Microsoft’s new media player: too little, too Zune?

Most people who keep up with technological developments will realise that tomorrow (Nov 14th) is the day that Microsoft are planning to steal some of Apple’s iPod thunder.

It is, of course, the release of their much-touted ‘Zune’ media player. There’s nothing particularly marvellous about its basic specifications, so what is the killer feature that MS are hoping will persuade people to buy one of these instead of (or as well as) an iPod?

How about Wi-Fi data exchange! Sounds good, doesn’t it, and what they’re hoping is that someone with an active Zune will be able to move within range of another unit, and miraculously transfer songs to it. Although there is DRM attached to the music, the recipient should be able to play the song three times before it becomes inactive.

All very exciting then, but in reality how many people can we imagine going through this scenario? Some may say it’s just an updated version of those naff nightclub arrangements where each table has a phone and you can dial up someone you fancy. The problem with the analogous Zune-swap scenario is that by the time you’ve found out whether the unit on your radar is owned by the same person in your visual field, the target may have moved on. Others of more stay-at-home habits may want to know what the battery life will be for all this hectic zapping of bits through the ether. Personally I think it’s a more efficient way of spreading viruses, and more effectively than in real life.

Whatever the views on ‘Wi-Fi swapping’, it’s hard to dispute that the market for personal media players is reaching saturation point. Whether the imaginations of Microsoft executives have identified a real gap in the market, or feel they are able to push one open for Christmas, is something that remains to be seen. For the time being, many may prefer to keep their personal taste in music, not to say their viruses, very much to themselves.