Warner Music techie not so plussed on Zune software
17th Nov 2006, 06:44 GMT
Filed under: General, Zune Store The pundits, bloggers and press can dis the Zune all they (we) like but when Ethan Kaplan -- Senior Director of Technology for Warner Records -- says Zune has a consumer experience problem it merits some attention. Kaplan writes, "I've said it before, I'll say it again: The best Apple commercial is someone trying to make a Microsoft product work. " His points are pretty valid. A failed install from Firefox (inconvenient but, not a huge surprise), a 15 minute install plus a required reboot (a required reboot from a Microsoft product? You must be joking) but, the worst of it all Kaplan argues -- and I'd have to agree -- is that the Zune Store requires registration before you can browse. I've talked before about how iTunes works so well due to the very low barrier to entry. The flat pricing creates a very simple yes or no decision for each song you purchase (with no "How much is this?" internal monologue), plus it's a snappy and stylish interface and, you can do a surprising amount within the iTunes store before giving away your personal details or plunking down a credit card. It's a "Soft Sell" as pro salesmen would say. The Zune Store, in stark contrast, requires you to buy packages of "points", register up front, and essentially make the decision to become a customer before you've made the decision to actually buy anything. Now, if you equate that to a brick and mortar retail world, it's the equivalent of asking you to buy a pre-paid gift card at the front door, before being allowed to look around. As Kaplan put it, "We spent the whole time smacking our foreheads wondering, WHY?" [Black Rim Glasses via Hypebot] Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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