Full FeedMicrosoft fails with pre-roll ads for Zune applications
Microsoft has opened their own version of Apple’s App Store, which comes as no surprise to me considering every company on the face of the earth appears to be creating one these days. These “Apps,” which can be downloaded from the “Marketplace,” are all free, professionally designed and coded by Microsoft for their store, and available for their new Zune HD media device. However, free is the key word in this phrase. Microsoft has decided to use pre-roll ads each time an application is launched to get their money out of them. Check it out in action in the video from Ars Technica below.
Now why would Microsoft take such a great thing and completely ruin the joy of using them? Other than greatly disturbing the user experience by forcing people to watch a pre-roll ad they probably aren’t even interested in, it takes away from the actual app experience as well (i.e. the first impression is bad). Apple offers free applications through their store, so why can’t Microsoft? Sure, the App Store has many more downloads and applications than Microsoft (as of now, there are only 9 apps available), but I’m sure MS can spare the change. One of the major points of applications on a mobile device is to waste some time while waiting on a train, etc. Watching pre-roll ads just takes more time away from this. If you ask me, this was an epic fail by MS.
Via [Ars Technica
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Man I think that’s really bad, and a poor decision on Microsoft’s part. If it is a third party app I could understand. But as you say, it’s not like Microsoft need the cash, and this does give a poor first impression.
How does it compare to the iPod touch otherwise?
on September 18, 2009 at 11:31 AM - LINKPlease stop with the “Fail” BS, every site I go to now, “Microsoft Fails” “Apple Fails” “Dell Fails” etc. I’m so sick of it.
Barry Ward, I don’t think a Apple site is going to give a far comparison between a Apple product and a Microsoft product. When it comes to competition they only seem to show the negative. Try Engadget or Gizmodo, something like that.
From what I have read the on the Zune HD, If your main thing is music get the Zune(zune pass), if you need apps get the touch.
on September 19, 2009 at 10:52 AM - LINK