Many articles in the press have chronicled the failure of Microsoft’s first-generation 30GB Zune MP3 players. They all simply froze on December 31, 2009. The remedy: they had to be powered on and allowed to completely discharge, and then wait until after 12:00 GMT on 1/1/09 before they could be used again. Total downtime – around 24 hours.
Microsoft is yearning to expand its market space into embedded systems in automobiles, military systems, and other areas. Am I being overly fearful of the consequences of a Microsoft whose products are even more deeply embedded into the machinery of our lives? Today is one of those days when I am distrustful of technology as a path for an easier life.
Articles:
Leap year Zune glitch persists for some (CNN)
Original Zune confounded by leap year, shuts down (Seattle Times)
Peter H. Gregory 