New Zune at Microsoft event on Monday?

It sounds as if Microsoft is planning to announce something Zune related on Monday, with iLounge reporting that the company is planning an event which will be centered around the announcement of an entirely new Zune. Since there's no other information we'll lapse into wild rumor mode and say that it could be anything from a free with subscription flash-based model in a new form factor, to a simple tweak on the current model that dumps the DRM, adds support for useful WiFi, podcasts, and more codecs, and drops the price (we wish.) Let's just hope it's not anything as trivial as a new color: we'll see on Monday.

[Via Cliczune]

[nizzy1115 @ May 5th 2007 2:39PM]

The thought of this being true gets me all warm and fuzzy inside!

[nonocons @ May 9th 2007 12:27AM]

Maybe the "new" zune will be thinner and lighter, but i seriously doubt that

[cool dude @ May 5th 2007 2:41PM]

I would only buy a zune if Microsoft added support for the xvid and divx formats. Until then, my money stays in my wallet.

[Marian @ May 5th 2007 2:43PM]

Yet another sucky player from Microsoft

[Bobo @ May 5th 2007 3:05PM]

Insiders say it will look like this:
http://tinyurl.com/ytl98o

[Wii-Maniak @ May 5th 2007 3:36PM]

NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo!!! insiders say that it looks like this:
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2007/01/10/470_iphone03,0.jpg

[xxdesmus @ May 5th 2007 4:22PM]

Not only do you not look funny, but you look like an ignorant dick instead. Congrats.

[davydany @ May 5th 2007 3:11PM]

i really wanna see what microsoft is going to come out with. i'm kinda used to the ipod...i wanna get something different cuz every one has a ipod and i hope the new zune will be slim like the current gen iPod, and have much nicer features than the iPod

[Naris @ May 5th 2007 3:24PM]

Well now... if they do come out with something I hope they do come out with a small flash player that can use subscription or a much higher capacity HD Zune (120 GB? Is that the highest they can do right now?).

But hell... if they even loosened up the format restrictions it would be great. The probably would be worth the whole press release for all the Zune people out there.

[Karl @ May 5th 2007 3:27PM]

Maybe this one will make it to Europe. You can't compete with the iPod when you're not international.

[Bob E @ May 5th 2007 3:30PM]

I hope they don't announce something and then say we have to wait 6 months to get it. I own the Zune 1.0 and am ready for Zune 2.0... bring it on!

[davydany @ May 5th 2007 3:41PM]

oh shit...i just realized something. this could be a way for microsoft to make the wifi even better. If a zune has subscription system and another zune also has it, then transfering songs between zunes isn't a bad thing. You wouldn't need to have the 3 days or 3 plays rule. you just transfer songs from your subscription.

[chezzo @ May 5th 2007 5:49PM]

I actually thought Bobo's comment was quite funny.

But whatever...

[Mark M @ May 5th 2007 4:41PM]

Well it clashes with the xbox 360 update, with messenger, perhaps it is a new zune and perhaps better use of wifi for messenger like the 360?? There always talking better ways to communicate, and messenger put into there media systems would help that.

[alex @ May 5th 2007 5:31PM]

How about some podcast/netcast support built into the Zune software/store as well as the player? Then we're talking and I would actually consider one... well, ofcourse, if they make it look more appealing.

[Arcaynn @ May 5th 2007 5:40PM]

Wow Engadget, your ability to link to your same whiny-ass post about what you, in your obvious infinite wisdom as tech bloggers hired by AOL, say Microsoft (a multi-billion dollar company) should do is amazing. Truly, the stuff of genius.

[tekdroid @ May 5th 2007 10:48PM]

Arcaynn @ May 5th 2007 5:40PM

Wow Engadget, your ability to link to your same whiny-ass post about what you, in your obvious infinite wisdom as tech bloggers hired by AOL, say Microsoft (a multi-billion dollar company) should do is amazing. Truly, the stuff of genius.
------------
Like it or not, we do have opinions sometimes, and they aren't always in accordance with Microsoft. We are entitled to them, despite not being as "big" as Microsoft. According to your logic, we should agree with everything Microsoft is doing simply because they are 'bigger' than us. No, if Micrsoft truly were listening to their userbase, they'd take cues from the marketplace, not the other way 'round.
Zune:
1) Windows-only
2) Windows video formats natively supported, others transcoded.
3) 3-days-or-3-plays digital rights restrictions
4) No Mass-Storage Class mode for saving data to like every other DAP on earth
5) No open format support

...are some of the reasons I won't ever be interested in a Microsoft Zune, no matter how "big" or authoritatively they "know what's good for me", or their size and financial position (which wasn't obtained through making the best products, incidentally)

[Bobo @ May 5th 2007 5:59PM]

chezzo,
Thanks.
Someone appreciates intelligent humor.

[923 @ May 5th 2007 6:40PM]

Sounds like the Zune update corresponds with the Xbox 360 Spring Dashboard update that suppose to happen on 5/7..... http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/13197/Xbox-360-Spring-Dashboard-Update-Features-Leaked/

[Asok @ May 5th 2007 7:04PM]

Bobo, WiiManiak, you're both wrong. It'll likely look something like this, according to insiders: http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/05/zune-i-like-mondays-honest.jpg
If my iPod ever busts (here's hoping) then I hope the next iteration of Zune will be something I'd replace it with.

[Rod Munch @ May 5th 2007 7:49PM]

I want more codecs too, or atleast an upgrade to the built in converter so it can atleast convert more video types. But most of all I want a dedicated podcast downloader. I'm fed up of having to import them separately and then search for them in my song library.

[Chris Champion @ May 5th 2007 8:11PM]

The silicon chip inside my Zune
Was switched to overload
And nobody's gonna go to work today
They're gonna make us stay at home

And Apple doesn't understand it
They always said iPods were good as gold
And I can see no reason
Cause there is no reason
No reason to buy a Zune, Zune, Zuuunnnee!

I don't like Mondays

[CarbonFree @ May 5th 2007 8:21PM]

How about some support for the Mac this time around??? I hate the iPod, and I loved the Zune, but it just doesn't work on the Mac. (And don't say anything about using Parallels, because I don't want a half-baked solution. I want it to work on the Mac.)

[mike @ May 5th 2007 8:25PM]

How about some podcast/netcast support
--

LOL netcast.. that lasted a whole 10 days...

[ark_v2 @ May 5th 2007 9:13PM]

So many options...I've been wondering what to get, sansa connect, zen v plus, iPod (video) or the zune (in brown BTW, yes, I like that color). If any of those rumors come true I'll consider seriously buying it.

[Mark @ May 5th 2007 9:25PM]

I'd much appreciate it if they brought the Zune to Canada. If it does come in the next month or two, I'll either get that or the Zen Vision W depending on the price.

[dumbstart @ May 6th 2007 12:23AM]

For the Zune you can convert additional video types to the Zune player software using a simple Registy hack. I've posted it to my website a while back after reading about someone writing one and not releasing it to a wide audience.

I currently watch recorded TV from my Media Center and Divx encoded files on my Zune on a daily basis. The Zune player software on my Vista desktop won't play the files but it will sync the files to my Zune which will play it. I have a link to a registy file that will add Divx, MS-DVR, and MPEG capabilities to the Zune software.

Of course with any registry hack you use at your own risk!

http://www.dumbstart.com

[Michael @ May 6th 2007 1:01AM]

@dumbstart
But do you have to re-encode the video first?

The zune has to compete with the ipod and that's a hard sell. The people who typically want a zune are the people who want to be different or just don't like the way the ipod works. Apparently there doesn't appear to be that many of them otherwise they would have sold more zunes. But for people like me who love thier ipod, if you want me to switch you have to offer more. Right now you are offering less. Hopefully the new or current zune gets better format support, podcast and disk mode support, as well as a sleeker design and larger capacity offering.
It wouldn't hurt to also make the computer software something I want to use even if I don't own the zune hardware. That's how I ended up with an ipod, by first being an itunes fan.

[Twenty5 @ May 6th 2007 1:44AM]

Fact?

iPod = Piece of OVER rated Hardware

Fact indeed.....

[Broo @ May 6th 2007 8:22AM]

maybe they are going to announce Live Messenger for the Zune...
(just have to figure out how to input messages)

[James @ May 6th 2007 1:29PM]

Who Cares!!!???!!!

[James Laver @ May 6th 2007 8:15PM]

I'm still waiting for rockbox to be ported to the zune, MS to ship zunes to this country and for there to be a zune driver for linux. Then, and only then, I might buy one.

[dw @ May 7th 2007 10:04AM]

New player? I thought they were just launching new ads (maybe) this week... according to the official blog zuneinsider.com. Of course, just because they told us about th e new ads doesn't mean they told us everything, so new players are possible, I guess. But, somehow I doubt it.

[wardrip @ May 8th 2007 2:42AM]

ok its monday wheres the news

[Preston @ May 8th 2007 9:52AM]

And it's now Tuesday. What happened to this news about the Zune?