New Zune support documents leaked, only obsessed need apply

Zune obsessives: if you want to drill down -- and we mean way, way down -- then check out this freshly leaked 47 page Zune support document over at Zunescene. You'll get a sneak at some of the forthcoming features from the bleak lens of those who spend their professional affairs providing technical support.

[Kaminix @ Oct 20th 2007 5:15AM]

How much of a fanboy do you need to be in order to actually read through all of that? :)

[bob @ Oct 20th 2007 6:04AM]

The new Zune ( both software and hardware ) is exquisitely put together. I see iPod classic sales suffering and quite frankly the beginning of the end for the iPod empire, perhaps even Apple. Jobs won't be happy with this.

[404error @ Oct 20th 2007 6:17AM]

They see me trollin'...

[Federico @ Oct 22nd 2007 3:29AM]

The new Zune, nobody has seen it (same goes for the old...). Bill will be happy with your comment. How much does he pay you?

[BoZs13 @ Oct 20th 2007 6:34AM]

hahahaha :) bob you're kidding right?

[shamrock593 @ Oct 20th 2007 9:52AM]

"and quite frankly the beginning of the end for the iPod empire, perhaps even Apple."

Not if Microsoft don't make the Zune available worldwide.

The Zune really needs to hit the teenage audience IMO (in order to surpass the iPod), and I really think its done it with the new Zunes.

[Homeboy @ Oct 20th 2007 10:39AM]

shamrock539: Just like the iPhone was only sold in the US to begin with the Zune will be marketed in Europe and other continents next year if it turns out to be a success this coming holiday.

[Constable Odo @ Oct 20th 2007 8:58PM]

Meet the iPod Touch. "The Empire Strikes Back." Who the heck is going to give up their iPod just to use a Zune. Talk about moving to the "Dark Side of the Force."

The uninformed will walk up to the salesperson and ask if they sell the "iPod Zune." In most of the civilized world, the term iPod is generic for any media player.

[Quix @ Oct 20th 2007 11:07PM]

"The new Zune ( both software and hardware ) is exquisitely put together. I see iPod classic sales suffering and quite frankly the beginning of the end for the iPod empire, perhaps even Apple. Jobs won't be happy with this."

This comment brought to you by Microsoft.

[mattbrown @ Oct 20th 2007 7:23AM]

Did anyone not notice what seems to be a 60 GB Zune 30? Hmmmm.

[DeoWulf @ Oct 20th 2007 5:58PM]

Yess... very interesting... It looked like a Zune 30. I heard my friend's sister actually bought a stock Zune 60, but I thought he was lying. Maybe it detects the storage of modified Zunes with 60g hard drives?

[Nomi @ Oct 20th 2007 11:02AM]

I was wondering that to...

[bob e @ Oct 20th 2007 9:09AM]

There is really no reason to be stuck with iPod any longer.

[Marcin Lasica @ Oct 20th 2007 9:21AM]

Since you're obviously here to advertise you could at least try to do it in a more discreet fashion.

I mean, if I was paying you for your comments, I'd be very disappointed...

[LC @ Oct 20th 2007 12:50PM]

"There is really no reason to be stuck with iPod any longer."

I will agree with that once the Zune can store purchased video off of the X-Box 360. Hell, even if the Zune Marketplace sold video it would be a dead heat IMO, but allow synchronization of music and video from the X-box and I will put my iPod in the desk drawer.

[John Doe @ Oct 20th 2007 2:36PM]

Yes there is...Its called iTunes and IMHO still kicks the shit out of Windows Media Player. Oh and iTunes supports both Windows and OS X. Can't say the same with the latest version of WMP.

[GameboyRMH @ Oct 20th 2007 7:23PM]

Hey LC, you know what's really funny...just a short while after an Xbox successor was announced, one of the hot rumors going around was that it would have a companion media player (or that the hard drive was actually a dockable portable media player).

...And the prophecy is fulfilled hehehe

[Constable Odo @ Oct 20th 2007 9:12PM]

Sure there is still a need to own an iPod. You want to become the odd man out with a Zune when all of your friends and family are using iPods?

[Fred @ Oct 20th 2007 10:03AM]

I'm just suprised to see them using the word "podcast" in their documantation. I would think that MS would invent some new term like "dynamic interweb broadcast (now with more Vistatasticity)" and pretend that they invented it.

[michael @ Oct 20th 2007 10:14AM]

You know, Microsoft has changed for the better since the early 2000's you know. They still make mistakes every so often, but at least they usually make it up by putting something cool or interesting.

Even they would understand that podcasts are really just podcasts, so they're meant to be called podcasts.

I think they realize by now their naming convention was rather complicated, so some of their latest new things, aren't dragged with complicated names.

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 20th 2007 1:49PM]

michael, UNTRUE>>

vista has replaced all the standard web fonts with new f'd up named ones.
eg
Candara, Consolas, Calibri, Cambria, Constantia and Corbel.

speak not of what you do not understand.


microsoft will always be microsoft.

they can't just leave well enough alone.

I'm surprissed they didn't repalce podcasts all together with an ms designed version of the same thing. hell, they've tried to make their own version of flash, silverlight or whatever.... come on. the original posters comment is dead on.

[Wardell Latham @ Oct 20th 2007 6:07PM]

I prefer the term webcast myself

[michael @ Oct 20th 2007 10:20PM]

@dj-kenpo:

Those are completely new different fonts.

And in my mind, much better. They use ClearType technology, and it's much more easier on the eyes to read. They also look more aesthetically pleasing.

They were not some original fonts that had a name change. They're completely NEW. Shows what you know.

[Fred @ Oct 21st 2007 12:09AM]

Hey "Michael" (cough Steve Balmer cough cough) tone it down a little, man.

[Ignacio @ Oct 20th 2007 10:12AM]

What do you mean "leak"? The site has 100% accurate "rumors" and the "alleged shots of the new Zunes" where 100% real, as well as every-single-spec. I don't think *anything* in that site is a leak, but rather a result of the standard "viral/paid blogs" efforts back at Seattle's headquarters.

[michael @ Oct 20th 2007 10:22AM]

You know, rumors from Apple Rumors, and other fan sites hits Engadget as well, so I don't really see a difference.

And the posts Engadget picks up from ZuneScene or wherever, have been pretty true. I don't really remember when it wasn't true. I mean, there's even a screenshot of this. That's pretty more convincing than just a bunch of text.

"a result of the standard "viral/paid blogs" efforts back at Seattle's headquarters."

Yeah, anybody who has any like at all to Microsoft, or any of their products/services has to be paid. I mean, really, there's NOTHING that Microsoft makes worthwhile to people. And in case you don't notice, that's sarcasm.

I mean, I would expect Apple to pay Mac lovers rather than Microsoft paying people. Considering their low marketshare in the market, and the so-called many Apple fan-sites, I wouldn't be surprised if something fishy were going on. I mean, it's just weird the number of, "Oh, you should buy a Mac" answers come up, and all. Really, I would expect something going on.

[Ignacio @ Oct 20th 2007 12:47PM]

"And the posts Engadget picks up from ZuneScene or wherever, have been pretty true. I don't really remember when it wasn't true. I mean, there's even a screenshot of this. That's pretty more convincing than just a bunch of text. "

That's exactly my point ;-)

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 20th 2007 1:52PM]

anyone who doens't think this stuff is leaked on purpose or thta people are not getting paid has never worked for a large company, or the film industry. that's how this stuff works. I know, I've been hired to do this stuff.

[freeway8989 @ Oct 20th 2007 4:43PM]

michael,

You actually may be on something.

My English teacher, for example, always says "get a Mac" whenever a student talks about a computer problem they've had. No joke. But that's granted that he just acts weird all around.

It may just be that Mac fanboys have inflated egos, but they are almost religious about it.

[Nabeel @ Oct 20th 2007 10:45AM]

Nice Office Space reference! "Way, way down"

[John M @ Oct 20th 2007 10:49AM]

I love the engadget tone of this post. I bet if this were an iPhone related document they would wet their pants with excitement. Because its a Zune it demands about 2 sentences of sarcastic commentary.

Enapple

fyi-- I have never seen a Zune and have an ipod and an iphone (but im not a fanboi, imagine that). So, keep your Microsoft accusations that I am a paid employee to yourself. And have a another drink of Steve Jobs Mug of Gruhl.

[John Doe @ Oct 20th 2007 2:43PM]

Keep doing what you are doing. It drives Apple fanbois insane to see people who actually own Apple hardware support Microsoft. I think there is a logic error in their brain that they can't compute and it causes them to blow a fuse.

[Fred @ Oct 20th 2007 3:42PM]

Hey here's my question. Let's say "hypothetically" that I was willing to sell my integrity in order to be a blog commenting schill. Where exactly would one sign up for such a gig?

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 20th 2007 5:53PM]

fred, you have too know someone is the short of it. My old roommate got hired to do comment stuff for a recent film. he got paid alot, had multiple user accounts, and made alot of comments.

assume there's atleast 15+ paid comments on this article alone though.

in other news, I agree with john m.

[MattyG @ Oct 20th 2007 11:16AM]

The new iPod ( both software and hardware ) is exquisitely put together. I see Zune sales suffering and quite frankly the beginning of the end for the Microsoft empire. Jobs will be happy with this.

(love copypasta)

[Adam K @ Oct 20th 2007 11:41AM]

Right, but the difference is that they aren't. iTunes is a system hog and is its own computer megalomania is one of the least pleasant experiences I've had with computers in a long time. And the new iPods are good? Check out all the posts (on Engadget alone) about how crappy the new hardware/firmware are.

Competition is good, no matter how you look at it. Hubris is bad, but fun to watch (if for nothing else than Schadenfreude)

[Big John @ Oct 20th 2007 12:02PM]

Adam, he was snarking a troll from earlier.

[freeway8989 @ Oct 20th 2007 4:50PM]

I'm sorry, but until Apple realizes that there are people who don't invest into online downloads and, as such, rip music from CDs which aren't available on iTunes, therefore screwing up album art or CD info (therefore making my life harder when Apple arrogantly claims the opposite) I want to distance myself from the iPod as far as I can and continue to use WMP, which, conveniently, works as I expect it to.

[Erik @ Oct 20th 2007 5:52PM]

@ MattyG

I *know* you didn't do that on your (hypothetical?) iPhone.

But yes, that guy was being an uber-troll.

[Constable Odo @ Oct 20th 2007 8:47PM]

Yeh, what's with these people? Even the average Windows user prefer using iPods. It's only Kiss Bill Windows fanboys that want to walk around with some Zune. I'm sure the Zune is an adequate media player, but I'd like to get a chance to use one to see for myself. It's just I've never seen anyone using one to ask if I could test it. I doubt if 2% of the population in New York City would have one. It's called the BIG APPLE, so we use Apple products.
That new large screen Zune 2 would have been nice a year ago, but compared to a Touch, they gotta be kidding.

[computer.dude.28 @ Oct 20th 2007 11:36AM]

ZUNE NEEDS TO COME TO CANADA NOW.. but seeing as the canadian dollar is now higher than the US one (Live rates at 2007.10.20 15:34:17 UTC
1.00 CAD = 1.03536 USD -xe.com), I think I'll just buy one in the US!

[Fred @ Oct 20th 2007 3:45PM]

Hey! Thanks for twisting the knife, buddy! :) It must really chap you then that a team from California has The Cup. What's that all a-boot?

[Adam K @ Oct 20th 2007 11:53AM]

Speaking of "obsessed", this was posted at 4 AM....

Do you guys have overnight shifts or something?

[Big John @ Oct 20th 2007 12:01PM]

Or, you know, writers 'round the world/somewhere other than the eastern side of the US.

[Adam K @ Oct 20th 2007 12:37PM]

People exist outside of the Eastern side of the US? Whaa?

[Big John @ Oct 20th 2007 12:00PM]

I love the negative tone given to the post. The iPod touch manual that was posted before release was gushed over yet this one is bashed in the writeup.

[willyboy @ Oct 20th 2007 1:21PM]

What a beautiful manual it was!

[siriusfox @ Oct 20th 2007 12:23PM]

Whoa? M$ came up with a decent interface for a change. The idea of a 3rd pane is very interesting.

I only see two problems. First, for those of us who only keep the last 2 or 3 episodes of a podcast, this UI would seam very bleak and empty. The second is a good number of podcasts don't use album artwork, so organizing the podcasts in such a manner isn't practical just yet.

I'm happy to see them calling them Podcasts, instead of trying to rebel and call them Zune casts.

[willyboy @ Oct 20th 2007 1:27PM]

Buy an iPhone! 300 dollars more for a little style and an easy link to me Mac. It's a good thing!

[aaron @ Oct 20th 2007 3:07PM]

read through the manual (the first part atleast) because we havent seen much about the zune software... its a very interesting idea. i like the idea behind it but it looks like you will lose real estate on the screen compared to the current ui/wmp11. i really liked being able to get just a huge listing of album art and choose from that (a la vista media center). if its a snappy interface i think i will like it overall but its one of those things thats we wont know until its out and i can play with it some.

im already getting one of the new zunes (because of media center integration) so hopefully the the new software is good.