Ben Reid
14 Sep 2006 12:42
Microsoft Corp. has today unveiled details of the first products it plans to launch under its new Zune brand.
The Zune, Microsoft's answer to Apple's iPod, is scheduled for release this holiday season in the U.S. It will include a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and "a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music," according to Microsoft's Press Release.
The Zune device, which will retail with a choice of three colors (black, brown and white), will come equipt with many features including Wi-Fi, a built-in FM radio, and a 3-inch screen. As expected, it will store music, pictures and video. Supported audio formats will be MP3, unprotected WMA and unprotected AAC. Supported video formats will be MPEG-4, WMV and H.264.
In its Press Release, Microsoft also noted that sharing of music between Zune users will be possible through the device's Wi-Fi technology. It said, "Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace."
The Zune Marketplace gives consumers the opportunity to either purchase music tracks individually, or buy a Zune Pass subscription to download an unlimited amount of songs for a flat fee.
The device will be preloaded with content from a whole host of record labels including DTS, EMI Music’s Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune and Playlouderecordings, amongst others.
"The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning," beamed J Allard, Microsoft's vice president of design and development. "With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections."
Source:
Press Release