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ActiveWin.com: Microsoft Zune Product Fact Sheets and High Resolution Photos

Time: 15:10 EST/20:10 GMT | News Source: ActiveWin.com | Posted By: Jonathan Tigner

Here are high-resolution images of Microsoft's upcoming Zune digital media player and fact sheets covering the player and accessory packs.

Update: Zune video footage is available here. Click the play button to view each clip.

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#1 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 9/14/2006 3:40:39 PM

No prices for the music store.

Brown is downright ugly!

Nice display size though.

Not much in the way of specs.

TL

#2 By 1401 (69.27.196.125) at 9/14/2006 3:42:18 PM

I think they should change the name from Zune to Windows Live iPod...

#3 By 32132 (64.180.219.241) at 9/14/2006 3:57:32 PM

#2. Naaah. iPod's are passe.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1869042,00.html

"Industry-watchers warn that the iPod could soon be regarded by teenage cynics as their 'parents' player' because a mass-market product rarely equates with edgy fashionability. "

"Analysts warn that the iPod has passed its peak. From its launch five years ago its sales graph showed a consistent upward curve, culminating in a period around last Christmas that saw a record 14 million sold. But sales fell to 8.5 million in the following quarter, and down to 8.1 million in the most recent three-month period. Wall Street is reportedly starting to worry that the bubble will burst."

#4 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 9/14/2006 4:13:41 PM

Where would we be without input from the Anti-Apple :)

That said, the latest round of iPods underwhelm me. Where's the wireless? Where's the FM Radio? Where's the iTunes Subscription service (I will NOT purchase DRM'd Media). I have no problem with subscription services, and if iTunes would do it I'd drop the cheap, but awful software of the Yahoo Music Service in a heartbeat.

TL

#5 By 7754 (216.160.8.41) at 9/14/2006 4:37:38 PM

Windows Live iPod--hilarious! :)

Yeah, still short on details. I want to see one of these in person--the dual-color thing sounds intriguing, but they don't come across as lovely in those pictures. Obviously the display is simulated, otherwise they're using some crazy-high DPI display that would make even IBM's best monitors jealous.

The best thing about these, though, is that it appears they might support other music services as long as it will sync with WMP (it says it will import unprotected music from WMP and iTunes; does that mean it has its own client-side application and won't sync directly with WMP?). My hope is that it supports the WMA Lossless format--then I might finally buy a digital music player and music online. I'd prefer a flash version, though....

#6 By 3653 (68.52.143.149) at 9/14/2006 6:14:41 PM

bluvg, have you seen the video yet? nice transitions and the fm tuner thing is cool.

http://mobilitytoday.com/news/zune_video_upclose.html

#7 By 32132 (64.180.219.241) at 9/14/2006 10:51:42 PM

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/14/itunes-7-turning-out-to-have-major-glitches/

iTunes 7 is a buggy piece of cr*p.

"Specifically, users on Apple's web forums and our own tipsters are reporting that some new nanos aren't being recognized in Windows iTunes 7, music being played through iTunes 7 sounds "scratchy" at times, CoverFlow doesn't always entirely download properly, and there are allegations that iTunes 7 has become, slow, bloated, and a resource hog."

#8 By 23275 (68.17.42.38) at 9/14/2006 11:29:13 PM

#4, NotParker makes a good and relevant point about not so much a market trend, but a societal one - it happens slowly at first, but then catches and moves like wildfire... so quickly locals like "My Space" for example, become "Un-Cool" amongst young people. Perhaps it is "less cool" and more niche products take hold. I see this phenomena play out each day amongst our own kids - three are younger teens and three grown [early and late 20's].

I think Zune has a real chance as it is intended to be highly personalized - tied to Live this and Live that... which will emerge not as closed off activities, but examples of software that is very elastic and open - meaning, they are test beds for how software is to be built and delivered in the future and open to software from all over the world - tailored to suite the unique needs of each person.

So the brown Zune is for the few people that will just dig a device that looks like that and Zune is, as all MS products work to be, "platform components" - and again, its the software that matters most. MS builds hardware for very specific purposes - to drive markets and evolve the software and tools used to make them better - they did this with networking products, human interface devices and now with media and communications devices like the zune and their new HD web cameras and wireless headsets.

Zune is no different and there is a great deal more here than meets the eye - and once again, the risk is removed - as others have paid for the development and testing of new markets for them. While so many will scoff at them, one has to understand that Microsoft is a company - a public one - so Mr. Ballmer and Mr. Gates are doing what is responsible and proper.

That isn't anti-Apple, or anti-anything... it's just business responding to market trends driven by larger societal influences.... the whole "want, need, have..." mentality that is reflected in most buying decisions people make. Microsoft is doing its job here... leading and enabling as it services the market. NotParker get's that and speaks to it - and agree or not... one has to respect the passion reflected in his posts as much as one must respect Latch's posts - ironically, both of them are right at the same time.

#9 By 47914 (24.225.231.107) at 9/15/2006 11:45:58 AM

I, too refuse to purchase DRM'd media. Sad thing is, most younger folks don't even realize their copying rights are being limited.

#10 By 3 (62.253.128.15) at 9/16/2006 7:02:07 AM

I find it a shame they didn't announce the price point, but in saying that Apple caught them off guard with their new pricing and thats why Zune pricing is being changed. I really like the look of the Zune interface, but I have to say that the new 5G ipod has some very good features and is once again a good update to a good but prone to break, device.

#11 By 3 (62.253.128.15) at 9/16/2006 7:04:05 AM

#7 - yeah lets all forget about the millions of complaints people have made about WMP's bugs and faults ;o)

#12 By 37 (68.190.114.234) at 9/16/2006 10:20:44 AM

Other than only announcing a 30gb version at this time, it appears that the Zune beats out the iPod in almost every aspect. I find the following zune details appealing, and made my decision to get one when it's released.

1. FM Tuner
2. Wireless
3. Bigger 16:9 screen
4. Unprotected files including AAC
5. MS-DVR support
6. FAR superior interface
7. Integration with Microsoft Points/Zune Marketplace/Xbox 360 Marketplace can all be shared/transfered.
8. Song sharing which is good up to 3 days. You can purchase the song at any time in those 3 days as well to open the song and the next time it is sync'd, it is paid for.
9. Competitively priced
10. Hardware is Toshiba inside, which is a well known and trusted manufacturer of media hardware.

This post was edited by AWBrian on Wednesday, September 20, 2006 at 06:54.

#13 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 9/18/2006 1:49:53 PM

Sounds good, but I have a problem with #8.

If it's not drm on my player, MS has NO RIGHT to DRM it when sharing.

It's none of their damned business.

TL

#14 By 37 (67.37.29.142) at 9/20/2006 6:54:16 AM

Hey TechLarry, #8 is inaccurate. One of the Zune developers misspoke. Here is his retraction: Zune and DRM (or �My Bad; I mis-Blogged�)

I think I need to clarify how DRM works on Zune. As a company, we want to empower consumers to share music experiences, but recognize the need to place limits on the transfer of music files so that consumers are encouraged to try and buy music. You can sample full-length tracks that you receive from your friend up to 3 times in 3 days.

I misspoke (mis-blogged) on last week�s post. We don�t actually �wrap all songs up in DRM:� Zune to Zune Sharing doesn�t change the DRM on a song, and it doesn�t impose DRM restrictions on any files that are unprotected. If you have a song - say that you got �free and clear� - Zune to Zune Sharing won�t apply any DRM to that song. The 3-day/3-play limitation is built into the device, and it only applies on the Zune device: when you receive a song in your Inbox, the file remains unchanged. After 3 plays or 3 days, you can no longer play the song; however, you can still see a listing of the songs with the associated metadata.

So, to answer the direct question, Zune doesn�t have �viral DRM.� And mea culpa on telling everyone that we impose DRM.

Questions? Drop a comment.

Edit Tuesday 3:10 PM: Kirk at Medialoper - whose original articlesparkedalotofresponse has posted a new story w/ my correction - check it out.

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/ZuneInsiderBlog/~3/24148272/zune_and_drm_or.html

#15 By 4240821 (213.139.195.162) at 10/27/2023 1:34:01 AM