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Cardboard display mockups of the 2G Zunes and flash Zune  (Source: Zune-Online)

2G Zune and flash Zune renderings  (Source: Gizmodo)
New Microsoft Zune models to launch tomorrow for holiday shopping

When Microsoft decided to enter the portable media player field with the original Zune, its goal was to dethrone Apple’s iPod as the media player of choice. That never happened; the Zune didn’t take off as Microsoft had hoped it would.

BetaNews is reporting that Microsoft will hold a press event tomorrow, with Bill Gates on hand, to launch the Zune 2.0. The first generation Zune was able to claim 10 percent of the hard drive based portable media player market, amounting to about 3 percent of the overall media player market.

One of the things that the new Zune 2.0 will offer is a thinner profile than the chunky first generation Zune players.  Microsoft is rolling out a new flash based Zune at the press event sized along the lines of the iPod nano at 3-inches by 1.25-inches.

These small flash-based Zune's are reported to be video and WiFi capable and will have higher storage capacities than competing products from Apple. One could gather from that last statement that the flash based Zune 2.0 would be available in 8GB and perhaps even in a 16GB capacity.

Microsoft will reportedly manufacture about 2.4 million Zune 2.0 devices for the holiday season. Two thirds of these devices are expected to be the flash based players. The new Zunes are expected to be available in November along with Microsoft’s new line of Zune accessories. Pricing information on the new Zune products is unavailable at this time, but expect pricing to be very competitive with similar offerings from Apple.

A Microsoft patent application recently uncovered by DailyTech shows a new social aspect to the Zune player that allows Zune users to subscribe to playlists. The timing of the application leads many to believe this service will be part of the new Zune 2.0 as well.

Updated 10/1/07
Engadget is reporting that its sources suggest that the official launch will be on Wednesday. In addition, Engadget has a picture of the original Zune running 2.1 firmware and Zune-Online has leaked pics of the new flash Zune and slimmed down 2nd gen HDD-based Zune.

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Ready to Buy!
By Hydrofirex on 10/1/2007 5:44:04 PM , Rating: 5
Why does everyone Zune bash!? I understand that the crippled Wi-Fi is annoying and that firmware updates could have delivered a lot more functionality, but the thing is infinitely better than an Ipod - at last to me personally. Before the most recent round of Ipod updates i didn't see anything they had which could even raise an eyebrow. Now, the only thing I would consider is an Ipod touch, but I'll be damned if I'm going to waste 400+ bucks for a pretty interface and 16 gigs of storage. It's like buying a BMW with a 2 cylinder motor.

My brother and my roomate both have Zunes and the thing is nice. The screen is a great size for personal viewing and the interface is clean and pleasant to use. Plus, it has an FM radio tuner. I've been looking for the Zune 2.0 for 2 months or so now and I'm excited it's finally here. I will be purchasing one immediately.

HfX




RE: Ready to Buy!
By Ralph The Magician on 10/1/2007 6:01:20 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Why does everyone Zune bash!?

Simple, because Microsoft doesn't get it. The Zune is what I'd call a complete marketing failure. It's probably even not a bad product, but these days the "quality" of a product is second to its presentation.

People already have an iPod...or two...or three...or seven. They already half their music from illegal downloads, and the other half from the iTunes Music Store. They are entrenched in the iPod, and it's going to take a a significant incentive to get them out of the iPod market and back into the DAP market. Yes, you read that right. The iPod has, at least in terms of cross-price elasticities, virtually become its own market. There's a market for iPods, iTunes, and iPod accessories, and then there is the DAP market which is, for most* users (at least most US users), a completely separate market. People do not care about DAPs. Most people don't even know what DAP stands for.

Most people aren't interested in DAPs, and thus, they aren't interested in the Zune. They just don't care. "Zune? What's a Zune? Is that a new iPod? iPod Zune? What? Microsoft? I thought they made Windows?" Microsoft has virtually infinite funds to launch a product like this, and they should have known this.

Now, at least they tried. Not very hard, but they tried. You have to give them that. They tried with their, "Welcome to the Social" crap. That was just incredibly weak. And brown? Who the fuck thought it was a good idea to release a brown media player?

If they actually want to do something they are going to have to present the Zune the same way Apple presents the iPod—as a lifestyle product. The iPod is marketed as a music player. It's marketed as a lifestyle product, like everything else is nowadays. That's what Microsoft needs to do with the Zune if they ever want a piece of the iPod market. They need to present it as something that is not only equally capable, but something equally likeable. A shiny design, flashy commercials, bright colors, simple interface, and a store that's equally easy to use to buy music. They are going to have to give a way free music too, if they want to try to get people to climb out of the iTMS trench.

*I said most—not all. Yes, I know that you move between the two seamlessly because all your music is ripped—blah, blah, blah. You are a small minority.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By TomZ on 10/1/2007 6:08:22 PM , Rating: 5
I predict that Microsoft will be successful in the long term with Zune. Looking at Microsoft's past history, it's not unusual for their first versions of something new to, well, kind of suck. But they usually stick with things and see them through, fixing problems along the way and honing the product to what it should be. The competition is pretty tough, but there's certainly opportunity to unseat Apple, IMO.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By retrospooty on 10/1/2007 7:52:47 PM , Rating: 5
"Looking at Microsoft's past history, it's not unusual for their first versions of something new to, well, kind of suck. But they usually stick with things and see them through, fixing problems along the way and honing the product to what it should be"

Yup. True with everything they do. Look at EI, Office, direct X,Windows, Winmobile, etc... They all started out as crap, but years later and versions later they are all good, and dominate the market they are in. MS has the money and time to keep pushing away until it owns the market. It may never totally own the mp3 market, but it can and will get better and better and own a good chunk of it.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By MADAOO7 on 10/1/07, Rating: -1
RE: Ready to Buy!
By Orpheus333 on 10/1/2007 6:35:05 PM , Rating: 3
Typical statements from the anti-MS camp. The xbox 360 may be a "glorified PC" as you put it (the same said of the original xbox but I digress...) but its come a long way from the original Xbox in a lot more ways than technology. I think if anything the progression of the xbox should be enough for people to stop discounting MSs efforts just because they are MS. IMHO they learn from their mistakes very well.

I believe MS will eventually use all its products to build off one another, IE xbox 360, Vista, Zune...and the table 'thingy' in harmony, a power users dream. I think it will all come together and people will say "Ooooo...."


RE: Ready to Buy!
By MADAOO7 on 10/2/2007 8:49:15 PM , Rating: 2
Whoa, who said anything about being anti-MS. I'm a Microsoft shareholder who is simply being frank about the nature of the company. Microsoft started as a company of innovation, and has since that time digressed into following in the footsteps of others innovations. The majority of it's products are still successful, but I really think the company has fallen short of it's mission to lead in innovation. Microsoft has trailed in almost everything it's done in the last decade.

To reply to your comment:

quote:
its come a long way from the original Xbox in a lot more ways than technology


Are you kidding? The only thing that did change was it's technology. 360 is simply a more powerful Xbox. Nothing else changed. I should mention that I own a 360, and don't own a Wii. I bought the 360 because I like the games more and I value HD graphics over innovative gameplay.

You mention "Surface" at the very end, and that keeps my hopes alive for Microsoft for the future. But to say that Microsoft has been an innovator and not a laggard in the past several years is simply ignorant.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By Ralph The Magician on 10/1/2007 6:49:44 PM , Rating: 5
See, the thing is you don't actually need a new, glorified feature to unseat Apple. You just need to out market them. That's hard for Microsoft to do, since they don't have an image that really lets they do it, and Zune is not an established brand name. IMO, they should have marketed the Zune under the Xbox branding and moved for more integration with Xbox 360. Create a Zune that's fully capable of running Xbox Live Arcade games and syncs with your 360. That's how you outmarket Apple while adding a new feature at the same time.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By Locutus465 on 10/1/2007 6:51:32 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
XP, Xbox 360 is just a glorified PC, and the Zune, is an average run of the mill mp3 player.


Can't speak to Zune since I don't own one (I do much perfer Zune Mp3 service to iTunes which IMO sucks). As far as 360, are you saying that the average PC today runs the Tripple Core IBM Xenon processor (not to be confused with Intel Xenon..)


RE: Ready to Buy!
By MADAOO7 on 10/2/2007 8:58:32 PM , Rating: 1
The Xbox 360 at it's core is simply a mix of computer parts. Of course that kind of chipset is not found in an average computer, but that wasn't the point I was trying to make. I was trying to say that Xbox 360 is simply a very powerful PC, it doesn't attempt to do anything that gaming PC couldn't do. A Nintendo Wii, while still at it's core is a computer, incorporates a new innovation.

I never said there was anything wrong with a 360, but admit to what it is, a very powerful computer that was designed with gaming in mind. It is the logical progression of the orginal Xbox. Take an Xbox, up all the specs, and bam...Xbox 360.

As I said before, I own a 360. I'm not arguing which product is better. I love the games on my 360, and wouldn't trade it for a Wii. At the end of the day though, I know it's just a pc on steroids that makes my PC gaming more affordable.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By cubdukat on 10/1/2007 11:57:49 PM , Rating: 2
I think what sunk the Zune was Microsoft jettisoning the PlaysForSure standard. As badly executed as it was, it still sucked that they strong-armed so many people into adopting it just so they could leave them high and dry two years later. Does anyone believe that that entire song-swap thing actually worked? I highly suspect that quite a few users probably ended up having to buy the Zune-friendly versions of all their P4S tracks.

That was the main reason I passed it up. I like the design of the Zune and the bigger screen, but seeing as I have quite a few P4S tracks from Napster and the late MSN Music, I was not about to take Microsoft's word that I could swap them without issues. For that reason I decided to go with the slightly lesser (but not by much) Zen Vision:M--which got stolen within the first week I owned it.

What I'd be interested in knowing is if the Zune Marketplace will be getting a makeover soon, now that URGE is going away, seeing as it's nothing more than URGE with a new coat of paint, and songs that you can't play on anything else but a Zune.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By Ringold on 10/2/2007 12:12:27 AM , Rating: 2
Aww, you noted cross price elasticity without taking the opportunity to finish it and point out the Zune is, by the same definition, an inferior good ? :P

That's the sort of thing I'd do just to rattle cages, but, I give you points for being a statesman.

Oh, and points for using a "*". Thats almost a first in a post.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By SiliconAddict on 10/1/2007 6:57:57 PM , Rating: 3
Key words "at last to me personally"

Without the scroll wheel, without a hard drive that is at minimum 60GB, without AAC support, (Ain't no way in hell I'm transcoding 58GB of songs.), and without something other then the god awful monstrosity that is WMP I personally won't go anywhere near Zune.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By noirsoft on 10/2/07, Rating: 0
RE: Ready to Buy!
By Darthvoy on 10/1/2007 7:00:50 PM , Rating: 2
I don't know about it being infinitely better than the iPod. I have a Zune and regret getting it. The battery life sucks compared to the iPod's (I have to charge it everyday because I can only get around three hours max). As for the interface being better, What the hell have you been smoking? The iPod's is pretty much the same, if not better.


RE: Ready to Buy!
By blurredvision on 10/2/2007 7:57:38 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
The battery life sucks compared to the iPod's (I have to charge it everyday because I can only get around three hours max).

That's definitely not normal, but I can still understand your frustration. I've had my Zune since day 1 last November, and the battery still lasts quite a long time. I typically get to work at around 8am, and the Zune is turned on without a power source around...just the battery. I'd say it stays on 6 hours a day, and by the end of the day, the battery only shows half a bar, but the battery gauge on these things only have 4 increments, so I don't know what percentage we're looking at.

Of course, this thing stays in my car hooked up to the car charger at all times, so I never have to bother with charging. It's main use is in my car when it's wired up to my stereo.


Awesome!
By blurredvision on 10/1/2007 6:08:40 PM , Rating: 2
It's about time. I've been waiting for some new Zune news since I bought mine last year. I owned an iPod Nano and Vision M before, ended up selling both and got the Zune. The interface is easy and fast, video quality is passable, I absolutely love the layout with the huge album art, and my favorite thing is the lack of any touch interface.

If they try to include touch "anything", I'm not upgrading. But if they make it thinner with a bigger hard drive and a few more features, I'm definitely upgrading. I know it's popular to hate on the Zune, but it's the best portable media player that I've owned.

I'm actually surprised Microsoft has been able to keep so much of this secret up until now....they are the worst company for keeping secrets. Hell, the 360 pictures were leaked 2 months before it was announced, only nobody knew that they were the final design because of all the other pictures flooding the place.




RE: Awesome!
By zombiexl on 10/1/2007 8:26:44 PM , Rating: 5
I just bought 3 (1 for me, one for my wife and one for my oldest son) original zune's (thanks to woot) and they seem pretty good so far. I'm not sure why people hate them so much, other than its cool to hate MS..

Obviously, I wont be upgrading anytime real soon since i just bought these.. unless i can make my wife think its still the original model :)...

30GB is plenty of space.. I have more mp3's than that, but i dont listen to all the music i own. Hell while ripping my entire cd collection i found cd's i dont remember buying, duplicate copies of at least 10 cd's (i think i found 3 copies of so far.. so good.. so what..). I honestly cant imagine needing more than 30gb for another year or 2.


RE: Awesome!
By Spivonious on 10/2/2007 9:13:02 AM , Rating: 1
\m/ MEGADETH \m/