New Zunes, software ship today
updated 09:30 am EST, Tue November 13, 2007
New Zune Ships
Keeping to its schedule, Microsoft today released its new Zune player line to stores and updated its software for both players and PCs. The Zune 4GB and 8GB represent the company's first-ever flash players and maintain the same video playback, FM radio, and Wi-Fi support as hard disk models without dropping resolution or the feature set. They also introduce the concept of the Zune pad, a hybrid controller that lets users either click or swipe the surface to navigate menus, and the ability to sync content wirelessly when the device is charging in a dock away from its home PC. The Zune 80GB also takes on the new control method and expands the screen size of the original to 3.2 inches while shrinking its dimensions and adding the new Zune pad and Wi-Fi sync features.
The Zune 4GB and 8GB ship in black, green, pink, and red and should be available in most American stores today for $150 and $200 respectively. The 80GB player is is available in a single black color for $250. Users hoping to customize the Zune with the just-introduced Zune Originals artwork service can order a 4GB or 8GB player today with the new artwork added for free; the Zune 80GB will be available for the same treatment sometime in December. The Zune 30GB remains at $200 and receives a free firmware update that adds all the software features of newer devices, including podcasting and Wi-Fi sync.
The update also sees the release of Zune Software 2.1, a completely overhauled version of the jukebox software used to manage and download tracks for the player. In addition to a new interface designed to ease navigation and provide a visual means of browsing albums by 2D covers, the software tightly links the the Zune Marketplace to the new Zune Social, which lets users create profiles and share their musical tastes, including with blog-like comments. The software remains limited to Windows XP and Vista.
YAY
11/13, 11:09am reply
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jarod
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Joined: Apr 2005
Breaking News......
11/13, 11:13am reply
....MS re-invents the 2nd Gen iPod Nano. Film at 11:00.
psdenno
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Joined: May 2003
The thud....
11/13, 12:42pm reply
heard around the world... The iPod is dead!!! Long live MIcro$oft!!!
Oops... nevermind. My fabulous new 3rd gen iPod nano is great. What's a Zune?
howiethemacguy
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Joined: Sep 2007
c'mon haters
11/13, 01:22pm reply
imagine the glee in the eye of Microsoft lovers, when at the end of the day they will have sold millions, well. maybe not exactly millions, maybe thousands, that could be also be exaggerating, after selling... dozens of fun new Zunes...
welcome to the social. Prepare to watch heads roll
dwoodruff
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Joined: Jul 2006
understanding customers
11/13, 02:18pm reply
I don't know anyone who grabs an mp3 player to be social. In fact, listening to music in public is a most anti-social act. And it is deliberate, people put on music so they don't have to talk to the person on the subway next to them. Snooping around in someone else's library would appeal to more than a few, I assume though. Have a good laugh at the expense of someone's else's musical taste...
Have a peek, have a laugh, have a Zune.
Kees
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Joined: Sep 2001
or...
11/13, 04:25pm reply
Or you could spend $400.00 on an iPod touch ...
A device that has an overabundance of white noise/HISS that makes listening to music unacceptable.
Laugh all you want, I bought the first gen Zune and haven't looked back. I wanted to like the iPod, but the sound quality is terrible...and the new interface (while it works on the touch) is SLOOOOW on the clasic.
lamewing
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2004
lamer wing
11/13, 06:08pm reply
"keeping to it's schedule" - has that phrase ever been used of MS before? They must be getting better, or at least more efficient in copying ideas.
And lamerwing, I bet you're one cool fella! And such sensitive ears, to notice hiss that millions of other haven't. Man, you must be so hip!
Doofus.
robttwo
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Joined: Nov 2005
lamer wing=astroturf
11/13, 07:43pm reply
Nuff said
Monde
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Joined: Jan 2004
lamerwing
11/13, 10:09pm reply
Notice they don't necessarily dispute your claims (and, yes, people have complained about hiss on various ipods for years). Its just "you don't like the ipod? You must be an MS employee!".
And you are correct. The UI on the iPod classic (a new UI, because, like in leopard, Apple felt they needed to change for the sake of change) is SLLLOOOOOOWWWWW.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001