Microsoft continues to tease with Zune media player revelations

Zune Accessory-Pack Fact Sheets

Zune Car Pack - Fact Sheet

September 2006

Category: Automotive accessory

Product Overview
Designed exclusively for use with Zune, the Car Pack includes everything you need to hit the road with your Zune device. With AutoSeek, setup is easy, and you can enjoy your music on the go and charge your device at the same time. When you buy the Zune Car Pack, you’ll get the FM tuner with Autoseek and the Car Charger. All items in the full line of Zune accessories are also available individually.

Kit Contents

· Zune FM tuner with AutoSeek
· Zune Car Charger

The information contained in this fact sheet relates to a pre-release product that may be substantially modified before its first commercial release. Accordingly, the information may not accurately describe or reflect the product when it is first commercially released. This fact sheet is provided for informational purposes only, and Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to the fact sheet or the information contained in it. Dates are subject to change without notice.

Zune Home A/V Pack - Fact Sheet

September 2006

Category: Home accessory

Product Overview
Designed exclusively for use with Zune, the Home A/V Pack includes everything you need to amplify your Zune experience. This set of five products integrates Zune with your big-screen TV and the best speakers in your house. And the wireless remote puts you in control from virtually anywhere in the room. When you buy the Zune Home AV Pack, you’ll get the AC Adapter, AV Output Cable, Dock, Sync Cable and Wireless Remote. All items in the full line of Zune accessories are also available individually.

Kit Contents
Here are the five products in the Zune Home A/V Pack:

· Zune AC Adapter
· Zune A/V Output Cable
· Zune Dock
· Zune Sync Cable
· Zune Wireless Remote with Lithium Battery (CR2032)

Zune Travel Pack - Fact Sheet

September 2006

Category: Travel accessory

Product Overview
Designed exclusively for use with Zune, the Travel Pack includes everything you need to travel with your Zune device in style. This set of five products is designed to keep you and your friends and family entertained while you travel. When you buy the Zune Travel Pack, you’ll get the Dual Connect Remote, Premium Earphones, Gear Bag, Sync Cable and AC Adapter. All items in the full line of Zune accessories are also available individually.

Kit Contents

· Zune Gear Bag
· Zune Premium Earphones with storage case
· Zune Dual Connect Remote
· Zune Sync Cable
· Zune AC Adapter

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If it costs more than an iPod (which the above piece suggests) then it's going to fail, simple as that.

The wireless connection is only of value if other people own Zunes (in the same way it's almost impossible to launch another instant messaging service because all your current friends are on AIM/MSN and won't change), so therefore it has no feature advantage over a 30GB iPod. The iPod has the advantage of being cheaper, having a proven track record, and one of the best online music stores in the world behind it.

Also it looks pretty chunky.

You missed the nauseating brown color. I must agree with what you said. Though the latest problems with iTunes and feature bumps being toted as new models is not going the help the iPod.

The nano and shuffle were genuine new models, but I'll agree the 5th gen sort of isn't. I don't mind really, it's not like they used it as an excuse to bump the price up, the new ones are the cheapest they've ever been.

Behind the scenes they are all new models, as far as I know they all use SigmaTel chipsets now rather than the old PortalPlayer ones. The Karma has returned :p

KBeee
What about this?
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34478

Good spotting!

However, Charlie Demerjian's editorial takes its lead from the EFF and needs to be read in the context of the EFF's original - Microsoft's Zune Won't Play Protected Windows Media.

I've reference that editorial and Charlie's in an update I've just added to the original HEXUS.lifestyle news story.

However, I reckon it's still worth including here the opening few paras of the EFF's editorial.

In yesterday's announcement of the new Zune media player and Zune Marketplace, Microsoft (and many press reports) glossed over a remarkable misfeature that should demonstrate once and for all how DRM and the DMCA harm legitimate customers.

Microsoft's Zune will not play protected Windows Media Audio and Video purchased or “rented” from Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, or any other online media service. That's right – the media that Microsoft promised would Play For Sure doesn't even play on Microsoft's own device. Buried in footnote 4 of its press release, Microsoft clearly states that “Zune software can import audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC; photos in JPEG; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264” – protected WMA and WMV (not to mention iTunes DRMed AAC) are conspicuously absent.

This is a stark example of DRM under the DMCA giving customers a raw deal. Buying DRMed media means you're locked into the limited array of devices that vendors say you can use. You have to rebuy your preexisting DRMed media collection if you want to use it on the Zune. And you'll have to do that over and over again whenever a new, incompatible device with innovative features blows existing players out of the water. Access to MP3s and non-DRMed formats creates the only bridge between these isolated islands of limited devices.

Posted by Jonny M - Tue 19 Sep 2006 14:27

Posted by awm - Tue 19 Sep 2006 14:37

Posted by Jonny M - Tue 19 Sep 2006 14:39

Posted by KBeee - Wed 20 Sep 2006 00:44

What about this?
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34478

Posted by Bob Crabtree - Wed 20 Sep 2006 12:06