Lotzothoughtz

So, what have we learned from Microsoft’s announcement regarding the new Zune media players?

1. Microsoft isn’t going after Apple just yet, rather they are going after it’s main competitors: Sandisk, Creative, and Sony.  See MS  wants to pick off the little guys first by offering up devices with just enough extras to steer people over to the Zune.
2. Microsoft can make pretty things.
3. They listened to their users, the new feature list sounds like the wish list of every Zune user: Wireless Sync, Podcast abilities,
4. Enhanced Zune to Zune wireless sharing, they’ve changed the rules now you can keep a shared song on your Zune for up to three plays but it wont vanish after three days it will stay indefinitely as long as the three plays aren’t met.
5. Integration with TV show recorded on your Windows Vista Media center.
6. Improved UI and desktop software.

Watch, this is Microsoft ramping itself up.   The next version of the Zune will go after Apple, which I think it could be argued is on a somewhat slippery slope as of late.

As anticipated MS announced their new Zune media players last night, to be release in November.  The update includes an 80 gig HDD player and a 4 and 8 gig flash based player (they’re the little ones in the pic).  Additionally the Zune Marketplace will be updated as will the Zune’s interface, even the original Zune’s will receive the redesigned interface.  In a bit to tie together the Zune’s "social" aspects MS is also creating a social network for Zune users. 

More on all of this later today when I umm…oh yeah get home from work.

Tomorrow Microsoft is rumored to make a "big" announcement for it’s Zune division, the release of the 2nd generation Zune media players.  Today the FCC leaked some blueprint sketches of some of the new devices.  The sketches show the long anticipated flash based Zune offering up the player in 4 and 8 gigs, nothing spectacular but typical capacities for entry level players.  These devices will retain the Wifi abilities that were so disappointing in the original Zune players.  Microsoft will also release a new HDD based player probably at 80 gigs bringing the HDD model into line with what is now the industry standard capacity for HDD players.  Granted all of this is based on rumor, buzz, and the FCC

Aside from a slightly redesigned Zune MS will release a 2.1 update to the Zune Firmware, here is where I hope they make the most ripples.  O and all UI/Firmware updates better also be applied to the 1st generation Zunes.

Here’s what I want in an improvement to the firmware:

• Ability to put videos in folders (or albums) just like you can pictures and of course music.
• Eh maybe some games?  Like the iPod, just some silly little Tetris deal?
• Wifi Zune Marketplace?  Meaning I could buy music on the fly that would be nice.
• Enhanced wifi abilities.  I know I can’t be the first one to want to be able to get on the web with my media player.  And I do realize this feature is not likely at all to be on the device .  I’m not asking iPod Touch/Safari level browsing but wouldn’t it be awesome if MS used its new mobile browser to give the Zune a basic web surfing ability at free Wifi spots?

Aside from that Microsoft better update their Zune Marketplace to include DRM-free music as well as a video store, I mean come on what’s the point of having that big ‘ole screen if you can’t easily (I stress easily) buy music videos, TV shows, and movies.

I can’t wait to see what Microsoft reveals tonight and/or tomorrow.

Dear Creative Labs,

I’m so sorry, I strayed from the Creative pack. I strayed from the way of wide format playability, relative low cost, and sexy stylish player designs. I was seduced by a reduced price hard-drive based player in a time of need; it took advantage of me, I swear. There it was, a 30 gig Zune media player, looking kind of cool in black with a light blue double shot giving it a blue aura. It’s big screen, nicely reduced price, and 30 gig capacity drove me to do the unthinkable: buy it and enter into a DRM controlled universe. What did I do?

Creative, you gotta believe me. My computer at the time was having hard-drive issues, sometimes not turning on, I didn’t want to lose my entire music and video collection again. I could’ve gotten an external hard-drive, this I know, but why not get a dedicated music/video hard-drive with a nifty user interface? Well that and the Zune was cheap, at the time it was just above $200 bux, can you really blame me? I’m so sorry Creative, I didn’t know what I was doing.

Now I’m trapped in a one way relationship. It only let’s me me use the Zune software to load music and videos on to it; all it does is boss me around. Yeah it has a nice screen and a nice interface but in the end if you can’t play a wide variety of music and video formats, if we just can’t get a long then what is the point? Well that and Creative, between you and me, the Zune is a bit heavy in the hand if you know what I mean. There is nothing sleek or elegant about the thing, you put the Zune in your pocket and it weighs down your pants and then the children…they start to taunt you.

It’s true, I had grown unhappy with the limited storage capabilities of my 4 gig Creative Zen V Plus but I should have waited…I should have known you’d have a new product in line for the holidays. And now you do, you have created what I had been looking for: the Creative Zen, a flashed based media player with up to 16 gigs of storage and an SD slot giving it substantial expandability. O Creative, I should have waited. I should have known better than to leave you like that, after our two years of bliss….the Zen Nano Plus, the Zen V Plus, my god they were nothing but good to me.

I’ll make it up to you Creative, I’m promise,

Sincerely,

ATL