Microsoft Zune ‘iPod Killer’ Details
Published by Josh Foster September 17th, 2006 in Tech, Microsoft, PP.
It’s certainly looking to be an interesting holiday season for people who dig new gadgets. Between Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s upcoming Zune, this could truly be the winter we never, ever forget.
Either that, or one the most soul-crushingly disappointing holiday seasons in recent memory.
We gave you the nitty gritty on Wii a few days ago, now it’s time for some long awaited Microsoft Zune details. Oh, and even though we used the phrase in the title, we officially propose the the phrase “iPod killer” be wiped off the face of the earth. It’s somewhat excruciating.
Marking the next big milestone for its Connected Entertainment vision, Microsoft Corp. today unveiled details of the first products to be released under its Zune brand. Designed around the principles of sharing, discovery and community, Zune will create new ways for consumers to connect and share entertainment experiences. The Zune experience centers around connection connection to your library, connection to friends, connection to community and connection to other devices.
The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning, said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft, who is leading the charge for building the family of Zune products. With 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.
The Zune Experience
Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes 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. The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a bright, 3-inch screen that allows users to not only show off music, pictures and video, but also to customize the experience with personal pictures or themes to truly make the device their own. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white.
Every Zune device creates an opportunity for connection. 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.
Zune makes it easy to find music you love whether its songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. Easily import your existing music, pictures and videos in many popular formats and browse millions of songs on Zune Marketplace, where you can choose to purchase tracks individually or to buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee.
To get started with great music and videos out of the box, every Zune device is preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Musics Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records.
Zune Accessories
To enhance the Zune experience, three accessory packs help Zune users enjoy their music where they want to, at home or on the road. The packs and the individual accessories, all designed exclusively for Zune, will be available at launch:
| The Zune Car Pack includes everything needed to hit the road with a Zune device, such as the built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger. | |
| The Zune Home A/V Pack enhances your experience in the home through 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 designed to keep friends and family entertained on the road: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter. |
Providing consumers with additional options to customize and personalize their Zune experience, 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
The Future is Bright
In addition to the features available at launch, built-in wireless technology and powerful software provide a strong foundation to continue to build new shared experiences around music and video. As Zune evolves, the device can be easily updated. The Zune software on your PC will let you know when these updates are available for download.
Source: Microsoft
Love the FM tuner — why won’t apple add that???
This is so cool, i was gonna get an apple ipod …but then i didn’t….i’m glad that ipod zune had come out…because it’s way cooler than apple ipod and imma get 1…….thx microsoft!!~nice work!!~
This MP3 looks cool, but I doubt it’ll beat the price of the 30 gb iPod at $250 and definitely not the 80 gb iPod at $350 (!!!). I honestly couldnt care less about FM, wireless, and that crap. I probably wouldnt even watch movies on it.