New Zunes actually confirmed for November 13th

Whereas before all we had to go on was Amazon's purported release date for the new Zunes, Microsoft's gone ahead and confirmed it for us by way of old school paper magazine print ads, which confirm availability "begining" (or at least around) the 13th of November.

[ridestp @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:19AM]

This is the first I had heard of a new 30 GB zune.

[...Jan... @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:38AM]

- New 30GB...? I assume they mean they'll sell old Zunes with updated firmware without touchpad. Of course, I love how both the 8GB and 30GB would cost the same.

[DarkSi @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:02AM]

Yeah, I find it a little difficult to believe an ad with the word 'beginning' misspelled. Maybe that's just me, though.

Not to mention, and this may just be me, but the wording that describes the release date is slightly crooked, where the text and Zune logo at the bottom are not. That could just be from the way a magazine was laying to scan an image, but it doesn't look like a scan to me.

[DickHardknocks @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:23AM]

Microsoft is so stupid.
Why would they have begun the Wifi enabled DAP if they weren't willing to take the next logical step and make it possible to download songs completely wirelessly. They control 90% of the internet browser market and have Windows Media Player store which could have been used to do just that.

Why can't Zune connect to the internet like the SANSA Connect to use net radio?

Not to mention ZUNE is 2 hours late to the party. If MS had released ZUNE way back when Apple Ipods were the size of bricks they could have easily marketed their player alongside virtually all computers which were coming with Win98, XP and later Vista.

As much as I cant stand Apple products - The Ipod Touch is actually the far more viable option to this Zune catastrophe.

[michas_pi @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:39AM]

I doubt Microsoft is stupid if they don't cater to your specific wants/needs.

I don't Microsoft is allowed to allow us to wirelessly share all of our music; I think the record companies/industry supporters of DRM wouldn't like that.

If you remember the early nineties, Microsoft was also late to the browser market. Netscape was tearing everyone a new asshole before Microsoft even thought about the emerging market called the Internet.

Now look what happened: Microsoft has browser dominance.

Now, I'm not saying that given time, the Zune will overtake the iPod. That will probably never happen given Apple's dominance over the digital music store market.

Net radio is useless if you are not in a Wi-Fi hotspot. Terrestrial radio is a better option (and the Zune already has the built-in). Get Sirius or XM satellite radio if you really want music everywhere.

[Jaxim @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:51AM]

Yes, the iPod Touch is better than the the Zune80, but the iPod Touch is also better than the iPod Classic, (except the iPod Touch is a joke of a video player with only 16GB). Microsoft hasn't yet released a direct competitor to the iPod Touch or iPhone yet, so it's not really fair to compare the two. You really ought to compare the Zune80 with the iPod Classic.

When you do compare it with the iPod Classic, you'll find that the Zune holds its own. It has a bigger screen which is much better for watching video. It's just as small and thin as the iPod - it may even be slightly smaller. It can do a few things that the iPod Classic can't do: wireless sync with your computer, play FM radio, has an enhanced Social (depending on how they implement this last one, I doubt I'll even be part of the Social.)

It's version of the click wheel may be preferred by some as it is both a mechanical button AND touch sensitive, which is great for when you don't want to look at the player to navigate to the next song: i.e. the player is in your pocket.

It is missing a few feature compared to the iPod Classic, but that's something a few firmware updates will probably fix: i.e. stopwatch, calendar, clock, notes, etc. It can't yet play games either, but that's something that it will be able to do in about 3-4 months as reported here at Engadget.

So just because it's late to the party, don't count out the Zune. Competition is good. I can't wait to see when Microsoft finally releases their competing device to the iPod Touch and iPhone.

[timatl @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:58AM]

late to the market.

netscape to IE
macs to windows (95% market share)
real player to windows media player (what is real player)

[Maff @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:04PM]

netscape -> IE -> FireFox, morelike!

media player -> GOM/media player classic because WMP11 is crunky and unstable (yet does render video well)?

[mfed3 @ Oct 22nd 2007 2:14PM]

yea and how bout xbox to playstation. ps3 = pwnt.

[memodude @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:56PM]

@michas: But Microsoft is competing completely fair with the Zune. Zunes don't come bundled with computers or OSes; there aren't going to be any incentives for OEMs to include Zunes rather than iPods. You can't really "embrace and extend" an MP3 player.

Also, the Zune is disrupting the MP3 player market while building up marketshare. If you're going to do a browser analogy, you might as well call the Zune the Firefox of MP3 players.

[Adam K @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:28PM]

memodude: Xboxes don't come bundled with Windows. Neither does Zune (yet). iTunes comes pre-bundled with OSX, and a lot of new macs come with Nanos free.

Try again.

[bob @ Oct 24th 2007 8:06PM]

i think the zune will later come out with internet and i think they just rushed it onto the market before christmas that is why i will be buying the zune and if it doesnt have internet it will still be priced with 80gig ipod with bigger screen and even if u compare it to the touch the only thing the touch has over it is the fact that it has a touch screen and a larger screen the new zune wikk have more memory and be cheaper and like i said before i think they will have internet later


a guy named bob

[consume @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:35AM]

why exactly do you keep comparing an 8 and 16gb flash mp3 player to an 80gig hard drive mp3 player? I'd really like to know. And secondly, in terms of ipod lcassic and zune80, i think the zune would win mainly because of the larger screen, and the larger screen only. Other than that there pretty much the same.

[Cody S. @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:00AM]

Built in Radio, Wi-fi syncing, better UI(opinion).

They are pretty different actually.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:14PM]

I would think because they're both the newest players out with the best features. That's probably why.

Btw, hey there Cody S. Believe it or not, I am also a "Cody S.", lol.

[Jake @ Oct 22nd 2007 4:52PM]

The only thing that bothers me about the "same size" screen is that they are the same resolution... and i simply couldnt stand the mediocre resolution on the zune.

honestly, a beautiful screen is one of the main reasons i bought a iPod Touch.

Oh, and mac compatibility.

[YWeisberg21 @ Oct 22nd 2007 7:11PM]

This is simply irrational. Just because the Zune was the first attempt at a DMP from microsoft absolutely does not mean it must be compared to Apple's first attempt. That would be the fundamental equivalent of Apple developing a video game console and everbody on the board comparing it to Playstation 1 and Super Nintendo. After all, these were Sony and Nintendo's first attempts at a console, respectively. "I must say, this iConsole has way better graphics than the Playstation 1"...

The fact of the matter is that what is on the market now must be compared to its current competitor. Nobody is asking themselves whether to splurge on the Zune or go ahead and eBay a classic iPod from 2001. The DMP sector has made significant progress over the last 6 years; it is not as if Microsoft is starting from scratch. They, too, get all the consumer information and technological advancements that are on the 2007 markets.

That said, I would take an iPod Touch over a Zune any day, albeit I agree that 16GB is underwhelming. Nevertheless, I'm waiting for the next iPod Touch. (Thanks for the effort MS - but in this case, I've got to stick with the pros).

[Darkest Daze @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:36PM]

Did you just say the SNES was Nintendo's first attempt at a console?

[Jaxim @ Oct 23rd 2007 9:00AM]

@YWeisberg21
>classic iPod from 2001

we're not talking about the iPod from 2001, we're talking about the iPod Classic of 2007. It is fair to compare the iPod Classic 80 GB and the Zune80. The iPod Touch is in a different category.

http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic/

[NiGhTmArE @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:35AM]

lol @ "begining"

Silly typo's!

[Excalibur @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:37AM]

Umm... spelling mistake?
"Begining"
Is this really legit? You spend that much money on an ad and don't even spell check it?

[Lein @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:56AM]

I don't know, I'd much rather have them mess up a line of an advertisement as opposed to messing up a line of code which prevents my hard drive from throttling down...

[Ricardo @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:30AM]

@Lein
You made me LOL....ahha...good one.

[Randy @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:57PM]

This ad appears in the November issue of Wired that I just got in the mail, and "beginning" is spelled correctly.

[Skullfighter @ Oct 23rd 2007 10:39AM]

Yeah, Lein had me laughing too.

They could have written a code that fixed the melting Macbooks by keeping the fan on all the time.

[consume @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:37AM]

Oh and plus, its called firmware updates, devices get them so maybe well get a (CLOCK) webbrowser and all kinds of stuff, later on when its a better time to think about it.

[Tony @ Oct 22nd 2007 8:41AM]

Big f**king WOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!

They can't GIVE this shit away!. Why they insist on polluting the world is beyond me. MS should be sued for releasing any product!

[Kax02 @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:43PM]

Lets hear it for the worlds most obnoxious fanboy!

[MrGam3r @ Oct 22nd 2007 6:52PM]

**silence**

[Rynth @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:11AM]

With that sort of spelling, hoax, anyone?

Other than that, if they spell checked it with MS word, then its probably legit..

[Josh F @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:20AM]

Where is this misspelled ad? Anyone have a scan?

[Serengeti @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:34AM]

Yeah, I'm sorry... how, exactly, has Microsoft "gone ahead and confirmed it for [us]"?? That ridiculous typo makes me feel like this is a fake.

Is there a press release, or something, that you can refer to, or are we just to accept that Microsoft was too busy to spell check their own advertisement??

[Craig @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:42AM]

this ad is in the current issue of maxim. same date, no typo.

[Chris @ Oct 22nd 2007 9:55AM]

The ad is also in Wired.

[kcar @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:08AM]

I think most folks would be happier if MS fixed Vista and dropped the late-to-the-party Zune. Why does the world need another DAP?

[sean @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:22PM]

You can reverse your statement and it makes as much sense.

MS should keep the Zune and drop Vista. Why does the world need another OS?

[kcar @ Oct 22nd 2007 5:59PM]

Jesus, Sean, do you even think before posting?

"Why does the world need another OS?"

It doesn't, when it takes Microsoft 5+ years to come out with an "improved" version of Windows that no one wants.

[Stacy @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:15AM]

With the replies dealing with the iPod Touch, has there been any news about Apple releasing a larger capacity iPod Touch anytime soon? I personally loved my earlier version iPod, and I am looking to get a new one. I really like the look of the Touch, but 16gb is ridiculous. But the screen size is great compared to the 160gb iPod classic. So....any news?

[thecybernerd @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:31AM]

which magazines???????

[consume @ Oct 22nd 2007 10:43AM]

the microsoft and zune team are different. Same microsoft but different people, who ever said t hey should focus on vista is a complete idiot.

[damien @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:02AM]

As much as it would be "cool" if Zune would allow users to purchase songs over wifi, I don' think it's necessary. Why? Well, if Steve Jobs said that about 3% of all music on iPods is purchased from the iTS, then one would only imagine that number would be lower for the Zunes - who has a much smaller market share. On the other hand, wifi syncing is something more people would do.

Now, making a total argument against myself: If Zune gets more people to be subscribers to Zune Marketplace, then wifi downloads would be totally awesome! Until that time comes, though, I'll take wifi syncing any day over wifi purchases.

Oh, and Mac support would be cool, too. I'm just sayin'!

[Constable Odo @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:05AM]

I'll sum the all the Zunes up in two words. Albus Dumbledore.

The only one worth having is the 80GB model. I might consider purchasing it when it drops to half price early next year and if Apple doesn't come out with a 32 GB iPod Touch.

[Eric @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:53AM]

So its the most powerful player on the market and you want to have sex with it?

[rangersman00 @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:46AM]

Just to elaborate on the accuracy of this poster, I do work at gamestop and all 4 zunes are now in the gamestop computer and street dated for the 13th

[freakmarket @ Oct 22nd 2007 11:47AM]

What's with all the Zune bashing? I loved mine the day the released it ... for me the 3" screen is nice ... i watch TV shows my computer records on it.

The only turn off for the iPods i have is the lack of subscription service. I love $15 per month unlimited downloads.

Steve Jobs is always telling people what features they want in a device ... shouldn't we be telling him?

Let the Zune people enjoy their product in peace ... after the many bugs were worked out of the firmware my Zune is by far teh best player i've owned.

My evolution of MP3 players was the following:

Dell DJ 15gb
Dell DJ gen 2 20gb
iPod Mini 4gb (i liked this one a lot)
iPod 20gb Color (this one constantly reset itself)
iPod Nano 2gb (this one also constantly reset itself)
Zune (broke the screen in a bad fall)
Creative Vision M (didn't like the touch control)
Creative Zen (new flash player ... sucked at playing video)
back to a Zune ... my fave

It's not about what company you love or hate ... it's about a product that makes you happy. I am happy again.

Might be happier on Nov 13th with a new Zune 80.

[wixostrix @ Oct 30th 2007 6:40AM]

yes! the non-subscription support for the ipod is the biggest turn off for me. and i dont like itunes. but thats what i love so much about having my winmo phone, i can use a subscription service. so sad tho, i cant use urge anymore :-(

[mr. O @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:10PM]

Can we assume another incredibly ill-advised and poorly executed tattoo is just around the corner?

[ponce @ Oct 22nd 2007 12:37PM]

coming out on november 13 doesn't make them any less ugly.

[Mark @ Oct 22nd 2007 1:06PM]

Umm... Cesar on ZuneInsider totally already confirmed the nov. 13 launch date in an interview with on10....

[Paul @ Oct 22nd 2007 2:25PM]

Yeah how dare someone other then apple make a DMP....its unheard of! And the audacity of not having a wireless music store because it is so easy and cheap to do! Especially when you own next to nothing of the market...

I hate blind fanboys who hate anything except what they use. Its not a bad device in the first generation and sure there were a lot of issues and the frustration of MS not telling anyone anything was really annoying. But with this new generation they are fixing a lot of that. Overall it is a pretty good device.