Microsoft Officially Launches the Zune

News Type: Event — Seeded on Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:06 PM EDT

Article Source: FT.com

technology, music, apple, microsoft, ipod, zune, device

No price and no word on when it will be available. So how is this a launch? And, what's with the color brown? From the article:

Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a bright, 3-inch screen that allows users to not only show off music, pictures and video, but also to customize the experience with personal pictures or themes to truly make the device their own. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white.

Every Zune device creates an opportunity for connection. Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.

Zune makes it easy to find music you love whether its songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. Easily import your existing music, pictures and videos in many popular formats and browse millions of songs on Zune Marketplace, where you can choose to purchase tracks individually or to buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee.

To get started with great music and videos out of the box, every Zune device is preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Musics Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records.

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Public Discussion (3)

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{"commentId":291372,"authorDomain":"hardwired"}

hardwired

Give me one good reason to buy it?

And brown? Not even a nice brown...

{"commentId":291372,"threadId":"42413","contentId":"362175","authorDomain":"hardwired"}

1 vote

#1 - Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:14 PM EDT

{"commentId":291575,"authorDomain":"kevinb66"}

kevinb66

Being able to sample songs from another person's player is a pretty cool feature. This way if a friend has a song they think you'll like you can listen to it a few times to decide whether or not you want to purchase.

The larger screen is attractive as well.

And brown? Not even a nice brown...

I would like to know who's idea this was and which numb skull gave it the green light.

{"commentId":291575,"threadId":"42413","contentId":"362175","authorDomain":"kevinb66"}

2 votes

#1.1 - Thu Sep 14, 2006 4:54 PM EDT

{"commentId":292702,"authorDomain":"jaybutler"}

Jay Butler

For sure this will garner attention as the next "iPod Killer". But, somehow Apple does something to regain any of the footing lost to competition. This week's iPod announcements were a start. I would expect a big screen video player iPod by Christmas or early-2007. That would fit with their movie store.

Zune may just be a footnote in portable player history. It is nice, but does not give people a compelling reason to ditch their iPods.

{"commentId":292702,"threadId":"42413","contentId":"362175","authorDomain":"jaybutler"}

#2 - Fri Sep 15, 2006 1:42 PM EDT

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Five Reasons Why The Microsoft Zune May Succeed	Gizmodo	Wed Sep 13	0
Music Player From Microsoft Offers Wireless Song-Sharing	The New York Times	Fri Sep 15	2
Microsoft Zune out for Christmas	BBC News	Thu Sep 14	0
Microsoft Releases Details About Zune	Associated Press	Thu Sep 14	7
Microsoft launches the Zune information!	Engadget	Thu Sep 14	0

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Microsoft Officially Launches the Zune

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