Zune

What Microsoft Can Do to Make the Zune More Competitive: Video Podcast Support

Before Mp3 players hit the market everyone had scads of ripped or stolen songs on their computer. Then the ipod came along and freed them, so we could carry those songs everywhere. As video emerges as a new competitive playground, here are some things that Microsoft should keep in mind:

1. We don't have a lot of Video
   Before MP3 players were released lots of us were ripping music off Napster or off our CDs, remixing them, and then reburning. The ipod came along and released all that content so it could finally be portable. Unlike music, most of us don't have a lot of video. The MPAA doesn't let us rip our DVDs, Tivo doesn't share well with our computer, digital video is expensive, and I have to be connected to the web to see a streaming video.
   
   Solution: Build podcast and videocast support into Zune. Make it easy for me to find Molly wood and the Buzz Report, University Lectures, and StrongBad videos. Help me connect with feeds I didn't know existed, and if I have something I want to feed, make it easy for me to share. iTunes has done a decent job with this, but find a way to make it better.
   
   
2. We love TV Shows
   I'll sit and watch YouTube for about 20 - 30 minutes before I feel like I've gone officially brain dead. I like YouTube, I get to see interesting things, but YouTube is often like cotton candy - each video doesn't last long, and I usually don't walk away feeling completely satisfied. Instead, I want to see TV shows or movies... what's worse, I want to see FREE movies and TV shows. $1.99 for an iTunes TV show is fine if I miss an episode, but it's not going to be the main way I get my video.
   
   Solution: Work with studios to put free episodes of things like Hero's and Grey's Anatomy up that are ad-supported. Most of us are more than happy to watch a few commericals if we can watch a TV show on the bus or in a long line. This obviously can't be done by Apple or Microsoft's will alone, but who ever figures out a user friendly (consumer friendly) way to monetize this will be a hero. Partner with the content companies to help make this a reality.
   
3. We don't have Big Hard Drives
   Hard Drives are getting bigger and we're filling them up with all kinds of music, but music files usually max out around 10mbs. Take podcasting for a spin and that 30 minute news clip may cost you 50 mbs. Now check out a decent 30 minute quality video... 100 - 300 mbs!!! Video is great, but a few files and my whole hard drive is maxed out. There are a few solutions to this, such a dancing files between my hard drive and device, but none of them are particularly pretty...
   
   Solution: Help us find a way to download directly to our device!