Zune: what we know, think we know, and don't yet know
By Ryan Block 
posted July 21st 2006 5:22PM
posted July 21st 2006 5:22PM
What we know (for sure)
- Zune is the name of the project, the brand, and the device.
- The first Zune device will be launched this year, with more devices to come in 2007.
- The Zune brand encompasses not only the device, but the software that will drive it, as well as a music, movie, and media service the Zune device family will use for acquiring, sharing, and discovery of said media. Music will be the first angle of service that is launched, "connected entertainment" being the ultimate goal.
- The Zune media service will heavily leverage community aspects and recommendation; emphasis is being placed on using Zune to discover new artists, media, etc.
- The Zune media device will be drive-based, and have WiFi.
- The Zune brand is intended to be an entirely vertically integrated end-to-end solution, not unlike the iPod / iTunes / iTunes Music Store triumvirate.
- The service and device will not be PlaysForSure compliant, meaning you will not be able to use your Zune player with Napster or Vongo, for example. This will be an entirely new system. Microsoft will continue to support and develop for their PlaysForSure initiative, but all things PlaysForSure are handled by two entirely separate division that will not have any crossover.
- Zune is under Microsoft's new Entertainment & Devices Division, and is headed by, among others, Robbie Bach, J Allard (Corporate Vice President and Chief XNA Architect), and Bryan Lee (Corporate Vice President and CFO, Entertainment and Devices Division), which accounts for the division of this project from the rest of Microsoft, similar to how the Xbox project was also strictly separated.
- The logo we had is, of course, real.
- Microsoft's launched the Zune viral marketing site, ComingZune.com. [Thanks, bv]
- They'll be showing off the device by the end of next month, and will aim for a November release.
- Microsoft will buy your way out of iTunes in order to convert you to a Zune user.
- The Zune will come in multiple colors.
- Pyxis is the codename for their nano competitor which would also include video capabilities; Alexandria is the codename for the software that powers the Zune experience.
- A Microsoft portable gaming system is in the works, and will be a part of the Zune family. This device should have Xbox Live Anywhere integration. This may or may not be an Xbox co-branded portable, but is probably going to be the portable gaming / media device we've been hearing about for years.
- Microsoft's ad campaign will include a Super Bowl commercial.
- The Zune will have a bevy of accessories at launch; it'll probably be cheaper for accessory makers to develop for the Zune port than pay the Made For iPod tax.
- Whether the Zune media service will offer the same kind of all-you-can-eat subscription media services as PlaysForSure media services like Napster and Vongo. Supposedly subscription will be offered, but downplayed in favor of song purchase (which is the opposite of most PlaysForSure services).
- Whether you'll actually only be limited to sharing with up to 10 people nearby, as rumored, and that they won't get the protected files, but will "bookmark" them for later purchase.
- Exact device specifications for the first Zune device, as well as its price (though we hear it could be as much as $399).
- Whether it'll include XM and/or Sirius service as rumored (we doubt it).
This Zune looks just like an iPod. There's a surprise! So typical of Microsoft to copy Apple, like they copy everyone. Hasn't anybody woken up and realised that's all Microsoft actually do? Copy? Vista looks pretty damn identical to Mac OS X, Xbox looks pretty much like a PS2... Microsoft just copy well-thought out ideas, then change them and add a load of crap new features that nobody really needs - like music on Xbox, or the new accounts on 360. Who the hell will actually use the music features on an Xbox? Why do you need that? Why?
And, on the Wireless new controllers for 360, if you press the Xbox button in the middle, it brings up this annoying side-menu where you can choose which account you want to log in with. Any game that is being played will be paused until this menu is flicked off by pressing this button again. Do you know how annoying it is if, say, you were calmly playing a game and your brother came in, picked up a wireless controller and started pressing the button? It clearly interrupts your gameplay and is totally UNEEDED.
This is very lame...because you copied Apple iPods. That is very stupid of microsoft to do. NOT COOL!
does the zune have a click wheel like the ipod?
I have seen the Zune and iPod in action and I really cant believe that nobody is even considering the Palm Lifedrive! It costs the same on ebay and it offers so much more! WiFi, music, pictures, office files, video, SD slot, infrared that allows you to remote control you SLR and Tv! I think its a no brainer.
I sell music online through www.burnlounge.com/welcome. We are using the MSFT technology for releasing music. However, it appears the Zune music is now encrypted in a different format! What are all the MSFT services who sell music supposed to do? I am lost and confused on how on the services will be integrated into the Zune player.
I planned on purchasing the Zune, but now I see my music is incompatible with the player.
The file sharing feature sounds great but...
This feature allows recipients to play full-length sample tracks up to 3 times in 3 days. Recipients cannot re-send music that they have received via the sharing feature.
Lame crippleware!
I see zune video converter software is released in http://www.dvd-to-zune.com
Audio MP3 WAV WMA OGG Converter
Convert Audio Files MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG from One Format to Another Directly.
homepage: http://www.audio-converter.com
good
I really appreciate this cool "guy" but I wonder if there is a more detailed description about Zune and it's price, because there should be deverse module of Zune.
does anyone know if the zune is better than the ipod because i wanna get i mp3 device but i don't know which one i should get so if someone could reply to this i would appraicate it alot
Everyone who is dissing this product and hasnt even touched it...shutup. I bought it the day it came out and it is awesome. Everything is so easy to use. And to all of you who are like "it doesnt do as much as the ipod does. Guess what...this is the first generation of it and it is just as good as the ipod in its 3rd generation. And of course it is bigger...the screen is huge and awesome. I think that this could easily become huge if people will give it a chance. It has only been out for like a week...give it time. BTW...i hate all of you ipod only lovers...think about it retards....you want it to work cause it will create compitition. Compitition brings prices down and quality up. So out of all the mp3 players...this is the one that can do that.
I found a really cool Zune converter site.
http://www.dvdtozuneconverter.net/
There are some Zune software and user guides
hope it is useful to u!
How to convert iTunes Music to your Zune Player
to see http://www.dvd-ipod.biz/
the zune is going to make the apple company cry . cause the zune is so cool and its price is 250 dollars . i have one and it even brought some music and videos .
I had an ipod and I thought it was cool for while until apple screwed it up. Now I have some virus on my ipod and can only play some songs. Why should I pay so much to get a brand name ipod that will only work for a year. And even if it still worked I would feel like a loser because ipod comes out with a new gen ipod nearly every year and I wouldn't have the newest hippest ipod out there. Don't just buy your mp3 because it has a half bitten apple stamped on the back.
M4A to MP3 Converter can convert M4A video or audio files to MP3 files.
M4A to MP3 Converter can also convert other media files to MP3 files, these media files may
include WAV, OGG, WMA, WMV, ASF, ASX, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, MP4, M4A, AAC, MOV
homepage: http://www.m4a-to-mp3-converter.com/
Audio MP3 WAV WMA OGG Converter
Convert Audio Files MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG from One Format to Another Directly.
homepage: http://www.audio-converter.com
You could see this site:
http://www.zunecost.com
Yo. I'm a diehard iPod hater, and i'm not all that pleased with how the Zune is gonna turn out either... Can't someone come out with a regular MP3 player that holds a lot of songs, DOESN'T do anything fancy, and DOESN'T cost well over two hundred bucks? 'Cause that's what i'm in the market for, dangit!
That being said, Zune will stomp iPod flat, because there's millions of other iPod haters out there that will buy it just for that. Can't say i'm gonna be sorry to see it go, either... >:]
I have one. It's really neat and I love it. You get a 14 day free trial for the Zune marketplace and it's only $14.99 a month. I give it two thumbs up
I now have a Zune and I love it. AND guess what I actually have not paid for a single one of the 500 songs or the 30 videos I have on it currently. I love this machine. I can take my porn anywhere now LOL.
The most comprehensive Zune site can be found at http://www.zuneinfo.com
I hope the Zune will include software for Sirius.
I am currently researching which model I should get. The 30G iPOD or the 30G Zune. Please help me make my decision. I have to have a decision by January 15, 2007. Thanks!
All I really want to know is, of all the players available, which players will read all my J-Pop and C-Pop in the original language?
I bought my son a zune for christmas and he is not really using it. I was wanting to find a place he can download music and movies from. He said zune marketplace did not have any movies. Where would you recommend for downloading. I have found several different places like zune reactor but do not know anything about them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
RM to Zune Converter is a simple yet smart and powerful video converter to convert RealMedia video files to your Zune player. The conversion speed is fast and with high output video quality.
www.rm-converter.net/rm_to_zune
I've got both an ipod and zune. I like both equally, but there are two things about the zune that i like over the ipod. 1) it matches with my 360 and 2) i can plug it in via USB and charge and use it w/out the software...something you can't do with ipod. Conversely, the ipod is smaller and more convenient to use (with regards to navigating menus), but i like both equally. Competition is a good thing for consumers...lower prices, more products/options, and usually better quality for the dollar. So everybody that is anti MS pro Apple and visca verss can blow it out their ass...don't knock it until you give it a fair shot yourself.