From 8-Track to Zune – How Times Have Changed

Music as we know it is constantly evolving. From teen pop, to Motown, to folk, to grunge, to rap, the music we listen to has changed. And also changing is the way we listen to music.

Do you remember an eight-track, or maybe a walkman? Once considered the latest and greatest inventions in the music industry, these are now obsolete.

Today, we now have iPods, and we no longer just listen to AM radio, or even FM for that matter. Radio stations have gone HD, which allows them to broadcast digitally; thus allowing for more listening options on the radio. If you like country, just one station over from your standard country station is one that plays only classic country. Maybe hip-hop is your cup of tea, then most likely you local urban station has a digital station dedicated to current rap hits. HD radio provides us with more opportunity to customize our radio listening.

And with this transition comes another innovation that I find quite interesting, the Zune. The Zune is Microsoft’s competitor to the iPod Touch. The Zune is different in that it allows the user to listen to HD Radio. But, since the Zune has to compete with the ever-popular iPod Touch, I began to think: “how can it possibly compete?” iPod has been a market stronghold for years, and brand loyalty has developed. In fact, sometimes I think the iPod revolutionized how we listen to music today. Now can the company that brought us Windows and other software innovations take the top spot away from Apple?

Well, leave it to PC Magazine to provide ways the Zune can overpower the iPod Touch. Check out this article at
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2353093,00.asp

So, do you think the Zune can compete?