Report: Microsoft to announce flash-based Zune on Tuesday

Update 5:30 p.m. PDT: Microsoft plans to announce the second generation of Zune digital music players on Tuesday, according to a source close to the company.

Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is supposed to take part in the formal announcement of the new music player, the Web site BetaNews reported on Monday. A source with knowledge of the announcement confirmed the report when contacted by CNET News.com.

The upcoming player, which will be available in November, will be the first Zune to feature flash-based memory, BetaNews reported.

The site also said Zune's flash-based players will measure 3 inches by 1.25 inches and the device will look very similar to the iPod Nano.

A Microsoft spokesman did not immediately reply to an interview request.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Now that's ironic

Apple discontinues the most popular iPod of their lineup- the tall and skinny Nano and replaces it with the 'fatboy' version, short, wide, and doesn't fit in a pocket well. People complain that is more prone to screen damage and simply isn't as good as the tall and skinny prior model...<br /><br />...which Apple promptly pulled from the market when the new unit was available.<br /><br />Now Microsoft, late to the party, is introducing a model that fills the space the missing Nano is leaving. <br /><br />I don't think it will make much of a difference, but it is curious to see one company mimicking another just as Apple discontinues their most popular iPod model.<br /><br />I just don't get it. Why would Apple do it? Why would Microsoft continue the silly line known as the Zune? It's clear from sales that the Zune isn't something the public really wants. They want the product- that Apple just discontinued and replaced with the fatboy.<br /><br />Um... huh?

[aka_tripleB]

The public hasn't shunned the Zune

It doesn't sell nearly as well as the iPod, but you Apple fanboys need to give the Zune a lot more credit than you do. It's quite a solid (I even mean that quite literally), and there hasn't been many complaints from people who actually have bought the player. You might find some features silly, but what the Zune does do, it does it well.

[Thomas, David]

Ironic, Maybe

But not in the way you think.<br /><br />Those new iPod nano(s) are selling extremely well. According to my friends in three <br />different states (Wa., Ga., and Fl.) they are very popular, and the stores there are <br />moving them faster than the other iPods.<br /><br />I was bummed when they discontinued the original mini. So were a lot of other <br />people. However, the newer models became a desired choice when they brought <br />back the aluminum body. I played with the new nano, while at a store recently, and <br />quite frankly I wanted one. The so-called "fatboy" is deceivingly thin ... very thin. The <br />nickname is simply not deserved.<br /><br />But you are right about the irony. A giant, walking in the footsteps of David.

[rapier1]

Why continue?

Because in some number of years they expect to make a profit. MS <br />has a tendency to relase some very poor initial products but they <br />continuously work at them until they end up being, if not market <br />leaders, serious contenders. MS has very deep pockets and an <br />uncommonly long point of view.

[okbdc]

zune

I had no idea the zune was still being made. I have never seen one <br />being used out side an electronics department.

[drogro]

one small step...

Flash might help get more visibility- enough to push the number of <br />users past 1 mil. However, with 100 million ipods out there, is <br />flash really gonna do it?<br /><br />Paradigm shifts aren't MS specialty, but that's what's needed. Dont <br />think this is going to be another netscape vs. explorer situation <br />since you can't bundle a zune with every Dell.

[animez]

not quite 100 million

I love how people throw around that 100M number. 100M sold is not 100M "out there". I know at least 3 people who have had 2 or more ipods die on them.

[Kwasiowusu]

Zune sales exceeded 1 million months ago

"Flash might help get more visibility- enough to push the number of users past 1 mil "<br /><br />Ummm..the Zune already sold 1.2 million..for the end of June..and that was even before the big price cuts in July.<br />The Zune has ben selling much faster since the big price cuts recently

[pilaa]

Aaahhhh but why couldn't they??

Microsoft is very good at giving things away to win market share. If they were smart, they would do the same with the Zune or sell it so cheap people would not be able to resist it and then get them to their music site to sell music and other high margin items. It worked with the XBOX and look where it is now... I suprised I am the only one thinking this... Maybe I should be working at Microsoft!

[MaLvaDo39]

Me too! Me too!

Microsoft, go away already!<br />Your "me too" products reek of desperation.

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

Now You Can Squirt your Friends in a Flash!

Do you think Ballmer and Gates will whip out their new flash Zunes and squirt each other even faster now?

[Xenu7-214951314497503184010868]

How to end your sex life

Step 1. Buy a Zune.<br /><br />Step 2. Show it to a prospective partner.<br /><br />Step 3. Offer to "squirt" them a song.<br /><br />Step 4. Join a monastery or convent.

[Fat Drunk and Stupid]

This Wreaks Of Fail

When I think of Zune I think of cumbersome DRM, not music.<br /><br />When I think of a Zune the size of an IPod Nano I think of cumbersome DRM, not music.<br /><br />This is going nowhere.

[blsith]

Thinking of DRM

When you think about iTunes you don't think about DRM, but you do when you think about Zune? Both players will play MP3's. <br /><br />Go back to Apple's 1st gen iPod, that got less than lackluster reviews and only worked when connected via FireWire to an apple computer, or through a cumbersome interface to MusicMatch.<br /><br />The fact that the iPod still uses FAT32 for it's windows load is a pile, and means that you have 50% of the drive you could have on the HD versions. Then again, they are pushing everything to flash, with the touch and the new nano. The jukebox version (aka HD versions) are linked to a single PC only, even though you can license up to 5 machines to get iTunes music to.<br /><br />When I think of Apple I often think of crippled against non-conformist use. I'd love my 5th gen to be a backup device of my music such that if I have my primary HD crash I can restore it. But to do that costs me money for a program that will read the HD and re-import the songs.

[rcrusoe]

I've never seen a Zune in the wild

which says to me there are not a lot of them in use.<br /><br />Or their owners are too embarrassed to tell people they own one.<br /><br />Or both.

[Lee in San Diego]

To be fair

I usually only see ear buds. Whatever device they may using is <br />usually in some sort of case or holder and it can be difficult to <br />discern the model. However, when I do see the device, or more <br />often just the scroll wheel, it is almost always an iPod.

[Lee in San Diego]

Cassette player

I just came back from my morning walk and came across an old <br />Filipino guy holding a '70s era cassette player up to his ear as he <br />was walking. It sounded like he was listening to Benny Goodman or <br />some other big band, and he looked quite content.

[PostNoComments]

zzz Zune

I assume the Zune Touch will be released for the 2009 holidays. <br />Meh.

[ukukwi]

I own one...

While I know I'm not the only Zune owner in the wild, I may be the only one that will admit it.<br /><br />I like my Zune, but am first to admit it is no better or worse than any other MP3 player out there. <br /><br />I can tell from your comments that most of you have never used one - keep your uninformed opinions to yourselves.<br /><br />It's a good device with shortcomings. Just like the ipod or the iriver or the Sansa players it could be improved.<br /><br />I'm still waiting for support for video formats besides WMV - I may never get it. The wireless is useless, but battery life, video and music playback, the screen, and navigation couldn't be better or simpler.<br /><br />Zune Marketplace is weak, too.<br /><br />If I were to buy again, I wouldn't choose the Zune, but I wouldn't choose the iPod either. There are other players on the market that suit my needs better.

[Sparky650]

Ipod is thought of as a device type now...

I've found it odd that most people I've met in the "wild" call all daps an ipod. While out and about I've heard people call a various array of products I've used ipod even though I have never owned one. I would say my Gigabeat F (rockboxed) has been called an ipod at least 50 times. I've had the Vosonic 8360 called an ipod. I've even heard one refer to a pda I own as an ipod. <br /><br />Ipod name=Soda, or in the South any soft drink is a "coke".