Microsoft

from engadget.com

When will the madness end? While Microsoft ponders the future of its Zune line (free Zunes? We vote yes!), the whole "what mysterious color might we release the Zune in next?" song and dance is keeping us occupied surprisingly well. Apparently the next flavor to hit the shelves, after that fashionista-fave pink version hits on May 1st, is "watermelon red."

from applematters.com

Steve Ballmer recently said that the iPod and the Zune were pieces of software wherein the profit was realized by selling hardware. Which explains why Microsoft is so determined to take the iPod on. In the world of Microsoft there are two software categories: Software categories that Microsoft dominates and software Microsoft chooses not to make. So, if you’re Microsoft crushing the iPod isn’t so much a question of if, it just a question of when.

from ipodhacks.com

Do you wish you could rent your music collection? Microsoft is guessing you do. One of the big selling points of Microsoft's Zune media player is the subscription-based music service the Redmond giant will be pushing with the unit. While purchasing songs from Microsoft for $.99 per is an option, it's the subscription service that the company hopes will set Zune apart from the competition - namely, the iPod / iTunes Store. (Though others are not resting on their laurels.)

from Engadget.com

Sorry Microsoft, we think you have it backward. The killer app of having wireless in a portable media device isn't sharing DRMed files -- it's downloading music from a near infinitely large library no matter where you're at. That's why the MusicGremlin was and is so freaking cool. All the music, none of the bother with PCs. So to find out the Zune won't even match that device in terms of use for wireless is a little disappointing, to say the least. Granted this above is with regard to the feature list for launch (and Microsoft doesn't claim the Zune is feature-complete), so we can probably assume that we'll be expected to hold out for later Zune firmware releases where actually useful wireless capabilities will be added.

from ilounge.com

Microsoft has finally announced pricing and a release date for its much-hyped Zune media player. The company said it will charge $249.99 for the device—essentially the same as Apple’s 30GB iPod, which retails for $249. Microsoft will launch both the Zune and its companion digital music service on November 14th. The Zune music service will charge 99 cents for individual songs and $14.99 per month for a subscription service. Scott Erickson, senior director of product management for Zune, admitted that the Zune player will not make money for Microsoft immediately. “In total we won’t be making a profit this year, but we will of course work toward becoming a profitable business in the future,” he said.

from ilounge.com

9/15/06 Apple’s pricing on the updated fifth-generation iPods has caused Microsoft to rethink the price point for its Zune media player, according to one analyst. “Microsoft formally announced its Zune portable media player, with specs in-line with Toshiba FCC filings. However, pricing and timing were not revealed likely because our sources indicate that Apple’s aggressive pricing at $249 for its new 30GB iPod took Microsoft by surprise,” American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu said in a research note.

As expected, Microsoft is busting out the Zune today, and we've got the rundown. 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.
Read more.

from ilounge.com

f you’re willing to believe all the Zune “rumor and speculation” out there, part of Microsoft’s plan to convert the iPod-loving masses is “free music:” the company has already confirmed that it will pre-load music videos from at least three bands onto the Zune players planned for November of this year, and persistent chatter suggests that the company wants to let iTunes Music Store customers re-download all of their Apple-encrypted tracks in a Zune-compatible format, at no charge.

As I was posting news last week, I found some things that just didn't fit in the "news" category, but I thought were interesting just the same.

The first was this iPod packaging parody video that hit the net last month on YouTube. It has since been removed from that site, but can now be found on Google Video . It pokes fun at Microsoft's tendency toward clutter by imagining how the company would have designed the box for the original iPod.

From ipodhacks.com

At long last, Microsoft's much heralded Zune "iPod killer" device has been spotted. A rare prototype photo has surfaced, revealing the device and the clearly apparent manner in which it seamlessly integrates with Windows and offers the Windows faithful so very familiar an interface. A marvel of engineering, true. 

From iPodhacks.com

Microsoft has confirmed the existence of Zune, its hardware and software effort to steal the digital music player throne out from under Apple. As reported by Gizmodo, Billboard magazine will be running an in-depth interview with Microsoft next week that lays out all the details surrounding this effort from the Redmond giant to bury the iPod.

Some early details from the upcoming interview:

From iLounge

Apple could once again tap Synaptics to provide the touch-sensor components for the iPod’s click wheel. Cowen and Company said Synaptics will likely receive a “meaningful but minority role” as a supplier to Apple as early as the first quarter of 2007.

In his latest Wired News column, Eliot Van Buskirk says that Microsoft’s Zune player is doomed. “Prior to Friday’s announcement, some were calling the new device the ‘mPod’ (Microsoft + iPod) killer.

From iLounge

After offering confirmation of recent reports that Microsoft will release an iPod-competitive media player called Zune , representatives of iPod accessory manufacturers have disclosed to iLounge that the Redmond, Washington-based company has contacted them regarding potential accessory licensing and compatibility plans for the device, similar to Apple’s Made For iPod program. Like all current iPods except for the iPod shuffle, Zune will feature a proprietary expansion port that Microsoft will allow companies to accessorize at a lower rate than the Made For iPod program, and one which a source suggests will likely lead to widespread iPod industry third-party support for the new device.

From iLounge

As part of the launch for its forthcoming iPod rival , Microsoft reportedly plans to give consumers free, compatible versions of songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store. The ploy would allow music fans to make the switch from the iPod and iTunes to the Microsoft player and Windows Media-based online store without losing previously purchased music. “This way you won’t have to pay twice for your music, which is a huge barrier for Microsoft to attract users to their service,” Gizmodo reports. “If you’ve got $1000 worth of music in your iPod, why would you change to something that required you to buy it all again? This move makes sense.” Also, like the recently announced MusicGremlin device, Microsoft’s offering is said to let device owners wirelessly connect to another owner’s player and share music. Meanwhile, Microsoft remains coy. “The stories you are seeing are based on speculation and rumors and, as such, we didn’t participate,” Microsoft said in a statement. “We don’t have anything to announce at this time.”

By Larry Angell
Senior Editor, iLounge

Bloomberg News has uncovered new details of Microsoft’s forthcoming iPod rival and iTunes Music Store clone. The Microsoft-branded portable music and video player will reportedly be out by Christmas, featuring a wireless Internet connection to download music without a computer. Bloomberg says the device is being developed under the supervision of Xbox executives Robbie Bach and J. Allard. In addition, Microsoft is said to have hired music industry executive Chris Stephenson to meet with music and Hollywood companies about licensing content for the Microsoft digital media store. Bloomberg says Microsoft has already met with EMI Group, Universal Music Group, NBC, Fox, and CBS.