Microsoft says no plans for Zune HD in France, other markets still up in the air
By Donald Melanson 
posted September 10th 2009 6:41PM
posted September 10th 2009 6:41PM
Those in the U.S. may finally be getting their hands on the Zune HD next week, but it looks like folks elsewhere could well be in for a longer wait than they may have been hoping for. That's been the speculation since the device was first announced, of course, but Microsoft is only now getting a bit more specific about the matter, with Microsoft France exec François Ruault telling PC World that the company has "no plans" to launch the Zune HD in France, although he adds that doesn't necessarily mean it'll never be released there. That presumably also means that the rest of Europe is similarly up in the air, but if past history is any indication, it seems likely that the Zune HD will indeed land there eventually, sometime after it finally makes a trip north of the border.
[Via MobileTechWorld]
[Via MobileTechWorld]
Poor French people..
5 minutes after reading this, France surrendered.
@kamil
There sleeping right now, I think; So they will never know what hit them
I'm in the UK and I'm not holding my breath for a UK release. That Engadget link to posts titles Zune + Europe brings up seven articles total, and even though some of them talk of purported UK releases (of then-current models) nothing ever transpired.
That's why I'm handing over my cash to an imported. One 32GB Zune HD please - and I don't care if the HD radio won't work here, at least it does FM band, which is more than the touch-screened fruit flavour 'launched' yesterday can say.
^importer
I'm with ugotamesij. I don't see how the documented history of Zune non-releases in Europe is somehow an indicator that the Zune HD is going to reach Europe. Rumours and innuendo from MS are the closest we've ever got.
They don't need it; France is a great game machine.
There is a market for at least 10 Zunes in Europe. C'mon Microsoft your missing out on profits.
After Apple's even yesterday, I really want a Zune HD now....but there's no way I can use it on my Mac without using BootCamp.
:(
Hopefully Microsoft lets Mac users use their products, but I still doubt it.
It wouldn't matter if Microsoft did make the Zune Software compatible with Mac's.... two days later, Steve Job and his cronies would just look it out with an update.
"event..."
*fixed*
.
Not with iTunes...but with a software from Microsoft, but Apple might also not allow that to be used on Macs. I think if iPods can be used on PCs, they should definitely allow Zunes to be used on Macs.
I have a mac and live in the UK. This Zune thing just ain't happening for me! Shame too because it looks really sweet. And the TV functionality is sublime.
@Slutty McNugget,
I didn't see any reason for Apple to not allow Zune software on a Mac.
It's more to Microsoft's decision.
Or maybe they've just decided that developing Zune software for Mac platform to be not a worthy investment (developing Zune software itself, WMA DRM for Mac, etc)
.
Hey... does the missing camera mean that ZuneHD is also a perfect gaming platform?!
@Michael
Why can't u just buy one off ebay? I don't see why that couldn't work. Or maybe you could have a friend in the US send you one. If I am wrong please correct me.
Do the Zune HD have Chinese support? as in just the title of music, artist, albums. I don't need the software to be in Chinese, but the songs etc. From what I saw in the Spec, it only says English, French and Spanish.
Unicode support has been announced some time ago. This means Asian characters should show up properly instead of the squares.
NOOO! I really liked the squares, made my zune feel artsy.
I have 2 guesses
1- They want to see that the Zune HD is not a flop in the North America, first.
2- They are pulling a Sony with the "no plans for a PS3 Slim" and releases within the days that follows.
I live in Canada, so it irks me to no end that i won't be able to get a Zune HD from a retailer before November, i would order it off the microsoft website but they actually don't let you place an order with an address outside the US.
BULLSHIT
That's what eBay is for. If it doesn't come out here (I live in Ontario) on the 15th, I'm heading straight for eBay. I got my Zune 80 from eBay when it first came out and I've been loving it ever since.
Your not going to have Market Place though...
Well, you can use this.
http://www.shipito.com/
or google package forwarding US to Canada!
Good luck!
I'm in Canada too, but I might need the 64GB! :)
The latest data shows Zune has 1.2% marketshare, even way behind Sandisk.
So France will be the last country on earth to care about Zune.
Despite pouring huge amount of money into making Zune, Zune has beome
the biggest PR embarrassment for Microsoft. Sooner or later shareholders
will demand Microsoft to stop wasting shareholder money on unprofitable
businesses. I predict Zune will fold in 2010.
Which will make my soon to have Zune HD much more rarer ^^
The Zune brand isn't going anywhere. Even if Microsoft discontinues the device the service will still live on.
Why do you douches even care? Are you MS's accountants or something? If you like the device then buy it.
...too bad Microsoft has hardly spent ANY money on advertiseing for zune... Seriously, have you even seen any commercials? there are like three and one of those is weird and abstract... and about snakes eating ice cream... they have yet to bring out the big guns on this one. not saying that they wil, but you never know.
how could you not advertise something as sexy as that?
YES!!!
ZUNEHD RULEZZZ!!!
iPod is Crap!!!!
.
You're crap!
You are crapper!!!
You're crappier and I have better grammar/spelling skills than you!
Slutty: 1
mmm?: 0
I WIN!!!
"crappier!!!"
*fixed*
Bad grammar? Check. Easily impressed? Check. The maturity of a 7-year-old kid? Check.
Yup, a typical Zune fan if I have ever seen one.
why is this comment not downranked yet?
The iPod isn't crap, it's a great gaming machine!
Why lowrank me?
No ZuneHD love in here?
The best games are controlled with accelerometers and buttons on the screen making for even less visible space.
@ridley- I was right with you until you spelled "iPod" wrong.
How dare you wear the name of the coolest videogame villain.
It's such a hardcore gaming machine that there isn't even room for a camera.
But without a camera, who would want either now?
Seriously!?
But Apple will not sell out and become games focused on their platform - at least that is what one of the Apple fanboys who used to roam these parts once said.
Oy, Microsoft! Before Zune HD lands on the moon, I'll get one of the competing devices.
I don't care so its your loss! Samsung M1 has Tegra as well, and there's Zii Egg thingie from Creative. And LOADS of competing devices.
The longer you wait before giving it, the less we want it.
The longer you wait before giving it, the less I* want it.
fixed
Have you seen demos of that Samsung? You wouldn't be able to tell it had a tegra processor by looking at it.
the more i look at the zuneHD the more I want one but still cant decide to get this or the psp go, I really need a psp, many games i want are on the way, I lost my phat 1000.. >(
I lost my job.
beat that.
..........................sorry?......at least you still have your health....>.>