Microsoft just recently confirmed their iPod and iTunes killer: Zune. According to Engadget, Zune is a brand and will be a “vertically integrated end-to-end solution”; not unlike Apple’s iPod + iTunes + iTunes Music Store trifecta. Basically, you’ll be able to buy a Zune media player, use Zune software to manage your media, and goto the Zune store to purchase new content. This is all quite interesting, but I think Microsoft is once again late coming to the market and is essentially copying a competitor… what a surprise. That’s not to say that this is a necessarily bad strategy. For example, I think their implementation with the XBox 360 platform is really top notch, and the video game market is better because of it. But I have reservations with them trying to take on the iPod and I don’t think they will be able to pull off another XBox-like success for a number of reasons.

First off, the market is already crowded with portable music devices from hundreds of different companies. Second, by offering a Zune store, they will be competing with other online music stores that also use Windows Media technology (read: everyone that’s not Apple). Third, and related to #2, music (or videos) purchased from the Zune store will only be usable on Zune-branded devices. That means music from Zune won’t work on media players like this. Fourth, it’s not iPod + iTunes compatible (obviously).

So all that to say, I don’t necessarily think Zune won’t be successful, but rather, Microsoft has got their work cut out for them. And if their ultra-mobile PC project is any indication, everyone will just kinda go meh when it launches later this year. More on Zune at these links: Slashdot, Engadget, Gizmodo, and elsewhere.

Btw, like chinese dumplings? It’s surprisingly easier than I thought it would be to make, we made the meat mix and wrapped them ourselves. The hardest part was probably driving out to an asian grocery to find the dumpling wrappers. Here’s proof: