Steve Ballmer confirms Zune coming to Windows Mobile
By Nilay Patel 
posted Oct 2nd 2008 4:27PM
posted Oct 2nd 2008 4:27PM
Rumors of a Zune phone have floated around forever, but we've always thought it would make more sense for Microsoft to start by simply making a Zune player for Windows Mobile -- a plan Steve Ballmer casually confirmed today in an interview with CIO Magazine. Sure, Ballmer's hinted at Zune on WinMo in the past, but those were just hints -- not like today's pronouncement that "the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc." That's a pretty solid declaration of things to come, if you ask us -- too bad he didn't give a time frame. Now, about that 360 integration.[Via WM Power User]
I am soo getting a Zune phone when it's announced. I love how the zune software is structured.
Same here. The software really was eye opening, and I didn't expect it to be nearly as cleanly executed as it is. Although underappreciated, they've really done a great job with the Zune. You'd almost never know it was a Microsoft product.
@iEye: You make me sound so much smarter than I am. Thank you.
@ peppie: did you even read the article? or the headline for that matter? ..
@ skant: i agree with ieye this time, as the iphone does have a much better overall experience IMO. I wouldn't go as far as saying you'd never know the zune wasn't an MS product, however. It has definitely (and still does) have some software issues.
@ Jon2309: good point. OTHER peoples taste in music usually has a bearing on my interest in a product...
Here's hoping for solid integration and background playback/call pausing a la iphone.
Not really, you were dumb enough to buy a Zune...
I hear Archos makes a mean player...
Everybody should just get an HTC Touch Diamond that runs Windows Mobile now. The Diamond already has a solid music player on board that I love and use all the time. And when the Zune software is released for it then it sounds like you'll have another great option. The limited and simplistic interface of an iPod is nice but I've always wanted more. That's why I'm running RockBox software on both my old 60GB iPod photo and my 60GB iPod video. Plus it allowed me to finally give iTunes the boot since I don't do (and never have done) DRM crippled music.
@ NoAndThen
Yes, I was referring to the fact that since it would run Zune software saying Zune Phone would be easier than saying "Motorola ZXD Blah Blah Blah".
Same as calling the T-Mobile G1 the Google/Android phone. It runs Android, which was developed by Google/others, but is it really THE google/android phone? No, but it's easier and sounds catchier.
The Nokia n91 is compared to the iriver ihp-1xx, arguably best sounding dap
I'll wait to see the integration, before I get excited.
Definitely saw this one coming! Now, if I buy a future WinMo phone, I can get the best of both worlds. Awesome. Well played, Microsoft, well played.
Pure awesome sauce...
This is exactly the convergence I wanted to sell me on a WiMo phone.
You forgot EPIC FAIL...
ZIt would seem that someone didn't forget EPIC CENSORSHIP, as the original post is now gone.
At first I was interested. Then I saw the photo with Eminem in it.
and don't forget 50 cent and all those other bad boyz.... Why not put up the faces of extremely talented artists such as these rappers to sell WinMo phones to business men and women, this is what they listen to 24/7
Mozart? no
The Jets? no
Pavarotti no
Rolling Stones? No
Kim Carnes No
@iEye
Hey the Jets got Farve
Dont Mess with FARVE
iPod/iPhone = No Farve
No Farve = No Win
really slow day at work and my stocks BLOW
I don't even listen to rap anymore but Eminem is pretty damn good.
I don't listen to rap period...
That just means you have a limited taste in Music. Some rap is good. I don't listen a lot like a used to but not all of it is about sex and drugs.
Well I guess you are limited to listening to only Will Smith then...
lol
Party Stopper was a good song...
When I saw the photo, I said "Really, Eminem?"
I think this one applies too:
When will this "me too" company learn that nobody wants a copy of the greatest device out there? After all, Apple was the first to integrate an iPod into the iPhone, and it's just funny watching Micro$loth trying desperately to copy them.
Well then by that logic, Apple copied off Samsung, Sony, and a looooooooooong list of others that integrated their own music players in to their phones.
what are you talking about? Microsoft has long since put Windows Media Player into Windows Mobile. Way back before Apple was developing a phone. I used it, it did what it was supposed to do. It only makes sense for them to integrate if its capable.
I'm behind WixosTrix. Windows Media player was in Mindows Mobile 2000, which as the name suggests, came out in 2000. April to be exact. That's a full year and a half before the first iPod came out. Almost seven and a half years before the iPhone. To call Microsoft the "Me Too" player is complete ludicrous. Sure, it's 8+ years and Microsoft is FINALLY putting a good media player in the OS, you're not arguing quality, just who was first. And you are completely wrong who was first: Apple or Microsoft. It was in fact Microsoft.
@skant:
Oh well; we all have an epic fail on occasion, though I suggest you check the sarcasm factor again.
Maybe with this "earth-shattering" announcement they could get a new screen-shot?
I own two zunes and with the 3.0 update it kicks any non-touch iPods ass .
no kidding, i got a zune 30 on 3.0. personally, i don't like my mp3 player buttonless. but on other the hand, i love the iphone.
Don't forget Microsoft had a phone before apple, so they copied that (la de da). But you know who cares who did what first. You damn Mac fan boys do nothing but bitch about stuff other then Mac made stuff, and jerk off every time you see anything "new" Mac does. If Steve Jobs took a dump in a cup, you all would say see he did it first and buy as much of his shit as you can. (not that you already don't).
Anyways the Zune software on the phones will prob be out with WM7. And if that is a real shot from the software, then it is running on WM7 because thats the UI of it. And thats not going to be out until 2nd half of 2009
um, no, they've never had a phone. ever.
You MS fanboys don't do anything but bitch about mac fanboys. Geez. (and i am not brainwashed to either)
No one can deny that Apple has always been innovative, even with existing concepts (iPhone).
Nobody really cares who did what first, they care about credit given where credit due.
Oh, and thanks for the incredibly in depth speculation of a newly announced feature possibly coming with a new OS update, I would never be able to figure things like that out if it weren't for the amazing speculative powers you possess.
Allow me to speculate on the future of Apple. I remember when the iPod came out and the singer Seal was promoting it. It wasn't that big of a deal. It still wasn't a big deal when Apple brought it over to the PC and realesed the 10 & 20 GB versions. Not until they gave the boot to Musicmatch (the best music jukebox software ever until Yahoo bought it and ruined it) and made iTunes the exclusive jukebox that integrated with iPods did Apple really have a hit. Idiots that couldn't figure out how to rip CDs and buy music online flocked to this easy to use crap. But here's where I'm going to speculate. Unless Apple stops playing unfairly with record labels and continues to serve up DRMed music I think the success that iTunes has enjoyed will be history. When iTunes self destructs then the lifecycle of iPods/iPhones will have run it's course. When the cool factor of these devices goes away the the market share of other Apple products including their computers will also begin to decline. Apple will then have nobody to point the finger at but themselves.
Forgive my ignorance, but what would such an integration involve? A nicer interface than WMP Mobile, I assume, and syncing ability with Zune Desktop? I guess that also suggests that it will play Zune Pass DRM'd files, and possibly have wireless access to the Zune Store. Come to think of it, this is really awesome. An HTC Touch HD with full Zune integration would kick the pants off the iPhone in the Awesome Sauce department.
vote this man up...touch hd compared to the iphone is already much better IMO...then add on top of that a true DAP capability (ipod/zune style) and you have a champ.
i couldn't agree more. Touch HD w/ Zune FTW. What if they made a commercial just about that? People would buy!
btw, WMP Mobile actually does play DRM'd Zune songs.
@Erik
Really Apple was the first to integrate an iPood and into iPhone
Being both Apple products I'd hope Apple would be the first to integrate them, because it would be odd for HTC to integrate iPod and iPhone.
Your comment is stupid
However if you mean Music player and a Touch phone you are also wrong if anything they were the LAST to integrate
You are wrong. It was the Nokia Rokr (to lazy to check the spelling on this piece of shit) that had the iPod (iTunes integration). It was a FAIL. Ugly beast that is was.
U got the ROKR right but you got the company totally wrong! It was MOTOROLA and the phone was an epic fail!
@ Erik
Not sure if its sarcasm or not, but Windows Mobile devices have been able to play music and videos since before the iphone was conceived. Whats this though about 'integrating an ipod into an iphone' its just media playback software on a software platform.. i think many many dumbphones do this too.
I wonder if he stated if this will be implemented on WinMo 6 or WinMo 7...
I SERIOUSLY THINK MICROSOFT IS MAKING A BIG MISTAKE!!!!
I beginning to see Microsoft changing their tactic towards the direction that of Apple. If they continue to mimic what Apple does. It's going to leave Google to step to the plate. Closed format for the Zune i think was a big mistake. Such as the lack of Play for Sure DRM. Now look at what happen. All those media outlets are now working together to created there own DRM. They should have just focused on the Play for Sure DRM. If Microsoft begins to embed the Zune software only on Microsoft made hardware I thinking is going to be another big mistake in the long run, manufacturers are going to be upset from this move. They pay MS to use Windows Mobile platform but aren't allow the rights to use Zune software and Zune market place which will create an adverse effect on what MS is trying to do. It's going to make it harder for manufactures to support a closed format and also to compete with the same company that provides them the OS. If this happens I see Google stepping up and taking the place where Microsoft once dominated. Google will definitely take what they can get and they do have the capital to do it. Also a broadening support for Android, wouldn't you guys agree?
How is this a mistake??? I see this as one of the more brilliant things they've done. Microsoft already designed the software for the Zune, they've already designed the Operating System for the Phones. They're not planning on creating a new phone, they're just bringing the two together.
Microsoft is not a newcomer to the mobile market, if Windows Mobile wants to keep some sort of foothold in the Mobile Phone market they've got to compete with Google and Apple. Otherwise they'd just be giving up. Zune on the phones may just keep some WinMo users happy enough to not switch over to Android or the iPhone.
And no, I'm not a Microsoft fanboy and don't own a Zune.
@Totalfixation
"If Microsoft begins to embed the Zune software only on Microsoft made hardware I thinking is going to be another big mistake in the long run, manufacturers are going to be upset from this move."
Microsoft doesn't do phone hardware, other companies make phones that run WinMo. You are saying that because MS is adding functionality to phones the companies making the phones will be mad?
How is this competing with Google at ALL I'd like to know? Imagine my surprise everytime I hear this droobish comparison.. Google is NEW to the market, therefore, there is NO competition. Nothing Google has done so far in the mobile market has been tested or praised enough, or even made enough money with for them to be a threat to ANYone, much less the giant Apple, or the sidekick Windows.
Google is a baby in this. Are you scared of a baby?
Everytime I comment on Engadget, it seems that I get off on this tear...and this will be no exception. There's plenty of useless comments by worthless people to anger me into 105wpm, and this will be no exception.
*deep breath* *crack the knuckles*
You know, all this talk about Google's 'giant' foot in the market only backs up the debauchery of what company's like Microsoft call 'lost revenue' on products they HAVEN'T EVEN SOLD YET! That's right, I'm pissed off! I'm tired of companies taking advantage of the English language (whatever that is anymore...you can thank rappers and lawyers for those smoldering embers...) to skew and twist their ghost profit margins into the negative when they haven't even aquired the revenue yet!
Stop regurgitating this drivel! All you're doing is allowing these companies to continue to step all over us as they drop their shitty products in our laps expecting a blow job and a reach around.
I'm done with it! I use Ubuntu exclusively now because in doing so I'm supporting the free market, free trade, free beer, and most importantly, freedom (whatever that is anymore...you can thank lawyers, bankers, and oh yes, YOU (us: complacent American'ts) for that pissy mud puddle...)
All of you drop your moronic and self-righteous, half-baked opinions into this box day after day after day, and you haven't a clue do you? You haven't a clue about what business truly is, and that's to spend more in marketing and promotion than on the technological research for the very products they are selling you. They lure you in with so many ads that sparkle and shine, and sometimes make you smirk or giggle, that really you have no choice but to buy the stupid device. It's only partly not your fault that saturation in all of the 'important' markets makes it easy (like snake oil) for you to slide that credit card out like the crackhead you are.
There truly is a lot of remarkable technology out there. The fact that phones can double or at least sit in as portable mini-computing-devices is a testament to industrial production evolution (not to mention the awe-inspiring fact that M$ can slim their OS down to virtually nothing and people still hate it!). How about particle accelerators? Why aren't we talking about pace makers? Jesus, I mean, if there is anything revolutionary, it's an electronic device that can keep dead people alive! Not a stupid phone. Does anyone remember when pagers were all the rage? That was perfect for me. Someone wants to talk, I call them back on MY TIME. Beautiful thing.
You see, with hard line phones going away, AT&T finally 'decomissioning' their public hard line phones from the public eye, and more cellphone models than the national debt, you're all missing the big picture here. Maybe it's not big brother, but rather a coincidence coupled with an exploitation of the highest phallic degree that our major and #1 choice of communication is wireless and is controlled by satellites, because let me ask you this, kind ranters, what happens when the world goes to shit, and the only way to control the hysterical masses is to cut them off from one another? Well, you flip a switch and Voila! there go your phones. There goes the internet. Now what, we have to actually TALK to one another? Fuck that, fuck you, and give me your car! Oh, but he's got a gun! Now the real fun starts! Do you see where I'm going with this? Do you see that it would not be hard to completely destroy society in a simple day with a simple action? Large corporations absorbing their competitors, becoming government-backed giants, brainwashing the masses into 'keeping the economy going' by spending themselves into the streets. Media is one thing and one thing only: it's a distraction. It keeps the sheep in the pasture.
Did anyone happen to catch the article on SciAM about the companies that pay pop artists to 'brand drop' their products into songs? No? Yes? Well, if you didn't, it just furthers my logic. Companies will actually contact certain pop artists (such as the Pussycat Dolls, or Ludacris, etc) managers and offer them a certain price to simply say 'Cadillac' or whatever it may be in their song. Here's a ball grabber: Sheryl Crow is guilty of accepting this bribery. And who knows how many others. Hundreds I'd say. Clever marketing. I mean, I think all of us smart people knew this anyway. I know I sure did. I know the realities of the pop illusion. Even the word 'pop' is clever. Short for popular, 'pop' describes itself as a verb, i.e. 'It just 'pops'!, and it's also a self promotion tool in and of itself. Who said it's popular I'd like to know? I don't think it's good at all. In fact, if I could listen to underground Swedish metal for the rest of my life, you'd never catch a frown escape me. I'll even go a step darker and say that I'd sell all of my technology just to buy front row seats to the beheading of each and every one of these 'pop' 'artists' (I have to laugh at that combination). But you can't call them 'pop musicians' because that would shatter the whole illusion of this industry machine. Thusly, the point is that we...actually you...are focusing on the wrong things in life. You're spending entirely too much time sucking off Steve Jobs and Bill Gates and whoever the CEO of Google is (who cares. Don't tell me.) to see the big picture.
Just back up a little bit, take a deep breath, and for fucks sake, do some real research.
Anyway, on topic: I've said it before and I'll say it again. The Zune can suck my ass. I'm ready to get an iPod just so I can scratch the logos off and hack RockBox onto it.
I use products because they work (mostly) correctly, or because they give me the functionality that I need to aid my daily activities. Cheap is a great factor, free is better. Fast is nice, and efficient is absolute. I don't use a product based on it's marketing campaign, it's flashiness or it's supremacy over all others. This same logic applies to government elections. (don't get me started)
I do, and always will however advocate the use of a modern, free unix-based distro over any other OS any day.
[sarcasm]This is because I'm better than everyone.[/sarcasm]
Sotec Your rant was completely long, I'm just going to rebut my argument. I was saying that Microsoft should have focused on the software side. The Zune has gained a lot of ground but at what cost? they practically took out all the other competitors that once supported the play for sure DRM and Microsoft didn't gain any ground with Apple. You douches who say Microsoft is not creating any new phone are stupid. If the Zune phone came out, which seem likely, that's a Microsoft phone! The question is will the zune market place work with any other WM phone? that's my reasoning. iTunes is only compatible with apple products, that's the direction i see the Zune heading. Microsoft is going about it all wrong, look at Windows, it became successful because the software was compatible with all sorts of hardware. If Microsoft makes the Zune phone, I see manufactures will feel threaten by this and move to Google. Because the Android OS will be compatible with a variety of phones. And they know Google will not be competing with them, by making there own Google phone. them being the phone manufactures. All i say is Microsoft make your own phone, but make the Zune market place open for every other WM phone manufacturer.
People don't seem to understand that the zune came out before the ipod touch and is not competing with it. everyone complains about the crappy wifi features but do you see a classic or nano with wifi, no, and adding in fm radio was a just icing on the cake. Zune = win.
I'm a Ipod touch owner, and I have to agree with with, the Zune was innovative, it had radio wifi and the best thing of all, one integrated service for either Mobile, Zune, Windows, or 360*.
I do like the Ipod touch, but one thing which does annoy me, is itunes its thee most annoying program ever created I hate it allot.
if there was a automaticly lowest raked button i would have pressed that
I like apple personally, but you have to understand that Windows wasnt the worst thing to hit the planet.
now to answer your questions/comment on your stupidity
1- a Zune is a Portable Digital music play that is doing very well
2- i know about 5 people that have a Zune (Compared to about 80 with an iPod...but....whatever)
3- WinMo isnt great, but the hardware it runs on is usually worse
4- How again is it OSX Moble if there hasnt been 1 Moble Mac OS before it????
5- it will blend, but that was unnecessary
6- do you know any portable digital musc player/ Mobile OS that can play Crysis/Quake/Doom?????
7- about Micro$oft---- last time i checked Apple was hell of a lot more expensive for casual users
Go back and hide in your little hole and keep praying to Steve Jobs and stop commenting here
You know what you just gave me a great idea, we should be able to rank the article itself and it could be faded out accordingly.
This would be great for me. I dont have a zune, and probably will never get one, just because i have an ipod right now. But this would be a very very easy way for MS to add the zune functionality to literally millions of handsets that are already on the market if they choose too. In the future, they could change the hardware standards for mobile handsets to better work w/ the WM platform and this future zune offering, but they could make zune lite versions for older hardware, then ditch windows media player and replace it with zune instead. I'm just hoping they would do something like this because i HATE using windows media player on my mobile phone. An interface like zune would allow you to view pictures, videos, music, podcasts and w/e other features it has in a simple intuitive design. As it is right now i have to deal w/ htc album, htc audio manager, windows media player, then tcpmp...too many programs IMO. oh yeha, and if i want to be able to get podcasts on the go i need yet another program.
Windows Mobile blows... I just ditched my HTC S640, and demo'd the Touch Diamond, and then bought a Blackberry Curve, because I need something that works.
How about instead of putting a Zune in it, they make it work better first. Hold training for the hardware partners to port OS properly.
i don't know that much about windows mobile, so could you please tell me why it sucks?
@Some Kid:
You're an idiot. Several comments indicate my original post as sarcasm. I know what a Zune is, I own a Zune and so do about a dozen people I know, I don't mind Windows Mobile overmuch, who cares, who cares, no, I have nothing against either company.
In that order.
Also, your mom should teach you how to read.
Maybe somebody should teach you how to write.
Yes. Two of my roommates, actually.
@Christian Martin: I was being facetious...
@deyanimay: sorry mate, but no one is comparing it to the iPod Touch. Without a touch screen and a browser, it's not a fair comparison and if you look for Zune vs. X comparisons online, you'll only find them against the Nano and the iPod Classic. I'd like them to just really make WM7 significantly more user friendly and leverage their WM base to push the Zune platform that way, until HD based DAPs are phased out.
@Some Kid: Christian was being facetious...
I'm not sure why Erik is being modded down. He's obviously sending Jubei up.
Windows Mobile 7 will be amazing.
But let's not forget that it won't take long for a developer to easily write a Zune player for Android, using Open GL ES 2.0 and all the eye-candy expected. The success of WM7 will rely on its hardware as opposed to Android's and Apple's.
Judging from how generous HTC has been with its WM phone designs, I am defo looking forward to their WM7 phones.
I'd be interested to hear how this will work outside of the US given that the Zune Marketplace isn't available anywhere else. I know that you could still use it for your own music but a lot of the Zune client's features only really work when connected to the Marketplace.
Zunes are also sold outside the United States. The are available in India as well....
I've been saying this should be done for a long time now. I just wish they'd also make Zune available over here in the UK.
Subscription music on a HTC Touch HD would by sweetness for me.
Some Kid's reaction to this post is one of the funniest things I've seen in awhile.
Each step of the way I'd think, "man this kid can't be serious. What a comedian".
By the time I got to the end I realized, "holy shit, this Dumb Kid is serious".
Good stuff.
That's great news, Ms should make the zune software the default media player for future windows OS, just add more media formats, it's still lacking them, As well as give you the option of adding your msn contacts to your friends list on marketplace, that alone would bring even more people over to the social.
@Erik:
So are you saying that Apple was the first company to offer music playback on a phone?
OSX mobile gives free head and Windows Mobile sucks? Quality penis analogies, if intentional, since the mere presence of Apple fan boys ends up making their brand sound even more gay than the one(s) they're bashing (emphasis on fan boys; girls are allowed to go eeek! over shiny things). Out of curiosity, which tainted act does the G1 perform?
So which brand is my preference, really? Moved to a place which can't be reached by land, then switched off my mobile for the last time more than 5 months ago. Life without ring tones is absolute bliss, and my consulting, programming and web hosting ventures haven't suffered to my knowledge; if anything, focus has improved dramatically.
Watching the debate from the sidelines and might cherry-pick the clear winner at a later stage, but I can tell you it won't be the one released by an advertising agency whose product is you (the user), and how much they know about you.
The G1 will perfom a Commodore.
It's interesting to note that the ZunePass subscription service is billed under the heading of Xbox Live in Microsoft's online billing site. Also, both Xbox Live and Zune marketplace were down at the same time, so they must share the same backbone. I think after the Xbox fall update the next thing they'll announce for Christmas is Zune integration with Xbox Live.
THE ZUNE SOFTWARE HAS KNOWN ISSUES WITH PROGRAMS LIKE ADOBE CS3 AND MANY VIDEO GAMES. I used to love the Zune software until I saw the problems it caused. MS is slow to update the Zune software and is pretty much ignoring the Zune community and its pleas. When you can't do something as simple as integrate with last.fm, let us tag our own music, use THE Zune with other software or as mass storage, or rate songs with stars (which you used to be able to do and can do in WMP), then you have a large problem.
That said, I love the UI and the hardware, it could be great if they would just listen to the community and fix the problems. Or at least communicate with them and tell them you are working on it.
I have Adobe CS3 and Zune installed. Both work fine...
err... i have no idea what are you talking about. i have adobe creative suite and i'm a hardcore gamer. i also happen to use my zune software without a glitch.
What problems? I use CS3 and most modern games without issue. Can you enlarge on this?
-also-
MS updated the Zune software a couple of weeks ago!
-and-
I can tag my own music with the Zune software.
----
I agree with you on the data storage thing, WTH Microsoft!
well...
-they could integrate with last.fm but that would be direct competition with their own zune card.
-you can tag your own music, and it even shows up on ur card and is counted a play now.
-mass storage would be amazing but i'm sure they'll do it eventually
-they are trying to get people to use the Zune software so why would they make it open, yet. we know the issues that arise from that
-FINALLY...they update seasonally like the XBOX does, i'm glad there isnt want every week and a half like iTunes, just makes it more riskier for my library to get corrupted. and the Zune team gets huge praise on every update for LISTENING TO THEIR COMMUNITY. so whats ur deal?
This is not surprising. Without the ability to truly innovate, Miscrosoft Mr. Ballmer nicknamed Mr. Miscreant has no choice but to copy what Apple has been doing. That is combining its excellent iPod/iTunes integrated environment into a smartphone.
Unfortunately, MS the most glaring "me too" company in the tech industry will be forced to use their existing hobble WinMo OS and their crude, 1950's cold war style Zune hardware offerings for this new initiative that Mr. Ballmer is hinting at.
Expect this product to copy every single feature the iPhone has. Except it will be clunky, UI interface designed by a two year old, using crayons as their template for finished designs.
Jubei, what you're missing here is that Microsoft is completely redesigning Windows Mobile 7 from the ground-up. This is a complete overhaul--not an update, as was PPC 2003 of 2002, WinMo 5 from 2003, 6 from 5, 6.1 from 6, etc.
While maintaining the Windows Mobile feel, this will be a completely different (and new) animal.
"Microsoft is completely redesigning Windows Mobile 7 from the ground-up."
What an absurd statement. Actually it was also hilarious. Making a statement about MS creating something from the ground up is akin to saying Brittney Spears writes all her own music. LOL
i hope you're getting paid by Apple, 'cause i feel sorry for you that every one of your posts is low ranked.
Jubie is either a troll or a paid marketer. He always posts in Zune articles and all his posts have these qualities:
Ridicule and smugness
The "me too" thing they're trying to attach to the Zune
The "copying" thing they're trying to attach to Microsoft
Jubei has never denied this or explained his motive.
"Expect this product to copy every single feature the iPhone has."
This is a cross platform product. Where is the cross platfrom oSX Mobile available?
Still no Zune in Japan... snif snif... but im happy with my old Ipod.
talking of LastFM, here a link to the new Saturday Lo-fi album, amazing electro/ambient stuff..!
and you can listen to all the songs;
http://www.last.fm/music/Saturday+Lo-fi
Even though your post is the pinnacle of sarcasm, you forgot the /sarcasm.
I always thought Zune integration would be better than a separate Zunephone. For one, it goes straight in-line with Microsoft's integration philosophy, and two; sharing music taste is the center of the experience. This would allow all of those that own a WinMo phone to share their plays. That is, unless they take that out, that would be ridiculous.
And if I had to get a new HDD player, it would definitely be a Zune.
jesus you need friends
Hey, more choice is always good, right? Hopefully this will lead to more convergence in the marketplace.
@ Everyone:
I was being sarcastic and making fun of Jubei, whose stupidity on such matters is jaw-dropping.
This is taking the Plays for Sure idea that Microsoft had and taking it to the next level.
The Microsoft E&D shop makes great interfaces for the masses. Look at the Xbox 360 Blades, their forthcoming New Xbox Experience or the Zune software.
Take these experiences and put them into Windows Mobile 7 as software and you have a platform that can expand very rapidly.
I just hope that MS keeps putting out the dedicaed Zune hardware as well.
It would also be great is everyone with an Xbox Live subscription would have access to the ZunePass too.
so it is finally revealed. Now here is where Apple gets scared. The Microsoft software platform behemoth begins its execution.
A properly executed WinMo phone with this app front and center is going to be extremely competitive. Microsoft just has to make sure the app doesn't suffer from running on shitty underpowered hardware that winmo vendors are notorious for.
erm......can we consider that as a leaked screenshot of wm7?
Assuming the HTC Touch HD has the same music player preloaded as the HTC Touch Diamond that I have then it's already got a pretty solid solution. Zune software integration would just be icing on the cake.
I wonder what will come first:
1. Worldwide release of the Zune.
2. Zune for Windows Mobile.
3. The whole world going vegan after we run out of oil.
I'm quite sure about the time scale for 3, unfortunately no one knows when 1 & 2 will occur. Personally I'm looking forward to all 3.
my question is will windows mobile 7 be available for an upgrade for phones that run winmo6.1 cuz i want to buy the htc touch hd whenever it gets released but dont want to switch phones mid 2009 to use winmo7? i dont know if i can get the touch hd and expect an update later on or if i should just hold on and wait for a winmo7 phone?