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Microsoft Launches the Zune

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the zune-slayer-of-ipods-eater-of-souls dept.

Doug-W writes to mention an Engadget post about Microsoft's launch of the Zune. From the article: "Not a lot of surprises in the specs department, but they've confirmed the basics we've known for a while, like WiFi, 30GB of HDD, built-in FM, a 3-inch screen and the basic music, pictures and video playback. They also finally let slip the screen res -- an unsurprising QVGA -- and some better news on the codec front: the Zune supports h.264, MP3, AAC and WMA. As for ballyhoo, wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing is where the real action is at, and it works pretty much like we've been hearing: you can share a full-length track with a friend, and they've got three times to listen to it over a three day period, after which they can flag the song for purchase on the Zune Marketplace -- unless they're an unlimited 'Zune Pass' subscriber, of course."

3 of 472 comments (clear)

  1. Is it really a launch?? by Chanc_Gorkon · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Is this really a launch? Can they be purchased today?? No? Then this isn't really a launch then is it? I can order a new Nano and it will be here in a few days to a day. Zune's probably ain't going ot show up until November.....

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    Gorkman

  2. I imagine lots of people care by th3axe · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It may not be earthshaking news, but there's a lot of people who care - every person who owns MS stock. Microsoft has to keep pursuing new markets and Zune, like it or not, is one of their plays to get into a new market and keep the money flowing. (Of course, if they insist on losing money like they are with Xbox, that story may change.)

    Microsoft's markets are largely saturated and under increasing pressure from FOSS and other products. And that's not a good story to tell investors. Microsoft hasn't had a killer product for a while and it's a company that thrives on growth. They need new brands badly because the ones they have are aging, and old brands, while good in financial and insurance markets, are not so good in consumer and high tech markets.

    --
    "It's real and we can touch it, so least we know where we stand." - Jack Burton
  3. Re:This ought to be good! by shinma · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've never met anyone who thought that owning an iPod made them different, or bragged about their uniqueness because they had an iPod.

    I'd rather choose [insert object here] based on how well it performs the functions I require than whether or not "everyone else has one."

    It amazes me how image conscious geeks can be. A large subsection of geek culture will go to such extreme lengths just so that they can brag that they don't fit in. And then they complain because nobody understands them...

    It's ridiculous.

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    Shinma