Microsoft Zune First Look
Sep 14th, 2006 | By James Lewin | Category: iPods & Portable Media Players 
Microsoft has just unveiled official details on the Zune player and other products to be released under its Zune brand. The Zune system is made up of a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. Microsoft plans to have the Zune available for the holiday shopping season.
The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a 3-inch screen for pictures and video. The Zune also lets users customize the Zune interface with personal pictures or themes.
Zune will come in three colors: black, brown and white.
No word from Microsoft on either podcast support of what the Zune’s wireless capabiities will be.
Here’s what Microsoft has to say about the Zune’s wireless features:
Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.
Microsoft seems to be emphasizing the use of wireless sharing as a way of discovering new tracks, over things like synchronization or downloading podcasts.
Microsoft is positioning the Zune as the first step towards creating a platform that encompasses the same territory as Apple’s iPod/iTunes, but also expands upon it.
‚ÄúWith Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections,” said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft.
Microsoft plans to ship Zunes preloaded with content, a nice move. Each Zune device will be preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Music’s Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records.
This trend seems to open up great promotional opportunities for record labels. Let’s hope that it doesn’t end up being a barrier to indie labels and artists.
Microsoft also introduced three accessory packs for Zune users. The packs and the individual accessories, all designed exclusively for Zune, will be available at launch:
- The Zune Car Pack includes the built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger.
- The Zune Home A/V Pack includes five products that integrate Zune with the TV and music speakers: Zune AV Output Cable, Zune Dock, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter and the Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock.
- Zune Travel Pack is a set of five products for mobile entertainment: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter.
Microsoft is also working with leading accessory manufacturers Altec Lansing, Belkin Corp., Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), Dual Electronics, Griffin Technology, Harman Kardon and JBL, Integrated Mobile Electronics, Jamo International, Klipsch Audio Technologies, Logitech, Monster Cable Products Inc., Speck, Targus Group International Inc. and VAF Research.
I wonder if it has voice recording capabilities
Don’t you wish that Apple, Microsoft or somebody would release the ultimate MP3 player/mobile podcasting device?
I love the fact that it comes with a built in FM tuner…I only hope that the reception is decent enough to get mose signals. While I know the point of having an MP3 player it to listen to your music when you want to the fact remains that sometimes I need a good local radio fix!
well i cant wait
I wonder how this will compare to the Zen Vision range of Creative, they already have fm plus voice recoding capabilities.
The packs sound like an exellant idea, I would actually prefer all packs :)- I have a creative zen vision M, and I love it (also have an ipod-not video. Had a choice between Zen vision M and iPod Video, and chose the zen by a mile), but I think the features of the Zune makes it something to look forward to. I heard it also has bluetooth which is somethign the zen does not have (yet) but would be great to use to transfer pics/files to and fro with a computer.
looks like a speaker
What is that heap of junk, stupid microsoft. I’ll stick with “Stylish”, “working”, iPod, cus the Zune is 1. Its Microsoft & 2. Look at it, it doesnt look modern, its a solid black block, how boring
yay now even mp3 players can have blue screens
Wow, how amazing! I can’t wait to see it. When is it going to be available in Spain?????
QUOTING NEIL!
Neil Says:
October 7th, 2006 at 5:04 am
What is that heap of junk, stupid microsoft. I’ll stick with “Stylish”, “working”, iPod, cus the Zune is 1. Its Microsoft & 2. Look at it, it doesnt look modern, its a solid black block, how boring
LOL ARE YOU THAT DUMB! You sound like a republican, LOL the type that goes out and buy cheap FORD Car even though they suck on gas mileage, the cars are known to be pieces of shit and pollute like crazy, But you buy them anyway to help support whatever cause you think you are helping! DONT READ EVERYTHING YOU HEAR!
IPODS ARE PIECES OF SHIT AND MADE LIKE SHIT, CREATIVE ZEN M, IS MADE WITH CLASS AND GOOD WORKSMANSHIP, IPODS ARE APPLE CRAP.. I would never invest in a such a flimsy little ugly device it is little and has no balls!
THE ZUNE LOOKS COOL, But honestly , I wouldnt buy something microsoft made other than there operating system, THERE XBOXS KINDA SHOW THE CRAP THEY MAKE AFTER BOTH SYSTEM THAT I PURCHASED THE XBOX, AND THE XBOX360 CRASHED AND BROKE LOL Microsoft seems just to make crap 🙁 GOOD IDEAS BUT BAD INNOVATION!
IF HEWLETT PACKARD OR PHILIPS OR PIONEER OR MAYBE KLIPSCH RELEASED SOMETHING I WOULD DEFINATLY GO CHECK THEM OUT! Or maybe SAMSUNG OR SONY! SONY PLAYSTATION 3 NOVEMBER 17TH IS GOING TO KILL MICROSOFT OFF ONCE AND FOR ALL, THE XBOX 360 IS FLOPPING HARD CORE IN THE WAKE OF THE PS3 THAT IS 4 TIMES THE MACHINE! YES!!!
i’m not gonna lie i agree 100% with the person saying neil is retarded…i myself have an ipod and i think it has had every issue in the book…they look great i’ll admit, but apple needs to stop being concerned about looks, and start being concerned more about the products working ability. For instance the battery, or the fact that the screen doesn’t work, or the fact that my neighbour has sent hers in about 6 times already. If my warranty weren’t up myself, i’d do it too. At this point i’m looking into a creative zen m instead.
This is auful the wifi doesnt even connect to the internet! lol it is just looking weak. It looks crap the ipod is so mutch more styleish!
The Zune does not look all that bad. But as I have been reading articles I have grown scepticle of it’s possibilities, although it does have hope. I have listed my thoughts below.
Good Aspects-
* 30 GB Hard Drive
* $250
* FM Tuner
* Interface Custimization
* 3-inch Screen
* Multi Purpose (Music, Videos, Pictures, etc.)
* Zune Marketplace
* Sleek Look
* Color Variation (Black, Brown, White)
Less Impressive Aspects-
* Wi-fi (The Limitations)
* Battery Life
* Video Resolution (Rumors say the video resolution will be less impressive then the Ipod)
I Want To Know More About-
* The Tilt Wheel (Will it be as impressive as apple’s Click Wheel?)
* Zune Marketplace (Will it be similar to iTunes, with all the same functionality?)
* The FM Tuner (What kind of reception will it get?)
My final decision is to wait a little while and not buy this at launch… I prefer to wait until I am completely convinced or either wait until an improved version is released. I believe that Microsoft is on the right track, and that they could have something big on their hands with the proper revisions and advertising.
HHAAAHAHA!!I thINK THE ZUNE SUCKSSSSSS!!HHAAA!SO DOES BILL GATES!!!
I fix iPods and have come accros tons of problems with the iPod and then again look how many are out there! Lets talk about problems with the Zune in 5 years if it even comes close to the amount Apple has out there. I own a 1st generation and the video iPod and both work great. It’s the interface I’ve come to enjoy and I’ve fixed or tried to fix about every MP3 player out there and Apple has the best as far as troubleshooting and repair. Most my repairs come for accidents and a few from common problems like bad design but then again that’s why we have the 5th Generation.
How does the zune scroll pad work? Can you put songs from Your computer without buying the songs from the website???
Excellent. Yet another way Microshaft will bend over backwards and squeal like a pig to appease the almighty RIAA. Why not show us a device that will allow people to actually “own” their music?
you are all freaking idiots
zune loooks like my mom, stella. Zune is hot looking, and it sounds *cool*. ZUNE ZUNE ZUNE! hurray for zune.. ipod looks like a hippo.
I think this is a cool thing.
loser
Andrew
You’re mom’s a MILF and this has what to do with the Zune?
I like the big screen, i think your on to something there. I own an iPod Video 30gb and it is the best. The Zune looks too old fashioned and i think you guys at microsoft are just trying to make a crappy copy of iPod. Try and make something that is original and we have never seen before ( non click weel copy ). Make it look modern and stylish. I would just like to say that when the new iPod comes out you guys will go DOWN !!!!
baby back bitches this is no i pod
zune sounds like June! Is it set to be released in June ’07!?
lol this looks pretty cool to me, why are you idiots even concerned about the looks. The sound quality, video quality and picture quality should be what you are more concerned about!why would you even think about purchasing an ipod ne way, looks like what I shit out this morning. No offense to all yall tree huggers out there!
wow, all of you are stupid. i agree with daddy, you should be focusing on the sound/video/picture quality, not the looks. i’m just going to wait until there are positive reviews and if there is a voice recorder. i had a creative zen micro photo and i loved it, now i’m looking for something better.
looks kinda cool but its going to be really pricey I bet
Yall Microsoft Hater’s are all stupid fucks. Yall don’t know shit, i bought the 30gb Ipod when it first came out, after 3 day that shit start skeeping shit. So i went back to get another one, the problem with this one was the video quality was horrible. So Now i just boght the Zune and i’m loving it so far. So fuck all yall niggans who are hating on Microsoft. Its Ur boy………..
This is all good and well, but Microsoft released a player that doesn’t even compete with 90% of the players out there. And the only player that it should at LEAST be better than in every way they seem to have just not paid attention to detail. Hell all the creative players are better than the Zune.
I like iPods, but I being a big tech gadget guy went out and bought a Zune. It’s aweful, It is just Portable Media Center v2, with a theme on it. So it’s exactly like the Toshibia Gigabeat, only it added wifi, for a very useless feature. Not to mention the look and feel, and navigating it is HARD as hell. It’s AWEFUL!!!! I can’t believe Microsoft doesn’t have ONE SINGLE FREAKING employee who could have came up with a cool navigation concept. Geeze!!! The two buttons on the side are like the very first iPod I bought 7 years ago!! They are that plexiglass push interface. And don’t get me started on the scroll-wheel looking thing in the center. It actually just looks like a cheep SPEAKER CONE from a laptop. It’s designed to confuse users, and make them think it’s a scroll-wheel, when all it does is CLICK-CLICK-CLICK up and down. And the FM radio is horrible! It gets a really crappy signal which makes me believe they probably were lazy and didn’t design the headphone output to act as a grounded antenna (like many products, which make the headphones useful to increase FM signal)… But the worse part by far has to be the interface. Microsoft would have been better off COPYING a crappy KNOCK-OFF chinese player (those fake ones they sell for $20 illegally) and still had a nicer interface.
It’s absolutely embarrassing. Creative is really the only other company making players that are as nice as the iPod. You’d think with billions of dollars Microsoft could hire one innovative employee to INVENT a new concept for browsing through thousands of songs, but NO apparently not.
The worst, of the worst part is.. Apple is re-releasing the iPod all over again in January, it’s going to be like the first time the device came out, in the sense that it’s so new, and has so many new features, and creative ideas, that once again nobody will be talking about anything for music or video except Apple for the next 5 years..
Just wait until the end of the 1st quarter in 2007 to see what I mean.
Note to MS, stand outside the campus of Apple & Creative, with duffle bags full of money. Hire a PI, to figure out members on the iPod team, and members on the Creative Zen team, and then hand off, and bribe them with lots of money, boats, houses, and hookers. It’s the only way you’ll ever get anything creative out of your company.
Directed to Court K.:
1. (Agree – WiFi) Yeah, the WiFi deal sucks, I was hoping to send music files from my laptop to the Zune wirelessly.
2. (Disagree – Navigation) How is the navigating hard? Can you not understand the fundamentals of a basic navigation menu with what, 5 WHOLE different buttons to move with?
3. (Disagree – Scroll-Wheel) You wouldn’t know or care about the scroll-wheel thing if you haven’t used an Ipod before. Personally, its no big deal for me.
4. (Disagree – FM) My FM signal is great. Maybe you should try moving closer to the tower? =D
5. (Agree – Style) The overall look of the Zune is a little blockish for me, but I can live with it.
Microsoft and Zune sucks very much!!!the only thing of Microsoft that is brilliant is the Xbox 360!!And I love Mac!!!
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