Microsoft talks third-party Zune accessories

You can't run around launching fancy new music players these days without a secondary offensive of cases and car chargers following close behind, and Microsoft's new Zunes have a veritable cavalry behind them. In addition to the official accessories we've already heard about from J Allard and crew, the company's lined up a number of third-party manufacturers to crank out 60 different Zune-friendly products, including Polk, Belkin, DLO, Monster, Altec Lansing, Targus, iHome, Memorex and Griffin. Microsoft's new pals will be releasing everything from speaker docks to RCA cables, so it looks like you'll be able to build a happy little home for that new Zune of yours when it launches next month.

[John @ Oct 30th 2007 5:59PM]

will 3rd party accessories require an authentication chip?

[ugg.tryptophan @ Oct 30th 2007 6:06PM]

wheres ma zune toilet?!??!?

[lyl545646 @ Oct 30th 2007 7:51PM]

you mean the iPot

[Ashraf @ Oct 30th 2007 6:18PM]

will Bose make sound docks for Zune like they have for the iPod?

[D. @ Oct 30th 2007 6:19PM]

I really like the new Zunes. I would like them even more if they came with some sort of scratch-proof screen. I really hate using cases, but devices seem to be too "pretty" nowadays to go without them. I like the look, but a scratch on that screen would ruin the entire device for me.

[Mudkiller @ Oct 30th 2007 6:23PM]

the Zune 80 has glass screens.

[Cagrino @ Oct 30th 2007 6:28PM]

Check out Shield Zone. It's the best protector I've found. The cover is scratch proof. Apparently it was originally created for the military to protect the leading edges of helicopter blades.

It works great! I have it on my 5G iPod, 3G Nana and Touch. It's great because you can still use docks without having to get the device out of whatever is protecting it. In a word: AWESOME!

http://www.shieldzone.com/

They don't list the new Zunes yet, but I'm sure they are coming. They have the original Zune listed. They also take custom orders.

While you're there check out their promo videos, it's unreal.

[D. @ Oct 30th 2007 7:02PM]

I have the invisishield for my iPod :). I've also got it in an iSkin Evo3. Ultimate protection! Hopefully the next device I buy, which might be the 80GB Zune, won't be as breakable as the iPod. Glass screens only help to an extent. Put it in your pocket with a grain of sand and it's all over. Drop it and it's gone (depending on the drop). I think a shield will work for the Zune, though. I actually like the big font, too. "Glass screen" doesn't mean that it's scratch-proof. It just means that the average object in your pocket won't destroy your screen like it would an iPod. I love my iPod, but I hate having to use cases to keep my device looking like the day I opened it.

[daliminator2000 @ Oct 30th 2007 7:35PM]

The original Zune screens are pretty scratch-resistant to begin with - I've had mine for about 6 months now and it's got only a few minor scratches that don't affect video watching at all.

[memodude @ Oct 30th 2007 7:59PM]

@daliminator2k: Same here. I keep my Zune in the sleeve that comes with it and it doesn't have any noticeable scratches. Compare that to my 1G iPod nano, which after a couple months of usage was covered with scratches all over both the unit and the screen.

[D. @ Oct 30th 2007 9:37PM]

I've got a 1G Nano, too. It's in mint condition, but I've got an iSkin Duo for it. Cases, cases, cases...if you've got an iPod they're pretty much a necessity.

[V3LOCIP3D3 @ Oct 31st 2007 2:12PM]

Actually that's one thing I hated about my zune. The first week I had it I put it in my pocket with my car keys and I got a big scratch on the screen. It's good to here they noticed the problem and fixed it with glass screens on the new one . . and now I can finally upgrade to 80GB.

[Jubei @ Oct 30th 2007 6:29PM]

How are all these 3rd party manufacturers making any kind of money with such minimal sales of Zunes? Are they selling their products at a lost also?

[Josh @ Oct 30th 2007 6:50PM]

Minimal sales? Are you kidding? I mean, its not Ipod numbers, sure. But they've sold about 2 million of them. 2 million. Think about that for a second. And that was just of the 1st gen product. So, lets just go back to when they sold about a million 5 or 6 months ago. Think about how many accessories the typical person buys. I, personally, have the AV Dock for my Zune, the remote with it and a travel charger and a case. That little set up was around - eh - I don't know - 120 bucks -- I did buy it over time - but whatever.

So lets assume that out of the 1 million Zune customers - just 1 percent buys a 20 dollar case from Griffin. They have 200,000 bucks right there. Take out the cost for materials and you've got a nice little product on your hand. But, you have to figure that more than just 10,000 people have bought a case. So real number are north of there.

Think again if just 1% of all the original 1 million zune owners bought some sort of dock with speakers for it - most of them start around 100 bucks. The only thing they'd really need to do with most of these is adjust the connections for Zune from Ipod - and you have a product. So, again - now with just a mere 1% of all Zune owners buying a speaker dock product - thats 1 million dollars right there.

If there is a million or two bucks to be made - you can pretty much bet there will be a company out there trying to make it.

[V3LOCIP3D3 @ Oct 31st 2007 10:02PM]

The ipod sold roughly 376,000 units the first year. Since the first year zune sales were more than 5 times that, I think we can conclude that the zune is doing just fine.

[Taylor Curry @ Oct 30th 2007 6:28PM]

Yep, glass screens sold it for me..

[Taylor Curry @ Oct 30th 2007 6:29PM]

@ Ashraf, i hope so, it probably depends on how much these new zunes sell.

[Preston @ Oct 30th 2007 6:30PM]

I think you meant "cavalry", not "calvary", unless these Zunes were created when Jesus was crucified.

[rlh82 @ Oct 30th 2007 6:53PM]

The Zune that was, and is, and is to come.

Forever and ever, Amen.

[thenino85 @ Oct 31st 2007 9:18AM]

In the beginning was the Zune, and the Zune was with God, and the Zune....

I can't finish that sentence. I'm afraid of being struck down.

[samantha @ Oct 31st 2007 9:39AM]

:( Sigh. Why couldn't these cute little bundles of pink be 30gb?

[wrxpert @ Oct 30th 2007 7:08PM]

I love my zune. I think the ability to manage your content is much nicer than itune & ipods. I have had 2 ipods and I am much more excited about my zune than I was about either of my ipods. The 80 is going to be a really nice little product.

[Billy Gun @ Oct 30th 2007 7:43PM]

I feel the same way. I Have an 60Gb Color Ipod. I hate Itunes, there is a new Itunes every week (just like OS X comes a new one almost every year), their interface and working is real bad. What I realy don't like on the Ipod is that Interface of the "now playing", I think that the "Now Playing" on the zune is much better.. looks 10.000 times better than the Ipod, and the browsing on the zune (spetialy the 2 gen, are awsome).

The problems with the zune are: No 160gb Zune; No wake up and Sleep timer; I can't see artist under genre.

[ScOObyDoo @ Oct 30th 2007 7:13PM]

These firms are smart. For the first time in 5 years there is a device that will really compete with "that other brand".

[Jacqueline @ Oct 30th 2007 9:22PM]

I actually sort of like the Zune - it's definitely superior to the ipod for my purposes, at least in part because it's sturdier (as pretty as Apple products are, I'm too hard on my electronics for them - I think an ipod would last about a week for me. My current mp3 player has been dropped down stairs, stepped on, and such and it's still kicking.).

Besides, when it comes to a side-by-side comparision of features, the Zune and the ipod aren't really that different:

http://www.3luxe.com/best_ofs/Players/80GB_Video_iPod

and once the 80 gig Zune hits shelves, hopefully it will replace the 30 in this category:

http://www.3luxe.com/best_ofs/Players/30_GB_Zune

And with all these new accessories that will probably be available soon, the Zune will be able to match the ipod and any other mp3 player in terms of add-ons, as well.

[Thomas E. Miller @ Oct 30th 2007 9:31PM]

ieye:

http://www.createthefuturecontest.com/pages/view/entriesdetail.html?entryID=365

[Jeff Lewis @ Oct 30th 2007 11:53PM]

I JUST got a Zune (bought in Florida because Microsoft won't sell them in Canada) - and yes, the Chocolate-Mint one because I happen to really like the colour combo.

And I have to say - while there are some annoying twitches in the UI, I like it a LOT better than the iPod. The Menu back/forward on the iPod always tripped me up - but the Zune does it pretty much the way I want to do it.

I also like the Zune software better - BUT.. I do wish Microsoft would make it fully usable as a pocket hard drive. I've written a small .Netlet to open the drive up if you have Zune Marketplace installed - but I really would prefer to have it just be a hard drive.

Mind you - it seems to use some mutant generic file system.

[Fahad @ Oct 31st 2007 12:32AM]

I am in the same boat as you, I got mine from New York last week since it is not in Canada yet. So far, I'm loving every bit of it. Way sturdier than the iPod. Doubleshot is pretty sweet. I do like the Zune's UI, but the zune software could really use an overhaul. I am looking forward to the new version.

To use it as a hard drive, search on youtube, it should not take you too long. It's quiet simple.

Although, its really about time Microsoft gave Canada some Zune love.

[Dan Jensen @ Oct 31st 2007 12:19AM]

Yes, but will it work with WMP11?

[neon @ Oct 31st 2007 1:40AM]

damn, i just hope there are enough zunes at best buy by the time i get there on 11/13. from the looks of it, lots of people are waiting to pick one up!

[Neebs @ Oct 31st 2007 6:26AM]

Blame Canada.

[thenino85 @ Oct 31st 2007 9:23AM]

This news doesn't surprise me. When I bought the "budget" speakers in Altec Lansing's X line, they came with several adapter to connect different iPods to the MP3 cradle (obviously) and an adapter for the Zune. No Creative love though. =( The adapter is only used to hold the charging/syncing adapter in place in the cradle when it's not hooked into the MP3 player, though, so it's not a big deal

[Federico @ Oct 31st 2007 10:28AM]

The menu text does not fit the display! Real Microsoft quality, ha ha!

[Justin @ Oct 31st 2007 10:49AM]

I see a scroll bar. Don't you?

[Federico @ Oct 31st 2007 10:55AM]

I see the upper half of the word "podcast". Lame.

[Molly C @ Oct 31st 2007 2:28PM]

I think that there are items even below the "Podcast" menu item (like "Settings" and whatnot). By having the lowest default visible item ("Podcast") only partially visible, it makes it obvious to the user that one would scroll down to see more options. If Microsoft had shrunk the text size such that "Podcast" was fully visible, it wouldn't be apparent that there were items below "Podcast".

Can anyone verify if there are indeed options below "Podcast"?

[Michael @ Oct 31st 2007 1:42PM]

They just need to get Alpine to support them in their car audio line and I'll buy one.

[Chris @ Nov 1st 2007 1:43PM]

Just buy a stereo that has a Aux in port so you are not tied to any single player for the life of the stereo.