune is decent hardware but has a crappy firmware."
The reason I want a Zune to replace my ipod is because of the firmware. IMO the iPod firmware is *****. Five years ago it was great, now not so much. - MikeSavior, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8Says lyzz: Microsoft is still the same bunch of bastards they've always been. Talk is cheap. Open up your protocol specifications under a free license and then we'll listen.
I somewhat agree. At least, about the protocol stuff. MS certainly doesn't have good business practices, but I think it's very fair to support proprietary software, as long as accompanying formats and protocols are wide open and free for all. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9@ ArnoldTPants
You ever try out Rockbox? Allows for gapless playback, supports more audio formats (.ogg, FLAC, WMV, etc..). It's MUCH nicer firmware I think than the POS Apple cripple-ware that they load on the iPods now. I have it on my 4G iPod Photo, and LOVE it. - lustre, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Whoa. Well, some folks do drive on the left.
- superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Actually I was wrong to start with, the title is misleading - it's really Roblimo saying, he will give you the free Zune he got if you will do some kind of open source project related to it (not even necessarily Linux). So it's not even Microsoft throwing anyone a bone, just trying to convince Roblimo to have more positive feeling towards the Zune and Roblimo trying to see if he can draw any interest from the open source community in hacking it.
- Dunadan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I don't think he was referring to how well Linux worked on the PS3, but rather how the ability to run Linux on the PS3 didn't do too much to help sales. In other words he was suggesting that Linux won't save the Zune.
- krinthekuz, on 09/16/2008, -5/+9summary: 2 long full pages, and the author says all his hard questions get ***** answers... and he even says that he's on a NDA. nothing against the author, but he could have just said "Microsoft won't tell me anything, but they did give me a free zune."
- superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5"Why does everybody say the MS is bad or stuff like that??? In the end,.. most of us are windows users, right??"
You just answered you own question - no one complains quite as loudly as one that has to eat someone else's dogfood without choice. Most of us cannot "simply change to Linux" because our companies will not let us - and even at home, work often reaches in to dictate what computers you buy so that you can do a few things for work at home. That's what really halt deeper Linux penetration, and Apple has only just started to overcome in significant ways... - superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -2/+6OpenXML is a published standard, just like OpenDoc (only OpenDoc was a standard first).
As for Apple being closed - apple has embraced a lot of open standards like LDAP and the calendaring standard and DAV and so on. They also use XML for configuration files, unlike the closed registry Microsoft uses. They give back to the KHTML team which they use as the rendering engine for Safari, which has since seen the benefits of Acid2 compliance.
Who is more open again? - raindogmx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"So if Microsoft were serious about this, they would sell blank Zune units that you could load an OS on."
every device should have this option: ipod, zune, camcorders, videogames, whatever... it would be pure bliss.
only a dream tho - GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Rockbox is working hard to make that dream a reality. Unfortunately most firmwares use a lot of ASM so are difficult to port.
- GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Zune is a long term investment. Anyone who thinks iPod will still be so utterly dominant 5 years from now is barking. It will still be a huge player but these things tend to end much more quickly than people recognise. The PC OS market that was different because the one obvious competitor made a series of mad decisions for reasons of arrogance rather than bottom line. Also IBM crippled themselves with management. Really the opposition got out of their way but they are back now that's for certain.
Personally I'm glad MS is in this market despite being a Linux user. More competition means better products and/or lower prices. Can't argue with it. What OSS has done to get the MS juggernaut innovating again*, MS will do to Apple in the MP3 market.
*before anyone mentions OSX 90% of the work there was OSS work. - loconet, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3When your grade 8 teacher told the class to let your opinions be heard, she didn't really mean _you_. Not specially before having researched and educated yourself about the subject. Think before you speak, it will help you in life.
- msgyrd, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"why would linux users (free and open and the user makes all the decisions) use something like the zune (the most drm locked down media player out there)?"
"something like the zune" often have great hardware capabilities, even if the software sucks. A small device with a decent processor, screen, capacity and wifi has geek potential written all over it. Linux could turn it into a portable web browser, an actual MP3 or Ogg player (capable of unlimited wifi sharing, no less), a portable movie player, a wardriving device, a rogue server, etc.
MS actually has a pretty good history of producing good hardware but shoddy software. MS mice are decent, the original xbox was a modder's dream, and theres no hardware reason the zune should automatically suck. - superkendall, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5No argument there - it's only got one way to go.
- Phlag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2@djlosch
I'm sure they do, but it would be a terrible business move for Microsoft to favor that incredibly tiny minority (relative to the entire MP3 market) and in turn give a massive inconvenience to the millions of other people who want nothing more than an MP3 player out of the box. - nhaas, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Well we would only wish this right? He must be an IPOD junky
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Umm, Apple /did/ fork KHTML (It's called WebKit). And Apple does not have to contribute code back, but they do anyway.
http://webkit.org/ - tech42er, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2OK, piece by piece:
Why does everybody say the MS is bad or stuff like that??? In the end,.. most of us are windows users, right?? Why don't we all change to Linux if it's that good?
I have. I only use Windows for games. Though, even those I could run under wine or cedega, possibly.
and one more thing ... u all criticize Microsoft for the bad Windows... but in the end Windows is just a part of MS. Don't tell me the Microsoft Office is bad... I mean check how many users make business out of it..
Yeah. But, I prefer open source software becuase it's generally better and it's free. If I wanted to, I could modify it. And, if I need to use the MS Ofiice, I can use OpenOffice.org.
and in the end.. -----> WE should thank MS for wanting to use Linux.. isn't that what we all want???
This has been proven to be false (if you're referring to the article). And besides, Ballmer is threatening to sue Linux devs and users. - t3hX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Yeah, in Australia, we do drive on the left of the road. Many other countries do as well.
- mlock2k, on 10/12/2007, -3/+5Hate if you must but the zune will only get better.
- nofxjunkee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2so besides running linux on the device, there are other good things that developer can do with the zune. many linux users and developers believe one big aspect of linux is choice, and that choice includes using any mp3 player one wishes to use. if someone wants to use their zune with amarok, they should be able to do so and this dev might be able to help people do it.
- DrunkMonk, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I am also an iPod owner, zune looks like an attractive alternative but I wont be buying one any time soon. I love the scroll wheel on the iPod, the only bad point i have about the iPod is its software, i hate having to be locked into iTunes to manage my music. Microsoft have made the exact same mistake with zune by forcing you to use its bundled zune software.
- WarPirate, on 10/12/2007, -6/+7@doubtful salmon
Just like a macboi Following the leader...because its cool - Casedot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2MS might not be amazing in the consumer electronics department, but they are kicking ass in the business sector with MS Dynamics...
:-)
say what you want, but IMO they are really making an effort to progress forward through the negative image that they have, and I think eventually they might make some good software...either that or force all other software makers to shut down thus completing the monopoly they have been working towards. - djcronos, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I agree that the Zune has much potential. I wonder how long until we start to see applications being built for it, or integrations with Linux on sourceforge.net?
- lyzz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1libmtp eh??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_Transfer_Protocol
Some users find this protocol only works reliably in Windows XP. Furthermore, the use of Windows Media player is required to load songs into MTP MP3 players (though Winamp is said to also be somewhat compatible). USB mass storage device class devices do not suffer from these limitations.
What about WMV, WMA, DOC, or SMB? - LanceHardenburg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"I dugg down LaurenceHardenburg because his comment was blatant trolling and unrelated to the comment he replied to. In fact, I digg down everyone who uses the word fanboy, regardless of who they're using it against. Its a stupid generalization that only serves to polarize the community."
Right so what would you call that? Show me the part in that post that is related to the topic.
Hypocritical are we? - andocom, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2@SuperKendall - "Who is more open again?"
Did you completely forget Apple's OS runs only on their hardware, MS's OS runs on any hardware, I guess that isn't as important as Apple using XML for config files though. - DigitalDud, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Microsoft doesn't compete with OS kernels, or source code movements. They compete with companies that happen to back them like Novell, Sun, or IBM.
- zip22, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1DrunkMonk never mentioned the itunes music store. he only mentioned being locked into software, which hes not. as of right now, there are multiple software options for the ipod (including linux) while the zune only works with one program and on OS.
- GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Anyway to make a point about the Apple thing. KDE should be wary, if Apple want to be part of a KHTML alliance and are ready to make certain sacrifices for that then fine its a great thing. If they go in and Apple just change the base beyond all recognition without any sort of consultation again then its pointless chasing them.
- Casedot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I have both, and I like the iPod. The touch wheel is so much faster than a button setup, especially when you have 25 gigs of songs on it. it takes me much longer to find an artist or song than on the iPod. Also, i like iTunes soooo much more than the Zune software. Other than that the Zune is pretty sweet. The screen is nice and the menus are nice, and it is pretty fast.
- GMorgan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1What I mean is they aren't being as stupid as they were before. There's less outright FUD and some small co-operation. I don't believe we've seen the end of evil MS but they have moved slightly in that direction despite Balmers rhetoric which is more to protect his own ass after misleading his shareholders that they could beat Linux down the litigation path.
As for the RIAA, different story. Not really related.
//edit - god now I've gone and done it.// - naiku, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1great read, bad title.
- Casedot, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1i think you are _slightly_ underestimating the size of the Linux community.
Viva la open source -
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