CID 01: Zune's marketing strategy

Current Department of Interest

Now that the Microsoft Zune fever is catching up on me, and the device itself available from the 13th of November, there have been a few marketing mediums that Microsoft had chose.

1. Word of mouth
Even though, the Zune community isn't a big group in comparison to the big iPod, the user community had been active and very loyal. There were a few forums where Zune related news were discussed in length. Inside scoops, news on the next available update, etc. What Microsoft did was brilliant. It heard what users in those forums had to say. They came up with this ZuneInsider (Hard to say if it was planned or not, but I love conspiracy). A guy who is a part of the Zune team giving inside information that was otherwise unavailable to the general public. This along with another Zune-Spy really paved the way, when Microsoft came up with the designs for the next generation Zunes, the Zune 2. The whole of the internet underground was abuzz with the rumours. Most of these were picked by iFanBoys (Nick name for Apple fans) sincerely picked up these news and started bashing it, giving Zune the much needed recognition. As there are a whole bunch of unbiased people out in those forums, the bashing of iFanBoys invoked curiosity. A job well done!

2. Press Meet
One thing that I like about Microsoft is always there low-key promotional events marking the unveiling of any new product. Very little information was provided unlike Apple, a full-fledged demo of their product by Steve Jobs is done on a big stage with all the press from the world. At least in this case I suspect that Microsoft felt that they were lagging behind in terms of Zune, but are fast catching up. I guess that's the reason why there was no such big hoopla. This left everyone begging for information.

3. Print Ads
There has been two print ads till date. One spanning five pages and the other two. On the psychedelic side, but definitely to evoke curiosity among the readers. How many times have you been curious to find a full page ad and dying to know the product? This did the job.

4. TV Ads
One of the most important forms of advertising and did Microsoft struck it right? Only time will tell. Here are the two TV spots. You be the judge. A word of caution though.

UPDATE:
These two TV ads are in the top 15 commercials
AdForum
AdCritic

I think my cousin would be in a better position to appreciate the nuances of marketing as he earns his bread in the world of ads :)

CEO 01: Microsoft Zune

My first post under CEO: Current Excitement & Obsession

I have been looking for a good media player. Not wanting any of Apple's products, I was searching for an alternative. That's when I came to know that Microsoft was releasing it's own digital media player for the holidays of 2006. The first impression on the device, ZUNE, was an utter disappointment for me. It had a boxy look with an ugly design called the double-shot with click buttons. I hated it.

Zune (First Generation)

I knew one thing, that Microsoft will release updates to their firmware and they did it in between, but not up to the mark. Their wireless and radio feature had my hopes still standing. On Oct 2nd, there it was, Microsoft came out with its second generation Zune. It evoked quite some interest.

Zune (Second Generation)

In a hurry they had got an already available device from Toshiba for last year. For this year, after all the media bashing, Microsoft had changed almost everything in it.

Even though I had been following the events very closely days before that, the actual demo videos of Zune made me buy the idea. Now, I am totally into Zune.

The new Zunes are to be released on Nov 13th. There is a lot of interest in the new version as iPod fans (Read Apple fans) are trying to find something or the other to play them down.

I am buying myself a Zune for sure. Whether it is a 8 GB or an 80 GB is a question, which I will decide on Nov 13th.

My C's: Categories of my Crap

I have, in the past, limited my posts to somethings that excite me a lot. Even though I am a person who doesn't express stuff freely in writings, I tried to get that out to have my "Freedom of Expression" thing going on, I have always felt reclusive. In order to get this as a self-morale-boosting thing, I have come up with the idea of categorizing my posts into various C's.

All of them have the same pattern - The simultaneous thought processes on the same thing, as my small under-utilized brain tries to comprehend.

So here we go, the following are some of the stuff that I think will be the future categories of The Excelsior's blogs.

CEO: Current Excitement & Obsession
I have this kind of in-built (My Vocabulary) or as they say in normal language in-born quality of inquisitiveness that gets me interested in something. It so happens that sometimes it starts growing on me that I even don't mind not eating while getting information on that stuff, till my interest dies out on that topic. Normally this kind of thing lasts for a few days and sometimes a few weeks too.

CA: Current Agony
As the name implies, when I learn about some stuff, it gets me agonizing. These posts belong to that category and is a good vent for my frustration. You might see my true self in this.

CID: Current Department of Interest
You might ask, "What the Hell... How can it be CID... Shouldn't it be CDI?" I say "What the Hell... What is Ph.D.?" to shut your mouth. By the way, it sounds cool and that's the reason behind CID. Anyways, most of my posts might fall under this category. Mostly related to the latest CEO of mine at any point of time. You would know what I am doing, during any week, on the Internet.

CORE: Current Or Recent Events
These are the current events that are happening or any recent events that happened in my life. Mostly this might have to do with my daily activities, but watch out, it will have travelogues interspersed giving an idea as to whether you want to visit the place that became Holy after I made the visit.

Now that the context has been set for my future posts, I am looking forward to interest, amaze and at some times bore the hell out of you all. By the way, if you are bored it means that the topic of post is uninteresting only to you and not others.

Wooohhooooooo.... Me the blogging...

All's Mine: My recent purchases

Hmmm.... This is one of those off-topic posts, more about my personal possessions which I am always privy about. Discussing anything personal always puts me in one of those positions called "Uncomfortable". I hate them. Yet, I have managed to share some for the interest just because I am bored right now.

So, this post is about what I have bought of late. Online shopping has been the most favourite thing. When I moved to Charlotte from Chicago, I set up everything electronically. Hail the Internet. At the same time, I have made some stupid decisions in spite of all the information available, proving once again my decisions in haste always sucks!

Coming back to the topic, here are the list of e-stuff that I bought recently (In the year 2007).

1. 1998 Honda Civic LX (The only non e-stuff but worth mentioning :))
2. Blackberry Pearl
3. Plantronics Bluetooth Headset
4. Python Keyless entry & Alarm
5. Skyscan Atomic Clock
6. Mio C220 Digiwalker Portable GPS
7. Kensington Ci65m Wireless Mouse
8. HP DVD 940 Lightscribe External DVD Writer
9. iPod Nano 4 GB
10. A 1 GB RAM for the PC at Chennai
11. ADS Digital Photo Frame (The worst buy of 2007)

With my planned trip to India during the Holidays, bought a few stuff for my immediate relatives. Honestly, I have been running out of ideas. Whatever I feel like buying, seems to scare the shit out of me. What if they don't like it? What if they already have it? What if you can get the same thing there (and that too at a lesser price)? Everything points only to one thing. Embarrassment. I have put in more than 16 hours worth of effort in searching for stuff. Invariably I end up getting stuff for my "Grumpy" sis. She does get on to my nerves at times, but she is sweet. So I end up getting stuff for her.

Still haven't finished my shopping, but have to do that within the next couple of weeks before I take-off for a sweet ride back home. Its been 2 years now.