After Apple releases the new iPods guess who comes along. Yep! Microsoft. It will come in a 4GB Model, a 8GB Model, and an an 80 GB Model. (The larger one is the 80GB one, and that’s the only color it’ll come in, but the smaller ones come in red, green, pink, and black.) Microsoft has added some features that many people have wanted including wireless sync and Zune Social. The new Zune, and the older Zunes will get the wireless sync feature with the upcoming firmware upgrade. The design of the Zune is quite similar to the first generation, but the screen is slightly bigger (3.2 inches) and will have a sightly different way of navigation.
The Zune website is planning to add a new online music community. This is sort of like Last.fm but Microsoft style. Zune owners will make “Zune Cards” which according to Crave is a little gadget that will send your favorite songs to the site and your friends will be able to see it and maybe hear a preview.
The new Zune will also feature a new interface, although is similar to the original, is much sleeker and cooler. The big rounded square in the middle is supposedly a 5 way button (up, down, left, right, middle) and is also touch sensitive for users to scroll around the menus.
You will also be able to put your recorded TV shows from Windows Media Center on your Zune and any podcasts (Zunecasts) from online.
Zune 2.0 is coming out this month and according to Engadget on the 16th. If you want to see more photos of the new Zune see this Cnet Crave slideshow at http://crave.cnet.com/4335-1_105-6591203.html.
The new Zunes all lined up!Image courtesy of Cnet’s Crave Blog
Image courtesy of Zunescene.com
Kevin,
Which one do you have? iPod or Zune?
Err, neither, usually I use by Dell Axim to listen to music. But if I had to get one, it would be the new Zune! (Unless I had the choice of getting an iPhone, and in that case, it would be the iPhone.)