Microsoft ushers in spring with new Zune Originals designs
By Donald Melanson 
posted April 14th 2009 11:03PM
posted April 14th 2009 11:03PM
How much Zune can you handle? It's a question few have asked, and even fewer have answered. Microsoft seems to be unafraid of such conundrums, however, and it has now fearlessly introduced a new collection of Zune Originals designs in a day filled with Zune rumors. Each of the new designs, appropriately, feature a spring theme from artists APAK, Carolina Melis, and Linn Olofsdotter, and include options like a "tree-like design," a "tapestry-like design," and a giant Queen Bee for those that really want to stand out. Best of all, as with other similar Zune Originals collections, each of these are available at no extra charge, and are ready to be etched into your future Zune right now.
[Thanks, Mitchell]
[Thanks, Mitchell]
[Yawn] I've never been inclined to join the social...
Stick to Windows 7 and XP!
You should. It's a pretty nice setup. You will like it aloooooOOOOOOTTT!...........
No, really, it is pretty nice. I enjoy the Zune pAss.
niceee ...
now if only the Zune HD rumors were true, please let it be Microsoft, please let it be
I agree 100% with you. That new Zune has been the style I've been waiting for. No to new old. Yes to new new.
i read somewhere that it will be single button, which i hope not. i really like the idea of soft-keys where that extra space is at the bottom, like back and pause. it would be really nice is the small center area was touch so you wouldn't have to use the screen all the time. it would be a real edge over the single button iPod Touch to have those dedicated buttons.
Windows 7 new beta is out.
I live in Canada and bought the Zune before you could get it here. I was pissed that I coulnd't even *view* the Zune Originals site from Canada and I had to buy the plain 80.
[sigh]
*Waves hand*
These are not the Zune announcements you are looking for
yay!!!
Zune!!!
wow!!!
new Zune HD images,
are these real?
http://wmpoweruser.com/?p=4120
Wow, those renders are hideous...
Hideous renders yes... but if the specs are true then that will be a pretty awesome piece of gear.
If it's true then I will switch from planning on getting a Pre (and shelling out 100 bucks a month... ugh) to getting the zuneHD and sticking with my current cell phone...
@Kevin: I'd only be interested if it could play tons of containers/codecs natively with full subtitle support. Which is even less likely than the device being real in the first place...
@Luis Rivera: Are you trying to get hits for your site?
Anyone who still says that Zune is a ripoff just hasn't thought it through. It's the same deal as Netflix - except instead of having to return the movie to get another one, you just keep them all as long as you keep paying the monthly subscription. It's a very good deal.
yeah a ripoff.,of major fail.,
lol!!!pathetic ms answer to ipod touch,.,.,
I actually think it is a really great idea. Having a subscription service that is integrated with your mp3 player is very intersting. I really am against proprietary software for mp3 players, after dealing with iTunes for the pc, however if this works well in windows, and gives you unlimited access to music, I cannot complain.
Since the iTunes price hike to $1.29 a song Apple has made ZunePass an even better deal.
You get subscription access to the Zune marketplace and 10 songs each month to own. High bitrate DRM-free mp3 files, even. A $12.90 iTunes value.
Making the ZunePass access a mere $2.10/month based on Apple's price points.
Solid Value.
@ Shank
Why is it that people constantly say Zune Pass is a failure when everyone who tries it loves it. How many times have you seen people complain that they had a terrible experience with it? Me, rarely...
Anyone else think that Shank is a paid microsoft shill?
It's as if he's trying on purpose to validate every statement ever made about apple fanboys.
Never have I seen so much coverage for a subject that is so irrelevant, relatively.
I gotta agree with this. The mainstream sites gave up on the Zune long ago, and while I don't always view them as an accurate barometer on much of anything, they do have this one down. Please spare us.
Suck it up both of you and don't be such bitching fools. It's not like Engadget has been doing this for the past 2 years with Zune news! Jeez, it has been a couple of days only!
@Jon: What "mainstream sites" are you fool talking about? Appleinsider or Macrumors?
More coverage of something you find irrelevant should not be a problem for you, if you just exercise your damn right to ignore the articles regarding topics you are not interested in. This is no different to those who complain about too much Apple news, or indeed those who complain about too much Pre news (er, has that happened?)
Seriously, Zune gets barely a third of the coverage iPods get when they are about to announce or release a new product. They are gadgets and any news that my pertain to them seem relevant to me.
Yawn. Give me new hardware or give MS death.
Woot!
Love it!
what the major fail!!!!!!!!!!!
is this mighty microsoft zunes answer to
steal some thnunder from the ipod touch.,lol!!!!!!!!!!!
how pathetic,ok now im startin to feel sorry for
zune fanboys.......
You're working hard today! Letting the hate flow through you?
omg they announced the Zune HD today!!!!
;D
How to make the zune decent
Step 1, have it mount on any OS as an external harddrive/usb drive.
2, Enable it to drag and drop files from your os of choice to and from the device.
3 = profit
isnt that how thousands of idiots brick their ipods?
drag and drops are cool, but i prefer the zune software.
and its already a great pmp with great software behind it.
digitallysick,
You're doing it fucking wrong!
The software's actually really pleasant to use. When I'm using it to listen to music on my computer, if it's a fairly well known artist it will start showing PR pics of them and display relevant text in creative ways. It's fairly fast, makes editing ID information easy, actually looks nice, and I'm told the Zune Pass is a good deal.
That said, I also wish it were possible to use it as an external drive.
The drawings are mediocre at best. With millions of dollars spent, this is the best Microsoft, the biggest "me too" company can do. Why bother when the Zune has nearly zero interest to the general public.
This is just extra options they're offering, those options have obviously worked in the past cause they're doing it again. Just cause you and I wouldn't buy one doesn't mean there aren't thousands of people who will.
No merit in this post either... Crappy "drawings"? lol- OK, Jubei, master of art and everything gadget related.
"me-too"? Give me another company that includes laser engraved designs on the back of their products- more than just a logo and a line of text?
Zero public interest? Well, lets put that logic to use. Zune marketshare >= Apple Macintosh computer marketshare. That must mean that Apple's Mac is just a "me-too" of Windows based PCs, and clearly no one wants them.
Peel your eyes off of your Steve Jobs pinup and educate yourself, my lunatic friend.
Ummm... how about new hardware? GIVE ME THE ZUNE HD!!! AND BRING BACK THE SQUIRCLE!!!
What's a Zune?
Who is ik4rt ?
What's a Mac?
Wat's a Cinema Display?
What's an Apple TV?
Shall I go on?
I dunno what planet you guys are on but where I commute everyday in downtown Chicago, I never seen, yet even heard of people talking about Zune.
So you know what a Zune is, but never seen it in your town. Why to start of with that stupid question?
ummm.... I live in chicago and while i have a zune, 5 of my chicago friends (who i didn't meet through zune gatherings, if they exist) have zunes. my friend's zune got stolen from his car in front of my apartment the other day, and was already sold on craigslist before he contacted the poster. he's now going to buy a new zune.
i'm just sayin.
Oh, dude, you don't know what a Zune is? Where have you beeeen? These things are fucking awesome!
Why the Apple-hate insky? You have to admit, there was nothing in the original comment about Apple, and I find it interesting that you see an anti-Zune comment as being somehow innately pro-Apple ...
i'd put money on him having a macbook pro.
See, this is a relevant question for me, because I only buy products that I see everyone else using and talking about. God forbid I do any actual research before buying anything.
I saw my first Zune in the wild today. It was one of the most shocking experiences in my life.
Donald, do you really believe people are going to wait (the shopping) because of the rumors?!