Zune Confirmed - Microsoft's iPod Killer?

[Doctor Setebos]

I know this was posted on the front page of the site as a 'rumor' last week, but it's just been confirmed as true (http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/21/technology/microsoft.reut/index.htm?section=cnn_topstories).

Microsoft said Friday it plans to release a new music and entertainment player and accompanying software under the "Zune" brand this year, in a belated attempt to challenge the dominance of Apple's iPod player.

Microsoft confirmed the plans for an entertainment device and software in a statement after touting those products to record companies in recent months.

ba's note: Here are two blogs from team members of the project from Microsoft.
Zune Insider (http://www.zuneinsider.com/)
Madison and Pine (http://www.madisonandpine.com/)


Update: Teaser Site (http://www.comingzune.com/)

[Lord Nerdious]

All I can say is, Neat.

[jera]

Hopefully they will sell 30gb "Zune's"' for like $150 to undercut the ipod grip.

[Liquidize105]

It's got alot going for it, but kill ipod? I don't know about that.

[fitbabits]

It's got alot going for it, but kill ipod? I don't know about that.
Sorry, forgot the '?'!

[Skytram]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! STOP THE PRESSES MS HAS GONE INSANE! I've been drinking at lunch!

[Johan]

Killing iPod would be the equivalent of killing Windows as the dominant PC OS...with the marketplace dominance Apple's iPod currently has, it's virtually impossible.

[The Continental]

It won't touch the iPod for the sole reason that it ain't sexy. If those leaked shots are accurate, this thing doesn't stand a chance. People don't buy iPods because they are a technologically superior product, they buy them because they do what they want them to do and look cool doing it.

As far as aethestics go, Apple > All.

[Freak705]

Give me Live Anywhere compatability and Live Arcade games and I'm sold.

[Banacek]

It's got alot going for it, but kill ipod? I don't know about that.

I don't think it will kill the iPod. All I want is real competition so that the price of iPod's go down. The other mp3 players out there just aren't a threat to Apple.

[Sensei-X]

So I guess the replicating your iTunes library for free rumor was just that. Without that, there simply isn't much of a compelling reason for all those people with $100+ invested in music to move over. At this point the best Microsoft can hope for is to kill off the other WMA based players out there and take Creative's place as the dominant force in WMA players.

[bapenguin]

Give me Live Anywhere compatability and Live Arcade games and I'm sold.

I wouldn't count on much if any gaming functionality.

[Demo_Boy]

MS is a tough customer. They just keep blowing the cash and iterating, till the other guy makes a mistake. Then its over.

The question is: will Apple make a mistake?

[pseudopseudo]

Give me Live Anywhere compatability and Live Arcade games and I'm sold.
GameAddictHotline's Luke Stapley did an interview with Brier Dudley (a writer for the Seattle Times - pertinent write-up can be read here (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003116550_brier10.html), back when the mp3 player was still codenamed "Argo") about this, and from the looks of it, it's going to have a LOT to do with gaming.

It will also compete with game players from Sony and Nintendo that have long had Wi-Fi and work as media players, Internet terminals and communication devices. Argo is likely to showcase another Allard project — XNA, a new toolkit that helps game developers create titles for multiple platforms.

For a little more info, you can check out the 5-minute interview with Dudley here (http://www.gameaddicthotline.com/?p=106).

[Zurik]

I hope it has a decent button setup. I used to own a Zen Micro, but the annoying scrolling never worked quit right and would accidently click while browsing the directories. I have a iPod Nano and I like the click wheel, Microsoft needs to keep it simple and functional.

[Freak705]

One thing I don't want it to do is try and be a full gaming device. That's crap. Screw it, it'll get PSP'ed. All I would want would be simple arcade games. Get Geometry Wars working on it somehow (might be hard without analog sticks now that I think about it), or hell, even something like Bankshot Billiards or Pacman. And if they'd let me put songs onto my 360 HD (instead of streaming), that'd be even better.

[OUX]

I have put off buying an ipod because of the ridiculous prices so if MS can release a nice tight package at a good price and I am sold.

[tombofsoldier]

If MS can make it A: Sexy B: Play I-Tunes C: Simple and D: Play Live Arcade games, then we might have a winner here.

[Stevercakes]

I'd buy it if it:
- looks good
- simple to use
- doesn't require a specific software to use it but has one
- can be used as a portable disc drive without installing any software
- has at least a 40 gb hard drive
- and is in colour =p I have a 3rd gen ipod, the blue screen makes me a sad panda.

[shnastybiznastic]

The real thing killing MP3 players for me right now is that all the crappy ones play mp3 and wma (a format that noone really uses), and the good ones play mp3 and aac (a format that poor people don't use). What I want is an mp3 player that just plays music, has a monocolor screen, and plays mp3 and oggs.

[hideouslywrinkled]

I can't wait for the commericials:

"All I wanna do is Zune-a Zune Zune Zune and a Boom Boom"

[Murtaug]

What I want is an mp3 player that just plays music, has a monocolor screen, and plays mp3 and oggs.

Wow, Ogg. I have not heard anyone talk about Ogg in a long time, I thought the format was dead.

[Maskatron]

Wow, Ogg. I have not heard anyone talk about Ogg in a long time, I thought the format was dead.


With the newer versions of LAME, Ogg pretty much is dead. Whatever quality/filesize improvements that Ogg offers is arguable now.

Ripping your music to a format that is not completely supported by portable players seems like a waste. If you're not worried about playing music on portable players, and want the highest sound quality, then you'll buy a huge hard drive (they're cheap these days) and rip to lossless.

[emjoi]

So Microsofts marketing strategy continues.
If any company is successful in any vaguely IT market, MS has to step in and try and take it from them.

Dont come up with anything new, just hijack stuff.

[Sl1pstream]

But will it be enough to make people switch from iPod to this?

[Harlan Hoyt]

I bought a 30gb iPod, and I think it was a great purchase. I don't regret it a bit. Microsoft has their work cut out for them -- and, knowing Microsoft, who really thinks there's any chance that you'll be able to use whatever software you want, with whatever conversion method you want? Microsoft doesn't seem to mind wasting scads of money chasing market share, but I just think they're a little bit late to this party. Not only does the iPod look better than all the other mp3 players out there (and tons better than the images of the Zune that I saw), it just works fantastically. It's super easy to use, and very intuitive. Microsoft is going to have a lot of things to over come.

Not that I wouldn't mind Apple lowering their prices, but there is such a thing as charging too little for a product.

[Freak705]

Not that I wouldn't mind Apple lowering their prices, but there is such a thing as charging too little for a product.The actual price for manufacturing an iPod is so low its ridiculous. I can't recall the actual price, but back when G4/TechTV still actually had tech oriented programs, they had an expert come in, disassemble an iPod, and come up with the price for it. While I don't remember the actual price, the profit Apple makes is astronomical. They're gouging customers' eyes out (wallets, more specifically). They could definitely make a price drop and still be making good money off of the things. I'd have hopped on the Apple bandwagon a long time ago if it hadn't have been for the price.

If the Zune isn't going to bring the price down, I'll probably go with the Zune anyways just because I'm sure Microsoft will put in some 360 compatability things, and it seems the perfect device for Live Anywhere.

[emjoi]

I dont know what it's like in the USA, but in Australia, iPods are actually the cheapest "quality" MP3 players available. iRivers, Zens and so on cost more.

MS can't just put out another player. They got to have a service that is cool enough to make people switch... and from a big big coolness deficit compared to Apple. As they did with the X-Box, hide the name "Microsoft" as much as possible.

[space egg bret]

I'd like to hear some explanation for the name "Zune". Sounds rediculous!

[crashedout]

MS is a tough customer. They just keep blowing the cash and iterating, till the other guy makes a mistake. Then its over.

The question is: will Apple make a mistake?


They have in the past...time will tell.

[jeffbax]

As much as I love the idea of an XBLA enabled portable (seriously, carts and discs for portables suck balls) - I'll never ditch my iPod for music, and this doesn't exactly inspire me in terms of its ability to game (controls?).

Jack of all Trades, master of NONE is something the PSP already bombed at, thanks.

[jBusy]

MS is a tough customer. They just keep blowing the cash and iterating, till the other guy makes a mistake. Then its over.
Not always. Notice how there are no longer any Microsoft branded home wireless kits? They do a good job of brushing their failures under the carpet.

[oldjadedgamer]

Besides making them smaller and adding crappy video last year... what has changed about the iPod since the original Mac only 5 gig?

I've had my iPod since the original 5 gig (I love my "brick") but they need something new to freshen the iPod line up since it's getting a little long in the tooth.

[The Continental]

http://netpublics.annenberg.edu/files/video-ipod.jpg http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/07/ms_zune_blank.jpg

Just noticed the aspect ratio of the Zune, looks like MS is looking to change the media standard in terms of video as well. Given that so many shows have jumped on the Podcast bandwagon, I don't see them quickly transitioning to the MS format.

*EDIT* Image scaling feature doesn't appear to work. Please not that the Zune picture is by no means actual size.

[Pumped'Up]

am I sure glad I've held off on throwing away $ to Apple. Don't get me wrong, I think iPods are fantastic - beautiful design, simple and clean. Too bad they could never get a search function properly installed in their player.

I welcome Zune. Let's hope MS has something worthwhile to offer this round.

[Maskatron]

I hear though that the next line of iPods will have larger screens and wi-fi too. They'll probably be out before or around the same time as Zune.

[torrefaction]

HAHAHAHAHA.

Which one of you assholes were the one arguing this is ABSOLUTELY impossible, because Microsoft's never done this before.

You're a tool, wherever you are :)

[Sensei-X]

http://netpublics.annenberg.edu/files/video-ipod.jpg http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/07/ms_zune_blank.jpg

Just noticed the aspect ratio of the Zune, looks like MS is looking to change the media standard in terms of video as well. Given that so many shows have jumped on the Podcast bandwagon, I don't see them quickly transitioning to the MS format.

*EDIT* Image scaling feature doesn't appear to work. Please not that the Zune picture is by no means actual size.

It's probably intended to be held sideways like the Zen portable media players, ugh that thing looks ugly as sin, lets hope there's some major changes before it ships.

[pseudopseudo]

It's probably intended to be held sideways like the Zen portable media players, ugh that thing looks ugly as sin, lets hope there's some major changes before it ships.
So you think iPods are ugly too then? Because I really see no huge difference outside of the larger screen.

[Heretic Machine]

My ideal setup for a media player: One big touch screen (with a button-lock, of course) with the interface skinnable via XML or some other similar setup (ala Winamp).

EDIT: And BTW, it isn't exactly fair to compare a shot of the Zune turned off with a shot of the iPod turned on with it's oh-so-colorful screen.

[Expugnare]

http://netpublics.annenberg.edu/files/video-ipod.jpg http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2006/07/ms_zune_blank.jpg

Just noticed the aspect ratio of the Zune, looks like MS is looking to change the media standard in terms of video as well. Given that so many shows have jumped on the Podcast bandwagon, I don't see them quickly transitioning to the MS format.

*EDIT* Image scaling feature doesn't appear to work. Please not that the Zune picture is by no means actual size.
I bet 10 MS Points that the ring around the center button of the Zune will be a ring of light!

And while on the topis of MS point I bet downloads will cost MS points.The name Microsoft point implies use throughout Microsoft products. Why noy Xbox point if not?

*Note* This is all pure speculation. NONE of this post is actual fact so no need to pick it apart and kill me

[motor]

Really not interested at all. Music players are really a commodity item at this point and I'm just waiting until it's all rolled into my phone. Which is already starting to happen. I always thought microsoft was smarter then this: Own the phone os market and help it become the convergent single device that everyone keeps in their pocket (phone, music/video player, camera, appointment and web-reader). Then live off the $5 you make off every phone in the world. This is just a silly waste of time.

And just to let everyone know, the idea of xbox live titles on a portable are a pipe dream. Believe it of not, many of the live titles use up a good portion of the 3 cpus (I mean if they are there then why not use them). So porting them to a less powerful machine is not gonna happen without a major rewrite to the point where you might as well just hire someone else to make a new game.

[shnastybiznastic]

Wow, Ogg. I have not heard anyone talk about Ogg in a long time, I thought the format was dead.
Open formats don't die.

With the newer versions of LAME, Ogg pretty much is dead. Whatever quality/filesize improvements that Ogg offers is arguable now.
That could be said of any format though. Really, I wish all these media players would stop trying to suppourt WMA and AAC, those have already lost the format war.

Ripping your music to a format that is not completely supported by portable players seems like a waste.
True, and if I was ripping for a media player, I would do that, but back in the late ninties, when ogg absoloutley raped mp3 in the ass when it came to filesize and big harddrives were expensive, that's what I used. It would be nice to still be able to play those files.