Microsoft Killing Off Zune, Windows Live Brands?

suraj.sun writes with this excerpt from The Verge: "Microsoft appears to be killing off two of its key user-facing brands with the upcoming Consumer Preview release of Windows 8. Windows Live applications have been rolled into preinstalled apps that work as the core 'Windows Communications' applications for Windows 8, and this lack of Windows Live branding is only the tip of the iceberg. 'Microsoft Account' will replace Windows Live ID in Windows 8, and the software giant has also removed traces of Zune from its Windows Store, Music, and Video applications, although Zune Pass functionality remains."

Re:Great

[masternerdguy]

You know real nerds can just disable unwanted services.

How can anyone invest themselves in MS?

[Anonymous Coward]

How can anyone invest themselves in any Microsoft product when they change branding/strategy/support so much? Even if a product manages to stay around over 3-5 years, they give it an overhaul and change the way it works so people have to get used to it all over again. .Net, Live!, PlaysForSure, Zune, Silverlight, among many others, and they also drop support for older file formats and push half-assed standards over established certified ones.

Killed?

[Anonymous Coward]

There's a difference between killing and rebranding. Aside from the Zune hardware I don't see a single thing I would consider "killed" by Microsoft. And I'd even accept that idea that the Zune isn't being killed but instead reintroduced in a slightly more integrated format.

Good Idea

[milbournosphere]

The Zune's biggest problem was horrible branding. I've used one a couple of times and it was a solid device. But the marketing agent who decided making a 'squirt' service available on a device available in poo-brown was a good idea doomed the device and was hopefully fired. Frankly, I'm surprised the name lasted even longer than the device. Killing a bad brand name like that is a wise decision.

Re:Back to the classics

[ackthpt]

Considering MSFT's stock being up 20% this year - a lot of people think you are wrong.

BEEEP Lack of context penalty!

Why is MSFT stock up 20%? Is it irrational exuberance? Did they shave unproductive brands/divisions? Cut workforce? Move more workforce to countries where workers are paid a fraction of high western wages? Give some background to defend your assertion.

Re:Finally!

[medv4380]

I'm shocked myself. I had assumed that it was already dead, and thus MS didn't need to kill anything.

None of them do the same thing

[SuperKendall]

Come on, none of the examples you give work. Google might kill something occasionally but what is still there doesn't fundamentally change identity every few years. Apple keeps development stuff around forever, just building atop it.

Someone who used Oracle five years ago probably wouldn't have any trouble starting in on Oracle again today. Linux, I can still use a WM I used 20 years ago if I feel like it...

Re:Good Idea

[interval1066]

That was the difference. Branding. Apple had a thousand brilliant marketing campaigns that sold millions of iPods. The Zune came in shit bown. Never hire the marketing geniuses behind the Zune. Soon it won't matter any more. Anyone who is still buying a device separate from their phone to listen to music needs to have their head examined.

Re:Finally!

[SethJohnson]

Here's some food for thought regarding your interest in understanding why companies develop products that are destined to fail.

When these CEOs have to meet with shareholders and the board of directors, they have to face questions about what the company is doing in response to the success other companies are having with a certain product. There is intense pressure on them to have an answer.

This is why Microsoft has things like their storefronts. So Ballmer can tell the shareholders they're doing a 'me-too' in response to the Apple store success. It's also why HP bought Palm and released the TouchPad. It's why motorola released the Xoom. It's why RIM released the PlayBook.

Seth

Re:Good Idea

[coinreturn]

Anyone who is still buying a device separate from their phone to listen to music needs to have their head examined.

No. Some of us don't see the need for a smart phone. I get a new shiny basic phone free from Verizon every two years.

Re:None of them do the same thing

[Ihmhi]

Apple changes things at pretty much the same rate...

Exactly! Remember when they completely shut down iTunes 5 years ago?