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Zune owners can act as their own DJ, sending streaming music content to up to four other devices, according to documents filed with the Federal Communications Commission . With the device's wireless networking abilities turned on, people can send and receive photos, as well as "promotional copies of songs, albums and playlists," according to the filing, made public Thursday.
Hardware maker Toshiba, which is manufacturing the Zune device, was the company that filed the FCC documents. The documents refer to the device and service alternately as Zune and by two code names, Argo and Pyxis.
A Microsoft representative confirmed that the filing is legitimate and that Toshiba will manufacture the Zune device, but declined to offer additional details or comment on the information in the FCC filing.
"More details about Zune will be announced in the coming weeks," the representative said in an e-mail.
Microsoft confirmed last month that it was developing a device and music service to rival Apple Computer's iTunes/iPod combination. The company had said Zune would have built-in Wi-Fi abilities, but had not yet said what it planned to allow users to do with their wireless connection.
The software maker said it will have one model available in time for this year's holiday season. It has also said it expects the Zune effort to take years and cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
As regards the DJ feature, people have the option of turning the feature on or off, as well as of choosing whether to stream to any nearby Zune user or only to people on their friends list. If the DJ setting is on, people don't need to do anything else to allow others to listen to their music. The music sent is the same as what the DJ is listening to; if they stop listening, the stream is interrupted.
According to the draft user manual, the device supports both the 802.11b and 802.11g wireless standards. It also has a 30GB hard drive, a 3-inch screen and an FM tuner, along with a USB 2.0 connection to synchronize with a PC. "Sync your music, movies and pictures," reads one page from the manual.
Microsoft has said that Zune will come preloaded with videos from record label EMI, but has not discussed the details of any music or movie service it plans to offer.
Regulatory filings, such as the one Toshiba made, are required before devices with wireless connections can be sold to the public.
Toshiba has long used Microsoft's software in its products, dating back to its first laptop in 1985. The company has also made portable media players and handheld computers using the slimmed-down Windows CE operating system.
Last year, the two companies inked a patent cross-licensing pact and also spoke at the time of working together on "new breakthrough innovations that will bring about new scenarios for years to come."
See more CNET content tagged:
Microsoft Zune, Microsoft Windows CE, Toshiba, music, Apple Computer
Boy, ain't that the truth. The market for iPod is probably topping out, there's no brand awareness of Zune and Apple dominates the market -
http://www.realmeme.com/roller/page/realmeme?entry=apple_ipod_vs_microsoft_zune
Run your own meme -
http://www.realmeme.com/Main/miner.jsp
Gigabeat?)
The Toshiba Gigabeat S sounds like a very nice player, so their apparent involvement in Zune is a hopeful sign.
Only problem I see is all that will consume so much power that it
will need a hugh battery or a long extension cord.
Kinda indicates it will be too be to carry in your pocket, doesn't it?
Which is the problem with most of the other iPod wannabes, that
no one buys.
No wqonder the music industry loves it. I see audio spam in the near future!
:~)
Zune looks very interesting.
MY PICTURES
MY VIDEOS
MY MUSIC
MY MOVIES
MY RADIO
MY OH MY just light years ahead of IPOD but with no wireless
While Apple tries to setup ITUNES for movies I will just use my gigabeat to downlaod movies from CinemaNow, MovieLink and Vongo
And there is absolutely no easier sync process then Toshiba+WM11 just plug it in and sync, no issues what so ever
IPOD sorry but you have already been stomped, its the same size as a IPOD and does way more, screen blows away Video IPOD and is bigger
Zune will great but MS camp in my book has already beat Apple with this product
http://tinyurl.com/mw4a7
The mistakes of Apples past hopefully will never happen again with Steven Jobs on the job.
IPod Video plays Videos easily, even DVD Movies.
Just DVD_Shrink it, and then convert to the proper video format, I have many of the DVDs that I legally bought on my iPod to view anytime I want.
But to be honest I didn't buy the IPod for it's Video capabilities, but for the Mp3, that's why it's called an Mp3 player. If I want a big screen, that's what the Laptop is for, just pop in the DVD and play away.
Typical Apple fool bias. I think the Steve Jobs Zombies are scared.
it as the clickwheel is an Apple patented innovation.
already? - Awww come on! LOL
held a Zune in their hands? Enough that it is circulating that it is
indeed clunky.
Same size as an iPod? You have to be kidding yourself if you
believe that. Go play with a Gigabeat, on which it is supposedly
based, and then tell me it is the same size. To run Wi-Fi it will
need an even larger battery or a power cord hanging off it.
I am surprised how incredibly glowing the comments about the
Gigabeat are, to the point that it look suspicious. The Gigabeat
is an iPod Killer? Please.
If the Zune is for you then fine, buy one whenever it actually
comes out. But when anyone rants about a product that isn't
even finalised yet, much less available for sale, they are the one
that looks like a fanboy fool.
Have a nice day!
Yup Looks thick and Clunky
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fcc-reveals-toshiba-1089-and-its-looking-a-whole-lot-like-a/#comments
Yup Looks thick and Clunky
http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/25/fcc-reveals-toshiba-1089-and-its-looking-a-whole-lot-like-a/#comments
Gotta give Microsoft credit: That's innovative.
But, will it work with my iMac???
your Zune toting friends (If that ever happens) to listen to
through their headphones? Surely its much more sensible to
plug your iPod into one of the many speaker accessories
available for iPod for all to listen to......Typical upside-down
back-to-front overcomplicated Microsoftian 'feature'........
Innovation my arse.
Streaming random tracks or "promotional tracks" (otherwise known as commercials) to strangers who happene to be within range seems retarded.
What we want is not some dumb streaming feature. What we want is video on demand for our portables.
Microsfot has the tools, the tech and the mega bucks to create a Zune that wil allow you to wi-fi download TV episodes -- what they don't have is the common sense to -- you know -- actually get off their butts and provide it.
Don't worry. Apple is working on it.
Microsfot fanboys? You can expect video on demand for your portables, oh, about 5 years after Apple releases it on the iPod. That's seems to be the standard Microsoft catch-up curve.
Or can we expect some magic here?
it can still run for 10 hours? wouldn't that be incredible?
lol
So it "technically" would only work with other Zune devices and only if you're in close range and only if the other devices "happen" to have their DJ mode turned on.
So you, what, randomly walk down the street and hope you catch a new track on someone's Zune? And what happens when THEY walk away, drive away, get out of line, etc?
That cool track you were sharing suddenly stops?
And that's assuming you even liked this random track to begin with.
*** is the point of this feature????
Seriously though, I think this is geared toward teenagers/college kids who often travel in "packs" and would love to be able to share tracks on the fly. It's hard to predict, but if it gets a critical mass to become useful this could take off.
I agree that for the average adult, the feature is pretty meaningless, but I think it's probably the young people that drive this market.
First of all, Ms has beaten Apple in many arenas and vice versa. Let's see if this worked out as drafted, lols...
Just imagine if all the things that are stated comes true, what would you support then? Think about it then ask yourself were you just bias or practical.
With wireless Sync and DJ capabilites. Hey and you, DJ functionality is not a joke, it HAS proven usefull and inovative, i've done it in my college project hehe... and gotten a price too, by many thumbs up, including Apple's representative FIY.
I'm sure for certainty, if M$ do not apply for patent for this function, Apple will follow up. A new product will soon be born. Now will you still say it is rubbish? or your ass?
Just my view, i currently own an Ipod and a Creative Zen. Those 2 are just marvelous, i use it in different occasions, IPod when wooing a girl, Zen when working. It is just one more option, think about it :)
grammar. Have another go.
Microsoft. This device seems difficult to use already! hehe
Now how is this any better than SanDisk, Creative or Sony's Ipod
Killer? Boy I feel its the Origami fiasco all over again!
If Microsoft were to manufacture the product themselves, I could
see it possibly going somewhere but now its just another one of
Microsoft's Vendors trying to bring out the next so-called IPOD
killer. Pretty lame, I think.
Microsoft probably did their market research early and
discovered it wasn't feasible for them to manufacture the
product themselves because of the lukewarm response they've
been receiving. In order to save face and money they probably
decided to let Toshiba market it under their name just in case it
flops.
Smart move though cause it would have never be on par with the
IPOD given Apple's marketing media frenzied monster. To me
the IPOD is as popular as Coke & Pizza, if not more popular.
Zune would have just been second rate.
Looks like Microsoft has dodged the bullet on this, but it
remains to be seen. Although I would have liked it if they
actually made the produc themselves, out of sheer
entertainment value on another Microsoft flop. Ah well....
- Oh, get real for a second
- by mgreere August 25, 2006 9:04 PM PDT
- Unless you plug this thing in--and everyone else does--
- Like this Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 3 pages (89 Comments)streaming will be impractical.
Who will want to serve up their media while wasting their battery
on the off chance someone will want it?
The most alluring option is to browse nearby Zunes that have
public sharing turned on -- but that is precisely what is an
unrewarding use of the battery. It will be like youtube, only with
transient, minimal, and unreliable content. Yay! Not. Plug this
thing into a global youtube-like network and then you might get
somewhere. So maybe in a few years time, this will pay off...
assuming MS dominates the related markets and doesn't screw
this up.
I hate to say it, but this first Zune is just another iPod wannabe
with some oddball networking options.
Have you seen Apple's recent patent filings?
... Proximity sensors, touch screens with sophisticated
interaction, tactile controls embedded in the display, wireless
hardware...
Odds are the next ipod will trump this first Zune by a mile and
be out sooner.