Amazon reveals November 13th release date for new Zunes

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]

[Dias @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:56AM]

Hmm, and how about Europe? It's not coming here even with this 2nd gen?

(plz avoid stupid/fanboy comments)

[Homeboy @ Oct 3rd 2007 11:59AM]

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!!!!!!!!

[spass @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:39PM]

Aren't there any US stores that ship to Europe too?
I shopped from B%H in the past...

[Chris @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:12PM]

The USD is so crappy at the moment importing one would only cost about £140.

[Dias @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:35PM]

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).

[L @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:56PM]

Yeah, bring them to the rest of the world already - especially now that v2 turns out to be really nice :D

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:03PM]

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.

[Bob @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:06PM]

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.

[L @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:32PM]

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).

[Slvrgun @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:36PM]

That will suck it you lose it.

[coltrain @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:04PM]

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!

[Guy @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:02PM]

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.

[Tanner @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:03PM]

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.

[Andrew Horn @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:25PM]

@Tanner

Amen

[JC @ Oct 4th 2007 7:27AM]

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.

[Matt @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:05PM]

no sale

[St. Stephen @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:07PM]

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! ;)

[St. Stephen @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:08PM]

*is man is! damn this no edit comment.. it kills my attempts at satire!

[SteveJ @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:12PM]

No, the lack of editing is not what killed your satire.

[St. Stephen @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:17PM]

well SteveJ there's no accounting for taste.

[Fox318 @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:08PM]

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.

[jmattick @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:18PM]

As do I.

I wonder if the firmware will leak, like most of Microsoft's software... >.>

[SteveJ @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:11PM]

How do I order the "New Black Is the New White" color?

[Maruek @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:21PM]

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

[tekdroid @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:30PM]

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.

[frankz00 @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:28PM]

And if you liked our Sh*t Brown colored Zune, you're going to LOVE our Vomit Green Zune!!!

[Chris @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:59PM]

Am I the only one who actually wants a Brown v2?

[Jeff Lewis @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:39PM]

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.

[Andrew Horn @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:31PM]

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.

[frankz00 @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:26PM]

Heh heh... and you called me a fanboy...

[Mike Botros @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:30PM]

I am not employed or paid by MS. I bought a Zune30. I am excited for the new firmware and features.

[DingDong @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:35PM]

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.

[paakofi @ Oct 4th 2007 4:54AM]

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?

[Tony @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:35PM]

Battery life is still a mystery..

[John @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:39PM]

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

[Bob @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:56PM]

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.

[Bob @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:38PM]

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.

[Tony @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:34PM]

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.

[marklar @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:40PM]

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.

[josh @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:55PM]

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".

[Matthew Wells @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:12PM]

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.

[mike @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:31PM]

"feature parody" is unintentionally accurate

and hilarious

[spam.hoover @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:50PM]

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.

[B @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:00PM]

You realize "aweful" means good right? As in, full of awe? The word you're looking for is "awful."

[TDG01 @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:00PM]

wow...couldn't disagree more....to each his own i guess...

[bobartig @ Oct 3rd 2007 12:51PM]

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.

[B @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:02PM]

Is it just me or do they look like a bunch of screaming faces with large foreheads?

[Beno @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:15PM]

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/

[g2 @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:15PM]

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...

[mike @ Oct 3rd 2007 1:24PM]

quel est un zune ?