Rumors Swirl that Microsoft is Readying a New Zune for 2011
Rumors Swirl that Microsoft is Readying a New Zune for 2011
Posted 09/15/2010 at 7:56am
| by Paul Lilly
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Things have been pretty quiet over a Microsoft regarding any upcoming Zune refreshes, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from bustling with activity. And why not, given that Apple just recently launched its newest iPod touch with a built-in camera and FaceTime support.
Rumors of an upcoming Zune player began earlier this month when ZDNet's Mary Jo Foley said that one of her sources "who has been a solid tipster on Microsoft-consumerish things in the past" told her that the Redmond giant plans to release at least one more Zune HD media player. The tipster claimed it would probably debut in 2011 and might come equipped with an ARM processor, along with a bunch of UI changes from the Windows Phone 7 team.
More recently, Microsoft put up a job posting looking for a Hardware Engineer to help with "next generation of portable entertainment and communication devices." The job is for a senior mechanical engineer in Microsoft's Portable Entertainment Group, the same team that designed last year's Zune HD.
Whether or not there's anything to these rumors, or whether Microsoft simply plans to let the Zune line fade away and instead focus on porting Zune features into its Windows Phone 7 devices remains to be seen.
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Mighty BOB!
September 16, 2010 at 2:39am
I almost got a zune but when I learned that it was a closed garden ecosystem like the ipod and itunes I had to give it a pass.
lunchbox73
September 15, 2010 at 10:34am
I hope so. The Zune HD is a great product and MS is at fault for it's pathetic marketing for it. 3 out of 5 average people still don't even know what a Zune is.
violian
September 15, 2010 at 11:23am
Agreed. I've never seen a ZuneHD commercial on tv since its debut. I love my ZuneHD. I still have it even after I've purchased the newest iPod Touch. I can definately hear the difference in sound-quality - the ZuneHD's sound is a lot clearer and crisper. And music videos look a lot better on the ZuneHD because of its OLED display. That's why I decided to keep my ZuneHD instead of putting it on eBay or Craigslist. The iPod Touch - I mainly got it because I use it as my "tablet" handheld computer - surfing the web, emails, apps, etc.
dracx619
September 15, 2010 at 9:36am
im still rocking my zune 80 so something smaller n sleeker would be nice. the only reason i don't have an hd now is cause mine still works and i rather not splurge $250+ for another mp3 player at the moment
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