“Microsoft Corp. on Thursday unveiled Zune, a 30-gigabyte music and video player that marks the software giant’s entry into a digital-media player market dominated by Apple Computer Inc.’s iPod,” Rex Crum and Michael Paige report MarketWatch.
“Microsoft said Zune will come with a three-inch screen, which is larger than the iPod’s two-inch video screen, as well as built-in wireless and FM-radio tuning technology, features that also aren’t available on the iPod,” Crum and Paige report.
MacDailyNews Note: Apple’s iPod features a 2.5-inch screen, not a “two-inch” screen, and offers the exact same 320×240 pixel resolution as Zune. Apple’s iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
“Additionally, Microsoft launched what it calls the Zune Marketplace [available this holiday season in the United States], an online music site where customers can purchase individual songs or buy a subscription that allows the purchase of unlimited songs for a flat fee,” Crum and Michael Paige report. “Microsoft said the Zune would be available in time for the holiday shopping season, but didn’t immediately disclose prices for the product, or for songs bought through the Zune Marketplace.”
Full article here.
According to the press release, Microsoft plans to offer Zune, manufactured by Japanese electronics maker Toshiba Corp., in black, white and brown, according to a company news release.
“The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning,” said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft, who is heading its Zune project. “With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections.”
Apple’s iPod holds more than half of the worldwide digital media player market, according to research company NPD, while iTunes accounts for over 70 percent of U.S. digital music sales. In the United States, the iPod has more than 75 percent of the digital music player market, according to NPD.
Is this a joke? Zune Marketpace? Great name. As for the Zune player, rarely has a product been so appropriately hued as Microsoft’s repackaged Toshiba Gigabeat in brown. It’s appropriately dressed for its inevitable date to circle the bowl.
We can see the ads now: Zune pitchman, South Park’s Mr. Hankey, singing, “PlaysForShit and looks like it, too!”
One thing’s for sure, the Microsoft marketing person who scheduled this “news” release for a Thursday, two days after Apple’s special event no less, is no genius.
If this was from any other company than Microsoft, we’d feel sorry for them – like we did for Toshiba when they first debuted this thing.
Related articles:
PC Mag Editor’s Pick: Apple’s new iPod nano – ‘’an excellent product, slim, attractive, easy to use’ – September 14, 2006
CNET Editor’s Pick: Apple’s new 2G iPod nano – ‘sure to be top choice among wide range of users’ – September 14, 2006
Three markets that are different today after Apple’s ‘It’s Showtime’ event – September 13, 2006
Cramer: Apple’s ‘iTV’ all about ease-of-use; Apple shares are going higher – September 13, 2006
Apple + Living Room = Logical Marriage + Boon for Stockholders – September 13, 2006
The Register: Apple event more like ‘No Show’ than ‘Showtime’ – September 13, 2006
The Telegraph: Steve Jobs’ genius making people desire gadgets for which they have absolutely no use – September 13, 2006
The Guardian: Steve Jobs needs ‘a charisma download, Apple risks being left behind’ – September 13, 2006
Mark Cuban: Things that are special about Apple’s announcements – September 13, 2006
Apple’s ‘iTV’ strategy – September 13, 2006
How will Apple’s ‘iTV’ work? – September 13, 2006
The Observer’s iPod FUD: Apple iPod is ‘wilting away before our eyes’ – September 10, 2006
Apple eyes living room market with device codenamed ‘iTV’ – September 12, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV model ‘the gold standard for the digital home of the future’ – September 12, 2006
Analyst: Apple ‘s iTunes+iPod+iTV ‘will be hard for other players to match’ – September 12, 2006
Apple gives sneak peek of ‘iTV’ set-top box to debut Q1 2007 (with images) – September 12, 2006
Apple’s QuickTime stream of Steve Jobs special event now live – September 12, 2006
NFL and Apple team up to offer 2006 NFL game highlights via iTunes Store – September 12, 2006
Microsoft sees room in music player market for ‘Zune’ to challenge Apple’s dominant iPod – September 06, 2006
Analyst: Microsoft’s Zune an ‘underwhelming’ repackaged Toshiba Gigabeat; no threat to Apple iPod – August 30, 2006
Microsoft confirms brick-like Zune to be made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
Microsoft Zune is chunky brick made by Toshiba – August 25, 2006
RUMOR: Microsoft Zune’s user interface revealed in images – August 23, 2006
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
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
holy shit…that’s the real thing?? HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
The time has passed for Microsoft and now they’re playing catch up; this is just one of many wars in which they will be struggling to overcome Apple’s hipness, Apple’s better design, and Apple’s mindshare. Think about it. What company produces an Mp3 player that refuses to work with other computers now? I’m not even talking just OSX, but Linux, too.
Zune is the beginning of the end for Microsoft.
With this monstrosity even I think Microsoft need to stay with spreadsheets.
With this monstrosity even I think Microsoft need to stay with spreadsheets.
zune is the new turd
“an online music site where customers can purchase individual songs or buy a subscription that allows the purchase of unlimited songs for a flat fee”
This is more likely to be a subscription plan, where you have to actually pay an extra fee to buy the song beyond the subscription.
AAAaaarrGGH! My EYEs!! They”rE bURNing!! ArrGGHH! must… get… zune… off… screen… help…… soooo… uGLY…… must…. find… nano….
I can’t believe it. With all of their resources, Microsoft makes THIS? My mind is truly boggled. It pretty much does look like a turd.
Sure Microsoft dominates over Sony… yet it doesn’t make a cent. What a great business idea.
And just wait until Wii hits. It will put 360’s numbers to shame… PLUS Nintendo will actually make a profit! Go figure…
I’m not so sure how iPod to iPod interaction (lack of) is a weakness. I can see these Zunes sharing viruses that then go to their PCs during Sync.
And boy… full screen wallpaper! WOW! Amazing. I still use my 3G iPod and you know, I really don’t care it can’t show anything but a menu. It doesn’t affect how I play MUSIC.
Oo! Oo! It has a 3″ screen! Half-again as big as the puny 2.4″ in the latest iPod! And brown’s my favorite color … uh, not that shade, though.
Strange, though, that they’d introduce it so close to the introduction of the latest iPod rev intro – but neglect to mention a price. Hmm, ya think they are maybe reconsidering that detail?
Oh, and ‘Zune Marketplace’ … does that sound like the place to get tunes for your Rio (or whatever)? Or maybe just for the Zune … and … Vista?
OK, there might be the vaguest hint of competition here if Apple hadn’t boosted the iPod screen size a bunch, but the anticipated Zune price of $299 would have flushed that hope. With a more modest screen advantage and little or no price advantage it’s going to have tough going.
I agree: bjh. It is a Nazi/Gestapo screen they have there.
Black, white and brown? Why didn’t they push the boat out and offer one in grey too? Goes pretty well with this GetAMac ad though:
http://movies.apple.com/movies/us/apple/getamac_ads2/work_480x376.mov
MarkerWatch reports that Microsoft shares rose 34 cents after this announcement. (LOL! I can’t think why.) Better still, Apple shares rose 12 cents, ALSO after the Zune announcement.
So, Microsoft announces rubbish, and Apple’s shares go up!
From the stereogum review, here’s a quote from Zune marketing guy Chris Stephenson:
“We think of Zune as a link to the world, where Apple sees it as closed,” says Chris. “With all due respect, Apple is a very controlled brand. They don’t really have any direct interaction with the consumer or artists. We’re into Web 2.0. The YouTubes, the MySpaces, the user generated content, the creators. We want to facilitate that.”
Right, Apple “doesn’t have any interaction with the consumer or artists.” Unless you count podcasts, celebrity playlists, iMixes, customer reviews, and the “Just For You” Mini-store.
To the few pro-Zune posts:
Yes, I’m sure the Zune has a few good ideas. Many, many of iPod’s competitors have had a few good ideas. But “a few good ideas” will not knock off the iPod. You need something far and away better.
I’m sure that the “feature geeks” that inhabit MP3 blog sites and Slashdot will find much to love here. They’re the same people who buy iRiver and SanDisk players, and won’t shut up about them. But the mainstream market wants nothing more than a stylish, reasonably-priced, easy-to-use player that “just works” with its software. Zune offers no advantages in any of those categories, minor innovations notwithstanding.
(And I will be stunned if Zune works as seamlessly with the “Marketplace” software as the iPod does with iTunes. That’s just not Microsoft’s strong suit.)
Nobody’s gonna read this down here, but what the hell.
Assuming a similar price point, the Zune will offer standard what Apple offers as accessories: FM transmit (for the car) and receieve (for the news).
The interface samples we’ve seen are great; the new iPod interface features (alpha search) seem to be chasing after them for a change.
So iTunes will really be the difference. I expect Zune to fail, but not becaue it’s not a good product.
Um. Brown?
This sounds pretty half-a** to me.
They are clearly still trying to negotiate pricing on either hardware or content, so they don’t name prices.
There is ONE okay idea here, “try it” music sharing… but wait, didn’t Apple come up with that in iTunes?
News of Jan 2008: Microsoft quietly retires the failed Zune music players.
Charlie
http://www.TierraGPS.com
You have got to be kidding me! Is that a real picture of the product? This is the fabled “iPod killer”? No way in the world – c’mon, Allard knows better than that! Someone screwed the pooch on this one.
Meanwhile Apple lowered the price, tweaked the iPod displays and battery life again, made the software even easier to use… what a way to keep Microsoft off balance!
too funny
is this SHIT for real ?
😀
M$’s industrial design SUCKS!!! Fugry!!! Brown? you kidding me?
Wil? You seeing the same thing I’m seeing? And since when did you, while listening to your iPod, go “Dang, I need some iPod-to-iPod action here”? I can’t think of a time that I would be interested in that – but maybe I’m just an old, uncool geezer.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
Gotta love this from Reuters:
“The company said it was not ready to provide any exact timing or price for the product’s release.”
What else is new?
Ron! Ron?? Where are you? Get out of the closet at once!
Well, Brown is a pretty hip color right now…
Interesting – Apple has a release, and there website is immediately updated for purchase. Funny how M$ website mentions nothing about the Zune after they release theirs…