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Microsoft Media Music Technology

Next Generation Zune Coming for Holiday Season 208

Posted by Zonk from the just-what-we-all-wanted dept.
thefickler writes "Microsoft has confirmed the existence and coming launch of the long rumored Zune 2.0 or 2nd generation Zune, and it appears that Microsoft will expand the Zune family with new styles, sizes, and price points. 'Future Zune products will feature podcasting support and expanded video support. The Zune will also move into other geographic markets when Microsoft feels it has an appealing product to offer those demographics. Perhaps most importantly of all, the representative mentioned that Microsoft will build on the wireless support. Maybe we'll finally have the freedom of synching our digital audio players via wi-fi. The rep didn't mention anything specific about Microsoft's rumored answer to the iPod Shuffle. But interesting rumors from sources considered "reliable" point to a very innovative product.'"
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Next Generation Zune Coming for Holiday Season More

Next Generation Zune Coming for Holiday Season

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  • With faltering businesses... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by denttford ( 579202 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:27PM (#19951663) Homepage
    When in doubt, spend.

    (also applies to politics)

    • That will fire things up. (Score:5, Insightful)

      by twitter ( 104583 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:20AM (#19952067) Homepage Journal

      At least that's what Roughly Drafted told me [bayimg.com].

      Sometimes, spending is just throwing good money after bad. They can't make Zune a winner because rented and dissapearing music just aren't cool. Even less cool is the idea that billboards will be able to "squirt" adverts onto your player or what your player might tell them in return. Minority Report was supposed to be a horror story, not a business model.

      • Re:That will fire things up. (Score:5, Interesting)

        by Osty ( 16825 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:36AM (#19952201)

        They can't make Zune a winner because rented and dissapearing music just aren't cool.

        On the other hand, "rented" music allows you to sample a much wider variety of music than if you had to pay for it all. $15 will buy you 15 songs on iTunes forever, or it will buy you an "infinite" (limited by what's available on the Zune Marketplace) amount of music for one month. If you like the music, you can always buy it. Personally, the music subscription is what swayed me toward Zune rather than iPod. Well, that and I can't stand Apple's software on Windows. If you're going to make a Windows app, make a damn Windows app. Don't port an OS X app over to Windows, because not only is the look and feel all wrong but the functionality of "standard" controls is different as well. I don't expecto to have to ctrl-click or shift-click on a button in Windows to make some action happen, but that's exactly how the iTunes software works. Microsoft got it right with Office on OS X, building an interface and behaviors specific to OS X. Why can't Apple reciprocate and make proper Windows apps?

        Even less cool is the idea that billboards will be able to "squirt" adverts onto your player or what your player might tell them in return.

        So turn off the wireless when you're not actively looking for or sharing with other Zune players. As a bonus, you'll get a longer battery life with wireless off.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by tsa ( 15680 )
          Well, that and I can't stand Apple's software on Windows. If you're going to make a Windows app, make a damn Windows app. Don't port an OS X app over to Windows, because not only is the look and feel all wrong but the functionality of "standard" controls is different as well.

          As much an Apple fan as I am, I also hate Apple software on Windows. Not only does it look out of place, it Just Does Not Work. Worst of all is the Apple Updater I got with Quicktime at work. Even if I told it to Never even look for new

          • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

            by Osty ( 16825 )

            But, to get back on topic, I live in Europe and I have never seen a Zune. I now wonder wether they will introduce the 'old' Zune here at the end of 2007, as a link underneath TFA states, or don't bother with that and start with the new one right away. It's about time we get some real competition for the iPod here.

            Re-reading the article, it doesn't sound like the "old Zune" is going away. Instead, they're going to do three things:

            1. Introduce a new flash-based player, like the iPod Mini/Nano (probably not i

          • Re:That will fire things up. (Score:5, Insightful)

            by Sparks23 ( 412116 ) * on Monday July 23, 2007 @04:24AM (#19953323)

            As much an Apple fan as I am, I also hate Apple software on Windows. Not only does it look out of place, it Just Does Not Work.
            We share that particular boat; I use Mac OS X for my personal stuff -- web-browsing, e-mail, music, writing and so on -- and Windows for work and gaming. I love Apple's work on OS X, but I find their Windows software nauseating. When it comes down to it, I think anyone who likes Apple for *sensible* reasons (as opposed to just being a blind fan) hates Apple's approach to Windows software.

            Those ports violate everything Apple supposedly stands for, such as software that 'just works.' Software 'just working' requires it to work /in context/ with the operating system, and everything else on the system. Apple's cross-system ports do not by /any/ stretch of the imagination; they attempt to shoehorn bits of OS X into Windows, and they do so poorly. (Also, whatever framework they used to port iTunes to Windows is horrible, and I want to find whoever wrote iPodService, hunt them down, and garrote them with a Firewire cable. WTF, Apple?)

            This is actually a pet peeve for me. This same stupid shortcut approach to cross-platform development is why things developed on Windows and ported directly to OS X look mildly schizophrenic and get complaints about 'not being well-designed for OS X' from Mac users. It's also why a lot of cross-platform software ported from Linux using GTK+ for Windows or running under X11.app on OS X doesn't 'fit in' either. Why would Apple think this braindead approach to cross-platform development would work any better for them?

            If you're going to do something cross-platform, bloody well develop it cross-platform instead of designing it just for one platform and then taking shortcuts to port it without thinking whether or not your design works in the new context.

            • This is actually a pet peeve for me. This same stupid shortcut approach to cross-platform development is why things developed on Windows and ported directly to OS X look mildly schizophrenic and get complaints about 'not being well-designed for OS X' from Mac users. It's also why a lot of cross-platform software ported from Linux using GTK+ for Windows or running under X11.app on OS X doesn't 'fit in' either. Why would Apple think this braindead approach to cross-platform development would work any better for them?

              If you're going to do something cross-platform, bloody well develop it cross-platform instead of designing it just for one platform and then taking shortcuts to port it without thinking whether or not your design works in the new context.

              Basically no matter what programming language you use, if a product is developed on operating system A and ported to B it is highly likely to be sucky and to suffer from bugs on operating system B. The reason is that in order to limit costs, you will always want to re-use as much of the code you have already developed on operating system A when you port it to operating system B. Things like look, feel and UI standards/guidelines tend to become victims of fiscal reality and marketing concerns. Stuff that ge

              • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

                by Sparks23 ( 412116 ) *
                Oh, no, I agree that porting will cause these problems; believe me, I've posted on that topic on here myself enough times. As a developer, this is a pet peeve of mine! :)

                In my opinion, if you want to target cross-platform you're better off designing applications in two stages: the actual functional backend, and the GUI layer. Write all your core functionality as portably as you can, but divorce that functionality from most UI. Then write the UI from scratch for each system; use a drawer on OS X, use an M
          • I also don't like Apple's ported software. But although the UI is annoying, the thing that REALLY bothers me is the performance.

            Just yesterday my browser froze for 10 seconds while quicktime loaded. Why? Flash does it in an almost unnoticeable amount of time. iTunes sucks more than 50% of my cpu power (amd64 3200) just to download 3 songs - doing nothing else but saving 3 files.

        • Re:That will fire things up. (Score:4, Funny)

          by Shuh ( 13578 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @03:58AM (#19953221) Journal

          On the other hand, "rented" music allows you to sample a much wider variety of music than if you had to pay for it all. $15 will buy you 15 songs on iTunes forever, or it will buy you an "infinite" (limited by what's available on the Zune Marketplace) amount of music for one month. If you like the music, you can always buy it.
          Newscaster Voice: This just in! Get "infinite" (limited by what's on the airwaves) free music for a month! Month after month! If you like the music, you can always buy it! Now you can enjoy all this and more with Marconi technology called "the radio!" (Note: offer may not appy to Delaware or Nebraska!)


          • Re: (Score:2)

            by mgblst ( 80109 )
            Sure, if by infinite you mean 40 songs repeated over and over again. Maybe you really like the latest top hits, but not everybody does. The ability to choose what music you can listen too is worth paying for, obviously, or we would never have anything other than the radio.

        • Re: (Score:2)

          by gig ( 78408 )
          Which of the many Windows looks do you want Apple to use? There are different looks just within Vista based on how much you pay. If you want consistency start there.

      • They can't make Zune a winner because rented and dissapearing music just aren't cool.
        Somehow, "Now available in light brown and dark brown!" doesn't seem like a market shattering line, either....

  • We won't get fooled again (Score:3, Insightful)

    by kimvette ( 919543 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:29PM (#19951671) Homepage Journal
    They should use The Who's "We Won't Get Fooled Again" for their ad campaign in a form of irony.

    I mean, is anyone really going to buy Zune 2.0? After all, it didn't work with the DRM scheme standard Microsoft was pushing, is inferior in every way compared to Apple's iPod, and was a flop in the marketplace, especially when compared to its competitors such as the iPod.

    tagged "playsforsurenot"

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by Jeff DeMaagd ( 2015 )
      is inferior in every way compared to Apple's iPod,

      Not in every way, it has a larger screen, and is available for a little cheaper at many places. I hear that it has better contextual menuing. That's not very much to go on though.

      • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

        by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
        Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

        by rampant mac ( 561036 )
        "it has a larger screen"


        But it has the same resolution as the video iPod's screen.

        • "it has a larger screen" But it has the same resolution as the video iPod's screen.

          Bigger is always better until you try to put it in your pocket. Is it also thicker and have square corners? A larger battery with less life? Woops, I think that would cover all the bases.

          • Yes, I really hate being able to replace my (admittedly brown) battery.

            • Yes, I really hate being able to replace my (admittedly brown) battery.

              How often does Bill Gates sell you a new one? Does it cost less than the iPod's long lasting one? Does it come from Sony and catch fire?

        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          by MojoStan ( 776183 )
          "But it has the same resolution as the video iPod's screen."

          But it has a larger screen than the iPod.

          My point: screen size is important for viewing images and videos on these devices. They both have a 320x240 resolution, but the Zune's 3-inch screen is 44% larger (in area) than the iPod's 2.5" screen. View the same image/video on both devices and you'll see a big frickin' difference. Ars's review has some nice photos that show just how much bigger the Zune's screen is (as well as the device itself): htt [arstechnica.com]

      • Personaly, (I hated the zune, I ridiculed people who got them) But when someone was going to sell me their brand new one for 70 bucks I couldnt say no. (my ipod was broken at the time)

        And relucantly I am starting to admit it isnt that bad.

        A quick breakdown of what I am impressed with.
        -The audio quality is actualy quite good, much crisper and clearer than my 4th gen ipod.
        -Clicky buttons are excellent! I keep it in a little felt sock, and I can turn the volume up, and change tracks all through a layer

    • I mean, is anyone really going to buy Zune 2.0? After all, it didn't work with the DRM scheme standard Microsoft was pushing

      In short, it was crippled beyond belief. It had one goal, which was to be a outlet for Microsoft's envisaged new media ownership. It was not at all designed with users' needs in mind, hence the lack of even basic features like podcasting, and the presence of things like highly restrictive DRM, and the lack of cross-platform usability.

      If Zune 2.0 is any better, it'll only be by grumbl

  • zune vs IPOD (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Riverman5 ( 1018024 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:32PM (#19951701)
    I did my own comparison of the Zune with the Ipod last Christmas, when those two items were pretty much what everyone was buying, and I decided the Zune was better. Bigger screen, less cost.... that about sums it up for me, although I have the Ipod video, I never use it. Seems the only advantage it has is styling, although that's a light point IMO.

    • Re:zune vs IPOD (Score:5, Informative)

      by hobo sapiens ( 893427 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:45PM (#19951805) Journal
      I am sure that when compared to the iPod, it's a decent product at least from a technical perspective. I always hear people talk about the better screen. Of course it has things like wi-fi ability, etc. The problem is not the device itself, it's the company pushing it. You may get a better product (although, let's be honest, marginally better) but MSFT cripples the dang thing with DRM. It's the RIAA's dream device, so buried in DRM that it's capabilities count for nothing, since you cannot really take advantage of them.

      I do not know much about the actual hardware versus an iPod, so I cannot really comment on that. I am just talking about obvious hardware (like the screen) and features. I have always said that if someone could figure out how to hack a Zune so that one could take advantage of the features, I'd want one. Good capabilities, it's just that MSFT totally shackles it.

      It's a shame really (from MSFT's perspective). In their greed and blatant pandering to the RIAA, they missed a valuable opportunity.

      • Re:zune vs IPOD (Score:5, Insightful)

        by quacking duck ( 607555 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:34AM (#19952187)

        The problem is not the device itself, it's the company pushing it. You may get a better product (although, let's be honest, marginally better) but MSFT cripples the dang thing with DRM. It's the RIAA's dream device, so buried in DRM that it's capabilities count for nothing, since you cannot really take advantage of them.

        I hadn't thought about this before, but considering how some people are boycotting any CD put out by RIAA members (with help from RIAA Radar [riaaradar.com]), they should be boycotting the Zune as well, seeing as how Microsoft kicks back a small amount to Universal Music [cnn.com] for every Zune sold.

        Microsoft sold out all consumers in a failed bid to give RIAA members teeth to demand an unjustified cut for every iPod sold, just when Apple was renegotiating licensing with the music labels. Now, you may argue that Apple's on "our side" only because it's best for their bottom line... but at least they're not actively against us in this battle! The least we can do is return the favour.
        • Which explains why Universal decided not to agree to a long term contract with Apple on iTunes. Following that sort of reasoning, shouldn't the Oil companies get a percent of every car sold? Or Nike get a percent of every sock sold? Or maybe the RIAA should demand a fee for every car sold, cause they have CD players in them? Or maybe they should do the same from Sony, and any other company that makes something that plays music?

          It is out of control.

          I expect the Zune to be a non-issue when the next generation
      • It was shit brown. And boxy. At best it was like a weird experiment or something MS marketing let escape. I'm assuming 2.0 will come in more flattering colors and we can actually play the features game. But honestly, 1.0 looks like it feel straight off the shelf at your local second-hand shop. Maybe underneath the mismatched leather shoes and broken football trophy.

        • It was shit brown. And boxy.

          Reminds me of pre-Amiga commodore, especially the Plus4 but to a lesser extent the shit-brown C= machines from before. Moreso than the Commodore music players even, which are kind of retro (and are doomed to fail.)

          If you could hack the Zune, I'd want one. Of course, I'd have to be able to run Linux on it. That's the only reason I bought an Xbox (although I ended up running XBMC most of the time.)

    • ... when you try to put it in your pocket. Tell me more about that big screen, which is reported to have the same resolution as an iPod. Tell me about corners, weight, battery life, etc.

    • How much less did it cost than a comparable iPod? Last I heard, it was something like 1 dollar. Just curious.
    • I wonder why MSFT stockholders allows Microsoft second-rate money losers in the market for years and years. Xbox, MSN, Zune... Apple usually makes a profit in its first year. Maybe thats why MSFT stock is still below its 1990s peak and APPL is six thimes its 1990s peak.
    • If the bugger screen had more pixels, it might be a feature. But any device that you hold in your hands where you are physically capable of holding it closer to your face, or simply leaning forward to look at it... then a somewhat bigger screen is not very exciting.
    • The thing about the iPod and Zune is the way the companies handle the users' experience, iPod does a lot to make the experience enjoyable for the user and hides all the stuff that the user shouldn't do. Installation is pretty straight forward. If you want to copy a file the options are grayed out etc.

      On the Windows related player products I've seen and I am assuming the Zune you get similar - some extended install session - a wierd DRM connection/verification process proving that you are you, then pop-ups

  • Innovative? (Score:4, Funny)

    by superphreak ( 785821 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:32PM (#19951707) Homepage
    a very innovative product.

    As compared to what...? Vista?

  • I just purchased the Halo 3 Zune, and have an appointment next week to get my car set up with an AUX input solution [dension.com] (Porsche's stupid MOST bus Becker head units don't have AUX inputs available as standard or an option). So of course they have to announce Zune 2.0 coming "before holiday season", which most likely means "August".

    Hopefully the Zune 2.0 firmware will be pushed to current Zunes.

  • And I got yer slogan right here... (Score:5, Funny)

    by hobo sapiens ( 893427 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:34PM (#19951721) Journal
    "It's the second generation Zune, taking failure to a whole new level!"

    It will probably be incompatible with music from the 1G Zune, and won't work with Vista. In other words, nothing new here.

    • Re: (Score:2)

      by ozbird ( 127571 )
      "Wow, it squirts!" (Following Vista's "Wow, it rocks!" lead for the lamest slogan eva.)
  • to let apple be basically a generation ahead in the OS and portable electronics markets?

    Kind of lame that this is the best an admitted member of the "anti-Apple DAP crowd" can come up with for an article of nearly pure speculation. Creative and Archos look like they have better iPod killer offerings than Microsoft.
  • I hope they revamp their wireless sharing system so people can play the music as it streams in; it seems silly to not have that feature.

    Though I doubt Microsoft would drop their stupid DRM system, which is why I still wouldn't buy one...

  • New and improved (Score:5, Funny)

    by eclectro ( 227083 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:38PM (#19951739)
    Now!! With twice the squirt!!!

  • Question: (Score:3, Funny)

    by RedSteve ( 690399 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:39PM (#19951761)
    How do you improve upon brown? WIll it be puke green? Or puke orange?
  • attempting to copy an existing product, can never be considered innovative
  • "Life is working jobs we hate to buy shit we don't need" -Tyler Durden I hope you're as enlightened as I am.

  • Superior, so what? (Score:3, Insightful)

    by ameyer17 ( 935373 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:43PM (#19951791) Homepage
    As long as the Zune's marketed by Microsoft and the iPod's marketed by Apple, the Zune is doomed because, let's face it, Apple's good at marketing, and Microsoft's good at forcing stuff down consumer's throats.
    • I never got these comments. Yes Apple is good at marketing, but Microsoft forces things down your throat? Really? To force things down your throat means to do things to have one company do things to ONESELF without being asked. Microsoft has not done that EVER, because it would be illegal. If you don't like Windows, buy a Mac. If you don't like XBox buy a Wii, or PS3. If you buy a PC and don't want Windows take your money elsewhere since there are PC's where you can buy barebones. And the list goes on...

      I c
      • Yes Apple is good at marketing, but Microsoft forces things down your throat? Really? To force things down your throat means to do things to have one company do things to ONESELF without being asked. Microsoft has not done that EVER, because it would be illegal.

        Do you realize we're talking about Microsoft, the company that's been under investigation by the DOJ for years, until the corrupt Bush administration came in and yanked the plug, and the same company that's being fined hundreds of millions of euro by
  • I'm still baffled as to why anyone would *want* to sync their mp3 player over wifi, given that you have to plug it in to charge it anyway.
    Until they get wireless power into mp3 players, wireless syncing seems like a somewhat pointless feature, to be included for buzzword-compliance only.

    And there are so many more interesting things you could do with wifi on an mp3 player too...
    A relatively uncrippled pull-based local ad-hoc network (like iTunes sharing as opposed to Zune's heavily crippled push "squirting")

    • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

      by Osty ( 16825 )

      I'm still baffled as to why anyone would *want* to sync their mp3 player over wifi, given that you have to plug it in to charge it anyway. Until they get wireless power into mp3 players, wireless syncing seems like a somewhat pointless feature, to be included for buzzword-compliance only.

      Think of a car application, where you have the Zune basically hardwired into your car audio. As such, it'd have power already, but you'd still have to remove it from the car in order to add new music. Being able to wirel

      • Another good wireless sync case: The Living Room :).

        It's pretty common for people to use a media player to power a stereo in a room other than where the computer they buy music with. Wireless syncing lets you just stick the player in a dock with audio and power without having to take it to another room whenever music is purchased/downloaded, or deal with drilling a hole to run a USB cable between rooms.

    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      by R3d M3rcury ( 871886 )

      I'm still baffled as to why anyone would *want* to sync their mp3 player over wifi, given that you have to plug it in to charge it anyway.
      Well, I have an iPod nano. I love it. I only have to charge it maybe once every couple of weeks (I listen to it when I bike).

      So I don't really need to charge it all that often. But it would be nice if I could sync it without having to plug it in.

      • Re:Why sync wirelessly? (Score:4, Insightful)

        by Repton ( 60818 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:53AM (#19952309) Homepage

        If your Nano did wireless synching, you'd be charging it more often than every two weeks...

        • If your Nano did wireless synching, you'd be charging it more often than every two weeks...

          It would be fairly trivial to put a charger (with some capacitor action to smooth out the power) on your bicycle to keep the thing charged, if you wanted to do it that way. Use a magsafe-like connector so if you fall off your bike, you don't get garroted by the headphones.

    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      by GotenXiao ( 863190 )
      The battery on my Archos 604 Wifi will survive transferring a few hundred meg of files from Not At My Computer(TM) without being plugged in.

      Similarly, I can "stream" files over the wifi from any SMB share.

      And since the 604 Wifi has Opera, I could browse to (almost) any online music shop and download tracks and play them.

      Plus I can use the device as a wireless fileserver.

      Unfortunately I haven't seen any reports of ShoutCAST working (although the new 605 Wifi has optional Youtube/Dailymotion support).

      Oh, and
  • Hm. Well, if the _new_ one is coming out, why bother buying the old one, right? New one will be way better.

    It's not like Apple could ever compete with a wireless iPod.

  • Dammit (Score:2, Funny)

    by qualidafial ( 967876 )
    I always buy stuff [hideapod.com] right before the new product lines get announced.

  • I never thought I'd feel bad for MS. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by DwarfGoanna ( 447841 ) on Sunday July 22, 2007 @11:55PM (#19951877)
    But I suspect by the time Zune is worthy of the "iPod Killer" moniker, Apple will have already killed the iPod themselves. Sure, they'll still be selling dedicated DAPs for a while to come, but I wouldn't be shocked if a midrange "good enough" iPhone changes the playing field there. Exactly what they did before with the mini/nano. One thing I find admirable about the new Apple is that they don't seem to give a shit about cutting into their own installed base with a product that fits the market better than what they had before. By the time MS gets this right, *the market they're after is going to liken the standalone DAP to monochrome displays and 200 songs.


    *no, slashdot is not this market. I know.

  • ...support any of Vorbis, FLAC, or Speex. Is nobody else worried about that?

  • how about offering something new?? (Score:3, Interesting)

    by jgarra23 ( 1109651 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:15AM (#19952039)
    I'm no fanboi. I'll give the Zune a chance when MS offers something that is better than the iPod. I'm not looking for something as good as the iPod or an iPod with BIGGER features. How about some real innovations like: -more HD space is always nice, how about beating Apple with a 100GB or 120GB Zune? :) -intelligent shuffle that actually uses play counts, last-played, ratings & play-selection-order (and who knows what else) to intuitively determine what songs would fit together? Sort of a moodlogic for people instead of idiots & jerks? -non-platform specific compatibility -better firmware customization (that iPod linux thing is a worthy try but come on) -something that doesn't look like a blatant ripoff of the iPod -custom codec installation -API for application construction & integration I could go on & on...

  • Podcasting (Score:2, Funny)

    by bjackson1 ( 953136 )
    Anyone else think it's funny that the Zune will support "Podcasting"?
  • Maybe they can just get this "Zune 2.0" out next month so we'll still have time to get something good released by Christmas.
  • You realized you used Microsoft and innovative in the same sentence?

    What were you thinking?

    Is that even possible??

    Andy

  • I have one... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by InlawBiker ( 1124825 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:33AM (#19952177)
    Believe it or not I won it at a charity auction. I was pretty excited to get it, my 2gb mobile player wasn't cutting it for long trips. Here's the truth - they did a good job with it. It's well made. The interface is solid, easy to use and intuitive. I didn't have to read the instructions to use it. The software works pretty well, but is a little confusing. When the Zune came out it'd have been pretty hard to F*** up. With all the money in the world and dozens of business cases to study it'd be pretty difficult to come out with an MP3 player that didn't do a passable job. The Zune did just that, and now true to Microsoft form 2.0 will come out, and then 3.0 and 4.0, and it'll continue to improve. If I were voting with my own money I'd have probably bought Creative's 30gb model, but in truth the Zune is pretty good at what it does. If you can live with people poking fun at you for owning it, go ahead and buy one. It only syncs with Windows, by the way.

  • But... what is it?? (Score:4, Insightful)

    by wvmarle ( 1070040 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @12:45AM (#19952257)

    I just RTFA, and it sais NOTHING, and that is truly NOTHING, about what is really in the pipeline. Only lines like "it's going to be better", and "we're expanding it blah blah" with a lot of marketingspeak - but really nothing on the actual product. The only concrete product mentioned, the "Zune Shuffle" or whatever, also falls short of an actual description, let alone giving me the idea that it is reliable.

    Sorry folks, nothing to see here, move along. Really, there is absolutely nothing.

    The only thing about this article is that it keeps the buzz going, it keeps the people talking about this device. And guessing. Just guessing. Because there is nothing really said there, everything is just a guess.

    Editors, please do your job, and don't put this kind of nonsense on the front page. It doesn't belong there. I'm really interested in tech news, and also what Microsoft is doing - even though I don't buy their products, they are one of the major forces in the computer world - but this is the least informative article ever.

    Ah well, let the Microsoft bashing continue.

    • I just RTFA, and it sais NOTHING, and that is truly NOTHING, about what is really in the pipeline. Only lines like "it's going to be better", and "we're expanding it blah blah" with a lot of marketingspeak - but really nothing on the actual product. The only concrete product mentioned, the "Zune Shuffle" or whatever, also falls short of an actual description, let alone giving me the idea that it is reliable.

      So a Microsoft product is being hyped but offers no details on actual features. It promises to be "

  • And the same folks who didn't line up to buy Zune 1.0 will run right out and not line up for the next one.

    And the next one. And the next one. And the next one.

  • Zune problems (Score:3, Informative)

    by DECS ( 891519 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @01:42AM (#19952557) Homepage Journal
    One embarrassing footnote to the "million Zunes sold" meme is that few of those sales have been to individuals. The majority of Zunes are still sitting on store shelves. We know this because Microsoft managed to shovel an excess inventory of at least 4 million Xbox 360s on retailers. That fact that Microsoft hasn't been able to fake similar levels of sales for the Zune indicates that sales of the Zune are REALLY low.

    More Articles on Zune [google.com].

    Meanwhile, Apple shipped several times as many iPhones in its first weekend, selling it only in its own retail stores and AT&T shops. That says something about Apple and Microsoft's ability to retail.

    Apple has also been selling iPods at a profit; Microsoft's Zune + Xbox division has lost BILLIONS every year. Think about that for a moment.

    -
    Ten Fake Apple Scandals: 1 - Phony Rage About iPhone Price and Profits [roughlydrafted.com]
    Reality: The iPhone costs less than any smartphone, and will have a higher resale value after two years than any phone. Here's why.

    • Daniel,

      I must admit I do enjoy reading your articles, they're fun. But I've always wondered:

      • Your volume of production is really quite remarkable for someone with a day job. Does anyone pay you to produce these articles?
      • Though I've said they're "fun," your arguments have this inexorable, thorough-in-depth quality, like I'm reading the head computing reporter for the World Socialist Website [wsws.org] talking about how UDP is Pabloist (not to say I don't find their style "fun" either). Do you ever wonder you're ki

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by DECS ( 891519 )
        I start out with a small idea that drives me nuts until I start writing about it. It then invariably turns into a very long report. This happens daily.

        I have a flexible schedule because I work with various clients. Unfortunately, nobody pays me to write anything on my site. I get donations from readers and I have written for other sites and magazines before.

        Sometimes I'm afraid I write too much to hold the attention of a modern audience. I try to make short, readable paragraphs and insert artwork to trick r

  • Tag (Score:2)

    by Fizzl ( 209397 )
    whogivesashit

  • Microsoft will expand the Zune family with new styles, sizes, and price points.
    What? No mention of new SKUs? I'm disappointed in the summary.
  • Zune 2.0 is like Services for Unix 2.0. Why do they bother?

    Sometimes Microsoft just competes because they don't have anything better to do with a couple of billion dollars.

  • Give em a break... (Score:3, Interesting)

    by zelik ( 1131765 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @02:46AM (#19952927) Homepage
    Poor microsoft, they succeeded in their xbox ventures with xbox and then xbox 360. Their plan was to get their foot in the door with the original Xbox and then really grow with the xbox360. Now I won't say they succeeded 100% but they're doing pretty well at least compared to Sony. Can they repeat this with the Zune? Maybe.....Zune 1 was a complete flop but I think maybe Microsoft might be able to adapt and change it to be more competitive. I hope. I dislike Apple's monopoly on the mp3 player market as much as I disliked the stranglehold Microsoft has on the PC market. For MSFT to even have a chance, however, they really must eliminate the strong DRM of the Zune and make it more like the iPod. Remember the days before the iPod? Sony could have ruled the MP3 market but they created their lame lame magicGate DRM that made putting songs into the player more painful and slow than just burning an audio CD.
  • Next Generation Zune Coming for Holiday Season

    Halloween, maybe.

  • after a year still noone is running linux on it

  • Who The Fuck Cares. Apple products aside, MP3 players are a commodity item nowadays.
  • I think Apple is vulnerable in the Mp3 player market right now. The iPod does not have great battery life, and it still scratches easily. If they don't release a new version this holiday season, I will think about getting a Zune 2.0. I read that Zune 1.0 had great battery life and was well made, the problem was the DRM. If they fix the DRM, then Zune 2.0 might well be the superior device.

  • Podcasting (Score:3, Insightful)

    by slapout ( 93640 ) on Monday July 23, 2007 @11:59AM (#19957127)
    "Future Zune products will feature podcasting support"

    Are they saying that it will take a new hardware model to support podcasting?? Apple did it with just software.
     
  • I have it on good authority that it will look just like the iPod shuffle, but, get this: It will also be available in brown!
  • This reminds me of another company that made technically superior products [99er.net] that were so quirky, hard to use, weird-looking and goofy corporate that almost no one bought them even though the engineering was profound. Microsoft is the new Texas Instruments.

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