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Topic: Microsoft

Zune is back!

Summary: ... but for how long?

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

By for Hardware 2.0 |

It seems that Microsoft might have prematurely pulled the plug on the Zune media player.

Earlier this week, this message appeared on the Zune support portal [emphasis added]:

We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players. So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices. Customer service has been, and will remain a top priority for us.

OK, seems clear enough. However, that page is now gone and Zune support on Twitter is claiming that the page was posted in error. Here's what Zune support told folks from WindowsPhoneDownUnder:

So, if little Johnny or Jane wanted a Zune for their birthday or from Santa, there's still time to get one.

Topics: Microsoft, Hardware, Mobility

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26 comments
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  • RE: Zune is back!

    Thanks for the link :) I still feel the error was the timing of the page going up - hard to accidentally write up a HTML web page ;)

    Cheers.
    Sheeds
    WPDownUnder.
    WPDownUnder
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Zune is back!

      @WPDownUnder

      " hard to accidentally write up a HTML web page"

      I know that major news publications prepare obituaries of famous people "well in advance".. like when they are quite healthy and the grim reaper is nowhere in sight. And they keep updating it as time goes by as everyone's time comes sooner or later any way!

      So, it is possible that Microsoft follows the same strategy for its products. You could still argue that it is only an error in timing :-)
      Constant Gadener
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Constant Gadener "We have ended production of Windows and MS Office. It is clear that Linux has won the OS battle and we see no reason to continue on."
        "Oops, disregard that message."
        Garrett Williams
        Reply Vote

  • RE: Zune is back!

    I'm considering buying a second HD... Best PMP I've ever had.
    The one and only, Cylon Centurion
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Zune is back!

      @Cylon Centurion
      I have to agree with that. Zune quality and sound is much higher than iTouch. I've owned both and no iPod can touch it. I never bought an mp3 player because everyone else did I buy the ones I do because I like them. First and foremost an mp3 player should best play music and play it well. Apple never had that in mind. I have to admit that the click wheel was a very nice invention and worked well. Every iPod I owned had one of two things happen. The click wheel stopped working or the hard drive died.
      chethammer
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @chethammer And obviously, from this post and most of your past post history, you pretty much dislike anything apple. While I like the Zune HD unit, I def. favour my Ipod over it, even though the ipod is much older than the zune.

        And I do feel the Zune doesn't get the credit it deserves at times, but like I just stated, if I had to get rid of one or the other, ...the Zune would be the first to go, IMHO.
        Rapid Rec
        Reply Vote

  • Master Joe Says...Great Device

    I own a Zune HD (got it shortly after it was released), and it is a great piece of hardware. The screen brightness and clarity is amazing (better than the iPod Touch generation that was available at the same time the Zune HD was released), and it includes an HD radio. The ONLY thing the iPod Touch beat the Zune HD in was the variety and number of apps available for it, as well as that it had a camera on it (which really doesn't matter to most people looking for just a media player). Truth be told, I do love my Windows Phone (HTC Trophy now running 7.5). But, that doesn't mean I have forgotten my Zune HD or like it any less. I owned a plain old Zune before the HD came out, and I liked that too. The fact that people haven't really heard of a Zune and it wasn't really marketed is probably why it never really gained much success. For me, it was a great device, and it still is, even without having a new version released.

    --Master Joe
    SteelCityPC
    Reply Vote

    • RE: Zune is back!

      @MasterJoe I believe that people do not want Microsoft as the master of their digital lives. This is why the Zune never took off. Remember the [Brown is the new black] campaign? Windows mobile OS faces the same situation, but this is the second version of it. The first attempt failed spectacularly (Kin), so it was renamed, and a few features were added. This is typical behavior from Microsoft. It happened with their OS (7 is just a rerelease, of Vista, with a few tweaks).
      Rick_Kl
      Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Rick_Kl WRONG. Do your homework.
        apetti
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Rick_Kl Windows mobile existed since 2001 if I remember, that was the first real touchscreen smartphone. Kin was a a project that helped the current Windows phone. Windows phone is arguably among the top 2 OS in terms of user experience. The other is iphone. For me the question is do I go with apple tax and buy an iphone or I go with windows phone get a great OS and pay a reasonable price. I don't tend to need to re-install my OS every so often so android is out of the questions (and for the malware it has as well).
        panoslondon1
        Reply Vote

      • Ah, classy Apple fans

        You are all the same.
        toddybottom
        Reply Vote

      • I believe you're look at excuses again.

        @Rick_Kl
        Look, I understand the fact that you don't want anybody or anything to overtake your beloved Apple products, but the truth is your "reasons" for failures of this or that are imaginary at best.

        But then again, I guess Apple's Mac line is only in single digits due largely that people do not want Apple as the master of their digital lives, which would explain why they never took off like Windows has.
        William Farrell
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Rick_Kl

        Apple's been doing the same thing for years! OS X Lion? Yeah, like that isn't a minor tweak of an OS first released over 10 years ago!

        Go spread your poo elesewhere. Microsoft was never the problem. I know of a few folks who owned Zunes and who now own Windows Phones. They love em.
        The one and only, Cylon Centurion
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @William Farrell the truth certainly escapes your recognition. Microsoft rode the wave of IBMs dominance. The old saying it you never got fired for buying IBM. What was the OS on those IBM machines? MS DOS. To say people went out and specifically bought machines because MS DOS was that great, is a fallacy. They bought machines that were similar tot he ones at work. At the time the computers cost as much as an Apple machine, but that was before the great race to the bottom. This is why we constantly hear that Apple makes overpriced hardware. Even though a similarly configured computer, using LKQ* parts cost just as much as a Mac. It is the fact that you could buy a Walmart level of quality, for a Walmart price, that generated Microsofts success. I cannot tell you how many hours are lost every year due to these bargain bin PoS machines. Imagine if all the OEMs had fought it out on quality, rather than price? Just imagine all the BSoD, and other problems with Windows, that would have never existed. The old saying is true, you cannot have your cake and eat it too.

        *Like, Kind, and Quality

        @Cylon Centurion when you replace the core of the OS it actually qualifies as a new OS. Windows 7 uses the same core originally found in Windows NT, so we should just agree to disagree. As far as zune owners that bought Windows phones, that actually makes sense, as they can use the same music and apps on both. Like anyone that owns an iPod, could naturally make the transition to an iPhone. As far as spreading poo, nothing could be further from the truth. The zune was a last ditch effort to wrest control of the digital music sector away from Apple. The problem was, it was not compelling enough to sway enough people. Then there was its other major problem, it only works with Windows. So for some the purchase price is significantly higher than a similar iPod. How is that poo?
        Rick_Kl
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Rick_Kl

        "I cannot tell you how many hours are lost every year due to these bargain bin PoS machines."

        At least this creates jobs for techs like me, and make a living doing it. Thank you MS and OEMs
        mike2k
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Rick_Kl [b]Windows mobile OS faces the same situation, but this is the second version of it. The first attempt failed spectacularly (Kin), so it was renamed, and a few features were added.[/b]

        Not exactly. Kin and WP7 OS were not the same thing.
        athynz
        Reply Vote

      • And talk about excuses...

        [i]Look, I understand the fact that you don't want anybody or anything to overtake your beloved Apple products, but the truth is your "reasons" for failures of this or that are imaginary at best.[/i]

        Well then why don't you give us your list of reasons why it failed? Or can't you come up with any?

        Lame excuses, maybe? ;)

        [i]But then again, I guess Apple's Mac line is only in single digits due largely that people do not want Apple as the master of their digital lives, which would explain why they never took off like Windows has.[/i]

        Gee, do we really need to remind you why that is?

        lol...
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

      • Silence?

        Hmmm?
        ScorpioBlue
        Reply Vote

      • RE: Zune is back!

        @Rick_Kl
        7 is not just a rehash of Vista, it is probably the best OS made. So you think that Apple being the master of your digital life is actually better?
        chethammer
        Reply Vote

  • The Zune Windows app is great

    The Zune windows app is a good one. As a music player it's great and faster than Itune when adding songs to library from a folder and faster to index theses songs. The windows phone app is faster, cleaner and better looking than the Iphone music app. Zune is great for what it is.
    gbouchard99@...
    Reply Vote
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