Microsoft Launches the Zune

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."

Comments

How will...

[Anonymous Coward]

the brown Zune look with the blue screen of death?

Reality of "wireless sharing"

[Cybert4]

Here's a hint on all these ad-hoc wireless networks. We also have another ad-hoc wireless network. We call it air, and it can transmit vibrations from one person to another! Seriously, I've had my DS for awhile, and I've never suddenly found a person to play wireless with. Unless you have bells and whistles going off to indicate another person is around (and I'm not going to sit around at a "looking for" screen), it's a solitary thing.

And slapping on the usual DRM shackles won't change this. Most likely, make it much worse and harder to stick to the general public.

Available in black, white and... *BROWN*?

[payndz]

Brown? Seriously? It's meant to be a cutting-edge, fetishistic techno-gadget, and they offer it in fucking brown?

Steve Jobs: "Here's our new iPod Nano! It's available in black, white, silver and shiny green and pink!"
Steve Ballmer: "Oh yeah? Well, here's Zune! It's available in black, white and this stylish turd-brown!"
Steve Jobs: "Brown, huh? You got it in beige as well? Or tweed? How about a nice Argyle pattern?"
Steve Ballmer: "Fuck YOOOOOUUUU!" [throws chair]

Good ol' MS. Always as stylish and tasteful as ever.

Re:Available in black, white and... *BROWN*?

[alcmaeon]

When I hear the word "Brown," I always think of two things: Cleveland and shit. OK, I guess that was just one thing, but you get the point.

Is it really a launch??

[Chanc_Gorkon]

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.....

This ought to be good!

[NDPTAL85]

Alright you simply have to explain this one.

You'd rather give money to Microsoft over Apple.

All of Slashdot is pulling up a chair, make it a good one!

Re:This ought to be good!

[shinma]

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.

I imagine lots of people care

[th3axe]

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.

Re:what about sharing your own stuff?

[iroll]

I've got $20 that says only protected, purchased WMV's (or w/e they're called) will share. It's just a brazen way to drive people to purchase from the Zune store; they have no interest in sharing everything. Of course, they'll tell you that they only allow that kind of sharing to keep from "confusing" customers with shared files that can't be purchased. Thanks for the assistance, MS.

They've already hinted at it, saying that only "certain" files can be shared.

Re:The imporant question at M$

[flooey]

That, and the iPod is grossly overpriced. MS doesn't have a history of overpricing their consumer products, although Apple does. As long as it's reasonably priced, I'm getting one.

The rumored price is $300 for the 30 GB version. The 30 GB iPod is $250. So, pretty much, same pricing strategy.

Re:is it enough?

[Josh Coalson]

Somebody should mod that "interesting". I've been wondering for years why there aren't any hardware players that support Flac or OGG.

Who told you that? There are plenty:

FLAC players

Vorbis players