Zune rumors heat up, MS getting ready to launch Zune software on phones?
By Nilay Patel 
posted April 14th 2009 6:31PM
posted April 14th 2009 6:31PM
Yeah, something is definitely up in Zuneland. Not only did images of the Zune HD leak out late last week, today AdWeek says that Microsoft's auditioning three major ad agencies for the launch of a new mobile service called "Pink" -- which is the project codename for Zune software on mobile phones. No, this doesn't mean any of those Tegra-powered Zunephone rumors are coming true -- it's far more likely that Microsoft is finally gearing up to re-launch Zune as the preferred media software and service for Windows Mobile, a plan Steve Ballmer's been hinting at for ages now. Remember, Microsoft has to keep its large stable of Windows Mobile hardware manufacturers happy, and launching a hyped new phone of its own with a Zune-based OS would basically be perceived as stabbing a billion-dollar business in the back -- not something you want to do when most of your partners are also deep in the Android game. On the other hand, you don't audition three huge ad agencies just to launch a Zune app on busted ol' WinMo, so there could be something big cooking -- if you forced us to throw caution to the wind and just guess, what we'd want to see is that $500m Danger acquisition pay off in the form of a reskinned consumer-oriented edition of Windows Mobile that integrates Zune services, running not only on a touchscreen Zune HD, but a variety of phones from third-party partners. Wishful thinking? You bet -- probably even crazy thinking -- but it would certainly shake things up, and that's never a bad thing. We'll see how it plays out -- care to share your dream Zune strategy in the meantime?[Via CNET]
You fail at logic. Everyone uses profanity whenever the Hell they see fit, and just because you act like you would suck on Steve Jobs's cock all day doesn't mean they're losing an argument when they call you on that. You act like SJ's personal little playmate. It's a simple fact- all you do is worship Apple products and try to downplay all competing products, and no one here has been contradicting yourself. I'm not even quite sure you know what contradiction really is, considering your usage of it, but hey- typos... Typos are when someone adds or forgets to add a letter or misses a key on the keyboard... This is not you- see, you tried to take the word "illusion" and make it into "delusional" by adding a "d" onto the beginning and "al" onto the end. No, my friend, that simply is not a typo- that is simply your lack of intelligence shining through.
Judging by the looks of things, it's YOU who's losing here, not me or anyone else replying to you. You post a bunch of FUD because you're insecure, and then you get told, and you resort to changing the subject- and that is, simply put, a sign of losing.
So, you fucking moron, how about you go suck Steve Job's cock? Oh... Wait, I must be losing because I insulted you, right? Fuckin' idiot.
My, my, my. Such a colorful and passionate response. It's a shame that you only enforced your failure to debate properly. Again, ZG = FAIL! Quite extremely this time. Hahaha. Too easy.
Aside from launching a new stand alone player, this is about nothing but creating millions of new doorways to the Zune Marketplace and it's what MS said they were going to do all along.
This'd be cool, especially considering my old 1st gen zune 30 got stolen and my Finace's 3rd gen Zune is teh hawtness. I already pay for the subscription, and it'd be real nice to have my music on my $400 phone as opposed to spending another $200 for another Zune.
if its winmo it can already sync zune pass music with wmp
just imagine, the Zune phone, at a much lower starting price than the iphone, with a full keyboard, and a range of different versions. If the software is up to snuff, and the hardware already is in the Winmo space, other than the cosmetics department, which could be beefed up, then Microsoft will have a huge deal of a phone out. It will sell millions in it's first months if it's good enough and marketed right. Of course if they do what they did with the normal Zune (release an AWESOME product with hardly any marketing presence at all), then they'll be in the same whole they're in now. 2nd place. C'mon Microsoft, this time, shoot for 1st!
@ Digitallysick
The Zune software is amazing, add it to Windows Mobile, which isn't bad, will be even better once 7 comes out (sounds amazing). Windows Mobile will easily become the most awesome mobile operating system to ever exist. Almost as cool as Windows 7 will be.
Disregard the above comment -1 for me.... (Engadget seriously needs a freaking edit button)
I can imagine pigs flying as well.
Bottom line comment to silence all.
Notice how every windows mobile smartphone carrier ,still has to carry an ipod or mp3 separately in other pocket.
How pathetic n weak that wm phones cant even replace an ipod.Exactly truth is out n it hurts.
I speak the harsh realities n dont like to sugar coat the truth.Agree?
so your fantasy is that Winmo has half decent Media playing capabilities?
*shakes head...
wake me when these clunky things drop the stylus.
@mike
wake me up when iphone does multitasking properly and proper document editing
winmo with zune software = still sucks
The Zune software is amazing, add it to Windows Mobile, which isn't bad, will be even better once 7 comes out (sounds amazing). Windows Mobile will easily become the most awesome mobile operating system to ever exist. Almost as cool as Windows 7 will be.
I'm willing to give the Zune software a try and then see how it stacks up (granted I find a PC first). But WinMo? No way. With the emergence of the iPhone 3.0, Palm Pre, Black Berry Storm 2, Android 1.5 phones, and better Nokia phones, WinMo has no chance. Microsoft does not know how to compete.
Bottom line comment to silence all.
Notice how every windows mobile smartphone carrier ,still has to carry an ipod or mp3 separately in other pocket.
How pathetic n weak that wm phones cant even replace an ipod.Exactly truth is out n it hurts.
I speak the harsh realities n dont like to sugar coat the truth.Agree?
I really want that touchscreen Zune HD...
I second that!
Care to join me at midnight at the launch party lol
It's a good time to be a gadget lover.
Eh, my 16GB Touch Pro does the job just fine. I would much rather have the physical keyboard. Sure, a TouchHD running zune software would be a great media device, but it wouldn't be the phone for me. I could see the value for the "I want an iPhone form factor" crowd, though.
Right now I can't. Actually right now I can't even play the Zune Pass DRM'd downloads I have on my computer (on the 360)! They wont play (on the 360). I get a circle with a line through it (on the 360). Meanwhile all my mp3's play just fine (on the 360).
I feel sorry for you.
My Zune Pass files work just fine for me (on the 360).
Zune iPhone app.
Is it just me, or did the image in zunehd.net change a little? I don't remember seeing a rectangular shadow behind the logo... o_O
Nice! I've been looking forward to this... I have an iPhone but I like my Zune (and the software) a lot as well.
I hope that Microsoft, can give some minimum specifications for
a WinMo7 device. Just so that when the elegant Zune-ish looking
software runs, it runs smoothly, and it doesn't look and run all buggy.
Well whatever it is they release I hope its supports XNA as an api cause its really easy to use :)
which no developers have done anything for, and care about
maybe It'll be able to install on a existing wm6.1 phone
FTW
Bottom line comment to silence all.
Notice how every windows mobile smartphone carrier ,still has to carry an ipod or mp3 separately in other pocket.
How pathetic n weak that wm phones cant even replace an ipod.Exactly truth is out n it hurts.
I speak the harsh realities n dont like to sugar coat the truth.Agree?
He's copy and pasted this comment to almost all of the other comments so it's obvious he's not using his iPhone to post this
Bottom line comment to silence all.
Notice how every iPhone troll ,still has to carry a laptop or desktop separately in other pocket to copy n paste there comments.
How pathetic n weak that iphones cant even copy n paste.Exactly truth is out n it hurts.
I speak the harsh realities n dont like to sugar coat the truth.Agree?
I hate useless people.
LOL there's Hamidxa again trolling in his mission to put down the iPhone and Apple at all costs. Classic.
If Zunes are so great, why is it that I never seen one where I live in downtown Chicago? They are similarly priced as the iPod yet I've seen iPods everywhere.
This is a question that Micro$oft fanboys can't answer.
If Macs are so great how come I never see one in dowtown Chicago?
The reason you don't see Zunes is because they don't have white headphones and all you're ever looking for is the pure spotless white that is the iPod headphones.
When almost everybody keeps their PMP's in their pocket how do you know if you've seen a Zune or not?
I've seen tons of people with white iPod earbuds and tons of people with black or other colored earbuds (I've even seen a few people with the cloth covered premium Zune headphones) but I've only seen people with iPods displaying them proudly on their beltclips. Face it only people who have iPods are big enough douches to feel the need to proudly display their imagined superiority to others. Why don't you just but a bluetooth earpiece on your ear and carry around a fannypack while you're at it.
If Downtown Chicago's so great, how come you never see any Macs there?
Is that a serious question? It's because iPod lifetime sales have outnumbered Zune lifetime sales about a hundred to one. That doesn't mean the Zune is bad, it just means that the iPod outsells every other product in the universe.
They are gearing up for the launch of the $0.99 Zune app for the iPhone.
Do you really think Apple would let a Zune app through the App Store?
It would be great if Apple offered an iTunes app for all platforms (iPhone, Android, Blackberry, Symbian, WebOS, WinMo, ...) AND Microsoft offered a Zune app for all platforms AND Nokia offered an Ovi Music app for all platforms, etc.
This would result in a very competitive market for music services and provide the ultimate in consumer choice.
I'd love to have a Zune app for my iphone. Honestly. I bought Zune for the Zune Pass and would love to have that on my iPhone.
are the Zune music files 100% DRM-free? The ones you get to keep that is. Having one of those subscriptions amounts to the same thing as singing up for a CD club membership, stuck paying up every month.
zune software on WinMo would be most excellent. I would love the option of integrating what I already do on my Zune8 with my Fuze (w/8GB memory card). Use the smaller Zune in the car and at the gym and the Fuze when I want music/podcasts elsewhere. Add the ability to download podcasts over the air and it's perfect for the way I consume audio.
I really hope that Microsoft hits off Zune HD and Pink proprly.
Here's what needs to happen:
FROM THE WM 6.5/7 SIDE:
1. Unified Sensor API w/ G-sensor & capacative touch screen
2. Zune app that can work with the FM tuners being found in WM phones (e.g. HTC's devices)
3. Zune Marketplace & Windows Marketplace for Mobile
FROM THE ZUNE HD SIDE:
1. 802.11 b/g capable, please!
2. Keep the D-Pad and capacative touch.
3. UNLOCK WINDOWS MOBILE CLASSIC ON THE ZUNE (It's in the firmware of existing Zunes if you haven't headr.)
4. Make WinMo Classic (Zunes & Non-Phones) have the same Marketplaces and sensor APIs. Also include Office, Outlook, camera, etc. and Java as well as our beloved XNA games (Zune, "Portable" Xbox?). And ALL of the WM goodies (you know them)
5. HD Radio will kill the iPod.
FROM THE WINDOWS 7 SIDE: (And ActiveSync and WMDC)
1. Integrate Media Player, Zune into WMDC/ActiveSync and vice versa.
2. Better integration with Windows Live ID and Live Mesh built-in
2009 IS THE YEAR FOR M$ FANBOYS!
I think we will see a lot of exciting new updates to windows mobile 6.5. Stuff like internet explorer mobile, live mesh for mobile. silverlight 2 for mobile, a new windows media player mobile and a new .NET compact framework should prove to be a hit for many users. I think the key will be the launch and ultimate success or failure of the Windows Mobile Marketplace. Microsoft needs to get this right and I also think they need to really step up marketing efforts to entice developers to focus on creating new and innovative applications for the Windows Mobile platform. The user interface and applications are the keys to long-term success for any of these mobile devices and developers are at the core in my opinion. We have seen a shift in consumer expectations over the last year and that will only continue to change as the bar keeps getting raised.