Microsoft Unveils the "Zune"
Thursday, September 14, 2006 by Island Dog | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Microsoft unveiled it's new media player which will arrive just in time for this holiday season. The Zune will be available in three colors, feature Wi-fi, and will be able to share songs with other Zunes which are nearby.
It will feature a 30GB hard drive, and a 3-inch screen. While no pricing information was released, it has been rumored that Microsoft was hoping for a $299 price point.
It will feature a 30GB hard drive, and a 3-inch screen. While no pricing information was released, it has been rumored that Microsoft was hoping for a $299 price point.
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starkers
Reply #2 Friday, September 15, 2006 12:11 AM
Now if you were to be EXTRA nice to the wife all the time, you could take one for granted.
There again, if you let her be EXTRA nice to you whenever, you mightn't even have to ask, plead, get down on your knees and beg.
Now here's a little tip: leave brochures of what you want laying around all over the place and let the TLC flow thick n' fast both ways, so that when she eventually asks about them, you're more likely to get an "oh, that's not a bad idea" when you reply with "oh, it's nothing much, just something I was looking at."
Reply #2 Friday, September 15, 2006 12:11 AM
| which means, I'm going to have to be extra nice to the wife. |
Now if you were to be EXTRA nice to the wife all the time, you could take one for granted.
There again, if you let her be EXTRA nice to you whenever, you mightn't even have to ask, plead, get down on your knees and beg.
Now here's a little tip: leave brochures of what you want laying around all over the place and let the TLC flow thick n' fast both ways, so that when she eventually asks about them, you're more likely to get an "oh, that's not a bad idea" when you reply with "oh, it's nothing much, just something I was looking at."
Life is a Game
Reply #3 Friday, September 15, 2006 8:41 AM
Reply #3 Friday, September 15, 2006 8:41 AM
Looks promising. Bigger screen then iPod which is important but no games!? If they put some games on i'm definetely getting it instead of iPod.
sixshot
Reply #4 Friday, September 15, 2006 8:42 AM
Reply #4 Friday, September 15, 2006 8:42 AM
US$300 for 30GB of media storage, has FM/radio, wi-fi sharing w/ other Zune players... Looks good. I'll be part of the wait-and-see market. I've a 3G iPod. Gonna be really hard to tear me away from it now. I've no interest in the 5G series. Movies from iTunes? One would think that the failure of the PSP movies would be any indication that it's not really all that worth it.
Anybody knows what kind of video codec is being used in the Zune? I know Windows Media is going to be in there by default but will it also do DivX or MPEG-4 streams?
Anybody knows what kind of video codec is being used in the Zune? I know Windows Media is going to be in there by default but will it also do DivX or MPEG-4 streams?
DesignCaddy
Reply #5 Friday, September 15, 2006 9:29 AM
Reply #5 Friday, September 15, 2006 9:29 AM
using an 8 gig zen.. but the zune looks like a lot of fun. I can't budget one for quite some time but i'd take part. I hope it does well. Wondering on dimensions, looks like its thicker than an ipod.
DesignCaddy
Reply #6 Friday, September 15, 2006 9:31 AM
Reply #6 Friday, September 15, 2006 9:31 AM
i dont get the full length movies on a 2" screen, thing. I dont care if ms follows apple in offering movie downloads and the like.
whiterabbit007
Reply #7 Friday, September 15, 2006 11:00 AM
Reply #7 Friday, September 15, 2006 11:00 AM
The features look good - WiFi and FM tuner are especially tempting, but the thing is just so ugly. Not only is it ugly, but it's like the iPod's ugly cousin - at least other players try to look different, this one is like, well it's like if Microsoft have designed the iPod
Now, I'm usually in the function-over-form camp, but in this case I'm not touching the Zune until they either redesign it or it gets way more features - dedicated player controls would be a nice start.
Now, I'm usually in the function-over-form camp, but in this case I'm not touching the Zune until they either redesign it or it gets way more features - dedicated player controls would be a nice start.
ama02
Reply #8 Friday, September 15, 2006 12:37 PM
Reply #8 Friday, September 15, 2006 12:37 PM
I won't be jumping on this bandwagon, since I just got a 30 gig Zen Vision:M, which I'm liking quite a bit. 
The black and white look nice, but the brown...yikes!
The black and white look nice, but the brown...yikes!
MarkSnyder61
Reply #9 Friday, September 15, 2006 1:34 PM
Reply #9 Friday, September 15, 2006 1:34 PM
I agree with Whiterabbit007 that it's an ugly device. I have a Creative Zen Vision 30 GB and it's awesome. Creative just came out with a widescreen version and boasting 60GB HD Space, so I think Creative is still #1 choice for me and it looks cooler than the Zune. I hope with all this competition that it will bring prices down for all of us to enjoy whatever we choose to go with...
DesignCaddy
Reply #10 Friday, September 15, 2006 5:22 PM
Reply #10 Friday, September 15, 2006 5:22 PM
competition. mmm. that word rings weet in my ears, looking at all these microsoft monopoly law suits. With an ipod you use itunes and if you buy apple music you're limited in what devices you can put your music on. I love the thought that i can try so many different players without doing ANYthing to my ibrary.
werewolf
Reply #11 Friday, September 15, 2006 6:34 PM
Reply #11 Friday, September 15, 2006 6:34 PM
I've got a Zen Micro which I am perfectly happy with. I have absolutely no interest in video capabilities on any of these players. No way would I watch a movie on a 3" screen.
The Zen Micro has one thing which most of the other players in that class don't have: a replaceable battery (easily replaceable battery
My frustration with all these new players is that there is no music only option. I don't want or need a fancy-smancy video/blue tooth enabled device. I just want to listen to music. I can get a Zen Vision M and just listed to music with it, sure, but I'm paying for hardware/software I don't want. I don't seem to have a choice, though, in large capacity music devices. They are all going video.
There have to be other consumers like me. If MS or any of the others really want to grab the market place, give us the choice to go music only (with a replaceable battery). They will get sales, I promise.
The Zen Micro has one thing which most of the other players in that class don't have: a replaceable battery (easily replaceable battery
My frustration with all these new players is that there is no music only option. I don't want or need a fancy-smancy video/blue tooth enabled device. I just want to listen to music. I can get a Zen Vision M and just listed to music with it, sure, but I'm paying for hardware/software I don't want. I don't seem to have a choice, though, in large capacity music devices. They are all going video.
There have to be other consumers like me. If MS or any of the others really want to grab the market place, give us the choice to go music only (with a replaceable battery). They will get sales, I promise.
wilson1992
Reply #12 Friday, September 15, 2006 6:38 PM
Reply #12 Friday, September 15, 2006 6:38 PM
oh! I tought it was iTunes why would microsoft call it "ZUNE" sounds weird.
Sounds like the other guys like Apple Ipod's, Sony PSP's, all other mp3 players
Sounds like the other guys like Apple Ipod's, Sony PSP's, all other mp3 players
blackcat77
Reply #13 Friday, September 15, 2006 7:48 PM
Reply #13 Friday, September 15, 2006 7:48 PM
You guys should know that, according to something I read on Slashdot, the Zune adds Digital Rights Management to everything you put on it, which is a violation of creative commons. Of course everyone knows that there's no bigger proponent of making sure that the corporations get richer than Microsoft, but I sure wouldn't play right into their hands. No Zune here, ever.
Aquamonkey
Reply #14 Friday, September 15, 2006 8:30 PM
Reply #14 Friday, September 15, 2006 8:30 PM
That is one ugly baby! I'll stick with my 30G Zen Vision:M, it does everything I need
Fourth Letter
Reply #15 Saturday, September 16, 2006 4:18 PM
Reply #15 Saturday, September 16, 2006 4:18 PM
Hmmmm this device is supposedly designed by microsoft yet it looks very similar to the new 2G Toshiba Gigabeat (who are manufacturing the Zune for microsoft) check it out, what do you all think ?
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/images/press/PMC/gigabeat_w.jpg
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/_assets/images/press/PMC/gigabeat_w.jpg
Elsius Saint
Reply #16 Sunday, September 17, 2006 12:22 AM
Reply #16 Sunday, September 17, 2006 12:22 AM
I beg of you please 
Help me please
I just purchased a Black Ipod Video 60GB with absolutely no scratch on it. I have music, movies, music videos worth over $1800.00 on it. I'm willing to give it to anyone free please. I will also give that person a $100 as well as a thank you. Get it ASAP. I'm going Zune
Help me please
I just purchased a Black Ipod Video 60GB with absolutely no scratch on it. I have music, movies, music videos worth over $1800.00 on it. I'm willing to give it to anyone free please. I will also give that person a $100 as well as a thank you. Get it ASAP. I'm going Zune
Adamness
Reply #17 Sunday, September 17, 2006 12:41 AM
Yes! I have no use for video either. I can't imagine watching a 3 minute music video, much less a two hour movie on a 3 inch screen. Sadly, I don't think there will ever be a music only player, other than a 2gb player with no screen. I guess video is the wave of the future, and electronic companies will forget why these devices got popular to begin with.
I hope that electronics aren't going the way they I think they are. I don't want a phone-video-music-computer-remote control-video game thing all in one.
Reply #17 Sunday, September 17, 2006 12:41 AM
| My frustration with all these new players is that there is no music only option. |
Yes! I have no use for video either. I can't imagine watching a 3 minute music video, much less a two hour movie on a 3 inch screen. Sadly, I don't think there will ever be a music only player, other than a 2gb player with no screen. I guess video is the wave of the future, and electronic companies will forget why these devices got popular to begin with.
I hope that electronics aren't going the way they I think they are. I don't want a phone-video-music-computer-remote control-video game thing all in one.
Xenon101
Reply #18 Sunday, September 17, 2006 4:17 AM
Reply #18 Sunday, September 17, 2006 4:17 AM
Now to me, this is old news. I heard this ages ago an I can give u more info, unless its on the link: I cant be bothered.
Microsoft have also said that they will have a Music Store for the Zune (basicly tune with a 'z') as well as, wait for it...., a gaming Zune! Not those stubbie little tetris games, think "Protable Xbox". Now Microsoft has some BIG competition:
Apple (iPod & iTunes)
Creative
iRiver
Panasonic
Toshiba
Sony (Walkman & PSP)
Nintendo
Whats gonna happen with MS? Doesnt look like theyre goin anywhere.
Microsoft have also said that they will have a Music Store for the Zune (basicly tune with a 'z') as well as, wait for it...., a gaming Zune! Not those stubbie little tetris games, think "Protable Xbox". Now Microsoft has some BIG competition:
Apple (iPod & iTunes)
Creative
iRiver
Panasonic
Toshiba
Sony (Walkman & PSP)
Nintendo
Whats gonna happen with MS? Doesnt look like theyre goin anywhere.
whiterabbit007
Reply #19 Sunday, September 17, 2006 8:22 AM
Reply #19 Sunday, September 17, 2006 8:22 AM
Actually, if Microsoft manages to do everything they want with the Zune, as a platform, not just a music player, then it's gonna be big - see XBox, 360 and XBox Live for reference. That's basically what they're going for but on an even larger scale - complete integration of music, movies, games, online identity, home theater and anything else of that kind. If done right, it's a good thing.
Personally for me, so far the only problem I have with the Zune is really just the looks. The features on the other hand, at least on paper, are very attractive, much more so than iPod. Of course, it's yet to be seen how it plays out in real life.
As for those people who are lamenting the demise of a music-only player - well, first of all they still exist, in the form of the various ultra-small, ultra-mobile 1GB-2GB players. I do agree though, most of those will soon disappear as well, but why is that a problem. You don't have to use the video capabilities if you don't want to. On the other hand players like that have good screens that are much more convenient even if you're only listening to music, and as the technology progresses the difference in price will become negligible. Already now a player like Zen Vision V is only twice as expensive as the the cheap (but still decent) flash players without a "big" screen, and pretty much on par with the quality ones, ditto for iRiver Clix. In time, unless you're going for something extremely small, like the new shuffle, there won't be a justifciation for buying a 50$ 1GB player with 3-line display, over a 60$ 4GB player with a color display.
Personally for me, so far the only problem I have with the Zune is really just the looks. The features on the other hand, at least on paper, are very attractive, much more so than iPod. Of course, it's yet to be seen how it plays out in real life.
As for those people who are lamenting the demise of a music-only player - well, first of all they still exist, in the form of the various ultra-small, ultra-mobile 1GB-2GB players. I do agree though, most of those will soon disappear as well, but why is that a problem. You don't have to use the video capabilities if you don't want to. On the other hand players like that have good screens that are much more convenient even if you're only listening to music, and as the technology progresses the difference in price will become negligible. Already now a player like Zen Vision V is only twice as expensive as the the cheap (but still decent) flash players without a "big" screen, and pretty much on par with the quality ones, ditto for iRiver Clix. In time, unless you're going for something extremely small, like the new shuffle, there won't be a justifciation for buying a 50$ 1GB player with 3-line display, over a 60$ 4GB player with a color display.
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Reply #1 Thursday, September 14, 2006 11:30 PM