Microsoft rolls out new Zune player
Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday unveiled three new models of its Zune portable digital media players featuring touch-sensitive buttons for navigating the device, the ability to sync with wireless networks, and flash memory in two of them. The company plans to have the three new Zunes out by mid-November, in time for them to compete against Apple Inc.’s iPods among holiday shoppers. Microsoft trails behind the market leading iPod. The company said it has sold about 1.2 million of its first-generation Zune players that were launched last November. In contrast, more than 100 million iPods have been shipped since it was introduced in 2001.
The company also launched Zune Social, a beta online music community that gives people a place to share their music tastes, knowledge and experiences with others. It has also restocked and redesigned its Zune Marketplace online store to include over 1 million MP3 files that are not protected by DRM (digital rights management), and can be played on the Zune and other devices. The three new Zunes include at the high-end an 80G byte hard-disc drive (HDD) model that carries a suggested retail price of US$249.99. The other two models use flash memory. The 4G byte model, described as ultraportable, is priced at $149.99, while a 8G byte version is $199.99. Current Zune owners will automatically receive new software features, the redesigned PC and device software and access to the new Zune Marketplace when they are released to the public in mid-November. Still, the role of iPod seems to be dauntless.
Source: PC World, TGD
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If you say so.
Why does microsoft even bother? Ipods:Zunes 100:1,pretty much speaks for itself
Meh, I’ll stick with my Creative Zen Vision M.
Depends on the battery life and price… if the Zune player is better than iPod then ppl will try alternatives.
Nobody likes a wannabee, especially not when it comes from a company like Microsoft. I’m not a big Microsoft hater (but there are many), but I really did not understand why they brought out the Zune so late into the “MP3-battle” when companies like Apple and Creative are already in for years. For me Zune stands for sad.
Say what you will about Apple, but the know how to mix technology and design, and have the marketing to sell it to boot. My current iPod Mini is great, even if it is G1. I’m going to buy a new player soon, and it probably will be a new Ipod, maybe something else. Let’s just say it surely won’t be a Zune…
““No comments yet. Be the first.”
If you say so.”
Thats not a comment you retard. Silleh kidlings on teh rlslog :p.
On to the ‘Zune’.
I would buy this over an ipod anyway, however, the price is fucking huge. SCREW THAT. Half the prices then I may consider it. But I would never pay for some crappy little device thats sole purpose is to play music. You could buy so much more with that cash… And it is US. Im in AU so I would expect a double on those suggested prices. Besides the larger model which can play video… That on the other hand would be much more useful - even if horribly overpriced for what can be manufactured for 1000s of percent less.
BTW Zens own…
No one here as said they owned or even used a Zune, yet you’re all experts on which is better. My Zune pwns my wife’s iPod; even the Zune software is better. My first iPod fell once and I had to bury it in the backyard. I’ve dropped my Zune countless times. It’s a ****ing champ and it’s awesome that Microsoft is gonna let the first gen use the updated software and fuctionality. We keep getting asked to update our iTunes, we do, and nothing ever changes. I can’t speak for Creative; I’ve never used one.
“Zune software is better”
You were doing well until you got to that part.
There once was a hand held computing company called ‘Palm’. They pretty much created the hand held computing market, Apple’s abortive half-attempt aside, and at one point so dominated that market that much of the public saw ‘Palm’ and ‘hand held computer’ as synonyms. When Microsoft entered the market everyone said they would fail, that Palm so owned the market that they wouldn’t stand a chance, that MS’s PPC machines were far too expensive to bother with.
Palm is now a trivia question (”I’ll take ‘ancient tech that few have heard of’ for $200, Alex.”) and MS owns the hand held computing market.
Not that they will, wisdom has never been Jobs’ forte, but Apple would be wise to remember the fate of the once-dominant Palm — especially as they’re making many of the same mistakes Palm did.
Nice to see that you stole the image design from engadget
Hmmm… One of the main reasons I don’t own an Apple… Ipod is because it is Apple…
I have a distinct hatred to all things Apple. I am more Microsoft inclined to my computer, and I prefer to side.
I just hate how they all say that MACs are soo good… They don’t need anti-virus… No annoying messages… No high performance hardware needed.
All that says to the computer geek is that it is not for me, it is for the masses who feel that windows is an inconvenience. Obviously the mac isn’t a piece of dog shit… Kinda cool in some ways… However as I am a Gamer at heart I choose to flag Apple as evil. You won’t take away my OS!
But we aren’t talking about OS/s… So disregard my entire comment :).
The ability to sync via wireless is nice… I think that is a big plus when comparing to the ipod..
DRM 2.0?
the zune is way better i dont care i own both i got a old school ipod then updated to a newer ipod video now i have updated to the 1st gen zune about a month after it came out and its way better also when you crack the wireless you can send software and videos and music to your friends at work lets see A lpod do that shit my ipod cant even do what it supposed to do lol
[Boy this math is difficult.]
Boys. This will be a great chance to revive the site http://www.hideapod.com! Take a look at it, its a good laugh!
@Brotherjustin: With all your crazy sharing software, who you gonna share your songs with if no one else within a 100 mile radius has got a Zune? Huh? You would have to have a Zune gathering just to share songs, at least then maybe four people might turn up. And don’t forget, the gathering can’t last for more than 3 days
Only thing to say is this: LMAO. Microsoft should stick with computers, apples should stay with portable media players. Because lord knows they horribly failed at the computer thing.
Ipods are shit and if you own one you are seriously retarded.
I got a 5gb mp3 player for 15 quid and it seriously out shines the overpriced ipods.
If I see one more pair of CHEAP white headphones im going to murder them.
finally Microsoft brings something to market that will end the reign of the iPod. its about time.
Creative Zen is way better than either Ipod or Zune, I’ve got the Creative Zen Video W 60gig and it’s a beauty. Paid 325 CDN for it, and it does high def/composite out. Not to mention Ipod stole the menu code from Creative so every Ipod sold feeds creative royalties. All in all Creative Zen > All other mp3/video players.
@LucidHarmony
The Creative Muvo is their best product.
2 words: FISHER PRICE
My PSP plays MP3s, WS Video, and a boatload of entertainment in the form of real, actual games. I can download it all even. All for under $100 US. I’ll lug around the extra half-lb for something to actually do. Only real downside is for all that weight, I have to store in 4MB (soon 8MB I hope)sizes unless a PC is nearby. Which is pretty much always.
I own a Zune and can tell you that once you tweak it with the hacks like Guest Sync , it is way better than the Ipod. Yes even the Zune software is better. It works great with vista and xbox360. It sounds better and drives higher quality earphones with more volume and clarity than ipods do. Its also good for converting dvd rips to good quality vids if you know what your doing. The Zen is the next best since you can watch xvids on it too. Sure its not as popular but if you ahve a zune u dont go back to ipods. The only negative is the size and price but I paid like 1/2 price through deal websites that tell you how to use rebates and coupons so it was well worth the buy over an ipod anyday.
haha…. i own an RCA Lyra 40gb. its old, the battery no longer exists (almost exploded), its large. but, it still works through outlet/dc power and every computer i attach it to recognizes it as a harddrive (which essentially is what it is). i want a zune but was unaware that it took special software. im used to this lyra and i dont wanna deal with not being able to just hook to anyones computer and take whatever mp3s or files i want. anyone know of an mp3 player out now that acts as a harddrive?
oh, and fuck apple, ipod, or any other ibullshit. that whole loyalty thing makes you folks look like lemmings. buy something because it works well, its efficient, and its inexpensive. not because the ads were “cool” or because its the “trend”.
I own a Zune and like it better than the gf’s ipod. But the zune software sucks. It takes up a shit load of memory and it’s bloated. I had to write my own software to use with the Zune.
The only thing that I don’t get is, why is Zune 2 coming out when they haven’t even sold videos for the Zune. And Microsoft hasn’t even finish writing the metadata for music video. It still shows up as “Unknown Artist”. Typical of the company to release a product that isn’t even done. At least give people their videos.
i have an ipod video 30gig, and i love it, i havnt tried a zune before, but 1 thing interests me… the “wireless” aspect
also, 1 thing is insanely horrid for me for ipod, is the itunes software, its just so bad its unreal, i have to use alternative software, but i wouldnt mind getting an mp3 player that has good software for its own product… apparently zune software sucks too so !_!
I really find it unfair that Shiny keeps closing the comments on every release that involves controversial content.