"Zune Mobile" gets mentioned, plot thickens for Project Pink

Okay, so he doesn't have a thinner Xbox 360 than the rest of us -- at least, not one that's been captured on camera -- but Paul Thurrott still knows his way around Redmond, so when he utters the phrase "Zune Mobile," the cellphone-using world probably ought to sit up and listen. Rumors of Microsoft's so-called Project Pink have failed to quiet down, but the latest intel seems to suggest that we're looking not at a Microsoft-branded device but an entire software and service platform -- something Danger's pretty good at managing, and something Microsoft had said it liked when it closed the acquisition earlier this year. How does that tie into Zune Mobile, though? It seems that Pink might include Zune support as part of its offering, which could translate into a Zune Mobile software package for Windows Mobile (prior to the mythical version 7, says Thurrott) that would bring far more robust media support than any Microsoft-powered phone before it, and maybe -- just maybe -- a wireless download store. Ballmer's already said Zune support would filter down to Windows Mobile eventually, and for what it's worth, those alleged Windows Mobile 6.5 shots sure look Zune-ish, which would make true Zune support fit right in -- and Danger's in the PMX group alongside the Zune peeps, so that adds some credence to the potential Pink tie-in. Is it enough to resurrect WinMo from the brink of obsolescence in the consumer space? Likely not, but it's a heck of a start, and might just quiet down those endless Zunephone rumors for a wee bit.

Read - Paul Thurrott mentions Zune Mobile
Read - Project Pink includes Zune support?

[Tinu @ Dec 14th 2008 12:45PM]

Welcome to the comments section. You may post your comments here.

[vvtopkar @ Dec 14th 2008 12:48PM]

Thanks, I wasn't sure where to do it, not very many people post comments on Engadget......

[Dr Robotnik @ Dec 14th 2008 12:48PM]

Amazing.

[dcoaster @ Dec 14th 2008 12:53PM]

Welcome to failure.

[Decoy @ Dec 14th 2008 1:52PM]

Welcome
to the com
ments sect
ion

[Oli D @ Dec 14th 2008 1:55PM]

What.

[WixosTrix @ Dec 14th 2008 4:40PM]

@ Decoy

i see what u did!

[Backlin @ Dec 14th 2008 4:55PM]

You mean I can't post my comments on this article on another website?

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 5:10PM]

Sorry, guys, the Zune is never going to be popular.

The iPod Touch is currently the best selling MP3 player right now on Amazon's MP3 player page. The Sanza is like 20 and the Zune 120 is number 23. iPods occupy just about all of the other spots on the list. By the time Microsoft gets caught up to the iPhone and iPod Touch, people will be addicted to all their little iPhone apps and their gigabytes of iTunes music.

It's the ecosystem, not the device.

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 5:43PM]

Even the Zune's biggest fan dumped it for an iPod Touch.

[maveric101 @ Dec 14th 2008 8:44PM]

@ Esat

you forgot Paul Chappel

[Decoy @ Dec 14th 2008 9:02PM]

@ Paul

It doesn't need to be popular to be a damn fine player.

[DirtyVegas @ Dec 14th 2008 9:59PM]

Wow. Paul's so low ranked he's invisible. I like this game!

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 14th 2008 10:51PM]

Come on, guys, you know you clicked that link. LOL. Here it is again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBbOBc-L720

Just watch it, one more time. It's quite addicting.

[Garst @ Dec 15th 2008 12:32AM]

Why, thank you for having me.

[Troels C @ Dec 15th 2008 5:40AM]

@Paul Chapel

Zune guy, being a deluded maniac is hopefully not your typical consumer.

[Paul Chapel @ Dec 15th 2008 8:37AM]

I don't know about you guys, but I always read the low ranked comments because I want to know what someone said to get low ranked. Half of the time, the people who get low ranked are trolling. The other half of the time, the Anti-Apple brigade is just knocking down anybody that says anything remotely positive about Apple. You could say, "I like Steve Jobs's turtleneck" and people would low rank it.

Therefore, I see low ranks as a badge of honor.

I'm a PC user, but I'm not going to be so hypocritical that I delude myself that the Zune is better. The iPod Touch is obviously the better choice. All the low ranks in the world won't change that fact. So Low Rank away. Apple is still going to sell a bazillion iPods this Christmas, while the Zune stays in fourth place.

[Justin @ Dec 14th 2008 12:48PM]

As a WinMo fan, I really hope Microsoft gets their act together soon. With talk of WinMo 6.5 and 7, one can only hope it materializes as quickly as possible.

[Oli D @ Dec 14th 2008 1:48PM]

Theres such a thing as a windows mobile fan?

Surely the point of a window rules out the use of a fan.

[Decoy @ Dec 14th 2008 1:58PM]

"Surely the point of a window rules out the use of a fan"

This is like the Life without Walls (ahahaha, so why do you need windows) joke.

Witty stuff.

[Oli D @ Dec 14th 2008 2:00PM]

Where theres a will, theres a whimsy

[TJ @ Dec 14th 2008 2:40PM]

The function of windows can be increased by the use of fans, but only when the windows are open.

[g00n @ Dec 14th 2008 3:07PM]

"Resurrect WinMo from the brink of obsolescence in the consumer space"

Man, this is getting old. The amount of Pro-Apple bias around here is just getting hard to ignore. The above statement is just inaccurate. WinMo is still THE MOST attractive choice for serious business and power users. Apple's OS is pretty but that's about it. It doesn't offer the functionality OR vast array of 3rd party business/tech/tool software that many of us find vital to a pocket pc phone. Android is still very premature and is also in the same boat as Apple. It just cant compete yet. I hope one day Android becomes the premier mobile OS but that isn't even close yet - it needs serious work. RIM's stuff is garbage much like PalmOS. Most new Treo's come with WinMo.

I admit, WinMo 6.1 is a bit crusty. I dont even consider a standard, vanilla install of WinMo 6.1 to be usable. The UI sucks and its hard to get around quickly with a touch screen and fingers. HTC has come a long way to fixing this with its custom UI software and there are MANY 3rd party options that make WinMo a dream (see SPB Pocket Plus & Mobile Shell). That being said, WinMO is STILL the preferred choice among most serious users because of what it has to offer. It is mature, it is well supported, there are tons of software options and customizations. It has good enterprise and corporate integration. iPhones are for kiddos and soccer moms. Real users prefer HTC Tough Pro (or other hardware) and the latest WinMo rom loaded down with all kinds of software apps and customizations.

Get a clue people... WinMo is here to stay. I welcome Google challenging it with Android. This is good for all consumers. But this pro iphone/apple bias has got to go or Engadget will lose readership.

[Kyle @ Dec 14th 2008 3:41PM]

@g00n

TLDR

You were adopted and your parents dont like you go type long ass comments elsewhere

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 14th 2008 4:22PM]

@ g00n: I totally agree. I'm tired of the need for (ill-founded) snark coming from the Engadgeteers (and Gizmodo which I took off my RSS feed yesterday because of their horrible WinMo browsing 'rundown').

Windows Mobile can't be so obsolete in the consumer mind, when it was the only other smart phone OS to sell BETTER than overall market growth during the iPhone 3G launch quarter. Symbian, Palm and Blackberry didn't manage to do so.

(not to mention that they link to those 'leaked' screenshots of 6.5 which most sites have all but debunked as fakes)

Hell, at least when Ryan was more involved, the Apple bias was tempered with a more realistic overall look at the various markets.

[loosely_coupled @ Dec 14th 2008 4:28PM]

Seriously? A "WinMo Fan"? I wouldn't expect that such a thing could exist... Do you have any idea how bad that OS is?

[Alan Strangis @ Dec 14th 2008 4:45PM]

@ loosely: *snore*

I know 3 not very tech savvy people who picked up the Diamond (their first smart phone) and love everything about. The only complaint they've had (two of them voiced) is wanting a place to make downloading programs easily.

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 14th 2008 5:51PM]

WinMo fanboys are proof that there are people who will still root for Goliath, even if he has no redeeming qualities.

It's just an all-around terrible OS. I gave up a FREE WinMo smartphone after a week because it worked so poorly. Going back to my Samsung A930 "dumbphone" meant I could at least make and receive phone calls reliably, which is more than I can say for WinMo.

Get an iPhone, Blackberry, Symbian or Android device. Please. I don't see how anyone who has ever used WinMo can tout it -- especially if they've used ANYTHING else.

[L.M.L.Y.P @ Dec 14th 2008 8:13PM]

UnixSystemsEngineer : "Samsung A930 "dumbphone" meant I could at least make and receive phone calls reliably....Get an iPhone"

LOLWUT?

[maveric101 @ Dec 14th 2008 9:03PM]

g00n, did you seriously make the exact same comment twice just to get it on the first page?

[UnixSystemsEngineer @ Dec 15th 2008 2:11AM]

Dude who didn't get my self-explanatory post:
I thought it was implied that I was saying, if you want a smartphone, get any competitor device other than WinMo. I'm not sure where your reading comprehension failed, but hopefully this helps.

[Brad @ Dec 15th 2008 6:14PM]

@UnixGuyWithAppleBeamerLogo:

I'm not surprised that you gave up your "free" WinMo phone for another phone, because you didn't like it. I can tell from the logos you proudly display as "you" that what you pay for something is directly proportional to your perceived value of it. Maybe if you'd bought a decent WM phone rather than taking one that they didn't think they could sell, you might have liked it better. Maybe if you'd overpaid for one, you'd like it even more.

All that aside, I've used Blackberry, Palm, Windows Mobile (since 2003) and I'm currently developing on Android (but I will admit to not owning a G1). And yet, I still recommend Windows Mobile to most people who are looking for Smartphones for business use. The non-touchscreen versions are incredibly stable, and are in a wider variety of form factors. My girlfriend loves her Pantech Duo, I've got workmates on everything from Motorola Qs to that weird HTC with the standard keypad and full keyboard...what's the problem? I've never owned an iPhone, but a little bit of playing led me to ask "what's the big deal?" I guess I still don't REALLY get that. I mean, is it just because of the music player or something? Most people who own iPhones that I know don't use it as a music player anyhow. They use it as a web browser, of which it is still only mediocre. I much prefer Opera 9.5 with Flash support on an unhindered, faster network with 2x the screen resolution (Touch Pro).

But whatever, everyone is going to make their own decisions. I think it's weird to eliminate an entire swath of products based on your personal bias, but that's what people who drive BMW's and use Apple products tend to do anyhow, so I guess you fit nicely into your market segment: what works for me is right for everyone.

[Anon1mus @ Dec 14th 2008 12:47PM]

Hell yeah, I've loved the Zune since it came out and mixing a Zune and a cell phone sound like the perfect combination.

[Flashpoint @ Dec 14th 2008 1:58PM]

I thought the Zune had a lot of promise before it was released. I expected something good to come of the Wifi. But Microsoft screwed up so badly with the first Zune's cripple Wifi, that at the time, I woulda taken a Sandisk Sansa Connect instead cause its ability to listen to internet radio made 10 X more sense than just being able to share songs with deactivation timers.

But when iPod touch came out, Microsoft was left in the dust.

The way I see it, Microsoft needs to copy the apple iphone/ipod touch strategy andjust improve on it with more features we want.

Firmware upgrades via WiFi
syncing via WiFi/ Bluetooth
data tethering
Bluetooth stereo audio
Xbox Live integration would be nice.
MSN messenger

I think Microsoft would be best to offer the device in a sliding candybar style so we get a full QWERTY keyboard as well as physical keys, even though the temptation is to offer yet another touch screen phone.

Zune and Zunephone could be a major success if done properly.

[brandon @ Dec 14th 2008 2:07PM]

Flashpoint, you have become very wise.....
WTF WHO ARE YOU????

[FLaSHBaCK @ Dec 14th 2008 2:17PM]

Flashpoint.....there is wifi syncing on the zune.....

[rattyuk @ Dec 14th 2008 2:25PM]

@FlashBack

"Flashpoint.....there is wifi syncing on the zune....."

He said FIRMWARE updates over wi-fi.

[Sindo @ Dec 14th 2008 2:34PM]

@rattyuk

If you would get your head out of your ass, you would realize that he said "syncing via WiFi/ Bluetooth."

[PynkFloydd @ Dec 14th 2008 3:19PM]

@Flashpoint:

I've been confused with Microsoft's strategy for a while. I mean, they've got a solid device but, they've limited (authorized) sales to US and now Canada? ...add that they never actually advertise any of the Zune player's features, just makes no sense.

The only thing that I've come up with is that they feel the iPod is too entrenched with consumers to actually take it on directly. I think they see a weakness with iTunes and want to compete with that first hoping that it lifts up sales. I'm sure they're refining the Zune Marketplace until they see marketshare start growing steadily and they'll launch a full attack on the iPod/iTunes platform globally.

Right now the Zune Pass is looking pretty nice and if they dropped it below $10/month, it'd be hard to pass up. Plus, the Zune software's interface is just nicer. (even the colorful slideshow showing the artist's pics that comes up when you're idle is pretty cool)

...look what they did with the Xbox/Xbox Live. I think that's what works for them.

[Dave Chappelle @ Dec 14th 2008 8:12PM]

@Sindo
That was aggressive? why so serious?

[Flashpoint @ Dec 15th 2008 8:22AM]

PynkFloydd

Technology nowadays is all about convergence.

If you are Microsoft and you control the rights to Internet Explorer, Xbox/Xbox360, the world's most widely used Office programs and the world's most widely used Operating system,

sure you should be able to come up with intelligent, desireable ideas for a portable media player/ cellular PDA.

The way I see it, Microsft should have a Zune Phone already with downloadable, customizeable apps

[PynkFloydd @ Dec 15th 2008 3:29PM]

@Flashpoint:

...I see what you're saying.

It seems they've been treading carefully with the Zune platform. So far, (with the Win7 betas) they've been including a new version of Windows Media Player and that doesn't make any sense if they're trying to push a profitable multi-platform store (with the Zune Marketplace).

The way I look at it, they either have no clue what they're doing (with the Zune ecosystem) or have such an awesome plan that they've gotta keep it a secret.

[From My Cube @ Dec 14th 2008 12:48PM]

Colbert will not be amused

[PynkFloydd @ Dec 14th 2008 3:52PM]

...of course not. Behind the scene Apple sponsorships prohibit him from enjoying anything Microsoft.

[Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Dec 14th 2008 12:49PM]

As long as the GUI is more Zune like than WinMo like then I'd seriously check it out. Although I just gave up Verizon and the BlackBerry Storm to go to AT&T for the iPhone. The iPhone lives up to the hype, but I'm a Microsoftie at heart.

Oh the drama.

[From My Cube @ Dec 14th 2008 1:08PM]

copy this link www.google.com/iasnfk$223.html into your browser then send me and MMS of whats there

[Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Dec 14th 2008 1:17PM]

I hope this is not a duplicate, but I don't see it posted:

I'm sure a lot of people use MMS, I however, am not one of them. I never used it when I had my XV6700, Voyager or BlackBerry Storm all of which could do it.

But I will admit that the Verizon network blows away AT&T. I went to the Universal City Walk, in Universal City, in Los Angeles to see Cheech & Chong. I was on Edge network while I was there and then after the show I could not make a phone call for about 3 minutes. The phone would just not dial out. And the sound quality is not as good either. The Storm however had awesome call quality especially when paired with the Bluetooth in my car. Everyone could hear me and I could hear them very clearly, this is not the case with the iPhone.

[Jack Storm @ Dec 14th 2008 1:29PM]

My At&t network works fine everywhere i travel on my handy dandy HTC Touch Pro plus i can do whatever you can plus more and with alot less $. ooh and yeah i can multitask.

[Decoy @ Dec 14th 2008 1:47PM]

Weird that this is basically about a Zune interface on a mobile, yet we're looking at a picture of WinMo on a Zune.

[Oli D @ Dec 14th 2008 1:51PM]

Yeah i can't say i have ever used mms,

I do enjoy the luxury of copy/paste though when im feeling decadent.