Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: microsoft, zune, ipod, apple, music | Themes: Audio/Video Players
A Microsoft employee posted word on his Twitter that new Zune hardware will be coming this year.
Brian Seitz of the Zune team tweeted simply, “new zune hardware this year.”
While word of new Zune shouldn’t be surprising, considering it’s an industry standard to refresh such devices on a regular basis, but comments from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer hinted that company’s music player business could transition to a software-only model that it would license to other PMP manufacturers.
Ballmer said last month, “The question is whether even if we [Zunes] heavily, is their profit upside. … I won’t say full steam ahead, because that implies acceleration of investment, but we’re going to sustain our investment.”
The Microsoft CEO then let out that Zune could eventually become a software or ecosystem for other music players, perhaps like an iTunes system for all the non-iPods out there.
Of course, product development cycles are so far ahead that the upcoming hardware was probably well on it way even if Microsoft is still currently examining shifting its Zune business, we might not see it any time soon.
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Twitter? Surely there's a Microsoft-approved web-utility out there that could be better used to disceminate such information. Obviously this guy doesn't value his job very highly, using twitter.
Finally! I hope its coming sooner rather than later.
Twitter? Surely there's a Microsoft-approved web-utility out there that could be better used to disceminate such information. Obviously this guy doesn't value his job very highly, using twitter.
Or he knew that by making a post on a popular web service, they would get instant press without actually providing any real information. It's worked well so far with Windows 7, making a big deal out of new additions whether they be important, or new log-in icons.
[citation][nom]hellwig[/nom]Twitter? Surely there's a Microsoft-approved web-utility out there that could be better used to disceminate such information. Obviously this guy doesn't value his job very highly, using twitter.
Or he knew that by making a post on a popular web service, they would get instant press without actually providing any real information. It's worked well so far with Windows 7, making a big deal out of new additions whether they be important, or new log-in icons.
Somehow, I agree with both of you.
Considering that Marketplace doesn't work outside of the US, it's not likely Zune will ever go anywhere.
I for one hope so, i love my 30g zune, except the day all zunes crashed that was horrible and hilarious. I've been itching to get the new one, heck if there is a 3rd gen zune maybe the 2nd gen ones could be really cheap. Here's to hoping.
@Glorian, the 2nd generation are already cheap, get a real job and handle it, they cost barely anything.
*Microsoft begins loading 12 gauge shotgun*
"D*** birds..."