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)

[sfmitch Posted Nov 12th 2007 10:30AM]

This is a cool idea.

[Jagster Posted Nov 12th 2007 10:33AM]

Wow! So far, it seems the Apple cult is speechless. No one has popped in to seriously bash the Zune yet.

[hellouser Posted Nov 12th 2007 10:47AM]

Man, these do look tasty. Of all the companies to release something thats more aesthetically pleasing than an apple based product, i would have never guessed it'd be microsoft. But these new zunes, especially with the art on them, look amazing.

I'd have a real hard time deciding on either this or an ipod. Nah, who am i kidding, ipods are for sheep.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2007 11:24AM]

these look nice.

finally, a DAP that i could definitely do.

my ipod's not going to live much longer, and i've been shopping for an alternative. this might just be it.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2007 11:52AM]

I'd buy one, but it's not Mac compatible. If given a choice between my 24" iMac and owning a Zune, the iMac will win every time.

I suppose I could get one and use it on the Bootcamp partition of my iMac, but that seems-- Wrong.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2007 12:32PM]

Two comments:

1. For all those that say that MS needs to make them Mac compatible... we've gone over it a million times why they don't. Apple makes the iPod Windows compatible because of the huge market share that MS has, since Apple makes money selling the hardware. MS makes more money selling software than it does with hardware, and for that reason keeping people more interested in Windows so they can have a Zune is a better idea. No need giving people one more reason to "switch."

2. One artist I'd love to see for engraving is Banksy, however that'd probably be one of the biggest sellout moves possible, and I think Bansky is either about totally not selling out, or selling out as much as possible. Who knows.

[(Unverified) Posted Nov 12th 2007 2:33PM]

Since I keep mine in a case pretty much 24/7, I've never been able to figure out the point of engraving the iPod. Is the Zune somehow different? Or do you guys just love the idea of art undercover?

[kthoag Posted Nov 12th 2007 4:10PM]

god damn, these zunes are nice...



just preordered my Zune 80. =D

[xirsteon Posted Nov 12th 2007 4:25PM]

See the thing is it takes very little to get pple (consumers) excited and little to switch from the ipod madness. So I guess looks like the ipod honeymoon is getting closer to an end. :-)

[segura Posted Nov 12th 2007 10:53PM]

Thanks Engadget for giving me my first seizure after looking at those pics . . .

[sporkinum Posted Nov 12th 2007 11:12PM]

I don't think I'll ever "get" why people think of mp3 players and phones as jewelery and status symbols.

[gikku Posted Nov 13th 2007 12:17AM]

I can see a nano redesign coming along real quick.

[MollyC Posted Nov 13th 2007 9:42AM]

As in, "Cupertino, start your copiers"? ;)

[gikku Posted Nov 13th 2007 2:54PM]

I was thinking more of a limited, special edition re-release of the original candy bar shaped nano (that Redmond copied)

[Taylor Tay Posted Nov 13th 2007 2:36AM]

As a Mac/iPod user, I'm glad with how Microsoft has one-upped Apple on this. 2 lines of engraving? pah, nothing compared to 4 lines of text and a random picture!



But seriously, at the moment, I'd rather have a zune if it were compatible with my Mac.

[lordroy Posted Nov 29th 2007 2:14PM]

nothing shows your unique personality like someone else's art (and signature) on the back of something you own and paid good money for

-=R=-