Amazon reveals November 13th release date for new Zunes
By Donald Melanson 
posted Oct 3rd 2007 11:51AM
posted Oct 3rd 2007 11:51AM
While Microsoft wasn't willing to get any more specific than "November" for a release date for the new Zunes, Amazon seems to be far less mysterious about the situation, with it now pegging the launch for all three players right down to the day: November 13th. Of course, that's still somewhat up in the air pending Microsoft's official word, but those looking to put Amazon's prognostication to the test can pre-order your Zune of choice right now.
[Via ClicZune]
[Via ClicZune]
Hmm, and how about Europe? It's not coming here even with this 2nd gen?
(plz avoid stupid/fanboy comments)
That's what I'm wondering. I'm planning on buying an iPod Classic but this Zune 2 is one hell of an alternative.
Bring it to Sweden, please!!!!!!!!
Aren't there any US stores that ship to Europe too?
I shopped from B%H in the past...
The USD is so crappy at the moment importing one would only cost about £140.
I know, but I'd like to have ZuneStore/Software too. I'm using iTunes/iPod for now (only Plus tracks, so in the future I can listen to them on every player I like) but I can swith easily (especially considering that iTunes on Vista just sucks).
Yeah, bring them to the rest of the world already - especially now that v2 turns out to be really nice :D
the immediate future of DAP lies, I believe, in cellphones with built in storage capacity.
Microsoft should have designed a ZUNE Phone with GSM/CDMA capability running on high speed networks with built in Wifi. Make sure it does not have the limitations and bullsh*t associated with the iphone in it though.
My main knock about all-in-one devices such as the iPhone is battery life. With bluetooth, GPS, MP3, Phone, Wifi, all in one, the battery life of the device is sure to suffer. If they are able to pull it off, then great. But I'd rather have a separate device for my primary DAP needs.
While I'd love to have a all-in-one device, battery life is a huge problem with them.
Not to mention that it will take a few more years until we'll see convergent devices with a DECENT amount of memory - 8/16GB are nowhere near enough for a main PMP imho...especially not if it also has a good camera and records in 720p (not unlikely till 2010 I'd say).
That will suck it you lose it.
Not til November? Wow, I thought they were out already.
It's funny that Microsoft's new products that aren't even out yet are already behind the iPod in virtually every aspect.
And you all know it's true. Stop lying to yourself Zune tatoo man!
Beind the iPod already. Wow, did I miss the news that the Classic has a 3.2" screen? Did the Classic get wireless sync? Wow, I must have missed that news. Did the Nano get wireless sync too? Cool.
To the person who replied about screen size. The zune may have a slightly bigger screen than the iPod classic but they run at the exact same resolution. and because the screen is wide but actually displays 4:3 it is slightly stretched, this will reduce the screen quality even more. Have you ever watched standard tv broadcasts on a HD TV? That is basically what the zune does, it takes the same picture the iPod displays and stretches it out to fill a slightly bigger screen. Bigger doesn't always mean bettery, escpecially in this case. Read the specs of the zune not the hype of oh my god it has a bigger screen than an ipod. Besides, if you really care about a big screen then get an Archos player, the big one has a 4 inch screen and plays pretty much every format out there.
Microsoft isn't doing anything new and they expect to overtake the leader of the MP3 player market. Give me a break. If you don't wan't an iPod I can point you to about 10 different players that are way better than the Zune for probably less money from Archos, Creative and Sandisk. Don't say the zune is awesome because you have an illogical stick up your ass about the iPod. Be an intelligent shopper and actually compare the usefullness of the features.
@Tanner
Amen
Tanner - So by that rational, a 15" HDTV running at 1080p is better than a 52" HDTV running at the same resolution. That doesn't make sense. And we're talking about super small screens here, a little stretch is hardly going to hurt.
no sale
Is it true that the new Zune can actually bend space and time? If that's the case maybe ipod lovers will make the switch? lol.. nah who am I kidding not even a transdemensional zune isn't THAT good! ;)
*is man is! damn this no edit comment.. it kills my attempts at satire!
No, the lack of editing is not what killed your satire.
well SteveJ there's no accounting for taste.
I just want the new firmware update and software upgrade. I want that podcast feature on my Zune.
The Zune is looking good. Hell must have really frozen over.
As do I.
I wonder if the firmware will leak, like most of Microsoft's software... >.>
How do I order the "New Black Is the New White" color?
Any techniques to avoid people paid by microsoft to pollue the comment ?
I have the unpleasant feeling that all the news about Zune have been attack by microsoft workers
ps : I have nothing positive or negativ about Zune2 and Ipod. Better to wait to see this products in action
u can normally tell they work for Microsoft by their robotic commentary (aka Disingenuous Advantage).
I believe deep inside they have hearts, tho. Somewhere.
At the very least they phone home via their Protected Video Paths.
And if you liked our Sh*t Brown colored Zune, you're going to LOVE our Vomit Green Zune!!!
Am I the only one who actually wants a Brown v2?
I do - and I'm disappointed that the doubleshot is gone. I liked the chocolate-mint case a lot.
I also noticed from the video that the squircle isn't just a squarer version of the original circle pad - they seem to be stroking the pad with their thumbs to make it scroll... They could just be pressing the button - but it's a weird way to do it if it's not touch sensitive...
But to me - the one essential, must have feature I've not seen yet... USB Mass Storage mode. No pocket drive, no sale for me, alas.
Yeah I kind of liked the brown, and thats from an apple fanboy. . . but it somehow fit with the rubberish case. It wouldn't look good on an iPod, or any other player for that matter. But I have to say I like the new iPod colors a lot better than the new zune ones. Vibrant is out, pastel is in as far as I'm concerned.
Heh heh... and you called me a fanboy...
I am not employed or paid by MS. I bought a Zune30. I am excited for the new firmware and features.
I like the pink because nobody would try to steal it from me on the subway, and I don't give a sh1t if people think I am a nancyboy.
who do you think robbers/thieves will attack first? the person that seems like a nancy boy who will just lay there and take it it or the person that might smash them right in the face with a zune and then charge them for the cost of replacement later?
Battery life is still a mystery..
I always hate companies "battery life" estimates. It's always "if the screen is off and you don't touch any buttons and you're rubbing the back to build up a static charge" or some such crap. But I'd at least like one of those ridiculous over the top estimates to compare to apple's ridiculous over the top estimate
Battery life is my current biggest worry with the Zune 2 as well. I was over at zuneinsider.com this morning and found this nugget of goodness:
"We’re still testing battery life on the new Zune 4GB, 8GB, and 80GB, but it’s looking good. Since we built them from the ground up, we have more control over battery performance."
If it's even close to the 30hr audio/5hr video spec of the iPod Classic, I'm sold.
Amazon's page lists battery life for the Zune 2, but who knows if these times ring true:
* Battery life (music): Up to 20 hours (wireless off)
* Battery life (pictures): Up to 5 hours
* Battery (video): Up to 5 hours
I think the battery life time on audio is a bit on the short side compared to the iPod Classic.
The other PMP that's vying for my money is the 16gb Creative Zen, which clocks in at 25hrs audio and 5hrs video, but that's a flash drive based player... not a HD based one.
Decisions, decisions.
Bob, according to everyone. It is called Zune 80.
A quick search of the provided site of the Zune 80 (Ctrl+F) of the word battery comes up empty. Another search of Amazons product line for Zune 2 brings up the original Zune (not Zune 2). So where the hell did you find this battery life info on Amazon?
Provide a link, otherwise, your information is BS.
a few of the comments on the endgadget pages about zune, do sound like they are put up by microsoft employees. they have been known for doing this kind of thing in the past. on both the web and writing to magazines.
You have to be kidding me... after all of the idiotic apple fanboy posts that blindly ignore reality, any post that is pro-MS has to be paid? This may come as a surprise, but compared to the nano and iPod classic, the Zune has some very compelling features (if you could objectively look at them other), and if nothing else the fact that MS is actually upgrading the old device to be feature parody with the current run is something miles ahead of Apple's policy of "shell out for a new product if you want the features".
Dude, I only WISH Microsoft was paying me not to come up with "clever" burns involving how I've never heard of the Zune.
Face it, some people aren't rabid Apple fanboys. Thank the gods.
"feature parody" is unintentionally accurate
and hilarious
I cannot begin to describe how aweful these new Zunes are. A company the size of MS launching such a half-baked, boring and poorly timed product, incredible. No wonder Apple has 80% market share with such feeble opposition. Dont get me wrong, I have an iPod, but I'm no fan boy, its just an OK product but, if you're going to come out with something to try and kick iPod's butt, at least put SOME effort in. Look at the new range of iPods, they just wipe the floor with this execrable effort.
You realize "aweful" means good right? As in, full of awe? The word you're looking for is "awful."
wow...couldn't disagree more....to each his own i guess...
The giant ZunePad, or whatever the hell the round rectangle blob on is really appallingly hideous.
The feature set of the Zune2 sounded pretty neat. Really, I was hoping this would pressure Apple to really innovate with their iPod offerings sooner (as in 4 months, since they just revised the line), but given how bad these things look (hell, they make the Zune1 look like a winner), this doesn't look like it'll affect the market at all. Sad, really.
Is it just me or do they look like a bunch of screaming faces with large foreheads?
From the horse's mouth website ... at least the new accessories come out the 13th:
Brand: Zune
Categories: Car, Accessory Packs
Release Date: 11/13/2007
Price: $79.99*
http://www.zune.net/en-US/accessories/car/
I have all Apple gear so I don't know anything about Zune, that said...
The Zune 2 style is a big improvement and the squircle thing is eye-catching.
The user interface video on ZuneScene seems pretty decent. I didn't see a slick feature like Coverflow, but the menus are nice and getting video from Media Center seems cool. I also understand that the Zune software is much better. It's all good. Live and let live...
quel est un zune ?
I don't need wifi stores, or social communities, or web browsers, or calendars, or contact lists.
Just a good, light, flash-based MP3 player with an FM radio.
Doesn't anyone else rip CDs anymore?
The pink zune must be a vampire since it has no reflection. I dig the green btw.
The pink Zune has a reflection. Adjust your monitor and/or video output.
Wait.. is it pronounced "Zoon" or "Zuney"?
Huh, I actually think they look pretty good--especially the big one. Think I'd have trouble getting it to play nice with my Mac?
ordering two! I really like the social aspect of the player. Being a fan of rather niche musical genres, I am excited.
Awwwwww sooooo adorable....didn't you see it looks like Mickey Mouse's head?! lol.....I luv my Touch better yay!!!!
Doubleshot is gone?? Now THAT'S a stupid move. The doubleshot was the coolest thing about the Z.
I have to say the new Zunes look pretty good, but Microsoft are still not bringing anything new to the table to challange Apple with these new versions. And that my main problem with Zune and Microsoft.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA microsoftees
I love how microsoft has been forced to embrace the term Podcast.
But as you can see from the image, they're half hearted at best.
how have they been forced to embrace it? its a Personal On Demand broadCAST P.O.D.CAST it has nothing to do with the Ipod.
Right.
And Website didn't find it's origins from spider web but from We Eat Butter site.
Podcast is specifically derived from the amalgamation of iPod and broadcast (check out wikipedia if you need verification, the library for all pointless infromation), since the mechanism was originally designed to make broadcasts easy to download onto the ipod. The new acronym has arisen to be more device agnostic, but that doesn't change the origins of the word.
I'm not a huge iPod fan, but credit where credit is due. That said, I doubt any MS employee loses sleep at night over the term.
whats strange is the "green" in this picture is poorly represented. the green 8 i saw on another site has it being more of a golden green color, not pea soup green.
trust me, alot of people hated the brown zune, alot loved it. the brown lookd unusually good. at 1 moment u might love it, the next hate it. i personally got mine zune on sale @ staples and wtf do you know? no brown @ staples, oh well after buying a case for my black zune it seems that it was for the best since it really darkens it up.
also, how do people down the zune? when woot was selling $130-$150 zunes it was ONLY white, meaning brown and black were the selling pieces.