Name that Zune: Microsoft Prepares to Launch Zune MP3 Player and iZune Style Music Store Called Urge   7/31/2006 - 4,630 views, 2 Comments

Summary: You might have heard the word "Zune" recently in the news, or near the office water cooler. Zune is the codename, now nearly certainly confirmed as the actual name, for what some are dubbing "the iPod killer": Microsoft's new Zune MP3 player. In addition to the Zune music player, of course, Microsoft has their own iZune music store to go with it. Ok, just kidding, it's not really called "iZune", it's called "Urge".

Previous Article « Internet Spawns Backlash Against Fear Factor’s Junk Yard Dog Fights with Humans
Read Next Article » New Starbucks Paypal Phish - “You Have Pending Payment to Starbucks”

You might have heard the word “Zune” recently in the news or on your favourite blog. Zune is the codename, now nearly certainly confirmed as the actual name, for what some are dubbing “the iPod killer”: Microsoft’s new Zune MP3 player.

In addition to the Zune music player, of course, Microsoft has their own iZune music store to go with it. Ok, just kidding, it’s not really called “iZune”, it’s called “Urge”.

Now, if you already have an iPod, and are an iTunes devotee, then this news may be a big fat yawn to you. But if you don’t, and you’re not, or if you have teenagers, for example, then the launch of the Zune and iZune ..er.. Urge, may be something to which you will want to pay attention. Certainly plenty of folks think that this is going to be big competition for Apple, even if it isn’t the iPod killer Microsoft hopes it to be.

However, as some have pointed out, “can iTunes fight the Urge” is not the only big question coming out of this. Nearly as big is “what happens to all of the MP3 player manufacturers who have banked on Microsoft?” Creative and their Zen player, for example.

By any best guess, the few months - and then year or so - after Microsoft rolls out Zune should be interesting, and if it is indeed something to give the iPod a run for its money, then the consumer can only stand to win, as each tries to outbetter the other.

Amazon now carries the Zune! Check out the Zune at Amazon (click the picture below):

Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player (Black)

Get FREE email alerts of new Internet Patrol stories!
    *We never share your email address with anyone

Email Address:
Date of first visit:
How you found us:

Subscribe
to The Internet Patrol on your cell phone    Email the link for this page to a friend!

Read more:

»  Where Can You Buy a Zune and How Much Does it Cost? Ask Walmart!

»  Zune Hacks - Yes, It’s True, You Can Hack and Modify Your Zune!

»  Free Legal Music Downloads Service Spiral Frog to Compete with iTunes - with a Twist - It Doesn’t Work with iPod and Zune

»  Walkman Phones are Here

For additional similar stories check out our archives on Microsoft, iPods & MP3

 

2 Comments »

  1. this is a non starter for me, the music i like doesn’t even show on “pop” “top 100″ or any other charts, nor even on the file sharing services. it’s a sub genre of sci-fi and is artist and small producer sales driven. thanks microsoft, but no thanks.

    Comment by gunner — 7/31/2006 @ 1:16 pm

  2. Christmas 2007 has come and gone, with it we saw the release of the 2nd generation Zune MP3 player. Now you have a choice of either the first gen Zune 30GB player or either a 4GB, 8GB, or 80GB player.

    The new Zune with all it’s feature is strong competition for the iPod. Not to mention the fact you can now watch or download movies for your Zune.

    Comment by Johnny Bristau — 1/16/2008 @ 7:14 pm

RSS feed for comments on this post.

Leave a comment

Warning! All comments which contain URLs and are clearly just spam to generate a link back to the URL will be deleted on sight. Don't bother wasting your time!

If you are going to include a URL in your comment,
please keep it under 25 characters in length,
or use TinyURL to shorten it before including it in your comment.

Line and paragraph breaks are automatic, your email address is never displayed.
HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

(required)

(required)


We apologize for having to ask you to enter the letters and numbers you see in the image above to validate your comment, but we are being attacked by thousands of comment form spams every day!

 
The Internet Patrol
Patrolling the Internet for You!