Microsoft's Zune HD Dead Again, Maybe for Good
Microsoft's support page revealing the Zune's discontinuation is back online, and the Windows Phone team even admits it in their latest radio broadcast.
Looks like Microsoft's Zune HD media player may be dead after all. The latest mention of the gadget's demise arrives via Windows Phone Radio session #45. Just past the 12 minute mark, the team confirms that "we're not going to be making the Zune HD any more, which is a bummer." The topic then turns to Zune services within Windows Phone and how this will be the company's new focus.
Currently the device is listed as "out of stock" on Microsoft’s online store, but the company previously stated that it will support the PMP hardware as well as "honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices."
News of Zune's demise began to circulate last Monday after its product page was removed from the official Zune website. But then Microsoft Zune team member Michael Yaeger said that it was a mistake, that the Zune HD page wasn't supposed to be removed, and then quickly powered up the product listing once again.
Then on Tuesday, Microsoft indicated that yes, the Zune HD was dead by way of a support page that said the company plans to focus on Zune services via Windows Phone, but the page was quickly removed. Later Microsoft's official Zune support team neither confirmed nor denied the device's death, saying via Twitter that "no official info has been released stating hardware is being discontinued."
But there's no denying it now: the Windows Phone team spilled the beans in a radio session. The support page has even returned, saying that "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."
Sounds like the Zune HD is done... for today, at least. What will tomorrow bring?
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I guess it's never a R.I.P. for the Zune.
Let it be, Microsoft, let it be.
Yeah, media players are going to die. Phones will take over their responsibilities. The only media players that'll survive, are iPod-nano sized devices, just because their lighter and convenient for working out. ok and maybe something you can hook up to a camera for those professional types but ultimately phones will take over most of those types of responsibilities. Tri-quarters for the win.
Windows Mobile = dead
Zune = dead
Kin = dead
There are still a few Windows Phones on the market, but we know that they'll go the same way as all of Microsoft's previous portable / mobile products.
I'll give M$ credit here for having a good product; I highly preferred it over the iPod. It just came out late and couldn't compete with Apples marketing.
I wouldn't say it died. I feel like it evolved into windows phone 7; Microsoft saw how well its style and interface worked, and pulled it into its new products. What is dead is the idea of a media player as a separate entity from the phone. So begone with all this fatalistic talk!
I'll give M$ credit here for having a good product; I highly preferred it over the iPod. It just came out late and couldn't compete with Apples marketing.
Yeah, it was a great player, but when it came out, the average person called any mp3 player an "Ipod". Iad that happen to me when I was using my Sandisk Sansa.
Yeah, it was a great player, but when it came out, the average person called any mp3 player an "Ipod". Iad that happen to me when I was using my Sandisk Sansa.
I know what you mean man. I used to own a Creative Zen Vision M which I liked because it had better audio quality than the iPod but after my Vision M connector died I was left with a player unable to connect to a PC and thus unable to get any new content. So I disassembled it and used the hard drive with an external enclosure I got from ebay lol.
Years later I got a Sansa Clip + 8gb on ebay and have never looked back. It's lightweight, great for exercise, it clips unto your clothes! and the audio quality is pretty damn good.
I'll give M$ credit here for having a good product; I highly preferred it over the iPod. It just came out late and couldn't compete with Apples marketing.
which is a really weak excuse considering they were a multi bllion dollar company. they clearly had little control over it.
The ability to market that product effectively benchmark is so low you could trip over it and still succeed. Zune nice concept, visually appealing brand and right execution - just run by morons who are still trying to figure out how to graduate from the Kellogs Product Management training courses found internally on roleguide.
Zune= Schrodinger's Cat
Hey Microsoft. Better marketing would made all the difference. Your Marketing SUCKS. Here in Taiwan, just got my hands on the MANGO WP7.5 phone. What a flop. It's a great if you want an MP3 player.
Absolutely, a piece of junk, Way too many restrictions. This Phone will FAIL. I promise you. Because of the very poor marketing by MS. And too many locked out features. No freedoms.
I guess it's never a R.I.P. for the Zune.
Zombie Zune.
I'm still using Zune 120 - best hdd player ever. and kills apple in sound quality. too bad that thing is off the shelf - I wish they had 200gb released for my library.
And by the way Zune Software for browsing though the artist is way BETTER than ITunes. And I'm writing this post on MacBook Pro
Don't worry the Zune is not dead. Given what we've seen here lately it'll be resurrected in 24-48 hours.
Maybe they should release a limited edition "Left 4 Dead" Zune.
Still no other real HD radios on the market. This sucks. Just a piece of junk from Insignia...
That was the truly interesting part of the ZuneHD to me... The killer feature that almost had be buying one, despite my hate of touch-only media devices...
I'm still using Zune 120 - best hdd player ever. and kills apple in sound quality. too bad that thing is off the shelf - I wish they had 200gb released for my library.
I know quite a few people who were ticked off that they never made a bigger one... There is a market for these... It isn't a huge one, but it is one that can make money to those willing to deal with smaller non-Applesque margins...
i started out not knowing anything about the Zune. After reading all these conflicting announcements, i still know not anything about the Zune, but now i'm totally confused. That's Microsoft way!
This quick repeated change of hearts is quite irritating to say the least.
i started out not knowing anything about the Zune. After reading all these conflicting announcements, i still know not anything about the Zune, but now i'm totally confused. That's Microsoft way!
Zune is a media player and a service, much like the iPod/iTunes combination. It wasn't ever that popular, due to some strange MS decisions. Zune media only hardware is now dying, but the music service will remain. This may be happening to the iPod's relationship with iTunes as well, despite the generally superior success of the iPod...
Zune actually had some innovations. The 1st gen Zune was also super ugly, but functional.
Still the only legit device with an HD tuner. Wish I had ANY device with an HD tuner on it... Hopefully it will find its way into phones soon...
Zune is a media player and a service, much like the iPod/iTunes combination. It wasn't ever that popular, due to some strange MS decisions. Zune media only hardware is now dying, but the music service will remain. This may be happening to the iPod's relationship with iTunes as well, despite the generally superior success of the iPod...Zune actually had some innovations. The 1st gen Zune was also super ugly, but functional.Still the only legit device with an HD tuner. Wish I had ANY device with an HD tuner on it... Hopefully it will find its way into phones soon...
The fact that you have to explain this IS the problem. You don't have to tell anyone WHAT an iPod/iTunes is.
The fact that you have to explain this IS the problem. You don't have to tell anyone WHAT an iPod/iTunes is.
Well, iPods are going out of fashion, quick fast and in a hurry. I actually am finding myself explaining what an iPod is... iTunes, not so much... But yes, Microsoft's marketing was poor, and their hardware integration, at least early on, was quite pitiful, considering the fundamental advantage of the iTunes/iPod merger was that it generally 'seamlessly' connected with it, where early on, the Zune did not... I have heard that it improved with the Zune 120...
Zune had AMD-like advertising... Almost none...
Well, iPods are going out of fashion, quick fast and in a hurry. I actually am finding myself explaining what an iPod is... iTunes, not so much... But yes, Microsoft's marketing was poor, and their hardware integration, at least early on, was quite pitiful, considering the fundamental advantage of the iTunes/iPod merger was that it generally 'seamlessly' connected with it, where early on, the Zune did not... I have heard that it improved with the Zune 120...Zune had AMD-like advertising... Almost none...
Wow, where are you that someone doesn't know what an iPod is?
.__-_-_-__ : I still use mp3 player cause I'm a kid and can't afford a smartphone plan...
THINK OF THE CHILDREN!