ActiveMac - The Most Activated mac Resource

ActiveMac

User Controls

New User

Edit/View My Profile

ActiveMac

Articles

Forums

Links

News

News Search

Reviews

News Centers

Windows/Microsoft

DVD

ActiveHardware

Xbox

MaINTosh

News Search

ANet Chats

The Lobby

Special Events Room

Developer's Lounge

XBox Chat

FAQ's

Windows 98/98 SE

Windows 2000

Windows Me

Windows "Whistler" XP

Windows CE

Internet Explorer 6

Internet Explorer 5

Xbox

DirectX

DVD's

TopTechTips

Registry Tips

Windows 95/98

Windows 2000

Internet Explorer 4

Internet Explorer 5

Windows NT Tips

Program Tips

Easter Eggs

Hardware

DVD

Latest Reviews

Applications

Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Norton SystemWorks 2002

Hardware

Intel Personal Audio Player 3000

Microsoft Wireless IntelliMouse Explorer

Site News/Info

About This Site

Affiliates

ANet Forums

Default Home Page

Link To Us

Links

Member Pages

Site Search

Awards

Credits
�1997/2004, Active Network. All Rights Reserved.
Layout & Design by Designer Dream. Content written by the Active Network team. Please click here for full terms of use and restrictions or read our Privacy Statement.

Toshiba's Zune-branded player made public

Time: 10:10 EST/15:10 GMT | News Source: The Register | Posted By: Byron Hinson

The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a Toshiba-made digital media player that look exactly like the pics that have surfaced of Microsoft's Zune gadget. The test filing confirms the device comes pre-loaded with an 802.11b/g wireless network adaptor - and clearly show the Zune logo.

toshiba's fcc-tested zune player
Look familiar?

Write Comment
Return to News

Displaying 1 through 25 of 535
Last | Next

The time now is 4:48:30 PM ET.
Any comment problems? E-mail us

#1 By 7746 (212.187.76.11) at 8/25/2006 11:22:32 AM

Can't they ask APPLE to do some design of the ZUNE ;-)
Looks cheap this way.

#2 By 7760 (12.155.143.50) at 8/25/2006 5:11:05 PM

Uh, xavalon, the iPod looks cheap, too. It's just that the masses have been brainwashed to think it looks cool and is the bee's knees. If Zune manufacturers don't want their devices to look cheap, they need to make them look different than the iPod, not similar. They can start with canning the toliet seat white color that makes iPods look more like a bathroom accessories than tech gadgets.

This post was edited by Osprey on Friday, August 25, 2006 at 17:11.

#3 By 12071 (124.168.25.204) at 8/26/2006 2:55:31 AM

#2 How were the masses brainwashed and by whom? This just looks like iPod's imbred cousin - larger screen (good thing), smaller "wheel" (bad thing for those with larger fingers) and that hideous black border around it all.

#4 By 3 (62.253.128.15) at 8/26/2006 4:28:48 AM

#2 - As #3 said, no one was brainwashed into buying one originally, it was just a better design than any other on the market and it still is, yes its become a "fashion icon", but it was selling well before that happened. Making an MP3 player look good right now is the only way any company will be able to compete in the market, adding things like Wireless net etc isn't going to move people away from the ipod im afraid and this just looks poor.

#5 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 8/26/2006 8:58:00 AM

I think this image does not represent the final product's design at all.

I assess it as very premature to make any assumptions about what the new/final product will look like, or how it will ultimately work.

I reason Microsoft and its partners, especially Toshiba, will commit to a very long term effort that services rapidly evolving market needs and that much of what the iPod captured in the way of interest, is now largely irrelevant. I suspect, that like the age of disco, and similar trends, that the iPod will soon suffer a backlash of negative opinion - it may be just too cute, and certainly my opinion, but I just get sick at my stomach when I pass any bloated iPod section in any store - all that smooth white plastic... GAK! Like "streamlining" in the 20's and "mod molded" plastic in the 60's and early 70's, the iPod will also pass - and thank God!

I've never for the life of me... understood the drool over Apple's designs??? I so miss "The Woz" - I wish he'd never been hurt in that accident - it might all have been so different - truly different.

What "Zune" will become is going to be so cool - a very personal device that will give new life to the PDA - oh those lovely little "Pads" the Star Trek crew passes about - ya'll just don't seem to get it and neither does Apple. I cannot wait to see the SDK for it and hooks into the compact .NET Framework! What a fun environment to develop for.... and don't surprised when MS and Toshiba merge, either - I'd bet a good chunk we'll see that in coming years and with it, among the most powerful and [forgive me] "innovative" companies around.

MS - well... they are just so smart.... let others develop markets ... and then they step in and commit to drive it so much farther forward.

#4, I think it is all about content and anti-trendy sentiments that course through so many people - all trying to be so different by being exactly like everyone esle.

This post was edited by lketchum on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 09:11.

#6 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 8/26/2006 3:43:17 PM

byron doesnt like another microsoft product. News at 11.

#7 By 3 (62.253.128.15) at 8/26/2006 5:34:07 PM

#6 - news at 12, no one here likes criticism of a microsoft product.

I don't remember saying I don't like it, I haven't used it, I don't like the "look" of it, understand that part now ;o) I take it you love it as its a Microsoft product, yet you haven't used it? But hey, that would just contradict anything you said.

I like the Creative Zen Vision M over the ipod, that easier to understand too? But even that looks ugly compared to the ipod in my opinion. The best looking MP3 player overall to me is the Sony Walkman, but the software that ships with is dire and thats a big reason it failed.

Sorry though, while I love MS software and most hardware, I don't like anything they have done to push Video or MP3 via portables, remember how much everyone here said the Portable Media Centers would be, look how they turned out in the end, that time it was excellent software but bloody awful over priced hardware.

Then again I can't see how you can call it a Microsoft product if Toshiba are making it, but thats probably a good thing compared to the failed attempts that have gone before it.

This post was edited by Byron_Hinson[AW] on Saturday, August 26, 2006 at 17:37.

#8 By 116 (66.69.252.98) at 8/28/2006 4:42:36 PM

I'll be the first to bash byron when he says something I don't like, however in this case he is right. iPod kills this thing, its basically dead in the water. Interface could be way better but the "look" of this thing blows. MS has done some good interface / industrial design with the 360 lets hope this isn't the final design. Apple has done a killer job on the iPod and it will take a really special product to unseat them. I would buy an iPod today if it played WMA's and worked with Windows Media Player natively.

#9 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 8/29/2006 4:57:57 AM

my dear predictable byron...

> I can't see how you can call it a Microsoft product if Toshiba are making it

What world do you live in? Most modern gadgets are built by contract companies, ipod included. Xbox is built by flextronics and a couple others. My phone is made by HTC, but their name isn't on the hardware itself. Are you familiar with how business works? Do you think Palm has manufacturing facilities? Get out of the 80s man.

> this just looks poor

aka... "i don't like it". Enough with your word play. Your intent was clear. And now your intend (to retreat) is even clearer.

> I take it you love it as its a Microsoft product, yet you haven't used it? But hey, that would just contradict anything you said.

And you accuse me of putting words in YOUR mouth? Where did I express ANY opinion on it? Answer: I didn't. How could I, considering no one outside a few hundred people have even seen the device. I'll reserve judgement... which coindidentally is something you might consider doing yourself.

now pretend you never saw this reply, and close your browser.

#10 By 3 (62.253.128.15) at 8/29/2006 10:25:07 AM

> I can't see how you can call it a Microsoft product if Toshiba are making it

>>What world do you live in? Most modern gadgets are built by contract companies, ipod included. Xbox is built by flextronics and a couple others. My phone is made by HTC, but their name isn't on the hardware itself. Are you familiar with how business works? Do you think Palm has manufacturing facilities? Get out of the 80s man.

Look into it a bit more, the device itself is basically an OEM toshiba Gigabeat with Microsoft software on top of it. As has been stated, Microsoft contracted it out to Toshiba to get it rushed out for Christmas, other future models are being made (thankfully) in-house. Most Microsoft hardware designs are done in-house, this design wasn't. Hopefully that makes it clearer.

Oh and looks poor means, it looks poor, the look of it is poor, the design of it is poor, I wouldn't think of it as a stylish MP3 player. That doesn't mean I don't like it as I haven't used it, as I said, the Zen Vision M looks poor, but its the best music player out. The ipod looks great, but in my view, while its a great music player, its fail rate is high and I'd never buy one again.

Everyone is entitled to say what they think about the look of a device and how poorly a company has done in the field before. But not once have I or will I say that I don't like it until I've used it, now breath in and breath out.

This post was edited by Byron_Hinson[AW] on Tuesday, August 29, 2006 at 10:26.

#11 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 8/30/2006 1:02:23 AM

i'm glad we see eye to eye.

#12 By 821588 (120.32.144.65) at 9/4/2012 9:49:08 PM