Will come with a feature that allows users to automatically sync their media via a WiFi network from their home PC to their Zune while its battery is charging.
Microsoft introduced three new models of its Zune digital media player last week that allows users towirelessly and automatically update their music, photos and videos when placed near their PC.
Apple has sold more than 100 million iPods since its 2001 launch.compared to Microsoft who has sold a mere 1.2 million.
The new Zunes will come in 4GB, 8GB, and 80GB models and all will come with a feature that allows users to automatically sync their media via a WiFi network from their home PC to their Zune while its battery is charging.
Microsoft also aims to tap the social-networking phenomenon with Zune Social, a Web site for users to display music they like, share playlists, and find friends with similar tastes.
The new devices, set to go on sale in mid-November, are equipped with a circular navigational pad that allows a user to both “flick” through options like on a touch screen or “click” through choices.
The 4-GB model will go on sale at $149, the 8-GB Zune will cost $199 and the 80-GB model will sell for $249. Those prices are the same as similar-sized iPods. Analysts say the next-generation Zunes are necessary to keep existing users happy, though the new devices are not enough to close the gap on Apple.
“The market share thing is the easy thing to discuss and write about, but it’s such a bad measure,” said J Allard, a Microsoft corporate vice president in charge of the Zune business. “Talk to me in six or seven years about market share. Talk to me this year about the experience we are creating.”
Microsoft’s top brass plans to provide Zune with a three- to four-year window to gain the necessary scale and reach to become a legitimate rival to Apple. The company has also said it does not expect Zune to post a profit in the short term.
“We are very committed to this space. There is a lot we can do,” Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder and chairman, told reporters at a briefing about the new Zune line-up.
Gates said ceding an early lead to rivals and closing the gap over time was a recurring theme in his company’s history, whether it was productivity software or PC operating systems.
“We think the same kind of thing in terms of persistence and innovation can apply in this connected entertainment area,” Gates said.
New Zunes will automatically import TV shows recorded to Microsoft’s Windows Media Center, built into most new Windows Vista operating systems. Zune Marketplace, a digital music store, only sells music videos and offers video podcasts free.
Microsoft also said it would add more than 1 million DRM-free MP3s onto Marketplace, declining to identify music labels it planned to work with on that.
These new zunes may be too little too late for Microsoft, but like Gates like has pointed out “…ceding an early lead to rivals and closing the gap over time was a recurring theme in his company’s history.” Deep pockets seem to win out every time.
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here they go again tryn really really hard to belong and sound like intelligent people when the truth is…M$uck is just tryin to make old things sound new…
If you ask me Microsoft is currently taking defensive measures against Apple. Why? Because the Ipod has brought Apple the funds and notoriety needed to start taking out Microsoft as the computer leader. If Apple plays its cards right it could start to take back some of its past glory. Personally I see apple with 30% of the computer market in the next 10 years most of which will be home users. But thats just speculation so I guess we will just have to wait and see.
It might just be me but Apple is crippling itself. It has the BEST operating system out by FAR. It should release it to average PC users. Although it can’t because it wouldn’t be a tailor made OS so it would be the same as Vista. But honestly.. the only one to point the finger at for Apple not being on top where they should be is Apple. If you want to game you’re stuck with OpenGL… and if you wanna upgrade or replace any computer parts you have to order them from Apple for much more then it costs retail. Apple will always be second best when it comes to computers until they remedy the problems they made for themselves. Honestly anyone making any type of technology can take the heap. Zune just needs more accessories. I wouldn’t buy my music from iTunes neway.
I don’t think Apple will take out anyone as the computer leader. They are more of a hardware or electronics company not so much a software company the software they do make like Itunes Safari for example are buggy. The only software Apply makes is really for its own hardware and electronics to help sell the hardware.
It is because I don’t like iTunes it crashes often has deleted music and podcasts once it accidentally deletes a podcast you can’t re download it. Which is why I am planning on getting one of the new zunes. I also don’t like how I have to press and hold the play button a couple of times before it shuts off.
Apple makes people pay ridiculous premiums on all their products lock in everything they can on their products and are really worse than MS. But they have a large fanboy base and good marketing that pretty much glosses over all the things Apple does bad. There is also a double standard in that its ok for Apple to have a monopoly with digital audio pla yers and to flame Microsoft really for competing with Apple.
At least with the Zune MS is updating the old players with new features and actual new features like wireless syncing rather than doing what Apple does and force you to buy a whole new pla yer to get a marginal updates with the biggest new feature is cover flow to view your music by the cover art picture which isn’t even that great.