Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s distant also-ran music and entertainment outfit, has announced some updates ahead of Apple’s “Let’s Rock” special event tomorrow.
According to Microsoft, starting next week, Zune players will offer those who’ve not yet returned Aunt Tilly’s gift mistake for store credit the ability wirelessly download or stream songs from wireless hot spots. Free software and firmware updates will give Zune owners the ability to discover, tag and purchase songs directly from the Zune’s static-prone built-in FM radio, wirelessly access the Zune Marketplace store and its rip-off “points” system, and tap into “personalized music recommendations.” Yawn.
Zune is also expanding its device lineup with 16GB and 120GB capacities as well as “blue-on-silver” and “all-black” colors in the same old 2nd-generation Zune case “designs.” The new features won’t begin rolling out until Sept. 16, 2008, but Microsoft knows that by this time tomorrow, Apple will have debuted their iPod lineup for the holiday shopping season, so Redmond has rushed out yet another press release extolling vapor with the vain hope that they can sell a Zune or two, which would effectively double or triple their current sales total to date.
Zune will finally bring games on the go to the device which is rarely, if ever, seen in public outside of a dusty display case. Two free games, “Hexic” and “Texas Hold ’Em,” will keep all three Zune users entertained. All Zune devices will also feature support for audiobooks this fall. Is this when the “wow” is supposed to start?
The amount Microsoft hopes to charge for Zune Devices (effective Sept. 16):
• 120 GB: $249.99
• 80 GB: $229.99
• 16 GB: $199.00
• 8 GB: $149.99
• 4 GB: $129.99
The fiasco continues… for now.
he new zune colors are the old unsold ones with a new paint and swapped storage.
Competition IS a good thing……even if it is competition with Microsloth and the Doomed, er, I mean, Zune player.
MDN,
Seriously, stick to reporting the news. I am an Apple Fan boy and this report is really embarrassing.
The addition of a buy over the air feature while listening to an FM song, if done correctly and reliably, is actually quite an admirable thing.
Please give credit to the competition once in a while.
Rickw.
No doubt, Microsoft will have to lower prices once Apple announces lower pricing and new models tomorrow.
Didn’t MS get burned before announcing Zune prices just before Apple announced lower prices on same storage size iPods?
I’m expecting another MS press release on September 10th announcing Zune price cuts.
Yaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwnnnnnn!
God those M$ boys have been busy innovating… (not)
And no one cares
Give MS around another 5 years, the Zune will be about ready to compete with San disk-the #2 seller of pmp’s.
In 10 years-they will be competing with todays’s iPods.
Since Apple pulled the iPhone fart-joke app, Microsoft now has more room to maneuver in that market niche.
Zune Tang is legendary at MDN.
He/She/It also seems to be suffering from some sort of multiple personality disorder.
Poor Zuney. Vista Service Pack 2 will make it AAAALLLLLL better!
“The addition of a buy over the air feature while listening to an FM song, if done correctly and reliably, is actually quite an admirable thing.”
Aye, there’s the rub.
If done correctly, but Microsoft has a history of screwing things up, even when it has been made correctly by another company.
Example, Vista, Zune (The name!), Music store(points!) Why not cash based!, and now their commercials- what is up with that?
They will get better, but only when they learn to think different- no pun intended.
Zune helps affirm the message in the new Gates/Seinfeld ad where Seinfeld asks if the PCs will be cake they can eat.
As the MS empire crumbles all around him, Gates says “Let them eat cake!”
Wait…since when do they play music on FM radio? I thought that spectrum switched to all-commercials-all-the-time back in 1996. Did I miss a memo?
“This is why I return to MacDailyNews again and again: the even-handed, unbiased journalistic integrity.”
There’s your first mistake, thinking that any media at all is supposed to be an unbiased public service.
Guess what? This is a Mac site for Mac fans. They have no obligation to be unbiased, in any way. Making fun of the sad pathetic attempts to steal the thunder of Apple events is just part of what they do here. They have never made any attempt to appear neutral.
The choice is simple. If you don’t like it, don’t read it.
iPod touch already tags FM songs with over the air purchase with Shazam. It even tells you what song is playing. This is the eve of the end of Zune. Tomorrow should be the last nail in the coffin.
The “extra” Zune Tang® posts is why Zune Tang needs to register with MDN.
To the fake Zune Tang, posting someone else’s name here is really uncool!
AKA Zune Tang®
Sorry about the last comment by me. I sound like a real ass user. I know. I just smoked some killer Grand Daddy Purple and almost went out to buy a fecal colored brown zune. I really can’t bullshit with you guys anymore. I think this is the final act for Microsoft and the beginning of my sobriety.
Your potential. Our Passion.™
Sorry about the last comment by me. I sound like a real ass user. I know. I just smoked some killer Grand Daddy Purple and almost went out to buy a fecal colored zune. I really can’t bullshit with you guys anymore. I think this is the final act for Microsoft and the beginning of my sobriety.
Your potential. Our Passion.™
It’s great that Apple can get Microsoft so scared that they divulge their pricing before Apple’s prices are announced.
The truth is that most of these Zunes will end up selling for $69 at a close out sale.
who gives a Zune?
Flushed
What were they thinking when they designed ehm instant coffeed that thing. Looking at it makes me think of old wooden 1940’s radios.
Will it sink or will it float…what a turd…
These ‘prices’ are insane.
Zunes sell for $39.99 here in Canada at HMV music store.
Its too soon to close the Zune dept. at Microsoft because they havent wasted enough money yet.
Its hard to believe that large co. could be so incredibly USELESS at making stuff and selling it.
As for the FM listen and downl;oad crap – you dont really think it will actually WORK do you?
If so, I have a bridge I can sell you……
It’s amusing to me that MS even copied Apple with Texas Hold ‘Em!