Yet Another Media Player Plans to Take on the Leader

August 20, 2009

New York Times

By Stephen Williams

August 19, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/technology/personaltech/20zune.html?scp=3&sq=microsoft&st=nyt

How many times have you read this on a gadget blog:

“On (insert date here), the (insert company name here) plans to launch its new (insert device name) to compete with Apple’s iPod.”

Well, on Sept. 15, Microsoft plans to launch its new Zune HD portable media player and … you finish the sentence.

But Zune HD is one package that could actually take the fight to Apple’s iPod Touch.

Microsoft’s Zune HD has a built-in HD radio tuner, an OLED touch screen, Wi-Fi connectivity and a price that undercuts just about all of the competition: $220 for a 16GB version in black and $290 for the 32GB “platinum” edition.

The 8GB iPod Touch costs $229.

Other nifty stuff includes built-in Internet Explorer Web browser, an accelerometer and a touch-screen keyboard. The media players will be available in five colors.

The Zune will output 720p high-definition videos if you buy a dock. Expect Microsoft to bolster content available on the Zune Marketplace Web site for movie and television show downloads, and to further integrate it with attractions like the popular Xbox Live Marketplace.


Zune HD in stores in September

August 17, 2009

Channel News Asia

The Zune HD, Microsoft’s rival to Apple’s iPod, will hit stores in September and cost 220 dollars for the 16-gigabyte model and 290 dollars for the 32GB version, the company announced on Thursday. The latest version of Microsoft’s portable digital media player can be pre-ordered from Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart and the Microsoft Store and will appear on shelves on September 15, the company said in a statement.


Microsoft taking pre-orders for next-gen Zune HD

August 14, 2009

Associated Press

Microsoft taking pre-orders for next-gen Zune HD

August 13, 2009

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TEC_MICROSOFT_NEW_ZUNE?SITE=ORPOR&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

 Microsoft Corp. said Thursday a new generation of its Zune music player will go on sale Sept. 15, but eager customers can pre-order the gadget online now.

 The Zune HD has a touch screen, built-in Wi-Fi and a Web browser, much like Apple Inc.’s iPod Touch. Zune users can stream and download music from Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace.

 Unlike Apple’s device, the Zune HD also has a built-in HD radio receiver.

 Zune HD is the company’s third line of the media player, but so far the Zune has attracted only a tiny slice of a digital media player market dominated by iPods.

 A 16-gigabyte model will sell for $220, and a 32-gigabyte Zune HD will be $290. A docking station for sending high-definition video from the gadget to an HD television will be sold separately.

 Microsoft is taking pre-orders now at http://www.zune.net/zunehd.


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