New models of Microsoft's Zune media player prove that Microsoft is still Microsoft: It's one of the best companies in the world at doing the difficult job of learning from its mistakes.

The new Zunes are 4-Gbyte and 8-Gbyte Zune Nanos and an 80-Gbyte Zune Classic. They aren't called the Nano and Classic, of course -- that's what Apple calls the comparable models of the iPod. And the Zune Nano and Classic aren't even comparable to the iPod Nano and Classic. They're really very good takes on last year's Nano and Classic.

While that still leaves Microsoft playing catch up to Apple, the new Zunes do what they had to do, which is fix a lot of what was wrong with the original 30-Gbyte Zune. Where the original Zune was a plastic brick, the new Zunes are slim, sleek, sexy-to-the-touch objects. Where the original Zune had a cheap five-way rocker-switch control, the new Zunes have a touchpad that lets you scroll and set volume by sliding your finger across it, the way the iPod has taught us a player should work. Where the original Zune was wireless, but wouldn't sync wirelessly with your PC, the new Zunes do, and the setup is a breeze. Where the original Zune software didn't support RSS feeds and podcasts, the new Zunes do -- and they even call them "podcasts" in the onscreen menu, which I find very ... interesting. (Are Apple's lawyers taking the year off?)

In a year, Microsoft has learned a lot. How much? This much: last year if somebody had given me a Zune as a holiday present it would have probably wound up in a drawer. This year if somebody gives me a Zune I'd probably use it. That's a big improvement. But Microsoft still has to make an even bigger improvement if it's going to do more than just expend ego in the media player market -- next year it has to make me want to buy a Zune.

Read the rest of my blog post and leave a comment.

David DeJean
ddejean@dejean.com
www.informationweek.com

Verizon's Open Network: What's The Catch?
With all the buzz about Verizon promising to open its wireless network to third-party devices in 2008, I find myself being strongly skeptical. This could turn out to be an open network in nothing but name.

Is Verizon's Announcement Really The End Of Closed Wireless Networks?
Just how open will Verizon Wireless' open network be next year? Will Verizon offer true open network access? Or will the carrier use tiered pricing and other tactics to try to keep unapproved applications and devices off its network?

Feeling Grumpy About Your Job?
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Industry Begins To Weigh In On Verizon's Open Handset Policy
Microsoft is one of the first companies to formally announce that it supports Verizon's new "any apps, any device" idea. So far other companies have remained mum on the subject. You have to wonder what members of the Open Handset Alliance think.

Why Linus Isn't "Competing"
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Now That Verizon Wireless Is Opening Its Network, What's Next?
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Verizon Wireless's Walled Garden Comes Tumbling Down
Holy cell towers, Batman! In a stunning announcement, Verizon Wireless has promised that customers will be able to use "any app, any device" on its network starting next year. Is this the end of the walled garden as we know it?

Converting A Few Measly Page Views Into Real Business
Yodle, a specialist in placing online ads for small, local companies, has secured $12 million in second round venture funding. Its clients are the small-fries of Web commerce, but large enterprises could learn a few things from them.

Macworld May Disappoint iPhone Phreaks
The January classic will be bigger than ever and more comprehensive than in years past. But unless Apple makes an announcement, don't expect to get insider scoop on how to hack an iPhone at Macworld 2008.

Mozilla Fixes Memory And CPU Problems In Firefox 3 Beta 1
Mozilla.org says it fixed a problem with Firefox 3 Beta 1 that caused it to spike CPU usage and eat hundreds of megabytes of RAM. The fix involved changing the configuration of a server that Firefox communicates with, so you don't have to download a new version to take advantage of it.

Evaluating Security Effectiveness in Today's Web Threat Environment -- Websense, Inc.
This paper discusses the changing landscape of malware, emphasizing the recent shift to web-based attacks, the challenges that this shift presents to the modern organization, and the ways in which these new challenges can be adequately addressed.

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