Information is staring to leak out about the second-generations Zune portable media players, Microsoft’s answer to the iPod.

Based on unofficial info, the 2G Zunes are not iPod-killers, but instead appear to be several generations behind Apple’s latest iPods. Microsoft is likely to have to compete on price and with distribution deals in order to get these into people’s hands.

Microsoft will have a lot of work to do to rebuild interest in the Zune brand and to combat the “Zunetanic” moniker the first generation players earned. We’ve heard from insiders, though, that Microsoft is hiring people to help with the Zune’s podcasting capabilities, which may be a sign that Microsoft is committing the resources to create a more substantial Zune platform.

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