Microsoft Zune

[Gamma Ray]

This looks very cool, IMO. It even has more features than the iPods.

The player will have a 30GB hard drive, built-in FM tuner, 3.0-inch screen, and 802.11 wireless. The wireless networking connects your Zune to other Zunes, letting you share "full-length sample tracks of select songs", your recordings, your playlists and your pictures with others. You can listen to a track from another person for up to three days, after which you'll have to buy it from the Zune Marketplace store—their official name for the store.

The Zune Marketplace can be used as a per-song purchase plan—like iTunes—or you can subscribe to a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee—like Napster. There's also pre-loaded music on your Zune from several smaller record labels, not to mention music videos.

Some accessories for the Zune are the Zune Car Pack, which is an FM-tuner with AutoSeek and Zune Car Charger, the Zune Home A/V pack, which lets you connect your Zune to your TV or home stereo system, and the Zune Travel Pack, which gives you headphones, a remote, a bag, a sync cable and an AC adapter. Microsoft is working with other manufacturers like Altec Lansing, Belkin, Griffin, harman Kardon, JBL and more to make additional accessories.

No pricing information or launch date yet.

 

[jaguarr]

Rarely has a product been so appropriately hued as Microsoft's repackaged Toshiba Gigabeat in brown. It's appropriately dressed for its inevitable date to circle the bowl. They didn't even announce a freakin' price point on this thing. Seriously, the iPod has nothing to fear from Zune. Now, if I were Creative or Sandisk I'd probably be pissed.

jag

 

[jaguarr]

Ouch.

Two days after Apple refreshed and lowered the prices on its iPod line (and thereby wrought havoc on Microsoft's launch plans), Microsoft today announced its own 30 Gigabyte Zune music player. This first product in the Zune line is, in fact, a rebadged Toshiba Gigabeat. It offers an FM tuner, will be available in black, brown, and white, and will provide wireless connectivity between Zune devices. In its press release, Microsoft commented on the Zune-to-Zune wireless sharing:


Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.


That sounds pretty restrictive from where we sit and a far cry from a the unlimited WiFi sharing previously rumored. It will be interesting to see consumer reaction to this feature and whether it actually drives or inhibits Zune sales.

But from a marketing point of view, this was not really an announcement, since Microsoft neither announced the price nor made the product available to consumers. Microsoft also declined to mention a launch date. Yet, the lack of any actual product didn't stop Microsoft from immediately positioning Zune as a platform:


“The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning,” said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft, who is leading the charge for building the family of Zune products. “With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections.”



But consumers don't care about platforms. They want music players that look cool, work seamlessly, and don't require paying monthly fees forever to listen to their own music. And pre-announcing a product without pricing, availability, and actual services is just a waste of a press release.

Microsoft had an opportunity to build some mystery around the features that would actually be in Zune and some buzz about what the Zune experience would be like. But with Microsoft laying out the major features of Zune now, it is letting consumers compare Apple's new fifth generation iPods with Zunes head-to-head with an important distinction: consumers can buy Apple iPods and can't buy Zunes.

Microsoft may have thought it needed to do this announcement to respond to Steve Jobs' event this week and staunch the new flood of iPod sales. But if Microsoft thought they were going to spoil Apple's biggest iPod Christmas ever, it just threw away one of its chances to do so.


jag

 

[Bat Attack]

Mmm, I looove my iPod.

 

[Godchilla]

hm zune may be better than the ipod video... but the next ipod series will kick zune's ass

 

[jaguarr]

hm zune may be better than the ipod video... but the next ipod series will kick zune's ass

Considering that it's just a recycled Toshiba Gigabeat, which was a gigantic and abyssmal failure, I'm thinkin'.....no.

jag

 

[Godchilla]

microsoft won't put a piece of **** againt the ipod, they want to get into competition...

 

[Topdawg]

those greedy bastards.

 

[jaguarr]

microsoft won't put a piece of **** againt the ipod, they want to get into competition...

See, I don't think Microsoft is really after iPod/iTunes Music Store share, to be honest. I think they're REALLY after the smaller percentage of the market that's NOT owned by the iPod, which is pretty substantial dollars on it's own and is fragmented by players like Creative and Sandisk. It won't take much for even a subpar player and experience to steal that little bit of marketshare away from those particular players, in all reality. The iPod may be something they're looking to unseat as a really long term goal after they've refined their product and music store, but this first version of that effort's not gonna do it. Rumor has it that their price point for this thing is higher than Apple's price points and they're trying to figure out a way to get the cost down on it and that's why they haven't released a price structure for it.

jag

 

[Mentok]

Wait for the second gen ZUNE. Dont bother getting this first gen version.

 

[Gamma Ray]

Considering that it's just a recycled Toshiba Gigabeat, which was a gigantic and abyssmal failure, I'm thinkin'.....no.

jag

How is every new iPod not a rehash of the last? What amazing new technologies have they added recently? The new "5th gen" iPods offer nothing new (for the avg user), besides more memory and lower price.

I appreciate Microsoft's attempt. It looks great, but I'll wait to read CNet's reviews.

 

[jaguarr]

How is every new iPod not a rehash of the last? What amazing new technologies have they added recently? The new "5th gen" iPods offer nothing new (for the avg user), besides more memory and lower price.

I appreciate Microsoft's attempt. It looks great, but I'll wait to read CNet's reviews.

Are you serious? Did you not see all of the functionality improvements and additions they made to the user interface and featuresets of the iPod itself? The updates to the iTunes software that enhance what you can do to manage your music? The iPod's brilliance is it's simplicity, to be honest. It's designed to do one thing and do it well. What else are you expecting it to be able to do? Wash and wax your car?

jag

 

[Colossal Spoons]

Wait for the second gen ZUNE. Dont bother getting this first gen version.

That's the plan.

 

[AndThePickles]

Think I'll stick with my Creative Zen.

 

[Bat Attack]

Are you serious? Did you not see all of the functionality improvements and additions they made to the user interface and featuresets of the iPod itself? The updates to the iTunes software that enhance what you can do to manage your music? The iPod's brilliance is it's simplicity, to be honest. It's designed to do one thing and do it well. What else are you expecting it to be able to do? Wash and wax your car?

jag

Hell yeah.

 

[Gamma Ray]

Are you serious? Did you not see all of the functionality improvements and additions they made to the user interface and featuresets of the iPod itself? The updates to the iTunes software that enhance what you can do to manage your music? The iPod's brilliance is it's simplicity, to be honest. It's designed to do one thing and do it well. What else are you expecting it to be able to do? Wash and wax your car?

jag

Wi-Fi, or at least Bluetooth for one. And an FM tuner should be standard on every MP3 player these days (it comes in some of the cheapest ones, why not iPods?). The new iPod should have had a widecreen.

Oh, and Apple needs to find something to scratch proof their stuff!

 

[jaguarr]

Wi-Fi, or at least Bluetooth for one. And an FM tuner should be standard on every MP3 player these days (it comes in some of the cheapest ones, why not iPods?). The new iPod should have had a widecreen.

Let's see. Zune's wi-fi only works with other Zune's...sort of. It comes with an FM tuner (but you can get one for your iPod from Apple that's built into their headphones if you really want one; personally I HATE the radio and never want to listen to it if I have my music with me on my iPod so it's not a feature I want). And, Zune has a smaller screen that your much maligned iPod. Doesn't sound like Microsoft is really addressing your needs, either.

jag

 

[Gamma Ray]

I never said it was. But I think it suits me better than the iPod as it is now. Either way, I doubt I'll get either since I'm always looking for the best product (one that doesn't exist).

 

[jaguarr]

I never said it was. But I think it suits me better than the iPod as it is now. Either way, I doubt I'll get either since I'm always looking for the best product (one that doesn't exist).

I'm thinking that's part of the issue, man. You're after something that doesn't exist in the marketplace to date. Can't beat up Apple or Microsoft or any other company for not having the machine of your dreams on the market right friggin' now, ya know. I have a feeling we'll see the widescreen iPod eventually, but there are probably some major battery life issues to sort out before they release such an animal. Same goes for Wi-fi or bluetooth. All of those things are battery hogs and battery life is one of the number one consumer priorities for these kinds of devices.

jag

 

[jaguarr]

Heh!

jag

http://www.canada.com/topics/finance/story.html?id=0013a614-239a-4210-89f5-7993f86d64fd&k=40444

Microsoft Corp. market researchers in Quebec found themselves in a potential linguistic pickle when they conducted consumer test-runs of the digital music player Zune, which the company officially announced on Thursday will be competing by Christmas with Apple's hugely successful iPod.

A Microsoft spokeswoman in Montreal told CanWest News Service that ``it was pointed out to us'' during focus groups in the province that the proposed brand name sounded much like a French-Canadian term used as a euphemism for penis or vagina.

The French word ``zoune'' and the variant ``bizoune'' typically serve as a less jolting way of referring to male or female genitalia when addressing children.

``It's very much slang,'' said Nathalie Bergeron, noting that the words are not common parts of French-Canadian vocabulary.

``Microsoft did do extensive customer research in Quebec,'' Bergeron added, and concluded that the name Zune was ``very effective'' and posed no risk of becoming known as an embarrassing double entendre.

``It's quite a stretch,'' she said.

In a statement about Zune branding sent to CanWest News Service on Thursday evening, Microsoft said: ``Our focus with Zune is to create meaningful brand for consumers that represents the exploration and discovery of music and entertainment through community. We looked for a word that sounds active and fun, while suggesting an association with music and technology. We are aware that similar pronunciations may have other meanings, but our intent was to create a new name and new brand that we could create meaning for.''

But sounds of snickering over the apparent Zune branding predicament have been emanating for months from technology-obsessed corners of the Internet.

In July, during an earlier round of publicity about Microsoft's plans to introduce Zune, the British-based business news site theinquirer.net revealed the potential ``naming conundrum'' in Quebec under the headline: ``My Zune is bigger than yours.''

A Quebec resident posting to the website crazyapplerumors.com argued that ``zoune'' was so inoffensive it translated roughly as ``wee-wee.''

But he added: ``All of Quebec has been giggling for the last couple of days at the thought of Mr. Gates swearing that there was an 80 per cent chance that he'd whip out his little zoune before the holiday season ...''

The Internet buzz about Zune has included numerous references to GM's 2003 decision to call one of its new cars the Buick Allure in Quebec rather than, as elsewhere in North America, the Buick LaCrosse.

The change came after it was pointed out that ``la crosse'' is slang among many Quebec teens for *********ion.

 

[jaguarr]

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/microsoft-sandisk-overstating-accessory-support/

Following recent, separate announcements by SanDisk and Microsoft that certain prominent iPod accessory makers would be producing accessories for their iPod competitors Sansa and Zune, iLounge has confirmed that two of the iPod’s top supporters were listed as SanDisk or Microsoft development partners without having actually agreed to develop any accessories.

Belkin Corporation, developer of numerous well-known FM transmitters, audio recorders, cases, and car accessories for iPod models, was inaccurately announced by SanDisk as a member of its Made for Sansa accessory program. According to a Belkin spokesperson, “Belkin is not currently participating in the Made For Sansa licensing program. We continue to evaluate our strategy with regard to MP3 player accessories including the Sansa player.”

Griffin Technology, maker of popular iTrips, iTalks, power chargers and cases, similarly denied that it was part of Microsoft’s Zune accessory development program. “As the leading accessory maker for portable media players, Griffin is always interested in evaluating new opportunities,” a Griffin spokesperson told iLounge, “However we continue to focus our efforts on the market leading iPod due to our close relationship with Apple.”


Ouch.

jag

 

[Mr. Credible]

meh... i'll stick with my MobiBlu, thank you very much. i simply don't need all that crap.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I'm sticking with my Zen Micro. It is small, unlike the Zune, and doesn't break, unlike an iPod.

 

[Gamma Ray]

Fact: Zune In your Hands for $249.99, Songs a Buck, November 14th

Microsoft dropped the news today, officially. The price for the WiFi, 30-gig Zune player is $249.99, the same price as a 30-gig ipod, but with a sightly larger screen (3-inches vs 2.5-inches). We'll be able to hold 'em in our hands on November 14th.
Also, the music subscription service, called Zune Pass, will be available for $14.99. Single tracks will go for 79 microsoft points, the same currency used to buy Xbox games, which turns out to be about a buck.–Brian Lam
Press Release [Microsoft]




I think I'm going to get one.

Comes with a cool case:

I'll get black:

 

[Spidey-Bat]

$250? You can get a Wii for that price