wraggster
November 18th, 2006, 13:34
Heres an excerpt:
The summer of 2006 was witness to two major Microsoft viral campaigns for mysterious new hardware. The first took place to promote "Project Origami," which was originally rumored to be an Xbox-Pocket or similar handheld gaming device. Sadly, the only fruit that the Origami project bore was the UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC) form-factor of not-quite-a-PDA, not-quite-a-tablet, overpriced and underpowered touch-screen computers.
Though the technology press was somewhat put out after being whipped into a frenzy over Origami, the next viral campaign launched only a few months later at comingzune.com. The little flash movies on the site were undeniably stylish, and blatantly teased an upcoming iPod competitor. After months of rumor followed by the usual blurry spy-shots, the Microsoft Zune has finally hit the street. Is it a legitimate iPod-killer or just another ineffectual volley destined to bounce off Battleship-Apple's hull? From a reviewer's point of view, the Zune is an interesting combination of real strengths and real weaknesses. While it is sure to be the general consumer populace that will make or break Microsoft's attempt, read on to see what the biggest threat to Apple's hegemony is all about.
Zune Hardware
The Zune project was launched by Microsoft's Xbox division and, over generations of products, is planned to become an integral portion of Microsoft's ever expanding family of hardware products. The current Zune is the first edition of the family, and to a degree, it shows. The hardware is based upon Toshiba's Gigabeat S10, a critically well received yet rarely purchased mp3 player. Microsoft obviously needed to get hardware and name recognition on the streets as early as possible, and so chose to rely upon Toshiba's base of technology in this first edition. Microsoft designed and engineered products are surely already in development for future generations of the Zune line.
Full Article (http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/746/746470p1.html)
The summer of 2006 was witness to two major Microsoft viral campaigns for mysterious new hardware. The first took place to promote "Project Origami," which was originally rumored to be an Xbox-Pocket or similar handheld gaming device. Sadly, the only fruit that the Origami project bore was the UMPC (Ultra-Mobile PC) form-factor of not-quite-a-PDA, not-quite-a-tablet, overpriced and underpowered touch-screen computers.
Though the technology press was somewhat put out after being whipped into a frenzy over Origami, the next viral campaign launched only a few months later at comingzune.com. The little flash movies on the site were undeniably stylish, and blatantly teased an upcoming iPod competitor. After months of rumor followed by the usual blurry spy-shots, the Microsoft Zune has finally hit the street. Is it a legitimate iPod-killer or just another ineffectual volley destined to bounce off Battleship-Apple's hull? From a reviewer's point of view, the Zune is an interesting combination of real strengths and real weaknesses. While it is sure to be the general consumer populace that will make or break Microsoft's attempt, read on to see what the biggest threat to Apple's hegemony is all about.
Zune Hardware
The Zune project was launched by Microsoft's Xbox division and, over generations of products, is planned to become an integral portion of Microsoft's ever expanding family of hardware products. The current Zune is the first edition of the family, and to a degree, it shows. The hardware is based upon Toshiba's Gigabeat S10, a critically well received yet rarely purchased mp3 player. Microsoft obviously needed to get hardware and name recognition on the streets as early as possible, and so chose to rely upon Toshiba's base of technology in this first edition. Microsoft designed and engineered products are surely already in development for future generations of the Zune line.
Full Article (http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/746/746470p1.html)