Consumerist

Posts Tagged “

Zune

guerilla marketing

Top 5 Guerilla Marketing Mishaps

In the never-ending quest for free publicity, guerilla marketers have gone through great lengths to try to make a big splash. Many guerilla marketers will often concoct stunts that are risky or illegal to grab the publics' attention. Some stunts go over better than others while a few completely backfire. As a tribute to these foolhardy souls, WebUrbanist has put together their top 5 mishaps in guerilla marketing. The list, inside... More »

stupid

You Call To Cancel Your Zune Account, Microsoft Deactivates XBOX Live

After he called Microsoft to cancel his Zune account, reader Will noticed that his XBOX Live account was suddenly silver instead of gold. More »

misleading

Is It Legal To Use Out Of Date List Prices For Comparison On Sales?

Last week we pointed out how Apple artificially inflates the discount of its refurbished units by using the original introductory list price as a comparison, even if the price has since dropped and the true list price is now lower. Now a reader writes in to say he caught Toys R Us doing the same thing on sale prices of Playstation 3 bundles and 30 gig Zunes. Our question: is this legal? New York City's consumer protection law seems to imply that—at least for retailers doing business in NYC—it's not, unless you clearly indicate the trail of price reductions, something neither company is doing. More »

above and beyond

Microsoft Is Very Sorry You Won't Receive Your Valentine's Day Edition Zune On Time

Cupid is helping Microsoft whisper sweet apologies to customers who may not receive their Valentine's Day edition Zune until after February 14. Even though the players are en route, the company has promised full refunds to any scorned Zune buyers. More »

customer service

"Why Does Best Buy Hate Its Customers?"

My problem started yesterday morning when my wife and I decided we would either purchase 3 Microsoft Zunes or 3 iPods from Best Buy for part of our children's Christmas gifts. I checked prices by going to bestbuy.com and searching Zune. [ed.note— item no longer on sale.] More »

shopping

How About Not Buying An iPod?

Okay, we'll say it, and understand that we're writing this post on an old iBook: the iPod line is starting to look tired. Sure, that Touch is elegant in the same way as the iPhone—but its capacity is similar to the Nano, and what if don't want to carry around a Kubrick-style slab of minimalism? There are now some really nice alternatives out there if you're willing to walk away from the perks of being a member of the Apple camp. More »

microsoft

Microsoft Joins Apple In Offering DRM-Free Music

Following Apple's lead, Microsoft has announced that the Zune Marketplace will offer DRM-free downloads from EMI's catalogue. Microsoft also claims to be discussing similar arrangements with other music labels.
"The EMI announcement on Monday was not exclusive to Apple," said Katy Asher, a Microsoft spokeswoman on the Zune team, in an e-mail to the IDG News Service today. She said Microsoft has been talking with EMI and other record labels "for some time now" about offering unprotected music on its Zune players in an effort to meet the needs of its customers.
Microsoft has kept mum on the specifics. We don't yet how the price or quality of Microsoft's music will stack up against Apple's offering, nor do we know when the DRM-free music will be made available on the Zune Marketplace. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER More »

zune

CompUSA: Buy a Zune, Get Free iTunes Gift Card

From Macforums:
So, I work at the Spokane CompUSA,and every Saturday night, we print out all the new advertisement tags to put up on products that are going to be on sale for the next week and put them out.
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zune

Walmart Sells Gay Porn Filled Zune To Little Girl

Chanell Martin bought her 12-year old daughter a Zune from Walmart, pre-loaded with gay porn. More »

bill gates

Bill Gates: Don't Buy DRM Music

Uh, this is weird. Bill Gates gave an interview where he told people not to buy DRM music. Like the DRM music Microsoft sells in it's Zune Marketplace. Um. Ok, Bill. We won't:
    Gates said that no one is satisfied with the current state of DRM, which "causes too much pain for legitimate buyers" while trying to distinguish between legal and illegal uses. He says no one has done it right, yet. There are "huge problems" with DRM, he says, and "we need more flexible models, such as the ability to "buy an artist out for life" (not sure what he means). He also criticized DRM schemes that try to install intelligence in each copy so that it is device specific.
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zune

Zune "is a Complete, Humiliating Failure."

The Chicago Sun-Times does not like the Zune. At all. In much the same way as we delight in reading all the really nasty movie reviews excerpted on Metacritic, we really enjoyed this particular write up of the potentially ill-fated Zune. Here are some choice zingers: More »

zune

Zune: Slow to Start

ZDnet is reporting that Microsoft's iPod-killa is experiencing a slow start. ZDnet was unable to find the mp3 player at most retailers, and experienced mixed reviews at a local Best Buy. More »

microsoft

Microsoft DRMifies Your Own Music

You might have caught the Zune swoon in the blogosphere last week. For those who didn't catch it, Zune is Microsoft's planned iPod-killer: a device that is as often nifty (built in WiFi that allows you to share music with friends on the go) as it is underwhelming (30 gig hard drive, max.) More »

ipod

Teaser for Zune, Microsoft's iPod

Teaser for Microsoft's iPod-like device, the Zune (and maybe a few other devices, too). One thing in its favor, it features no gyrating shadows.
Via Jkrew. However, there does seem to be an inverse-relationship between the product values and boringness level. Most of the ad is preoccupied with showing us the target audience for the mp3 player. Their target is everyone. Try and figure out the titles on the director's sheet when they were casting for type. We've started a few for you. More »