Zune in pink (and orange)

A pink Zune, already? Normally a company goes limited edition pink around the time the product buzz reaches an unsettling hush, not on product launch day. However, this and an orange Zune were apparently delivered as gifts for those helping Microsoft push the ol' girl out the door. Just don't be surprised to see these new colors announced over the next few months, you know, when Vista is supported, WiFi is opened up, and the Zune phone and 60GB models drop. Busy, busy.

[Via ZuneBoards, thanks Han Yoon]

[Alex C @ Nov 15th 2006 2:40PM]

Hahaha. Nate, please, at least try a little harder than that to sound authentic. You almost sound like a Microsoft employee...!
Unless that was supposed to be satirical, in which case, very funny :D

[billstevenson @ Nov 15th 2006 10:39AM]

Really, Nate, I've looked over your posting history here and the banal and yet uniformly pro-Zune stuff you post makes me very suspicious of you and Microsoft's advertising initiative. It makes me not want the product when I see all the fake advertising it's getting. Hiring people to feign enthusiasm on blogs is one of the lowest things they can do. Real people don't talk about "big buzz" on their "campus" or "venues oline". Particularly when as a real college student I know that barely anybody is talking about the product? In my school paper's technology section yesterday -- launch day -- there was no commentary about the Zune. Instead, the real "buzz on campus" has been about video game consoles.

[Dave95 @ Nov 15th 2006 12:01PM]

@ Nate

Maybe you should change your name, don't you think! We all know the only campus you are talking about is the one in Redmond. You give all the other legitimate Zune supporter a bad name.

Give it up already!

[Tyler @ Nov 15th 2006 9:35AM]

too much pink for me

[Tim @ Nov 15th 2006 9:41AM]

The word zune appears 14x on the front page on engadget right now... How much is microsoft paying for this amount of advertising?

[Revrant2394 @ Nov 15th 2006 10:09AM]

Sheesh, apparently more than Apple does for everything else.

[Javaflash @ Nov 15th 2006 9:42AM]

Folks @ Engadget, it's a bit early to stir up the mob (or the mobs), don't you think?

[Mike @ Nov 15th 2006 9:47AM]

"Normally a company goes limited edition pink around the time the product buzz reaches an unsettling hush, not on product launch day."

Maybe the Zune's product life is limited to a few days. Don't be surprised if tomorow they come up with a "collector edition"... :P

[Javaflash @ Nov 15th 2006 9:49AM]

Tim, you should try CNET news sometimes. They're practically Redmond's employees of the month. They bash every Apple, Google moves, while glorifying Microsoft's domination. My skin crawls every time I read that site.

[Sergio @ Nov 16th 2006 5:26AM]

Because they talk about new mp3 players as iPod killers? Oh please, James Kim loves his Apple products more than anything else on the planet.

[Rick Lyon @ Nov 15th 2006 9:54AM]

Pink and charcoal grey trim? Ewwww. Why not change the trim to a more cohesive color? Oh, it's M$ that's why.

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 15th 2006 10:05AM]

Honestly, more color choices are better. Red would be cool too!

[Fred @ Nov 15th 2006 10:08AM]

Say as much as you like about editorial independance, I'm convinced engadget is being paid by Microsoft to advertise the Zune in their posts.

[geekb @ Nov 15th 2006 10:29AM]

"Say as much as you like about editorial independance, I'm convinced engadget is being paid by Microsoft to advertise the Zune in their posts."

Then I'm sure the long, detailed post about how the device (or at least the shipping software) was completely unusable at best was money well spent? Granted it is buried on page 3 now...

[0_0 @ Nov 15th 2006 10:39AM]

Except when it's Apple Showtime again and we get 20 articles about pre-show speculation, 1 monster article about the show and then 30 post-show articles, unboxings and dissections. This place is just as much about Apple as it is about Microsoft, maybe even more so.

[morty salt @ Nov 15th 2006 10:09AM]

If you are part of the social you become a borg. I would rather have my independent propriatary ipod. "Everyone wants to become part of the Social...yeh, right" maybe the Redmond Campus.

[Robert Webster @ Nov 15th 2006 10:16AM]

I received my brown Zune yesterday. Not pink. HAHA.
Now, I am ripping DVDs to video for my Zune. Don't know whether the converted videos work on Zune software. I download the free trial version from http://www.dvdtozune.com/
Anyone know this?

[sophie @ Nov 29th 2006 10:51PM]

yes. but i downloaded it two nights ago. but i was disappointed in the giant TRIAL VERSION flashing over my screen. it may be worth buying though. i really like the ability to convert individual scenes. it allows me to create a montage of my favorite scenes.

does anyone know of a dvd converter (to avi preferably) that is free?
s

[Joe @ Nov 15th 2006 10:24AM]

"If you are part of the social you become a borg. I would rather have my independent propriatary ipod."

Riiiiiiight... because iPods are SO indie. Mmmhhhmmmmm.

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 15th 2006 12:24PM]

True! If the rumored true video iPod ever hits, the shoe will be on the other foot!

[Jamar @ Nov 15th 2006 5:28PM]

Exactly- at my schoolk no one even knows what the Zune is.

[Mr. B @ Nov 15th 2006 10:42AM]

The amount of coverage the Zune is getting seems reasonable. While the product may suck, the mere virture of Microsoft _finally_ entering this arena is a big deal.

While the introduction of this mediocre, 1st-gen product may not seem big now, perhaps this will be seen as a significant event in the more distant future.

[strider_mt2k @ Nov 15th 2006 11:05AM]

iPod and Zune owners will be launched on a special "third ship", which will arrive shortly after ships one and two at Paradise...

Line up now folks, there are power adapters inside, there we go. No pushing now...

I'll just set the autopilot and join the others in ship two, bye now!

[Steve Savage @ Nov 15th 2006 11:56AM]

I just think it doesn't bode well when there are no long lines, no exciting buzz, no word of mouth "hey its cool!" stuff going on.
A good product usually can advertise itself, but the lack of buzz must be really making Microsoft employees scratch their heads.
Its no Xbox360 thats for sure.

[hypoxide @ Nov 15th 2006 11:58AM]

I love the fact that this Zune garbage is going to make a hilarious flop.

What I look forward to is a digital media player with a mini-drive that plays mp3 mpg and avi, has no regard for copyright protection, doesn't force its users to use some horrible interface, doesn't attempt to sell them music, and finally--doesn't make some horrible stab at being kitsch and hip and coining terms like "the Social".

The fact is, Microsoft is not cool. They are no longer innovative. They are beat and passe. With the new IE7 release, I was greeted by a screen that says "WE HEARD YOU" and it could have just as well said "WE ARE RIPPING OFF FIREFOX". That's great. Now looking at the Zune, it might as well say "WE ARE RIPPING OFF APPLE". When I look at Vista's features, I see "WE ARE RIPPING OFF LINUX AND OSX". Say something new, Microsoft. You're depressing.

[Jay T @ Nov 15th 2006 11:59AM]

Why does it seem like everyone on here is stuck in iLife. Fuck the iPod. The iPod doesn't have any comparable features. It's not even the best MP3 quality or feature wise on the market. It's truly the most overly hyped device on the market. Finally, people who just want to be different have a viable alternative. Creative would have did it if they didn't have so many damn flavors of MP3 player. Had they focused enough they could have come up with a real "brand" of there own. So for all those haters out there, go play on your MAC, your poor quality AAC files, Quicktime, all the stupid iPod add-on accessories that you have to buy just to increase features that should have been included. Leave the people alone who just want change.

[Karen @ Nov 15th 2006 12:03PM]

Ouch!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buKaqRG2SFA&eurl=

[Dave95 @ Nov 15th 2006 12:11PM]

For those that purchased the Zune and is now waiting on Firmware updates (more like praying), can a firmware update fix the lack of USB mass storage device problem?

[John @ Nov 15th 2006 12:16PM]

This pink is ugly. Period.

[sabarsky @ Nov 15th 2006 12:18PM]

@ nate

dude, seriously. enough with the astroturfing. Who actually goes around saying "Everyone wants to be a part of the Social"? If my buddy said that to me, i'd punch him in the face.

[Scott @ Nov 15th 2006 12:19PM]

Dude, if you like iPod... great. Listen to your iPod and move along.

I just got a Zune last night and I was worried that I would have problems with it due to the article last night that engadget put up but when I looked at it again ... oh, the hard drive failed.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/13/installing-the-zune-sucked/
Wow, that doesn't seem like a MS problem or a Zune problem...

I installed the Zune software on both my custom built franken-PC that I always have lots of weird hiccups and problems with.. and voila, no Zune issues installing.

I also installed the Zune software on my wife's HP Notebook. No problems there either.

I have about 18g left of room on my PC... more CDs to burn and videos to convert over the next few days... Mwa ahahahah.

Anyway... it could be a bad software download if not a retail CD/zune, a pre-production Zune, or something else... In any case some people are OK with the Zune. Limitations and all. Borg or not.

If you like Apple, go for it. And be happy with it. Don't piss on someone else's parade.

If you like Zune, cool. Don't piss on the Apple-ites. They will blast you with their laser beam. "The explosion shall be of extraordinary magnitude. Just hang on." -Ignignokt

Personally, I would have bought the Sandisk Sansa if it were a 30g or greater device. There just aren't that many large players...

[The Jeremy @ Nov 15th 2006 12:26PM]

The Microsoft Zune is the Phil Angelides of MP3 players.

[The Jeremy @ Nov 15th 2006 12:33PM]

"Welcome to the Social".

Sounds like a rejected Baskin Robins jingle to me.

[Eric @ Nov 15th 2006 12:44PM]

I purchased my Zune yesterday and I really like the device, I am in agreement with others that that say over the next year the BEST device will win. These players seem to be at that magic price point (thanks to Apple) that people have no problem giving them as gifts or replacing them every couple years (or less for techies). What ever happens it should be a good show.

By the way, although it's not "supported" the Zune software will work on Vista if you install it in compatibility mode (Windows XP SP2). I'm sure I'm not the first to find this out.

Lastly why isn't anyone talking about the fact that Microsoft's or any other manufacture�s accessories haven't made it to store shelves yet? Every online retailer I�ve visited has the accessories in a �Sold Out� status, which, in this case, I think is code for we never got them.

[Scott @ Nov 15th 2006 12:45PM]

'The Microsoft Zune is the Phil Angelides of MP3 players.'

'"Welcome to the Social".

Sounds like a rejected Baskin Robins jingle to me.'

Well.. it is better than... "mp3 player, please buy me". Better than a generic beer can:
http://40ouncebeer.com/extrapicts/generic.jpg

I mean c'mon. Until you've tried it, shush. You add nothing to the conversation. You mean to tell me that 'iLife' means anything? Right. If they provided no marketing at all, you think that would be better? So far I'm digging some of the songs and videos that they put on there. Yes, it would be better to put on popular artists but I haven't seen any other player manufacturers put anything on their players other than give you x amount of free subscription time on a MS, Apple, or other MP3 subscription service...blah.

[jack @ Nov 15th 2006 1:14PM]

Without question most of the people buying the zune have a huge dislike for the ipod and would support anything that will bring it down. The irony is, by supporting zune they are sticking it to the other players (sansa, creative..) that have been taking the fight to apple.
Zune isnt gonna affect apple's bottomline, but it will destroy those smaller players because the market (know it all geeks and ipodhaters) isnt that large, and they cannot afford to sell at a loss like microsoft can. It is a shame because I kinda like the sansa.

[Shunnabunich @ Nov 15th 2006 1:15PM]

I can't disagree with them releasing a pink Zune; anything's better than crap brown. What disappoints me is that they *somehow* managed to still hit upon (what looks like in the photo) such an astoundingly ugly SHADE of pink. As stated before, the charcoal trim doesn't flatter it either. I'm beginning to suspect that there are no competent designers at Microsoft, or if there are, they are kept in cryostasis until Microsoft thinks they're "really REALLY ferrealz really" needed.

[Giltronic @ Nov 15th 2006 1:43PM]

i honestly think nate works for microsoft.

just look at previous post by him.
someone should confirm this.

[The Jeremy @ Nov 15th 2006 2:07PM]

Scott,

I've seen the Zune commercials. For a marketing campaign that is supposed to be highlighting the Zune's (some say "crippled") wireless features, the camera work should not make a habit of zooming in on the earbud wire(s). That totally defeats the purpose of the whole campaign. You'd think with $60 billion, Microsoft could spend more than $2.50 on production values for their commercials.

Plus, a guy rappin' on the mic is not a DJ; he's an MC. Perhaps Microsoft would have more music street cred if they actually understood what they are trying to represent. As it stands, they come off as monied "posers".

[Thomas Ricker @ Nov 15th 2006 2:55PM]

All,

We did some checking and Nate's posts were indeed fishy. He's been banned from the site. Thanks billstevenson for being first to bring it to our attention.

Thomas

[Chris @ Nov 15th 2006 2:58PM]

LOL you guys are histerical... you bitch now tha the zune is a big topic

HOWEVER when every advertisement on engadget was the mac switch campaign and they discussed the new macs and stuff for 2 days straight it was ok... now that microsoft gets some attention its some huge issue... give it a rest people its news plain and simple why should they limit the amount on microsoft just because they're microsoft? Its a big product launch as well as a range of products that will follow it so why not talk about the hot topic of the month often?

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 16th 2006 9:50AM]

IMO he seems to like everything, Apple or otherwise. Or at least give everything a fair shot. I have never seen him outright slam anything.

[grahamgibson @ Nov 16th 2006 10:30AM]

The real question is... what is the glow color for the pink and orange models? Black glows blue, brown glows green, so what are these two? I have to agree though, the grey trim and black wheel look hideous with the pink model.

[tekdroid @ Nov 16th 2006 11:40AM]

Welcome to the Social Police State.

(Now in PINK and ORANGE!)

[tekdroid @ Nov 16th 2006 12:02PM]

In other news, it's good to see a Microsoft employee was banned from the comments. There are plenty more where that came from, IMO.

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 16th 2006 8:27PM]

Actually I don't mind MSFT employees posting. It's fun to challenge them on their one-sided statements. It would also be nice if they took customer concerns back to the company.

[Gerg @ Nov 19th 2006 2:58PM]

Hurray for anonymous nerds and fanboys!

The iPod has always sucked, and always been a device held by sheep. It is amazing to see people who own one of the most popular items ever sold try to convince people they arent followers - its funny, too.

Like it or not, Microsoft defined modern computing. Get over yourselves