Microsoft introduced Zune today. But you wouldn’t really know it. The marketing has been strangely quiet. So after hearing that it has been officially introduced, I go to Microsoft’s web site to learn more about this gadget. Hmm. Nothing on the front page. Well maybe it’s under the mobile section…no. Not there. By this point the marketing-knowledgeable part of me is thinking this really isn’t good marketing. Granted Microsoft has been burned in the past for over-hyping some of its technologies that later underperformed to the market’s expectations (Origami being the most recent example). But this is so low key as to practically not exist. The fact that I had to use Microsoft’s search form to find it does not bode well for the product. Of course people will probably blog about it and that will increase market awareness…but no front page entry? It doesn’t look good. It looks like Microsoft is trying to quickly shove the dead body under the carpet and hope no one notices. And you know what? No one will. (It looks like they have some dynamic feed on the first page now and it has a short blurb about the Zune intro…but that’s like 1% of the front page and I sure the heck didn’t notice it until just now). And it looks like the press/PR lines are going to tout it as well. So maybe it won’t die in silence…
I’ve purposely left out a direct link so you all can experience the underwhelming marketing experience of what is Microsoft’s Zune. Very zen-like I suppose. Ah…I crack myself up sometimes.
Some other notes: The design of the identity – interesting concept, I’m not sold on its execution – it just gets too confusing in my opinion, especially in black (it looks like a mess of lines).
Product colors: Normally I’m not a fan of brown. Probably something to do with my dislike of the 70’s. Oh, brown can be done tastefully. And here I think it works. Brown will be Zune’s version of the pink iPod mini. Otherwise I’m not terribly enthusiastic over the product design. I think I’d have to play with it to make up my mind. And the bar is pretty high because of my iPod experience.
Packaging: I think the packaging colors is the most exciting thing about Zune that I’ve seen. I mean mixing pink with brown! Get out of here! Those MS rebels! Okay not really. The colors are definitely interesting and do jump out. But the fact that I’m interested more in the colors then the product…that’s like a kid being more excited by the box then the toy. Perhaps that’s the angle Microsoft is looking for…
Anyway, that’s some of my thoughts on Zune and it’s marketing (or lack thereof).
Updated to correct some bad grammar. Proof that I’m not perfect.