iLounge has posted “details on the Zune’s user interface, with some nifty ‘not quite screenshot, but better than hand-sketch’ artwork that explains pretty much how the whole thing works and looks. Since most of the UI is really plain – white text on a black background sort of stuff, except the background can be skinned with full-color artwork – these artists’ representations only highlight a few key points from the menus.”
Jeremy Horwitz explains, “From what we know, Zune’s current top-level menu contains six plain text choices: Music, Videos, Pictures, Community, Radio, and Settings. They’re presented almost identically to the format seen above, which depicts the Settings menu.”
Full article with images here.
Related articles:
Details of Microsoft’s Zune interface, features exposed – August 17, 2006
Microsoft to sell single Zune model this fall, rumors of Wi-Fi capability were greatly exaggerated – August 10, 2006
Zune already shedding features? ‘iPod killer’ won’t offer video at launch – August 04, 2006
RealNetworks CEO Glaser a little miffed with Microsoft over Zune – July 28, 2006
Microsoft to spend hundreds of millions, several years on Zune trying to catch Apple iPod+iTunes – July 27, 2006
In wake of Zune announcement, should ex-Microsoft ‘partners’ join iPod ecosystem? – July 27, 2006
Zune: Apple cannot lose. Microsoft cannot win. – July 26, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft partners zune to be the biggest losers – July 25, 2006
In wake of Zune, Microsoft ‘partners’ consider abandoning PlaysForSure – July 25, 2006
Wi-Fi seen limiting battery life on Microsoft’s Zune – July 24, 2006
Why Microsoft’s Zune is doomed to fail – July 24, 2006
Bear Stearns analyst expects Apple to respond to Microsoft’s ‘challenge’ with new iPod innovations – July 24, 2006
Microsoft Zune? They should’ve called it the Microsoft ‘iClod’ – July 24, 2006
Enderle: Microsoft’s ‘iPod killer’ Zune is ‘brilliant strategy’ – July 24, 2006
Microsoft’s so-called ‘iPod killer’ Zune won’t zoom up the charts – July 23, 2006
Microsoft confirms ‘iPod Killer’ plans – July 21, 2006
Microsoft’s rumored ‘iPod killer’ poses little threat to Apple’s domination – July 18, 2006
Microsoft plans Super Bowl ad for ‘iPod killer’ – July 17, 2006
Sounds serious: Microsoft approaches iPod accessory makers for Zune would-be ‘iPod killer’ – July 12, 2006
Microsoft preps complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products – July 11, 2006
Photo of Microsoft’s ‘iPod killer?’ – July 11, 2006
10 reasons why Microsoft’s ‘iPod killer’ will fail – July 11, 2006
Enderle on what it would take for Microsoft to kill Apple’s iPod – July 10, 2006
Microsoft: ‘iPod killer’ reports based on ‘speculation and rumors’ – July 07, 2006
Can Microsoft hit a fast moving target? Apple likely to debut wireless iPod this year – July 07, 2006
Analysts: Microsoft faces uphill fight to supplant Apple’s iPod+iTunes market dominance – July 07, 2006
Microsoft plans to convert iPod users by replacing iTMS songs with free WMA format songs – July 06, 2006
Microsoft to release wireless ‘iPod killer’ by Christmas to challenge Apple – July 05, 2006
Analyst Wu: Microsoft unlikely to dethrone Apple iPod+iTunes – June 21, 2006
Microsoft preps iPod+iTunes killer – June 19, 2006
Report: Microsoft readying Apple iPod+iTunes rival – June 16, 2006
Microsoft: No iPod killer planned – June 05, 2006
Microsoft, Toshiba, DoCoMo, Victor to develop Japan iPod+iTunes killer – June 02, 2006
MTV-Microsoft URGE music service not targeting iPod, iTunes users; Real CEO PlayedForSure? – December 13, 2005
Patent application shows iPod capable of live wireless video conferencing – June 13, 2006
Apple patent application filed for wireless iPod+iTunes distribution – May 04, 2006
Generator Research: Apple to Ship $4.2bn in Wireless iPods (WiPods) by 2010 – March 14, 2006
Ready for your wireless Apple iPod? – February 09, 2006
Wireless iPod? CSR and PortalPlayer to bring wireless connectivity to personal media players – February 08, 2006
Wireless Apple iPods coming in 2006? – December 09, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Dell’s ‘DJ Ditty’ flash-based MP3 player is dead – August 22, 2006
More blood on Apple iTunes Music Store’s play button: MyCokeMusic is dead – June 20, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: iRiver gives up on digital media player market – May 23, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Sony’s Walkman Bean is cooked – February 13, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Dell dumps ‘DJ’ hard-drive MP3 player line – February 04, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: iRiver pulling out of Europe? – February 01, 2006
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Thomson gives up on MP3 player, CE markets – December 12, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: BenQ withdraws from MP3 player markets – November 28, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Olympus halts production of portable digital music players – November 09, 2005
More blood on Apple iPod’s Click Wheel: Rio is dead – August 26, 2005
Apple’s iPod has blood on its Click Wheel: Virgin Electronics is dead – March 08, 2005
Apple’s iTunes Music Store has blood on its play button: BuyMusic.com is dead – March 28, 2004
“From what we know, Zune’s current top-level menu contains six plain text choices: Music, Videos, Pictures, Community, Radio, and Settings. “
Good lord, who cares? Its a menu. Big deal.
Wait a minute. White text on a skinned, multi-color background? Wouldn’t that be insanely hard to read?
First comes news that the Zune photos that were released were fake; then real.
Then came news that Zune won’t support video; then it will.
Now comes the “leaked” screenshots of the UI. Right….
How about we stopgiving Microsoft free advertising by spinning their product rumors – especially since they are all just rumors. That sounds like a good idea, yes?
What’s with this pic of
” rel=”nofollow”>Steve Jobs on the linked page?
eeewww, Liked the picture of the Steve though. The one of sir Bill was good too.
Wow – “really plain” – but isn’t that what we’d expect?
I love my iPod.
But that is pretty cool. Very very cool.
what was Gates arrested for?
I like the white text on black background. My 2 cents.
>what was Gates arrested for?>
For stealing the Mac OS.
zzzzzzzzzzzzune
Here’s the explanation ddedubya:
http://stickingittotheman.com/whois/bill_gates.html
“except the background can be skinned with full-color artwork”
Which as we all know is certain to make the interface much more readable.
Sometimes, you have to make design decisions that protect the user experience from the users. Yeah everyone wants choice blah blah blah, but preventing this sort of thing will make the user experience much better and thus make people happier with your product.
white text on black with album art. Hmm, I already have that option in front row.
It has been pointed out in other articles or blogs that white text on black background will use up battery power. I wonder how M$ addresses this?
That’s ok. Apple is going to “Front Row” the iPod UI and blow away the “old iPod UI copy” known as the Zune UI.
Microsoft shows off its fantastic talent for innovation. OOOPS sorry, I got that wrong..its talent for copying. MS doesn’t get my respect.
Thank goodness then that the Zoon will be a complete flop in the face of the new gen iPods, let alone the existing ones.
Lord Robin, you forget the key strategy of Microsoft: do exactly the opposite of Apple. Thus, white text on a black background (though it is easy to read) or a multicolor background (whether it is or isn’t easy to read) will be their key strategy.
MW: youre, as in neither your nor you’re, and thus not a word
macman, that’d be awesome
People will perceive the Zune as being smarter than the iPod…it will know who is in proximity with the community feature. This may play out well for M$, as it will open up a new realm of interaction with Zune users.
Schools and Universities: people passing around their details via Wi-Fi.
Like a portable My Space.
Hello, Apple?
“It has been pointed out in other articles or blogs that white text on black background will use up battery power. I wonder how M$ addresses this?”
By offering the new Zune-SBP1… a 2.6lb service battery pack that, once activated with the appropriate serial #, can be clamped on to your Zune with C-clamps and a rubber band.
I don’t often get into the business of making predictions (I learned my lesson predicting the iPod would flop), but I’ll take another stab at it.
The Zune UI won’t look anywhere near as good as the “examples” posted with the article.
How do you spell identity theft: ZUNE.
Wireless and Microsoft, all in one box. Fill it on up with personal information.
The next big market will be Zune anti virus software
OK, I understand “tunes”, “songs”,”rifs”, and “music”, but what are Zune “sounds”?
Press control-option-apple-8 (on a Mac) and you’ll see what white text on a black background looks like and find out just how incredibly annoying it is. Whenever I visit a website that is white on black, I press the above command it turns it back to black on white.
P.S. If the command doesn’t work, you might have to turn it on via System Preferences:Universal Access.