Does Microsoft exec move signal Zune change?

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Does Microsoft exec move signal Zune change?

A vice president from Microsoft's eHome Division, who oversaw initiatives including Windows Media Center, has shifted to the Zune team, according to the latest Microsoft organizational chart from the independent Directions on Microsoft research firm. The question: Does the change indicate a new direction for the company's iPod competitor?

Joe Belfiore

Joe Belfiore, an 18-year Microsoft veteran, is now a Zune corporate vice president, "responsible for Zune strategy and product development," according to his updated listing on the Directions on Microsoft org chart. The chart is based on information from people at Microsoft, and it is widely used and referenced inside the company. A Zune representative wasn't immediately able to confirm the change. As of Tuesday afternoon, Belfiore's online bio still has him in the eHome Division, but those aren't always up to date.

Based on Belfiore's background in Windows Media Center, one possibility is that the company is looking to increase Zune's focus on video, said Matt Rosoff, an analyst with Directions on Microsoft.

At the same time, it's not clear how Belfiore's role will mesh with that of Rick Thompson, a vice president who was shifted to the Zune team last year. "Right now it just seems like it's too small of a product set to warrant two corporate vice presidents," Rosoff said.

More info to come as it's available.

Update, 3:30 p.m.: Still no confirmation or details from Microsoft, but ZDNet blogger Mary Jo Foley has more, linking Belfiore to a project called "Zune Video X," which stands for Video Experience. Citing an anonymous source, she reports it would be "a single hub where Zune users could buy and download music, videos, TV shows and more entertainment content."

Posted by at April 15, 2008 1:37 p.m.
Categories: Digital Media, Windows, Zune

Comments

#117992

Posted by unregistered user at 4/15/08 1:52 p.m.

Probably related to this: http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/04/13/rumor-zune-mobile-in-the-works

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#118058

Posted by BeenHereAWhile at 4/15/08 3:34 p.m.

Mr Bishop, I don't suppose you could refrain from all this surmising and supposing and get back to actually publishing news? All this "what if" stuff is just plain unproductive.

Why not just ask Joe Belfiore what his plans are before publishing anything? You know, do some actual reporting.

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#118060

Posted by CrowTRobot at 4/15/08 3:39 p.m.

Jeez, can you think of a worse job than trying to come up with anything that can compete with Apple's iPod / iPhone / iTunes Store lineup? iTunes Store recently surpassed Walmart as the #1 seller of music - not just downloads but ALL music. Microsoft never comes up with anything original - it always comes out with a "me too" product to challenge others (Zune vs. iPod; Xbox vs. Playstation; Silverlight vs. Adobe Flash; a bid for Yahoo! vs. Google; etc. With all of the brainpower hanging out in Redmond, it's sad that they are nothing more than a bunch of copy cats. They are the corporate version of the hustler selling Rolex knockoffs on a New York street corner.

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#118254

Posted by unregistered user at 4/16/08 8:23 a.m.

Zune is an embarrassment and synonymous with failure. "Vice President of Zune Development". Who would hire someone with that on their resume? It's pretty funny if you think about it.

As the comedian said, "Zune zucks".

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#119704

Posted by unregistered user at 4/20/08 12:38 p.m.

I would say that moving from Media Center division to zune would be a step up. Comparing a Zune to an Ipod is an understandable exercise. Comparing MCE, Zune and Xbox to the overall Itunes, Ipod, Phone Apple TV ease of use experience is truly an embarrassment.

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#121258

Posted by unregistered user at 4/24/08 9:53 a.m.

Posted by Matthew W. I. Dunn

No more video; no more downloading; no more shaved-headed, "wannabe-cool" geeks posing with Bill:

The software sucks;
The battery life sucks;
The accessories suck.

You MSFT people can't even handle the High Math it takes to put a clock on the Zune. You want to go forward into entertainment "hubs"

FIX THE BUGS AND OTHER ISSUES ***FIRST*** . . . then, come at me with new ideas and fresh directions.

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