So much for that ta-da moment
tomorrow -- Microsoft just confirmed the fall Zune lineup a little earlier than planned, and it's almost
exactly as leaked: capacity bumps to 120GB and 16GB, new WiFi music store, Zune 3.0 software with recommendations and pre-programmed theme channels, and two new games, Hexic and Texas Hold 'Em. Oh, and that snappy
blue flash Zune we just spotted. Pricing is similarly unsurprising, seeing as
we've had it for a week: the 120GB Zune is $250, while the 16GB flash model is $199 and the 8 gigger is $149. Oh well, at least we still have those
new mice and webcams to look forward to tomorrow, right? Certainly
nothing else is going on.
Update: The official PR is out, looks like Zune owners can look forward to the Zune 3.0 software update on September 16. Oh, and there's new Audible support as well. Rock on, rockers.
[Via
CNET]
posted Sep 8th 2008 2:31PM
i will buy a zune if it can do the following:
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u75/ErikShirk/1220895573.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u75/ErikShirk/1220895698.jpg
http://i165.photobucket.com/albums/u75/ErikShirk/1220895715.jpg
that includes:
-having a mobile computing platform like my ipod touch
-internet browser
-App Store
-easy to use UI
-and dont forget the built-in screenshot app i used to take the pics :)
zune, your only popular with people who dont know any better than to buy you :)
is your avatar a woman or a man?
FFS Fanboy, buy an iPod then and stop with the pointless comments!
Geek
Come on folks - this is a troll. It's the exact same message posted to another article, but by someone else. Copy and paste. Please, please catch on some day soon. Here's a clue: whenever there is an iPod, iPhone or Zune article, one or more persons will post comments touting one or the other in an idiotically stupid fashion. It's a f-ing troll! Thanks.
I'll buy an iPod Classic When it can do:
*Wireless Sync With Computer
*FM Radio
*FM Radio Tagging
*XNA Games and Creating Your Own Games
*3.2" Screen
*TV Out in 720x480(576)
*Easy to use UI
*Gets rid of the click wheel
I'll buy and iPod Touch When It Can:
*Hold 120 GB of Media
*Cost $250
The Touch comes with 120GB?
I said I'll buy it when it has 120 GB of memory and cost $250.
I said when the iPod Touch has 120 GB and cost $250 i'll buy one. I'm mocking the main poster......
Ford,
Ironicly I'll buy a Zune when it has more then two rating items.
Ford,
_Ironically_ I'll buy a Zune when it has more then two rating items.
I've been hijacked! I'm a zune fanboy in real life. Its "apple rep" imitating me.
I know the rabid anti apple group will lose it and down vote me but I honestly care...
Right now the iPod and the iTouch are hands down the better product all around. I'm not talking just pure specs here. So what this new Zune has 120G. It wouldn't surprise me if one or more of the new iPods has that storage space as well.
But what makes the iPod superior is how it looks, feels, handles, etc. It's the just total package. Sorry but the Zune looks fugly compared to the iPod.
I know the elitist anti apple group will cry, "popularity doesn't mean better" but umm yes that's EXACTLY what it means. If more people are buying one thing over another it's because more people like said object. And the reason they like it is because it's the better product that provides them with more enjoyment.
The Azure Knight
iTouch may be better, but it is in a way different league than the Zune, compare it to the Nokia N810. The Zunes have tons more features than the iPod classics, so I don't know where you're getting that information. Aesthetics are a matter of opinion, you like how the iPod looks, but I like how the Zune looks more.
People only buy iPods because they have commercials, and people watch TV. Zunes have no advertisements, so people don't know they exist.
Azure you are so right. People buy more computers with Windows because it is the better product compared to linux or osx. Popularity definately means a better product; thus Windows is better than osx. Thanks for clearing that one up for us.
I know the elitist anti apple group will cry, "popularity doesn't mean better" but umm yes that's EXACTLY what it means. If more people are buying one thing over another it's because more people like said object. And the reason they like it is because it's the better product that provides them with more enjoyment."
So you are admitting that Windows is better than OSX?
"zune, your only popular with people who dont know any better than to buy you :)"
No I purchased a ZUNE to play music. NOT to surf the internet, play games, make phone calls, or make me look like a snob.
If I want portable computing, I'll by a frigging portable computer!
Im going to buy it just to have it, because I'm just that flithy rich hahahahah!
Just kidding, my crappy iPhone will do for now ;)
Not only are you annoying, but you are also a liar. You wouldn't buy a Zune no matter what features it had.
@ Azure
I know the elitist anti apple group will cry, "popularity doesn't mean better" but umm yes that's EXACTLY what it means. If more people are buying one thing over another it's because more people like said object. And the reason they like it is because it's the better product that provides them with more enjoyment."
We all know how good those Bose speakers sound, right? They are the number 1 speaker manufacturer in the world, so they must be the best. Everybody who disagrees must be deaf!
"People only buy iPods because they have commercials, and people watch TV. Zunes have no advertisements, so people don't know they exist."
well, whose fault is that?
How much will Apple charge for the 2.1 update for the older Touch?
As an avid PC user, I am dismayed at how fanatical that PC users are becoming day after day. Despite obvious flaws, PC users get really defensive and unreasonable in their arguments about Microsoft. They hype every product that Microsoft makes, products they are OBVIOUSLY ripping off other companies. Even worse, they pretend that Steve Ballmer doesn't exist and deify Bill Gates like he's the second coming of Christ. Sound familiar?
And the PC users are impossibly hypocritical. If someone criticizes Windows, they point to the popularity of the operating system, but if someone tries to use the same popularity logic about the iPod, they switch the argument. They say that the iPod is only popular because of "marketing" and "trendiness" and "stupid people" and yada, yada, yada.
And if anyone criticizes the Zune and compares it to the iPod Touch, the Zune fanatics quickly say that the two can not be compared. But then in the same breath they compare the Zune to the iPod Touch when they bash the Apple for charging for upgrades on the iPod Touch. So in other words, they compare the Zune to the iPod Touch, but only when it's convenient for their bias.
I like Microsoft as a company, but it's not going to get any better as a company as long as PC fanatics ignore obvious flaws and accept crappy quality, like their Apple Fanboy counterparts.
Screw Zunes, SPORE JUST CAME OUT FOR IPHONE!!!
you're so high tech and you still use photobucket? You must be a real guru.
Enjoy looking like an idiot while you play your accelerometer games and koipond.
I'd rather listen to music on my MP3 player and I'm sure glad the updates for the Zune actually increase its usefulness as one.
But that's just me.
Well, I'll only buy an iPod when it can play games as well as my xbox 360 and create publications as well as microsoft office.
THE ZUNE IS NOT AN IPOD TOUCH EQUIVILENT JACK ASS
you sir, are a tool.
I think the ipod/touch are great products, I just prefer the way zune interface works. I am also reading the updates on Apples "lets rock" and when i saw a 120gig ipod for 250 all i thought was "im getting an ipod now" but luckily the zune is the same price for the same amount of space this fall. Anyway, zunes are great, ipods/touches are great. The end. Stop being microsoft or apple fan boys. just come to terms and realize they both do the same things in different ways. some like one way other than the other.
Zune is for the person who cares more about music and social than flashiness. It has always been thus. Buy Apple products for "Flash", buy other products for functionality.
As for your "wants"
-having a mobile computing platform like my ipod touch
mobile computing is for phones, not mp3 players; get WM6.1
-internet browser
again, for what? it's an mp3 player.
-App Store
Store? hahaha...games are FREE for the Zune; why BUY??
-easy to use UI
ok...if you are having problems scrolling up and down...you need to have an IQ of greater than 10...
-and dont forget the built-in screenshot app i used to take the pics :)
maybe next time. right now I prefer to share music with friends...try doing that with your Touch...oh..you can't...
zune, your only popular with people who dont know any better than to buy you :)
uhh...no...for people who want Social and Music--SUBSTANCE over flash, my friend...lemme guess...you're voting for Obama, right? :)
@FordGTGuy
I'll buy an iPod Classic When it can do:
"*Wireless Sync With Computer"
Useless. Nobody uses that, and it drains your battery. Also, it takes a lot more than USB and you have to be near the computer.
"*FM Radio"
Again, USELESS. Almost nobody listens to radio anymore, that's why Apple doesn't include one with the iPod. The small percentage that do listen to it, listen to it in their cars. Its a media player, not an FM radio.
"*FM Radio Tagging"
Almost nobody uses FM radio, so why would they use the tagging 'feature'?
"*XNA Games and Creating Your Own Games"
People are too lazy to create their own games. You can buy games for the iPods at the iTunes store and the iPod comes with 3 good games.
"*3.2" Screen"
3.2" screen with more than 320x240 resolution. While the Zune's screen is larger, it has the same resolution as the iPod Classic one's, meaning that its more pixelated and things look worst.
"*TV Out in 720x480(576)"
No need to have that. Its a portable media player.
"*Easy to use UI"
It does. The iPod has sold so much because its so easy to use. People don't use what they don't understand.
"*Gets rid of the click wheel"
Gets rid of the Zune pad?
I'll buy and iPod Touch When It Can:
"*Hold 120 GB of Media"
"*Cost $250"
It costs $230. Fail.
@FordGTGuy
I'll buy an iPod Classic When it can do:
"*Wireless Sync With Computer"
Useless. Nobody uses that, and it drains your battery. Also, it takes a lot more than USB and you have to be near the computer.
"*FM Radio"
Again, USELESS. Almost nobody listens to radio anymore, that's why Apple doesn't include one with the iPod. The small percentage that do listen to it, listen to it in their cars. Its a media player, not an FM radio.
"*FM Radio Tagging"
Almost nobody uses FM radio, so why would they use the tagging 'feature'?
"*XNA Games and Creating Your Own Games"
People are too lazy to create their own games. You can buy games for the iPods at the iTunes store and the iPod comes with 3 good games.
"*3.2" Screen"
3.2" screen with more than 320x240 resolution. While the Zune's screen is larger, it has the same resolution as the iPod Classic one's, meaning that its more pixelated and things look worst.
"*TV Out in 720x480(576)"
No need to have that. Its a portable media player.
"*Easy to use UI"
It does. The iPod has sold so much because its so easy to use. People don't use what they don't understand.
"*Gets rid of the click wheel"
Gets rid of the Zune pad?
I'll buy and iPod Touch When It Can:
"*Hold 120 GB of Media"
"*Cost $250"
It costs $230. Fail.
That's it? Really? Wow......no cake?
The cake is a lie
Free Hat!
Free Hat McCullough
Engadget blatantly sucking Apples youknowwhat while hating Microsoft?
Noohh...
I think they're actually trying to be good lately... I think they're just alluding to the fact that there aren't any surprises to report on tomorrow.
And Sony too. With the HUGE Apple ad on their main page do you think they would say anything bad about their sponsor and everything bad about the ones that don't sponsor the site?
Wow. How you can possibly see MS bashing + Apple love in that post is beyond me. You anti-fanboy fanboys are worse than the garden variety "normal" fanboy.
i think theres a typo, 120 and 16gb? i think its 120gb and 160gb?
160gb Flash?
160gb flash? i need to get me one of those
...if only.
WOOSH!
hmmm, no firmware update for the old crowd yet
Yeah, I hope the old 30s get the update too
All Zune models will get the firmware update. That's one thing you can always count with MS, always backward compatible!
"8 gigger is $149"
I had to re-read that a few times. Had a South Park flash back.
I'm glad they replaced the 4GB with the 8GB and dropped the price.
The Zune 8 GB cost the same as a Nano 4 GB and the Zune 16 GB cost as much as a Nano 8 GB.
Cool! Look like we are 100% guaranteed to get a 16gb Nano tomorrow for $199 and a 8gb one for $149.
If this were Apple's untimely release of a new(er) product... it would definitely not have been watered down like this. It would have been more like,"To much of our orgasmic surpise, the new silicone, revolutionary, clear, plasma-rifle-repelling ipod nano case was just made available at Warget and we're unbelievably stoked!" Whatever...
I guess I'm not sure of the big secret Apple has been keeping for tomorrow.
Everything they were going to put out has been leaked as well.
Engadget may just be looking for an excuse so they dont have to split resources covering both companies when they would rather turn their whole site over to Apple news like they have done in the past.
Just say "Oh, well, all the MS news has been leaked, so we wont have to waste time on them".
UK release???????????????
If not, anyone know somewhere where i can get one sent here without costing too much?
Ebay
Why not pick one up off of eBay (with a highly rated, non-commercial seller)? If you get a lightly used 80gb, you'll still get the new firmware at a cheap price. I've sent stuff to the London area without any problems. You might want to ask the seller to mark it as a gift though (to avoid extra VAT fees). I'm just estimating but, you should definitely be able to pick up an 80gb Zune for around 100 pounds.
I'll sell you my 80GB for 200.
Good god how i agree, zune 30 user from the u.k, and it sucks that im missing out on some fully fledged features. still love the device, and will be looking at the 80, 120 come christmas time. Treat myself.
anyway, go onto americas ebay site rather then the uk's as they have alot more zunes selling, and they are cheaper even with a steep $30 postage price.
I highly doubt you are correct, Josh.
ZUNE TOUCH, TO RUN WINDOW 7 NO FLASH MEMORY A HARD DRIVE MABE A 160GB OR A 260GB!
I DON"T KNOW WHY WE ARE YELLING!!
LOUD NOISES!
~Brick
You mean
I DONT KNOW WHAT WE'RE YELLING ABOUT
I TYPE IN ALL CAPS SO PEOPLE CAN TELL HOW EXCITED I AM!!!
you should try whispering dude...
is 16GB a typo?
Zune. New hardware. New Software. Same crap rating system. Thanks MS for making my options simple...as in I'm still using iPod.
rating system? Here's one for you - don't put shitty music on your mp3 player. Then, when you hit 'shuffle', all you get is good music.
OR
press >> to go to the next song.
If your biggest problem with an MP3 player is that you can't remember what songs that you like... I think you've got bigger problems than what MP3 player that you should use.
I really don't understand the need for a rating system on mp3 players...
If I don't like the music, it's not making it's way onto my mp3 player, simple as.
@ Coffee: Wait, that makes too much sense.
actually the rating system is actually really good if you try it out. i just set my preference to delete the songs i rate down (and theres only 3 ratings; heart- neutral- broken heart). that way if i download a crappy song off a blog its gone next time i connect my zune to my pc. sure the software is slow at times but it looks alot better than the ipod, has wireless sync, and when you find someone else sharing music wirelessly just makes alot of sense
I just want a return of a 5 star rating system.
Your first post bashed/copy&pasted the zune using someone else's post, now you're asking for a 5 star rating on the Zune? What's your damage?
yeah, i was hijacked or something.
that is correct a 5 start system would be great.
Let me explain it:
1 star: Abysmal, troll, ignore at all cost.
2 stars: Terrible don't even read it.
3 stars: Lowest ranked.
4 stars: Neutral.
5 stars: Highest ranked.
Your first post will have a start rating of 1 out of 5. If you post a one star, you are banded for a month.
Look at his profile, the post isn't there.
It's a clone.
Ah yes you were hijacked.... that would also explain your post:
http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/386859607/
Where you say: "Dudeee tomorow is gonna kick ass!
Apple FTW!!
oh, Ms is announcing stuff tomorow too ? Who cares?
:)"
1- What is a Dudee? I know what a Dude is, but a dudee sounds Australian.
2- "Ms" what is a Ms? Oh you mean Miss or Mistress!
3- "Ms is announcing stuff tomorow too", that is not even a question. And you know that will be announcing something, so why do you even ask, such question?
Take your iPod, dig a hole on the ground, and hide yourself for a year please.
There /is/ a 5-level system on Engadget.
Lowest
Low
Neutral
Highly
Highest
@good_bytes
>.< Look at his profile.
THAT'S NOT HIM.
There's 2 with the same name and picture. Click the one making those posts: private. In my experience, private = TROLL ALERT!!
Now click the one making the other posts: Not private, without the apple biased posts.
Actually there is a culmination of everyone's TWO choice ranking system. As an individual you can only choose to vote UP or DOWN (like or dislike, much like Heart or Broken Heart on Zune) for a single post. Then according to what everyone else chooses it can affect where in the overall comparison of other posts this resides.
Even this works like the Zune Marketplace, since as more people listen to a song, it will move up onto the Channels lists, by play popularity becoming more visible to everyone else using the Zune software :)
People actually rate stuff?
What's the difference between a 5 rating and a 4 rating? or a 1 and a 2? Geez.
You sorta like this song but don't like it?
Ha ha ha! Why would you waste the space on crappy music? I know that there's an option on the Zune software to "Only Sync Music with a Like Rating". It makes sense but, I never use it.
Is the 5 star rating system made for people that like having N'Sync and Backstreet Boys on their MP3 player in hopes that they'll make a comeback?
I don't know what others use the ratings system for on the iPod, but I use it for rating songs I've ripped from an MP3 stream (I've got software that breaks the stream into songs and tags them with artist and song title). I don't really rate on a scale, rather I give a rating, any rating, other than no stars, to songs I like. Then when I next sync my iPod those ratings end up in iTunes and I have a smart playlist that contains all the rated songs from that stream, thus I can easily see the songs I liked, and then can investigate the band further. It's a pretty nice way to find new stuff to listen to.
@jpw21683 - FYI "killing kittens" is a euphemism for...
Oh wait. I see. Jubei probably is killing kittens while he comments...
;p
Can we get the 16gb model in something other then blue?
In glossy black too. Yeah.
This is a good move from MS in announcing the product a day before the big Apple event. For at least one day the Zune will have some notice within the tech industry. For consumers, it will garner very little interest. After all, the Zune is already perceived as the biggest "me too" product MS has yet to offer. Followed by the Zune Marketplace. Another blatant copy of the excellent iTunes and App stores. Quite sad really for Zune users. Even their fabled mascot has abandoned ship.
What I find odd is that the Xbox was a huge "follow me" effort, which everyone forgets and never really mentions now. It was so far behond the PS2 as to seem laughable. Now it's an industry leader and has a huge and faithful following - granted this was largely in part to Sony mismanaging the PS3 overall, but still is true.
This is the worst me too troll to date.
Stop ripping off clak.
Jubei,
If I'd only just stumbled onto the English language through posts by you, "clak," and "Apple Rep," I'd mistake "me too product" for the comma.
I am not trolling. Nor am I copying this person you call clak. I am merely stating the fact that Zune and its Marketplace is a blatant copy of the iPod and iTunes. It's as simple as that.
If you're not trolling then why do you ONLY post on Microsoft articles? Why not express your Apple love on Apple posts that are catered to your tastes?
My opinion still stands: You should be banned.
@Jubei: Every time you say "me too", God kills a kitten. You are the sole person responsible for Kitty Massacre '08.
"Another blatant copy of the excellent iTunes and App stores."
I cannot cite fault with this statement. iTunes IS an excellent piece of software...if you like looking at spreadsheets.
You're right, they're extremely blatant copies. Just look at the features!
The Zune plays music. My God! Can't Microsoft be original? It even comes with stock headphones. Total iPod clone. Not to mention videos and pictures. I'm pretty sure that's a patent infringement on Apple's idea for "Devices that Include a Screen that Emits Visible Light". Then, of course, there's Apple's patents on "Devices that Include Some Form of Input/Output" and "Devices that Include Circles and/or Slightly Circular Objects".
And the Zune marketplace? Have you seen it? There's music there too! They even sell it! Not only that but they also ripped Apple's totally original idea of Playlists. They're just lucky Apple didn't copyright their idea for Sound, because the Zune makes a lot of Sounds, and the iPod obviously did that first. I also noticed that the Zune software allows you to sort your music in alphabetical order. The nerve of Microsoft!
Haha, in all seriousness, they really did steal some stuff, like the ability to download DRM-free music off the Marketplace, and the integration of Social Networking. Those work so much better in iTunes anyway.... right?
This is great. I can just click on Jubei's profile bookmark I made and it takes me to any of the articles I care about! This is fantastic! Thanks, Jubei!
ZG is a study of contradiction. On many post, he would respond that he will no longer reply to said poster. Yet he continues to break his own word. Hmmm again typical, similar to the M.O. from the biggest "me too" company in the world.
Now an official notice that Sept 16 will be the official firmware update. In hopes to try and steal the limelight from Apples excellent offerings, MS takes a page out of the wait and see what they do playbook. A tactic used by companies that rides on Apples coattails. It's no wonder the biggest Zune fan has decided to leave the Zune anemic ecosystem.
LOL!
Yeah, Jubei, I've told you that once or twice, months ago and have since, after a few months, returned to replying to you. Oh, what a hypocrite I am. The only person I have said that to recently was Zak, and I held true to my word and did not reply back to him on the subject or at all. I love how you have no dirt on anything whatsoever, so you scrounge around desperately trying to get on top.
By biggest "me too" company in the world, you don't mean Microsoft, right? Because if that's what you were implying, we have already proved you wrong and you would only be showing your own ignorance by making that reference.
Apple's excellent offerings? LOL! I can't even begin to respond to that. That is just too funny.
I reckon Jubei is a stealth marketer, his posts are virtually Copy/Paste.
Let's make up a Jubei post!
---
Ingredients:
A Zune post
"Me too"
"Blatant and desparate"
"So called"
"Number one fan"
"Typical misguided attempt"
Dump all ingredients into the post. Only refer to other posters indirectly.
Stir until Zeus::God is simmering.
Unfortunately, I am not the only one using "me too". A recent Washington post article also uses that phrase that is synonymous with the word Microsoft. Albeit a slight difference to my own post, the point does prove my validity in using the phrase.
It's a known fact within the industry.
"so Zune again comes out as a me-too "
http://twitter.com/jubei
What a tool.
From ZG: "I love how you have no dirt on anything whatsoever, so you scrounge around desperately trying to get on top."
No I have no need to resort to low tactics, as you have admittedly started to use yourself.
By admitting to everyone that you have bookmarked my post, you clearly admitted to everyone of what you are criticizing me of. LOL
As I have said before, you are a study of contradictions.