Microsoft taps Canadian artists for Zune Originals designs

Just in case you didn't really believe Microsoft was finally bringing the Zune to Canada, along comes a release to make it doubly official. Aside from reiterating the June 13th launch date -- not to mention the $249.99 CDN (Zune 80), $189.99 CDN (Zune 8) and $139.99 CDN (Zune 4) price points -- Microsoft is also announcing seven new designs for its Zune Originals artist series. Fittingly, the mega-corp has tapped actual Canadian artists in order to find said designs, and considering that all Zune Originals artwork / engraving will be offered up gratis for three months after the launch day, you might as well indulge.

[Anton @ May 28th 2008 10:50AM]

The "originals" are so cool, makes me want to get a zune just for it.

[John @ May 28th 2008 1:11PM]

Dear Microsoft,

When a multi-billion dollar corporation tries to exploit indie culture by hiring artists to make "cool" and "hip" "original" (just like a snowflake) art, said art instantly becomes uncool.

Also, I still don't get why people want this bullshit. You'll never look at the back of your Zune while you're using it, and no one else can see it when your hand is covering 3/4 of the picture!

STOP TRYING SO HARD.

Thanks,
The Youth.

[phenom @ May 28th 2008 1:49PM]

Dear John,

When you take everything chance to belittle (in other words try to make a bad thing out of every good situation, just in case you're still in high school) a company for doing something creative and new all because they just so happen to be Microsoft, you take the risk of looking like a biased idiot with nothing better to do but feel threatened with sweaty palms, steadily clutching at your ipod for dear life, while losing your ability to reason.

STOP BEING A TROLL.

PS, it's not hard to turn over your Zune so people can admire the great design.

Thanks,
The Public.

[OneLove @ May 28th 2008 2:02PM]

is that meth and crack panda?

[Reader @ May 28th 2008 9:39PM]

"no one else can see it"

Try not to fit the stereotype so well, how bout it? I didn't get the art on the back of my Zune simply because it was 10 bucks extra and I'm cheap as hell, but I wanted to and would have if it was free. I don't care if no one can see it, I'd get it because I wanted it, not for anyone else.

[Shadowise @ May 28th 2008 10:52AM]

if they dont have the originals services in the UK, I won't be buying one.

[phenom @ May 28th 2008 1:52PM]

You guys in the UK will get everything that we have and the 3rd gen Zune when in comes out in Spring 2009 .... the only thing that sucks is the wait.

*I made the mistake of posting this without it being a reply*

[Michael Kontaxis @ May 28th 2008 10:54AM]

No offense, I like the whole originals thing, but that's a pretty butt ugly original!

[Garst @ May 28th 2008 2:42PM]

Michael, I agree with you -- in theory. In theory, communism works. In theory. But most of the originals are DAMN ugly. And that is a horrible mockery of "Land of Wild Beast"...I mean "Where the Wild Things Are."

[Cybot2006 @ May 28th 2008 10:55AM]

They should get DAIM (daim.org) to do an artwork for the zune.

[farfisa @ May 28th 2008 10:57AM]

I dig em. The originals thing is probably the only department in which the Zune trumps the iPod. However, I'll stick to key marks on my shuffle for now.

[tcc3 @ May 28th 2008 12:52PM]

Well aside from the bigger screen. And the simpler interface. And the FM tuner. And the possibility of music subscription. And the harder to scratch glass screen.


Except for those things the ipods clearly the better device.

[farfisa @ May 28th 2008 12:57PM]

Well, look at you!

[Abuzar @ May 28th 2008 3:12PM]

And the fact that I can send songs! That's nice too.

[Mark @ May 28th 2008 3:47PM]

and the fact that you can download games made by the community, at whatever price the developer asks(including free)

[wetworker @ May 29th 2008 8:52AM]

How about the social aspect, right now I’m chatting to people all over America, all on zune marketplace.

[Kelmon @ May 29th 2008 7:11AM]

@Mark

I have to ask this question: why would I value games made by the "community" over games made by professionals? Is there some assertion here that "community" games are better because someone wasn't paid to do it? Sorry, but if I have the choice between a professionally made title and something someone knocked up in their bedroom then I'll have the pro version, thanks.

A bigger screen is, frankly, the only thing that the Zune currently has over the iPod Classic or Nano. I don't understand why anyone wants an FM radio tuner, music subscription services, or this daft sharing thing. That, however, is just personal opinion, in much the same way as you think that the community made games are important. Besides which, we all know that, come next month, there'll be community games on the iPod Touch and iPhone, possibly for free anyway. And no doubt those games will be rubbish too.

[Kaiser-Machead @ May 28th 2008 10:59AM]

I'd rather have the image of the Wild Things from the children's book engraved on the back, rather than this fugly whatchamahoozits. I do like this Originals idea though. It sure beats out the little two-line (three line?) message you can engrave on iPods.

[jboy @ May 28th 2008 11:01AM]

so when does the igloo, beaver, or cheese curd potato version come out?

[Kaiser-Machead @ May 28th 2008 11:10AM]

Canadians are all about the smoke meat Reuben's sandwiches, and putin. Lots and lots of putin.

[jorvay @ May 28th 2008 11:12AM]

After our big thaw in late July, but before the big freeze in early August.

[farfisa @ May 28th 2008 11:23AM]

@Kaiser-Machead:
That's "poutine." Though Putin is a mighty handsome dictator!

[aron @ May 28th 2008 11:56AM]

Poutine rules! Now I have to go to La Banquise...

[jorvay @ May 28th 2008 2:34PM]

My girlfriend's apartment when she's in Montreal for school is two doors down from La Banquise. God I love visiting her and having Poutine with Putin (he's quite the fan).

[phanbouy @ May 28th 2008 5:55PM]

in soviet russia putin smoke you

[tony @ May 28th 2008 11:14AM]

It's always good entertainment when MS struggles to be hip... with it.
Durka, durka, durka..

[Tarvus Domicus @ May 28th 2008 11:20AM]

A polished turd is still a turd.

[Rob @ May 28th 2008 12:57PM]

And yet people still keep buying the new nano's.

[inward9 @ May 28th 2008 11:21AM]

why is there is drawing of a guy in a panda costume holding a boombox?

[waterwagen @ May 28th 2008 12:07PM]

http://tiny.cc/7Hjxv ?

[Low Ranked @ May 28th 2008 12:37PM]

That would be what makes it an 'original'.

[iEye @ May 28th 2008 11:26AM]

This is the worst time to launch a Zune, the 3G Apple iPhone is due to be announced on June 9th, by my calculations that is 4 days too late. The Apple iPhone and iTunes is dominant and will not allow a failure product such as the Zune to have any market share in the Canadian market.

Fail!

[Erik @ May 28th 2008 11:43AM]

You seem to think there's some sort of exclusivity contract involved with buying an iPhone (3G or not) or any iProduct that says you can't have any other DAPs.

For the people who don't need a fancy phone, and just want to play music, the Zune is a better value than the iPod classic (unless they're on Mac).

My Zune and my iPod Touch are both equally at home in my pocket(s).

[Vidit Bhargava @ May 28th 2008 11:46AM]

iphone vs a zune...i mean seriously is that even worth mentioning here??? they dont even have iphone in canada....they "may" have 3G iphone in canada.

[jaydog @ May 28th 2008 12:21PM]

Ieye

1)The june 9th is a rumors and the closer we get they more think it won't be then.But on june 9th they will announce the canadian launch date sept-nov area.

1a)The complete rogers area is no 3g as of yet.Some say it could take some time to get the complete area 3g.

2a)Rogers is going to want some time to market this very heavy.

2)There are some who wounder how well the iphone will see in canada.With the expected 3 year contract price of $400.00 alot of people may just say screw it.

3)The iphone may be to late.

[Jherez @ May 28th 2008 2:59PM]

Mr. Eye...What calculations do you have? The only one I could think of is you=fucking jackass. I seriously hate your nonsensical posts, just like the one the other day on that Samsung SSD.

Engadget, can you please ban his IP address or something. I find it hard to believe that there are actual people that are this idiotic.

[Abuzar @ May 28th 2008 3:16PM]

lol

I used to keep my Zune on my even when I had an iphone. Two pockets in the front come in handy!

[Mobius_1 @ May 28th 2008 11:29AM]

a Terrence and Phillip design, and I'm sold!

[Reader @ May 28th 2008 9:44PM]

Hell I'd move to Canada for that design.

(okay maybe not, I like warm and sunny places, which of course is why I live in Oregon -_-).

[Ryan @ May 28th 2008 11:29AM]

Andrew Pommier (show above) also has his own line of shoes with Addidas. Sudbury represent!!! Yay.

[Eric @ May 28th 2008 11:36AM]

Once again, Microsoft shows they have no clue when it comes to cool, or design.

[Abuzar @ May 28th 2008 3:16PM]

And you do?

You're name isn't even that cool. Maybe if you had a name like ABuzar you could start talking about cool.

[Jonathan @ May 28th 2008 11:37AM]

You mean they'll finally let me on to the Originals site?

(I'm in Canada and bought an 80 gig a few months ago. I had to buy it in the states but couldn't even browse the originals from Canada - FORBIDDEN!)

[Jonathan @ May 28th 2008 11:44AM]

Ha. Still "ACCESS DENIED"

[hugoliva @ May 28th 2008 12:17PM]

Fuck them, they won't let me in as well. Not an iPod fan, (I own a Meizu) but at least Apple let me browse their site without limitations, by the way, I'm in Guatemala.

[Jubei @ May 28th 2008 11:56AM]

So this is the definition of innovation from the "me to" monopoly. I suppose credit is due. It does require innovative thinking in order to produce a mediocre design that would match up with a mediocre player.

[fred @ May 28th 2008 1:06PM]

"So this is the definition of innovation from the "me to" monopoly."

No it's a design option for people that want to have a etched design in the back of their PMP.


"suppose credit is due. It does require innovative thinking in order to produce a mediocre design that would match up with a mediocre player."

Just a really stupid comment. How about just saying that it cool, but really not for me?

I suppose that would require you to past puberty and collect $200.00.

[Quikboy @ May 28th 2008 2:42PM]

"innovation from the "me to" monopoly"

1. The post, Microsoft, nor anyone claimed putting a new design out was the least bit innovative. Only you are.
2. Zune has a monopoly?

[Jubei @ May 28th 2008 2:53PM]

Once again I must point out the obvious for Quikboy. Well not this time, I will leave this up to you. Now, is it really that difficult to extrapolate the meaning of that sentence? Perhaps your friends can help point out the obvious to you?

[Mark @ May 28th 2008 3:53PM]

I'm not even gonna try on this one if you're really gonna complain about etching on the back of the zune(which this is only expanding and has already been done for about a year now)