In the future, children will not even be able to identify a video shop. All movies and videos can be downloaded making it obsolete to visit the video store. Don’t laugh. When you ask a child to roll down the windows and they ask why, you will see exactly what I mean. They will soon feel the same about renting a movie Tubidy.
These benefits are significant, especially in these days of high gas prices. It is no longer necessary to travel to download your video content. The convenience of a mouse click is amazing. With more people viewing their computer as the central point of their entertainment system, it is time to say goodbye to the video store. Microsoft’s Vista operating software, which boasts incredible integrated video- and entertainment capabilities, was released. This is a huge step forward for the consumer who now considers their computer the center of their entertainment universe.
Millions of people bought iPODs and, in a lesser amount, Microsoft Zunes to view mobile video. This has made it easier to download content than to wait for it to arrive, or drive to get it. The 5th generation iPOD and Zune release in the final quarter of 2006 proved to be hugely successful. The video capable iPOD was a huge success, with apple selling 14 million units in just the fourth quarter of 2005. Despite having a bigger, more vibrant full-color screen, and WiFi networking capability that could have helped Microsoft close the gap to Apple, Zune sales have been slower.
Microsoft’s marketing strategy was a key reason the Zune failed to sell as well as the iPOD. Microsoft’s marketing strategy has not been clear enough to convey this information to buyers, despite the Zune being available in many colors. Another reason the Zune has had slow sales is Microsoft’s propensity for using marketing language to describe the Zune, instead of explaining to consumers why they need one. Microsoft says that the Zune isn’t a device. It’s a new entry in the new connected entertainment marketplace for creating new shared, social experiences based on content. ?
Microsoft introduced the Halo 3 edition Zune in May 2007 to try to recover their failed attempts to attract consumers’ imaginations. This special edition includes special Halo audio/video content including Halo soundtracks and theatrical trailers. Also, a special episode from Red vs Blue that is only available on the Zune. You can also find Halo 3 graphics on the Zune. The Halo 3 edition Zune was not available at Game Stop as of press time.
There are fewer technical reasons that the Zune failed to overtake the iPOD on the portable video player market. Their inexplicable decision not to include a scrollwheel from the Zune’s feature list is perhaps the most important. Although it looks like a scrollwheel, it’s actually just a cursor button like on a remote control for a TV. Many consumers don’t like the 4-way cursor for controlling their portable video players so they voted for the iPOD. The Zune is an excellent player. It also has great video quality for such a small device. Customers who purchased their units with this in mind have the option to download and watch all types of video, TV shows, movies, and other media on a very portable platform.
The iPOD allows audio downloads to be made using Apple’s AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, and WAV codes. H.264 is the standard for video content. It is also known by MPEG-4 part 10. This is the standard for high quality compressed video. Microsoft’s WMA, WMV, and MP3 formats are used by the Zune for audio and video, respectively. H.264 is supported for video and MP3 audio. Both players support JPEG file formats. You can convert files to various formats to allow video in other resolutions and formats to be saved and optimized for playback on both portable players.