Microsoft today launched their Zune player, the competitor to Apple's iPod. I blogged about the Zune in an early blogging post. The Zune comes with the following features:
WMA, MP3, AAC, JPEG,WMV, MPEG-4, H.264 media playback
Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g) connectivity
30 GB Hard Drive
3 inch video LCD 320x240
White, Black, and Brown Colors
FM Radio
Dedicated song download site zune.net
Podcast playback
Updateable Firmware
Tested 13 hr battery life for audio, 4 hr video
3 day playback of Wi-Fi transfered songs from friends
XBOX streaming
XBOX (Microsoft) points compatability
Preloaded music videos
Over a dozen accessories at launch
5.6 ounces in weight, 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.58 inches size
Metric: 158 g, 112 x 61 x 14.7 mm size
Custom background images
WiFi transfer of photographs
Tag based storage system (Will not appear as drive)
PC Compatability (no Mac client at launch)
Zune tag enabled
Horizontal and vertical video orientation
It's $249.99US, but it's not coming to Canada until next year. Don't expect Microsoft to make a bite out of the Apple iPod. But with Microsoft's muscle into entertainment and the digitally connected home with XBox360, Windows Media Edition, TabletPC, UltraMobilePC, they may be able to carve out a market in this space. As with all Microsoft launches, there's huge media and launch party, some pictures from the event are shown below from the Zune web site.
It's pretty funny, on the Zune web site, there's a Google ad for a free iPod! I guess, there's no context-aware ads yet, context awareness would say, hmm iPod competes with Zune, if the iPod is free, doesn't this go against buying a Microsoft Zune?
This is interesting also, a survey shows that many iPod users will buy a Zune? What kind of a poll is this?
A new survey conducted by ABI Research has shown that many prospective MP3 player buyers—even owners of iPods—would be likely to choose Microsoft's Zune player. 1725 teenage and adult US residents were asked whether they planned to buy an MP3 player in the next 12 months. Of those responding that they were likely to do so, 58% of those identifying themselves as existing iPod owners and 59% of those who owned other brands said they would be "somewhat likely" or "extremely likely" to choose a Microsoft Zune player over an iPod or another brand of MP3 player.
"..iPod users don't display the same passionate loyalty to iPods that Macintosh users have historically shown for their Apple products."
source ABI
So, the ultimate question, will GadgetMan buy one? I still haven't replaced my Palm Zire 71 yet, in fact, I've found out I don't use much of my Palm that I used to 2 years ago, just use it mostly for making appointments, for synchronizing contacts, and reading the Bible. And also, the occasional camera shot if I feel like it. So, I don't see myself buying one anytime soon.
On Technorati: Zune
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