Why the Zune never killed the iPod | Version History

In 2006, Microsoft came for the iPod's throne with an innovative MP3 player called the Zune. It had a bunch of features the iPod didn't: WiFi, music sharing, a bigger screen, a beautiful UI, even an FM radio. And to hear Microsoft describe it, it was even kind of a social network. Nilay Patel and Victoria Song join David Pierce to break down why, despite all that, the Zune never really took off. And why it came in brown. #Podcast #Technology #Nostalgia

0:00 The Early 2000s Music Dilemma
00:21 Introducing the Zune: Microsoft's Answer to the iPod
00:34 The Zune vs. iPod Debate
00:58 Personal Stories and Experiences with Early Music Players
02:27 The Zune's Unique Features and Design
06:56 Nilay's Joy Division Limited Edition Zune
09:15 Microsoft's Strategy and the Zune's Market Position
30:15 The Zune's Launch and Initial Reception
37:56 High School Nostalgia and the Zune's Features
38:13 The Zune's Preloaded Content
38:53 The Zune's Launch and Initial Reviews
39:17 The Zune's Struggles and Criticisms
47:15 The Zune's Market Performance and Microsoft's Efforts
49:52 The Zune's Decline and the Rise of Smartphones
52:42 The Zune's Legacy and Final Thoughts
56:38 Version History Questions

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Post from The Verge on November 02, 2025

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