Image Source: guybo on Flickr

As we start to see a little more (lame) reaction from Microsoft, today’s farcical, comical (if you don’t own one) Zune Swoon just looks worse and worse.  Here is their latest reaction, via the Zune Thoughts site:

Early this morning we were alerted by our customers that there was a widespread issue affecting our 2006 model Zune 30GB devices (a large number of which are still actively being used). The technical team jumped on the problem immediately and isolated the issue: a bug in the internal clock driver related to the way the device handles a leap year. The issue should be resolved over the next 24 hours as the time change moves to January 1, 2009. We expect the internal clock on the Zune 30GB devices will automatically reset tomorrow (noon, GMT). By tomorrow you should allow the battery to fully run out of power before the unit can restart successfully then simply ensure that your device is recharged, then turn it back on. If you’re a Zune Pass subscriber, you may need to sync your device with your PC to refresh the rights to the subscription content you have downloaded to your device.

So the good news is supposedly this issue will largely fix itself when the date changes tomorrow – but as one of the lucky, lucky (insert your own very low and humorous number here) Zune 30GB owners round the world, this latest response from MS really winds me up for a few reasons …

Why does the latest update from MS make me mad / disappointed / fed up:

First and foremost, the cause that’s been identified is a leap year issue.  An inability to cope with a leap year.  Not something wild and crazy and brand new – a basic, any programmer even near to being worth their salt knows about this sort of issue.  A never ever make it through code checking and Q&A type issue.  Guess the world needed fodder for a few more Microsoft jokes eh.

Second because I still need to run down my Zune’s battery, recharge it, and probably re-sync it to get past all this nonsense.  Probably not much could’ve been done to avoid that, but even so it’s a pain in the arse – as many things are with the Zune.

Also because there’s as yet no major Apology / PR response from MS.  The problem (and solution we hope) update is fine (and it contained a brief apology) – but where is any sort of ‘We’re sorry for this monumentally stupid balls up” or “Our users will be compensated” response from MS?  Yesterday I honestly could not have imagined a way for the image of the Zune (or even MS for that matter) to get much worse.  Oops.

I like my Zune a lot, but today’s fiasco does not make me feel warm and fuzzy about it.  Instead, I am embarassed once again to be a Zune owner.  I think MS should get on with compensating their Zune users in a big and attention-grabbing way – do something to fight against the ‘laughing stock’ image.  I reckon *A LOT* of free songs are in order …

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