Zune 2 to launch tomorrow?
Rumors are building in support of an upcoming announcement from Microsoft regarding a Zune update. All signs point to the company holding a last minute event sometime tomorrow to herald in the next generation of the their portable media player. The Zune 2 has apparently been in the works for a while, and there’s a good chance that the company will drop a flash-based "Zune Mini" to compete with many of the smaller devices on the market, including Apple’s iPod Nano. Microsoft will also refresh the regular Zune, though it’s not clear just what updates / changes are to be expected. Will the new devices be enough to court prospective customers away from Apple’s recently refreshed iPod line? Judging from the history of the original Zune, we’d guess not, but we’ve been surprised before.
We’ll I haven’t read of this anywhere but here…oh, there is a preview function now when I type…nice!…;-)
Anyways, the Zune has needed an update since day one. It’s a product that could be really great, but so far hasn’t had much done with it.
So if the iPhone is the “Jesus phone” is this the “Judas phone”?
I wonder what will make this so special than the first zune?
Umm and who cares? Haha, just playing Josh, but seriously who even cares about the zune any more? Its just another one of the millions of just “So So” MP3 players. Companies need to start thinking outside the box, i.e., something that will give them unique and different products, something that gives them that competitive edge over the other thousands of products that companies try to get us to swap our beloved cash for..
In apples case, the novel idea was a huge touch screen and a nice flashy interface to go along with it, or originally that scroll wheel.
What does the zune have thats so different? Nothing! What? that lame file sharing network? Thats such a crippled feature you really can set it to good use. Try REAL WiFi so you can stream music from online radio stations, or so you can buy songs directly off the device and then sync it up with your computer (Apples newest iPhone/Touch feature). But these ideas are already too old, they need to be fresh. I guess apple just got there first. Hence the huge market share that apple possesses.
Good luck Microsoft! Your going to need it!
Sd card slots altghowh if ms mad aphone you could unlock wasn’t crippled. Ran linux or winmo 6 and feature set simmaller to the N95 with wifi apple would squirm.
Hey guys, do you hear that? Yea, sorry Microsoft but that’s the sound of nobody caring.
Microsoft would have to have one HELL of a product to put out, but given some of Apple’s recent mis-steps, with the right marketing they could cause some iPod owners to switch. A rebelous attitude can do wonders when directed properly. Of course, this is Microsoft we’re talking about here……..
I would buy a Zune over an iPod anyday. I would buy anything over an iPod.
Nino
I’m sure the twelve people who expressed interest in Zune 1, half of whom actually bought one are all aflutter about Zune 2. I for one am waiting for the all powerful iPod killer, Zune XVIII.
All of you can wait forever…I do not see anything replacing the iPod in the near future. I will take the iPod over just about any other MP3 player. I have owned a few. They are all in the trash. iPod has replaced them all.
iPods are overrated IMO. My iRiver 20GB i bought about 3 years ago works great still and its very easy to just drag and drop songs. at the time I bought it, it was $100 less than the iPod. I have great equalizer controls on it too.
Nino
I would buy a Zune over an iPod anyday
Too bad for M$ only you and 3 other people think that way. Talk about trying to polish a turd. I predict this will sell no better then the original.
thats your opinion. I dont like much apple products havent had good experiences with them. the new ipod classic was very laggy when i was testing it out at best buy and the sad part was that it barely had any songs on it. I can’t imagine how laggy it would be with lots of songs on it. the ipod touch was very unresponsive when i used it. Took multiple touches for it response. Basically what it looks like every Zune or iPod discussion turns into is Apple Fanboy vs. Apple hater.
if the iPod works for you Great. If the Zune works for you Great.
Nino
I agree with Nino. if the ipod works for you, then great. If the Zune works for you then thats great too. I personally dont understand why people cant take a great product for what it is instead of passing it of instantly because it is made by a certain brand. The new ipods are GREAT, they work wonderfully and are aesthetically appealing. The new Zune looks amazing as well, and if it is competitively priced(249) and it has a 80 gig hard drive, then it will definatly sell, especially because of the extra features the Zune offers. Lets just all get along, i know its hard not to be a fanboy when there are great companies like Microsoft an Apple, but they both put out great products and i think everyone should recognize that.
Awesome, I wonder if it will be any good :/
@ joeylang
finally someone who gets what I’m saying. I don’t mind a good debate over products or anything for that matter but when these debates get to senseless comments and pointless post trying to 1up someone, then its not a debate it’s child play.
Nino
when I first heard about the features in the Zune 1, I thought this will finally dethrone Apple but MS totally screwed up. The overall design was great except for the size, its ginormous! How do u expect to win people over if everyone else and your biggest competitor is going small? Not even mentioning the constant crashes and freezes. I hope MS finally wakeup make this 2nd gen a real device to compete. I thought the 1st gen was obsolete the minute it was released. I will be the other 4 or 5 people to buy one if its as good and nice looking as Apple’s but with more and better features.
What makes a Zune stand out from other mp3 players?
I haven’t had much experience with one, so I’m just wondering.
lag while playing with one at Best Buy? Nino, do you really make your judgements from a few minutes with floor model demo’s? Honestly, they are very good prducts with simple navigation. To each their own but i dont see anything touching ipods for quite a while.
Sorry, but the proof is in the pudding. Zune sales were a flop compared to ipod sales. I have seen nothing that will convince me that the second coming will be any better. M$ is about as cool as a summers day in the tropics.
I did take a look at the original zune and I will take a look at the new zune also. I agree with you Nino that if one or the other works for you then great. For me when I made the decision on ipod over zune, it came down to which one was easier to use. For me the ipod won hands down.
I will say the leaked shots do look better, but IMO thats because they look more like an ipod. For me the zune’s interface was the worst part, dont see that changing too much, I mean look at the M$ windows interface, how long has it been since they overhauled that.
@ Dtest5477
I dont make my only judgment off of what I saw at Best Buy on a floor model. I was disappointed with the floor model though. Like I said I havent had good experiences with Apple Products so I look else where. If I find an Apple product that I like then I’ll buy it. I never said Apple products were crap and not any good. I just personally don’t like them. I was really happy to see a 160gb model b/c I would love to have a large hard drive mp3 player. I was disappointed in the initial viewing of it. It wasn’t a good first impression of what I thought was going to be really good new generation. Maybe I expected too much.
Nino
My Mom has a Zune, My brother has an iPod… I just use my Moto Z3. If I were to choose between the Zune and iPod it would be simply iTunes vs. Zune Marketplace. I already have Zune player on my PC so I can stream to my xbox 360 and I perfer it over WMP 11 and when I want to purchase onesie twosie songs here and there instead of the whole album I can use my XBLM points. Otherwise I just go to the store and buy the CD and rip it to my PC.
P.S. then again I did just get a free Bob Dylan song at Starbucks for iTunes this morning… Hmmm
Maybe I will get an iPod and iTunes.