¹ Microsoft Doesn't Want Apps for the Zune HD? - Thoughts Media Forums Zune Thoughts

Zune Thoughts.com

Thanks for visiting Zune Thoughts - be sure to register in our forums!

Laptop Thoughts

Loading feed...

Windows Phone Thoughts

Loading feed...

Digital Home Thoughts

Loading feed...


Go Back   Thoughts Media Forums > ZUNE THOUGHTS > Zune Talk
Reload this Page

Microsoft Doesn't Want Apps for the Zune HD?


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-10-2010, 08:38 PM
Jason Dunn
Executive Editor
Jason Dunn's Avatar
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
Default Microsoft Doesn't Want Apps for the Zune HD?
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=5541' target='_blank'>http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=5541</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"The current version of the XNA Game Studio suite (3.1) allows developers to build games that can run on Windows PCs, Xbox 360 and Zune media player devices. Version 4.0 is going to support Windows PCs, Xbox 360 consoles and Windows Phone 7 Series phones (but not the Zune HD), according to a blog post by Michael Klucher, Lead Program Manger for the XNA Development Platform."</em></p><p>OK, this is a bit of a head-scratcher for me. What I thought was going to happen was that when the Windows phone 7 ecosystem kicked off at the end of this year, we'd see a Windows Marketplace for Mobile that would address both the Windows phone 7 users and the Zune HD users. In fact, the millions of Zune HDs out there would serve as a good base for developers to code for. Instead, it's looking like XNA Game Studio Suite 4.0 isn't going to allow the Zune HD as a target platform...so now I'm completely confused. Microsoft doesn't want apps for the Zune HD? Or their plan is to continue the painfully slow process of building their app catalog one app at a time, all developed internally?</p><p>Or is it that second-generation Zune HD (presumably coming out in the fall of this year) will have a bigger screen running at WVGA resolution (800 x 480) and essentially be a Windows phone 7 without the phone components? And that's what Microsoft wants developers to code for - but not the Zune HD. If so, that sort of sucks - that leaves all the current Zune HD owners out in the cold in terms of apps. Is that really Microsoft's plan? What do you think?</p>
__________________
Want to contact me personally? Use this. Want to read my personal blog? Check it out. Want to follow me on Twitter? Here you go.
 
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-10-2010, 09:14 PM
albucian
Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 10
I think the zune HD is a bastard child, just a nice demo for WP7S.
Why would microsoft bother supporting an app market on such a different (and not so successful) hardware when they can start from scratch with the WP7S platform?
I'm a zune 80 user and fortunately I don't even have a Facebook app to mess around with...
 
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-10-2010, 09:21 PM
Alber1690
Intellectual
Alber1690's Avatar
Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 167
Send a message via MSN to Alber1690
As a Zune HD owner, it saddened me to think that they want to carry out such plans. When the Zune HD came out, it was people like us who made it a hot item on Amazon and gave it the attention it deserves. Now, it's like we were just buying an interim product with no real future... *sigh* How is it that the Zune 30 had a longer lifespan (all those firmware upgrades) and they're already killing ours...
 
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-10-2010, 09:39 PM
albucian
Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 10
Quote:
and they're already killing ours.
I do think they will continue to support the device with various firmware updates and perhaps some more apps and games from time to time...
 
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-10-2010, 09:54 PM
NSILMike
Pupil
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 10
...a bit of a head scratcher...? More like a huge head scratcher. I keep looking for a silver lining. I can't find one (yet?)
__________________
Zune MVP
 
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-10-2010, 11:02 PM
The Yaz
Thinker
The Yaz's Avatar
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 340
Maybe the Zune HD WAS the testbed for WP7?!?

Still, I can't seem to understand why they couldn't open it up for programmers to legitimately create and sell apps for it. I know the screen resolution is not WVGA but is it really that much work to give the programmer the option to offer his/her program to the Zune HD owners as well as WP7. I mean, if they choose to invest the time to tweek it to run on it, good for them...

(Now that Twitter & Facebook are finally out, I'm waiting for an e-book reader to capture all of my entertainment on the HD)

My real concern has always been Microsoft's view as to what is "disposable". If they thought the Zune HD was to bridge the gap to the WP7 devices or Zune HD V2, that's fine if they had priced the Zune HD agressively or come out with a reasonable buy back program to purchase the new version. Doing either or both would have been acceptable for me to consider moving up to a new player if the new investment was kept under $100 to $150.

Otherwise, like all of my tech from before, I'll be holding onto my HD for the next 3-4 years (or until my wife let's me buy a new one!) and I will sit and stew as everyone else has cooler toys to play with

Steve
 
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Thread Tools
Display Modes
Hybrid Mode Hybrid Mode

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:35 PM.

Contact Us - Thoughts Media Inc. - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top