macnn/electronista

10/02/2007, 11:45am, EDT

Tuesday, October 2nd

Photo leaks confirm new Zune, near-term launch

New photos have all but confirmed the imminent arrival of new Zune models within the month, says an unnamed employee from a major American retailer. The worker notes that his store has received "cardboard cutouts" that are exact matches for the photos leaked last month and already reveal key features. A smaller, flash-based model is now certain and will have video playback as a cornerstone. The circular directional pad has also been replaced with a less misleading beveled, square pad, the photos show. Microsoft is now known to be producing pink and red colors on launch rather than withholding them for special editions, as with the original version.

Although a specific release date was not provided with the leak, the mockups are part of a display set intended for unveiling on October 7th, suggesting an announcement before then and a ship date on or shortly after that period. Previous reports have suggested that devices might be available by October 16th, though one had a release as late as November.

No specification sheets have accompanied the leak, though again previous reports have suggested 4GB and 8GB flash players at $150 and $200 with an 80GB model selling at the $250 price occupied by the original 30GB player before a price cut meant to clear out stock of old models.

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still a buggy product
0
10/02, 11:58am, EDT
Regarding the Zune, reviewed by engadget: "We came away underwhelmed and not at all surprised -- and why? The expectations were for Microsoft to deliver a "Microsoft" player and system; maybe not too shabby looking, but not very usable, and definitely bug-ridden."
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Wow, they look so
0
10/02, 12:03pm, EDT
boring. Well that will probably add another million to their sales.

yawn
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Brown?
0
10/02, 12:17pm, EDT
Thank goodness... looks like the brown is still available.
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Packaging idea?
0
10/02, 12:22pm, EDT
I understand the packages will sport a day-glo orange "NOW 30% LESS MISLEADING" label. :-)
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Design
0
10/02, 12:23pm, EDT
It never fails to amaze me at how unattractive most products from Microsoft continue to be! You'd think that with a workforce as big as theirs, they'd have at least one person with a real sense of esthetics.
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MS marketing genius
0
10/02, 12:24pm, EDT
Yep - they got the "Im a doofus" market all sewn up!

Again, as I have said many times before - people buy stuff because it looks cool and works. MS has yet to comprehend this.

Doofuses.
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This is terribly similar
0
10/02, 12:26pm, EDT
to previous iPod generations. Even the feature sets are similar, but doubtless they're half as well-implemented.
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DOH!
0
10/02, 12:27pm, EDT
You can't polish a turd.
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Totally Crack-a-lacken
0
10/02, 12:57pm, EDT
The new zunes look like they were designed by 70s era Solviets. How is it they expect to make inroads into this market with inferior products. I suppose they'll ship another million of these bricks to retailers and sell less than 50,000 like the previous iteration of this still-born player.

robttwo is spot on-only a doofus would even consider stepping down to a zune.
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They look like ass...
0
10/02, 1:10pm, EDT
Just like everything that M$ makes. M$ has no class or original thinking at all. What's with the dog crap brown????
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