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Hi. I’m a Big Mac and I’m a Vente Soy Latte

by John Paczkowski
Posted on September 16, 2008 at 9:20 AM PT

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How neatly Microsoft’s latest Zune promotion encapsulates the differences between its also-ran digital media player and Apple’s iPod. As promised, Microsoft today uncrated its next-generation Zune. Along with it, the company rolled out a Zune 3.0 firmware update that enables the device to download songs directly from the Zune Marketplace over Wi-Fi. And in homage to Apple’s iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store at Starbucks (SBUX), Microsoft announced a similar partnership.

With McDonald’s (MCD). (Did somebody say McDonald’s?)

Under the terms of the company’s deal with the fast-food chain, Zune owners will be given free Wi-Fi access in any of the restaurant’s locations that support it. So, Apple (AAPL) inks an exclusive partnership with an “upmarket” coffee retailer. Microsoft (MSFT) strikes deal with the Golden Arches.

Five bucks and a pound of StumpTown’s Hair Bender says the next episode in Microsoft’s new “Simple Life” ad campaign features Chairman Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld sharing Zune-to-Zune Squirts over Big Macs. …

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  • Jon Massengill
    Although the golden arch is a popular place for a quick bite to eat, I just cant imagine sitting down and downloading in a hard uncomfortable wooden chair, while stuffing my face with fat. Microsoft needs to come up with a better game plan here with a more inviting environment to please their customers. Apple once again taking it to the top by picking a place like Starbucks. Not only is it a more chill atmosphere with comfy lounge chairs, but you can even go there on a diet. kudos to Apple.
  • Jackson West
    Hmmm, I think you're right about a MickeyD's cobranding, but I'm almost willing to wager the opposite because the StumpTown sure is some good coffee.
  • The Zune has no browser, email or apps that can use the Internet. So all you can do is buy songs over wifi. Does not sound like the social has yet to start, I say to this announcement, BIG DEAL!
  • It does seem like a strange marriage. McDonalds is great at selling food and toys. I know there has been a lot of remodeling of its stores to make them more like coffee shops. I've been searching for the past few weeks and I still have not met anyone who owns a Zune or knows someone who has one.
  • Cyndy Aleo-Carreira
    Starbucks is the hipster paradise, but I find myself, with kids, in a McDonald's far more often than in a Starbucks, with their nasty burned coffee and customer disdain for the presence of children. Not everyone is the Valley early adopter with iPhone in one hand and Starcrack frapp in the other.
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About John

John Paczkowski has been poking fun at the tech industry and the personalities that drive it since 1997. From 1999 to 2007, he wrote the award-winning tech news Web log Good Morning Silicon Valley for the San Jose Mercury News, Silicon Valley's daily newspaper. Read more »

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