Microsoft's Zune Originals customizations: free, starting tomorrow

While we're waiting around for the official Zune launch, Cool Hunting has revealed Microsoft's latest effort to support emerging artists: Zune Originals. That's one rumor to tick-off the weekend's list. When the "Zune Originals" site launches on Tuesday the 13th, customers will be able to customize their 2nd generation Zune free of charge (at least initially) with choice of color, 4 lines of text, and up to 27 original illustrations from 18 international artists. Noice.

[Via Zune Life, thanks Harrison]

Read -- Cool Hunting
Read -- Microsoft's Zune Originals (launching November 13)

[BlissX @ Nov 12th 2007 5:33AM]

Wow, that's quite beautiful actually. Although I'd highly recommend buying a skin to protect that engraving.

[Dias @ Nov 12th 2007 5:38AM]

Look here for more pictures:

http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2007/11/zune_originals.php

Actually it's pretty nice!

[Mudkiller @ Nov 12th 2007 5:46AM]

Nice. Now, I'm just waiting for some reviews on the zune 80.

[Deuz Augustine @ Nov 12th 2007 5:58AM]

If it was Mac compatible, I'd consider getting it. :( I hope this gives Apple a kick in the pants.

[tubes @ Nov 12th 2007 7:21AM]

I 100% agree with your comment: These things NEED to be Mac-compatible! My iPod just died and i'm trying to find a refurbished one until they come out with the next gens. I just don't dig this year's iPod line-up at all. Apple needs to add wifi and a radio in the next gen of iPod nanos at least - despite them constantly saying that no one wants many of those features.

[Nick @ Nov 12th 2007 9:43AM]

Id rather have more storage than a radio, waste of space in the case if you ask me.

This seems to be a much better execution of what macskinz.com has been doing. I must admit.. these do look quite slick!

[mrmckeb @ Nov 12th 2007 6:15AM]

Haha - international artists, but no international products.

[Ayle @ Nov 12th 2007 6:17AM]

Wow I'm speechless... I now know what to get to my sis for Christmas ^_^... Can we use our own designs?

[Prezzie @ Nov 12th 2007 6:19AM]

ohh....if only they supported standard subscription services, not just Zune Pass...

[Dublo7 @ Nov 12th 2007 6:37AM]

Wow, very very cool.

[McGinley @ Nov 12th 2007 7:05AM]

Now if only we could add our OWN customizations that would be even more amazing!

[Stu @ Nov 12th 2007 7:44AM]

Did you just rip off a Yakov Smirnoff reference? If you did, nice job my good man. If not, nice job my good man.

[L.Cyphre @ Nov 12th 2007 7:07AM]

In Soviet Russia, Zune gets a tattoo of YOU!


So did that guy really change his name to Microsoft Zune?

[nate @ Nov 12th 2007 7:11AM]

new zunes are looking nicer and nicer...

[Pavan @ Nov 12th 2007 7:13AM]

Great, now I'll have to sell the Zune I just bought off of Woot.com for $85 on eBay! I'm confused about two things though: So is the 80 still only in black? And what's the deal with no EQ? I'm assuming it's just no customizable EQ and some Mac daddy started spreading the FUD that there's no EQ at all?

If that guy really did change his name, I guess he has no choice but to allow himself to be engraved by a scalding hot laser now...There is a god!

[Homeboy @ Nov 12th 2007 7:37AM]

Holy cow that beautiful. Much much more beautiful that I expected.

I'm back in Sweden now and wish I still lived in Orange County now. *banging my head against the desk*

[SteveMB @ Nov 12th 2007 7:44AM]

eBay dude, eBay...

[shaliron @ Nov 12th 2007 7:39AM]

So pwetty...

Really, there are so many designs to toss up between - and they all look so nice.

[stu @ Nov 12th 2007 7:46AM]

Agreed... I'm almost paralyzed by the variety... I might not buy any of them because I can't buy them all.

[bob e @ Nov 12th 2007 7:44AM]

Folks, read the CNET review, Zune tops iPod...

http://www.cnettv.com/9742-1_53-31412.html

[Someguy @ Nov 12th 2007 7:47AM]

I'm not a fan of the Zune (especially since there's no Mac compatibility), but I must admit that that looks pretty cool.

[CUBSWILLWIN @ Nov 12th 2007 7:51AM]

something I didn't expect and it's good. But if you're someone like me you would probably buy a case which covers the picture. Maybe it'll be durable...

[bob e @ Nov 12th 2007 7:54AM]

A friend of mine was considering getting a Mac but when he found out it wasn't compatible with the new Zune's he got an HP.

I think it is Bills secret plan to drive down Mac sales.

[RC @ Nov 12th 2007 7:58AM]

LOL.

[Ashraf @ Nov 12th 2007 12:28PM]

aren't HP's cool? soo much things for a reasonable price!

[StrangeBum @ Nov 12th 2007 8:13AM]

I have a few things to say. I'm digging on the new Zune. I think they are clean looking, the interface looks slick, and I'm just hoping that they are as great as they purportedly are and seem.

Secondly, I'm also digging on that Smiley Face skin by Laurent Fetus, clean and simple design and it looks really nice in the black and white. I'm totally picking up a new Zune, probably the 8GB and I will most definitely be getting that skin for it.

(Insert stupid McDonald's catchphrase here)

[JosephMohmed @ Nov 12th 2007 8:32AM]

Am I the only one who doesn't like the face's thick beveled puke-green look? Seriously, brown looked much better. Maybe I just need to see it in person.

[3monkies @ Nov 12th 2007 8:33AM]

Not a zune fan, but that is way better than the iPod engraving crap…

[yubbob @ Nov 12th 2007 8:51AM]

How long until someone engraves the image of an iPod/iPhone on the back of a zune? :-)

[walk.away @ Nov 12th 2007 8:52AM]

these had best come out in the uk at some time otherwise i might have to catch my private jet over to the us goddamit

[d'Artisan @ Nov 12th 2007 11:40AM]

Damn. I was gonna pick one up on import via eBay as soon as these hit state-side. Now I'm gonna want one with a design on and they might not stock random designs in eBay shops. Grrrr.

[Bob @ Nov 12th 2007 9:08AM]

very very cool ......a breath of fresh ( non-apple ) air

[John @ Nov 12th 2007 9:10AM]

Maybe you could engrave the Apple logo on the back and blow people's minds.

[brian.m.jones @ Nov 12th 2007 9:44AM]

your head would explode.

[JoeNet @ Nov 12th 2007 11:09AM]

If you did that there would be a line around the block.

[Square @ Nov 12th 2007 9:16AM]

Dang, I was going to grab one from a local store tomorrow but I might order one from this site. Some of those designs are pretty cool. Just hope the site has larger pictures. There looks like there is a lot of detail in those drawings so I'd like to check them out closer (hard to pick one as well).

[Jason @ Nov 12th 2007 9:18AM]

Is it me or do these new Zunes look WAY COOLER THAN THE NEW iPODs???? I think Apple has gotten complacent this generation... I have a last gen nano (not the fatty the one before it...) and these new flash based Zunes look like what the new iPods should have looked like! I really like the sqaured off design... in this day and age everything is roundy and "plasticy/toy" looking (zens, ipods, sansas, etc...) these look like the "elegent" choice! And the software looks AWESOME! This will easily kick my nano to the curb... maybe I can gift it to one of the teens in my family and save myself a few bucks this christmas! I have a feeling that these will be the new "must have" items for teens... the "this is YOUR mp3 player" idea they are going for is just awesome and I can really see kids trying to express themselves with these... not just trying to be like everyone else with an iPod XGen...

Way to go MS!!! Finally a good alternative in the MP3 player space!

[aaron @ Nov 12th 2007 9:35AM]

i think they will take a pretty good share of the market... certainly nowhere near ipod levels but its going to take alot more marketshare than the zune 1.

[bob sakamano @ Nov 12th 2007 9:28AM]

why do companies keep trying to compete with apple by releasing inferior products?!? If you wanna beat the nano, you gotta make it nano-er! Duh!

big improvement over the first round of zunes, though.

[Justin @ Nov 13th 2007 9:20AM]

Nano-er? So, basically the same size as the old Nano with more features, and that's not "nano-er" enough for you?

[bob sakamano @ Nov 13th 2007 9:49AM]

"Basically" isn't the same.

People go with the smaller ones for carrying convienence, if that is not a priority, they opt for the larger capacity models.

[Forrest @ Nov 12th 2007 9:35AM]

Sigh.... I had decided not to replace my first gen Zune, as it still functions perfectly and I'll get all the same toys (less the squircle of course). But they just keep adding in perks.

Why oh why must they tempt me so?!?

[kilikili @ Nov 12th 2007 10:46AM]

I feel the same way!

[Greg @ Nov 12th 2007 9:38AM]

Finally, something pretty sweet from this music player.
Although I do love my iPod's look. All I need is the  logo ;)
Still, options are always a good idea.

[Denver_80203 @ Nov 12th 2007 9:49AM]

Well these will keep the Zune guy's Tattoo artist busy for a while

[mmh @ Nov 12th 2007 2:37PM]

I can almost hear them laughing at the zune guy: "Yeah, try tatooing THAT - all EIGHTEEN of them! Tee hee!!"

Oh wait, that's me laughing.

[West Hubbard @ Nov 12th 2007 10:13AM]

Well I just canceled my pre-order with amazon so I can get my hands on one of these.
The TADO one looks pretty sweet.

[mmh @ Nov 12th 2007 10:19AM]

Niiiiiiiiice...... I just might get one.

[APasserBy @ Nov 12th 2007 1:51PM]

Now if only Apple and Microsoft would engage in pricing wars...

[Mitch @ Nov 12th 2007 10:30AM]

This is a cool idea.