Microsoft revamps Zune to compete with Apple
In response to Apple’s ongoing revamping spell of its iPod line-up, Microsoft has come up with all new refreshed series of its Zune media players. Now, Zune users would be able to mark the songs they listen on the built-in FM radio of device, and subsequently purchase it, as soon as they reach any Wi-Fi hotspot. Furthermore, the storage capacities of the Zune players are also being upgraded with a 16 GB flash memory support, which will have a price tag of USD200, and a 120 GB hard drive version, which will cost around USD250.
In addition Zune users can use the wireless connectivity – the feature that scores over Apple’s iPod series – for syncing music, images and videos with their PCs and other Zune players. Launching on 16th of September, the new improved Zune series would allow third party creation of music channels that would help users in exploring new melodies. Chris Stephenson, GM Global Marketing Zune stated that the feature of discovering pleasurable music would fuel new life into digital music services.
Source: ITProPortal
Comments(22)
It’s just too late…I’m sure Zune’s are nice..but nobody gives a sh*t…the market has escaped microsoft..Apple pretty much owns portable music players..
bring on the Apple hate you cheap mfukkas
Does anybody listen to old fashioned radio anymore or find new music from terrestrial radio?
Not a compelling feature …
Too late for Zune.. IPOD RULES!!
@2
A very useful feature. You have to remember that not everybody lives in the US and it doesn’t cost anything to include it anyway.
I never buy a device unless it has FM reception built in.
They should jump on the extra big HD music players, announce a 240 GB version, wich many people expected from Apple yesterday. But since yesterday we know their respect for the big music lover is gone
C’mon no AM radio? It would be nice to listen to Rush or Coast2Coast sometime.
The Ipod is overrated in every sense, devices from Cowon and others offer better sound quality and functionality. iTunes is one of the worst applications ever – doesn’t matter how fast your PC of how much RAM it sucks donkey-balls.
The Apple zealots of course will disagree.
You can’t say they’re not trying…
You guys should check out the samsung omnia. I know its a smartphone, but you should definitly check it out if you hate apple. I’m my opinion, it’s better than the iphone. Gotta love a 5 mpx camera on a cell phone.
i own a zune 30gb. it is awesome, i love it. Another thing that is TOTALY AWESOME, it is that when they push new features for new zunes, they push the update for the old zunes, like mine. Wich is awesome. Thanks ms!!
I agree that Microsoft should up the capacity of the Zune. This would give customers something that Apple is apparently moving away from. I was surprised and disappointed like others when Apple “downgraded” the iPod Classic yesterday. Not everyone wants a cute little pink 8GB device. Ideally someday someone will make a device with 250GB or 320GB capacity. Until then I will keep using my Sony Net-MD player.
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The Ipod is overrated in every sense, devices from Cowon and others offer better sound quality and functionality. iTunes is one of the worst applications ever – doesn’t matter how fast your PC of how much RAM it sucks donkey-balls.
The Apple zealots of course will disagree.
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therap1x
^ I coudlnt agree more, but fanboys rule us rational folk.
Maybe this is what the ass wiggle was about…. muahaha M$ SUXORZ!!!!
hah. I do love comments from people that obviously know nothing about what they’re talking about. if you don’t know, don’t make yourself look stupid.
a) the portable music player market is no dead, stagnent, and competition is rife – that’s a good thing – just look at some of the ‘advances’ in the new range of ipods and itunes, looks too familiar to what zune has done before ( new nano form factor looks almost identical to zune 4,8,16gb models)
b) radio, dead? I know media companies that are making big money out of running radio stations that would disagree.
c) microsoft may sux0rs, or whatever, but the guys that put zune together know what’s what. the player, the software, the social aspect; the experience blows everything apple are doing out of the water, totally.
anyway, rlslog, you’re 2 days late with this news.
I have a Zune and love it. All my friends got ipods and have had theirs break over and over while the Zune is still going strong. surely the apple looks better. Apple always looks better and gets you with the design and attractive interface but quality and functionality are always subpar to other players on the market. Zune, Creative players, and other perform better. Itunes is a joke, Zune kidna was too until you hack the software then you can drag and drop in whatever you want whenever you want.
I love all the haters that don’t own a zune but continue to trash it as if they know everything about it. Its an awesome device, and paying $15 a month (which i do, because its so much easier that downloading never-heard-of artists from tpb at 2kb/s). I’ve had and ipod and definetly am happy with the zune since the day I bought it.
There are always those people who go against the grain just to protect their ‘individuality’ and self-titled ’superiority’. You only have to look at mainstream music versus the weird guy with ping-pong balls in his eyes who sings backwards about killing kittens with hot tomato soup who gains the cult status even if his ‘fans’ only like the music cos it’s not Britney. I am not saying that mainstream music is cool or that there are no other hidden gems out there because that simply is not true but being into something purely because it is rare or disliked by everyone else gives a fair mirror on society rather than an appreciation of quality and talent.
The ipod is innovative, useful and ergonomic and derserves all the praise it gets with the little details proving proactive rather than gimmickry. All the rest can hope for is immitation in the shadow of progress.
i have a cowon and i couldn’t be more satisfied.
ipod, definitely over rated.
zune is the best gonna buy the 120 version
@ 1 I agree. Also a friend of mine has a new zune and an ipod and doesn’t prefer one over the other…well I take that back she mostly likes them evenly and to her the ipod is easier to use and more durable to her since she drops it a lot lol but I see her listening to her zune more. I’ve checked her zune out and I’d rather get a Sansa Fuze in additon to my own new ipod nano.
@ 12 Lmfao oh sweetie I’m far far far from an Apple zealot…I actually hate most of Apple’s other products except the ipod annnnnddd I still disagree.