Microsoft on Friday confirmed rumors that it would soon be releasing a digital media player to challenge Apple Computer’s popular iPod, and the Redmond, Wash.-based software giant said the device and its associated software and download service will be marketed under the name “Zune,” Reuters reports.
The Zune products will be available by the end of the year, according to Reuters.
Over the past few weeks, stories and blog posts regarding Microsoft’s possible release of a digital media player to rival the iPod have flooded the Internet. Reuters recently reported that the device would be available by Christmas, citing sources close to the project. Engadget.com released what it said was an early picture of the Zune prototype that was being developed under the name “Argo,” in reference to Greek Mythology’s Jason and his massive warship.
I'll proudly be the first to say that Although I wouldn't buy a commercial brand MP3 player any more than fill my entire wardrobe with Armani, I would gladly buy Apple over Microsoft if it came to that.
Ask a corporate lawyer who the scum of the industry is when it comes to it, and realise that your purchases are directly responsible and many times more influential than any investor.
People don't call them Microcrap, Micro$oft, Winblows, etc, etc, because they are bored... well not everyone anyway.
Opinions put aside, Microsoft seems to be putting a lot into things that one would think sort of need to pan out for them and I'de guess that this is the begining of them falling out of being so big. I wouldn't be supprised if they were merely competitive in 5 years and not overpowering.
Yeah I reckon all the Zune-ability marketing is going to be in Windows Vista.
Here's a thought, maybe MS is planning for a last minute add on like if XP had Windows Media Center OS (or whatever it's called) combined with it. They have to be planning something significant that isn't known about I think.
Just to plug the Free Software side of things, MythTV has for a long time been ported even to work on an Xbox http://www.mythtv.org/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythTV and ipods have worked well for quite a while already. I reckon Microsoft plans to use this release to put Free Software behind, temporarliy, as much as they plan to change things (also without necessity) in order to dictate the necisity for users to buy other Microsoft softwares... and then maybe start another silly campaign against things being free followed by another frivolous lawsuit that's engineered to be a huge pain in the a** for the Free Software Foundation (indirectly implicating wrongdoing of innocent developers I might add). It would be sort of amazing if they didn't do some or all of the above anyway, kind of irresponsible to their stockholders not to be devious scum anyway.
Edit: Maybe I was looking for this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XBMC not really sure since I've never looked into Xbox stuff. I think there's more that has been done with them. Now I'm wondering if it's worth looking at the prices of used ones and how old they are now that the hard drives might die soon after getting one.
After lots of quality time groping the Zune like blind man on his wedding night, our people give us the lowdown on the player's functionality. Get the scoop after the jump!
First off, that scroll wheel you see? That's not a wheel. It's just four buttons arranged in a wheel formation. That kinda sucks if you're used to the scroll wheel, but it seems their engineers weren't too fond of it, or Microsoft didn't want to be accused of copying the iPod's wheel. Either way, it's just four buttons.
But like the wheel, the scrolling speeds up the longer you hold down the button. When you're scrolling through songs, there's a large letter that appears in the corner corresponding to the letter of the current song when you're running through your list. It's very similar to the way Windows Media Center works when you're scrolling, if you're familiar with that interface. In fact, the whole interface is quite like MCE 2005, with the semi-transparent fonts and GUI design.
On the back, there's a grip so you can hold the player when you're watching video in landscape mode. There's also some kind of magnetic feature on the back so you can attach the headphones to it. The magnets could be used for some sort of docking or case design—they're still working on that. The bottom has that iPod-like dock connector, while the case itself is plastic and semi-transparent.
The UI itself has white text on colored backgrounds, with lots of textures. This could even be skinnable. While the song is playing, it will display album art or a Windows Media Player-like visualization.
FM support is fairly complete, with both an FM tuner and an FM transmitter so you can beam the music to your car. The FM transmitter also feeds up Song and Artist information so you can see what's playing from your car stereo (if it supports that feature, like in GM cars). Pretty neat.
Two menu options that were disabled were the WiFi, and Capture Settings. We're not sure what the Capture Settings means—maybe recording FM?—but we'll let you know.
Zune Set to Make First Appearance By Nate Mook, BetaNews September 13, 2006, 6:13 PM
Microsoft's highly-anticipated "Zune" portable media device is set to make its first official appearance at an invite-only press event Thursday. The unveiling will follow the introduction of a completely revamped iPod lineup by Apple just two days earlier.
Although Microsoft itself has remained tight-lipped regarding the iPod competitor, little is not already known about Zune, which is being manufactured by Toshiba. The device will feature a 30GB hard drive, three-inch TFT LCD, an FM tuner, wireless 802.11 b/g, and USB 2.0 support. Zune will connect up with a new music service specially designed for the player.
Zune will additionally feature social networking capabilities, with a focus on sharing music and music-related content. Users will be able to link up with "friends" and stream music and playlist data between devices. Content, says Microsoft's J. Allard, who is largely responsible for the player's development and also managed the Xbox 360, is central to the Zune effort.
In a Seattle Weekly profile, Allard calls Apple's iPod "the Pong of digital music," and notes a variety of advanced functionality Zune will bring to the table. But the launch won't be without contention, as it will likely draw the ire of a number of Microsoft PlaysForSure partners.
Microsoft previously remained hands-off when it came to portable device development, simply providing the Windows Media Player software for third parties to build upon. WMP 11 in Windows Vista will feature the URGE music store developed by MTV, along with a number of other legal download options for consumers.
The PlaysForSure strategy has largely failed to catch on, however, and Microsoft is taking a page from Apple's playbook by developing a complete ecosystem: device, software and infrastructure to sell digital content. But the question remains whether Microsoft can bring back the "cool" factor that Apple has exuded since the iPod debuted five years ago.
Zune is expected to go on sale for the holiday season, and Microsoft will likely announce specifics -- including pricing -- at Thursday's event.
Shock: Zune doesn’t work with Vista, but buyers like the screen Alex Zaharov-Reutt In all the rush to get the Zune and Vista out the door, while launching a stack of Xbox 360 updates, it seems Microsoft forgot its large base of Vista RC1 and RC2 users, and those now using the final RTM, who might want to use the Zune with their Vista PC. Why? Because it just doesn’t work. With millions of people around the world using one form of Vista already, you’d have to think logic dictates that some of these people live in the US where you can actually buy a Zune might actually like Microsoft products to some degree and are more than interested enough in buying a Zune to try it with Vista.
But Microsoft just hasn’t made it compatible as yet, and their Zune operating system compatibility page confirming the lack of Vista support.
C’mon Microsoft, why the delay on Zune compatibility with Vista? It’s not as if iTunes is in the same boat, iTunes works perfectly with Vista, and I’m still using the RC1 Vista version. You’d hardly think this was some earth shattering problem that couldn’t have been fixed very quickly.
I mean, let’s hope it’s not hard to fix! But then I’m sure it’s not, and support will come by November 30. If it doesn’t come by then (or even sooner), then they’ve got anywhere from then until January 30 to get it right and ready for Vista’s consumer launch.
Still, it’s a bit of a bummer if you wanted Microsoft’s latest all-singing, all-dancing portable wonder that handles music, photos and movies with ease, and you wanted to use it with Microsoft’s latest operating system.
And while I don’t think anyone ever really expected to be told ‘not compatible’ on day one of Zune’s release, despite all the delays in getting Vista out the door, this just isn’t one of the ‘little things’ you would think that Microsoft would have missed.
After all, there’s certainly plenty of Zunes out there right now, as reports have indicated they’re hardly flying off the shelves as happened with the PS3. But while no-one is reporting any sellouts, some stores aren’t even selling it yet. So, is it on sale or isn't it? Read onto the next page for plenty more...
Even SanDisk Sansa e250 sells better than Zune! People were queuing for PS3, apparently not for Zune.
Zune Opening Sales Good, but Not Great
There are no long lines in front of the electronic chains to tip us off on how well Microsoft's new Zune player is doing in the market these first few days nor do Walmart or Target let on to their sales figures on any item they sell. With all of the hype big things are expected for this iPod contender and initial sales numbers can shed some light on its prospects.
...
iPods captured four slots in the top 10 including 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place. Each of these iPod flavors individually are outselling Zune. iPod models also holds a total of eight slots in the top 25.
But what is most telling is the item that lies in the number six spot, two places ahead of Zune. That honor goes to the SanDisk Sansa e250, the 2GB version of SanDisk's best player.
(source: mp3newswire)
Zune Sales Slow In Its First Day The world's largest software maker hopes to capitalize on consumers who may have wearied of the iPod, which has sold nearly 70 million devices and commands about 75 percent of the portable music player market.
But initial shopper interest suggested the Zune media player—heavily promoted in gadget reviews and television talk shows—was in for a slow building process.
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However, at the Virgin Megastore in New York's Times Square two circular displays sporting Zune players with earphones attached were unmanned that morning, save for store employees restocking supplies.
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Daily newspaper USA Today said the Zune simply failed to match the iconic status of its rival with the headline phrase: "It's no iPod."
Others like the Zune's larger screen and the hand-held device's ease of use, something shopper Murphy agreed with.
But the only thing is that everything he posted about the Zune is negative information about it... in fact he consistently highlighted the apparent supiriority of an iPod.
Then he posts his regular "itunes free music" post... maybe it's just me, but I see that as advertising/spam. I didn't mean it to be a personal attack, I just see it as suspicious. I mean, he would probably attack me if I posted something negative about the iPod which he is fully promoting.
Logged
) so any info I can get on it or Zune is handy. 
