Not all tech products succeed once on the market, and some are killed off with little warning. Flashback looks back at failed tech products to see what we can learn by studying their demises.

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    #2: The Microsoft Zune

    February 27th, 2020 · 51 minutes

    In the 2000s, the iPod was a true juggernaut, simply dominating the portable music player market. Microsoft wanted a piece of the pie, and launched the Zune 30, which eventually spread into a line of both hardware products and software services. However, it barely made a dent in Apple's commanding lead. This episode, Quinn and Stephen look into why the folks from Seattle failed so hard at taking on the iPod.

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    Download: MP3 (47.82 MB)

    Links and Show Notes

    iPod introduction (23 Oct 2001) - YouTube
    History of the iPod mini - YouTube
    The iPod Nano Introduction - YouTube
    iRiver
    Zune 30 - Wikipedia
    Universal Music get fee for every Zune sold | Engadget
    Labels hit back at Apple, now want share of iPod revenues | Engadget
    iTunes Price Changes Take Effect | Billboard
    Zune review | Engadget
    Microsoft Counting on a Twist to Make Zune Shine in Shadow of iPod - The New York Times
    Zune review - CNET
    Microsoft Zune | Ars Technica
    Microsoft Brings Zune HD Support to the Mac – The Mac Observer
    Zune 80 review | Ars Technica
    Wired Decides: Zune or iPod This Holiday Season? | WIRED
    Microsoft surpasses 2 million Zunes sold. Apple sells 3.53 million iPods a month | VentureBeat
    Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player - Stories
    Pollux Automatically Cleans and Tags Your iTunes Library
    Zune HD review | Engadget
    Zune HD review: Zune HD - CNET
    Metro (design language) - Wikipedia
    I Used a Windows Phone for a Week in 2018! I Will Miss It. - YouTube
    Microsoft’s Zune Delivers Connected Music and Entertainment Experience - Stories
    R.I.P. Microsoft Zune, 2006-2011 | TechCrunch
    The Zune Is Dead. Here's What to Do With Your Old One | WIRED
    Zune Subreddit
    Zune Update
    Zune Update - ARTWORK
    Microsoft's $1 Billion Failure - Snazzy Labs - YouTube

    Quinn's video on the Zune, published after this episode.