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 Subscribe: http://goo.gl/G5RXGs Like The Verge on Facebook: https://goo.gl/2P1aGc Follow on Twitter: https://goo.gl/XTWX61 Follow on Instagram: https://goo.gl/7ZeLvX Follow on TikTok: http://bit.ly/42VeCVU Watch The Vergecast on YouTube: https://bit.ly/40RFRkg The Vergecast Podcast: https://bit.ly/3WQDexZ Decoder with Nilay Patel: http://apple.co/3v29nDc More about our podcasts: https://www.theverge.com/podcasts Read More: http://www.theverge.com Community guidelines: http://bit.ly/2D0hlAv Wallpapers from The Verge: https://bit.ly/2xQXYJr Shop our Verge merch store here: https://bit.ly/4kPCmEc Subscribe to The Verge: https://bit.ly/3FT6n5S Subscribe to The Vergecast on YouTube, new episodes on Tuesday and Friday: https://bit.ly/3I6nJtz If you buy something from a Verge link, Vox Media may receive a commission without exerting any influence on editorial content. For more information about our ethics policy, visit: https://www.theverge.com/ethics-state...

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