Zune 3 coming in '09
Looks like the first and second generations of the Zune will have to wait until the end of 2009 for a new member of the family.
(Credit: Corinne Schulze/CNET Networks)In an announcement that will surely test the patience of Zune fans, European newspaper GNT has quoted Microsoft France's Francois Ruault as saying the third generation of the Zune MP3 player will likely have a worldwide release during the holiday season of 2009. While folks in the European Union are probably happy to hear they'll be getting the Zune at all, the rest of us have just glimpsed a long wait for a Zune 3 hardware refresh.
The article goes on to hint that Microsoft's Zune Marketplace digital music download service will eventually be rolled into the Windows Mobile platform. While knee-jerk speculation points to the Zune's iPhone-like ascent into a mobile phone, more than likely this is just Microsoft adjusting to the partnerships companies like Rhapsody and Napster have struck with mobile carriers over the past year.
(via AnythingButiPod)
Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
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1.their implementation of "on the go" playlists was horrible. If you're giving me on the go playlists, and I'm playing it... if I add songs to my playlists, for god's sake, don't make me restart the playlist for those songs to play. Better yet, let me delete songs and re-order it as my Creative Zen did.
2. Battery life. What more can I say? My battery would not last more than 10 hours and would randomly drain completely between listening sessions despite pausing music and putting the player in standby. I know I am not the rule, but if you read Zune.net you will see a significant number of users are having these issues. (yes, the wireless was off and the backlighting was set as low as possible)
Overall, the second generation interface kills the iPod, but the quality issues killed the Zune v2.
Oh yes, the software was also horrid... nearly as bad as iTunes imho. They should have just let it sync with WMP.
Ipod touch advantages for me: wi-fi, safari to go with it, touch screen
Now Microsoft needs all of this and more or i see no reason to switch. Although I'll probably have a cell/mp3/internet/smartphone convergence device by then anyway so it won't matter to me.
Also, touch screens suck--at least at this point in time they do. And why the hell would I want a browser on my "supposed" mp3 player? that's what my computer is for. I want to listen to my music and watch some video podcasts from time to time THATS IT.
I also refuse to be a fanboy for any one company, my mp3 player which I wont even drop a brand name, is just fine and it does what it was meant to do. Hey, there goes Steve Jobs laughing all the way to the bank!
The second version of the zune didn't appeal to me at all. Slightly larger screen, touch pad, big whoop. it's a good deal thinner, but hey, if i wanted thin i would've gotten an ipod.
like someone else said, for me to consider buying the next one, it better be way freaking awesome.
My wishlist: $250, 3.5" 640x480 screen, bluetooth, wifi, 160gb or more, good battery life, .5" thick or less, support more formats, drop zune software.
obviously this won't happen but, still. i really like the zune UI, and 3" is just big enough to watch videos on for me. that's why i won't get an ipod.
favorite is that touch screens don't work. They don't work for your garbage
plastic screen window mobile device, but they work great for a device with
optical glass like the iPhone. As far as browsing the web? It's a great feature.
Browse the news while listening to some music at starbucks. Best of all
worlds and I don't have to lug around a laptop to do it. Btw, this talkback was
written on my iPod Touch.
making better or sticking with it they start talking about what is coming out.
They're doing the same things with windows Vista sucked so now they are
talking about Windows seven they need to be fixing vista not saying just wait till
the next version
The I phone is not practical, its too big; with pointless features just to hook in all the trendies. Why would i want to browse the web on some 4 inch screen, why would i want to watch videos on a 4 inch screen why would i want to carry around something that can't fit in my pocket, hello cassette player on crack.
people who sit around at starbucks r lame, drink something healthy , try water.
I have the zune 80 and i love it......but the software sucks really bad. The software decided to no longer display on my computer. It just displays a white background. I re-installed my graphics driver and the zune software.....but it still just displays a white page. If anyone can help I would appreciate it!!!!!!!!