ZOMG they turned the battery meter!

"Bootloader 425"? Any of you tech-heads care to speculate on what that portends? Or it is just a beta type thing?

A cheap Zune 1 is looking like a good deal if the features are sufficient enough.

I have my fingers crossed for Microsoft to put all the new features in ye olde zunes.

Lol turned battery meter. Awesome. I looks better that way!

I hope something real cool comes. I'll update my first gen then get that second gen.

It'll be cool. I hope. And I can finally clap at a Microsoft "Innovation" (Why don't they just come out and say "all we want is money". Every company is like that. Even Apple.)

does it have iphone capabilities? NO. so why should we care? we don't. can it be bricked? if you don't approve my comments ill use the zune like a brick to smash it against your grill. you heard m. you just got sonned, son.

At least with this firmware update you wont end up with a brown brick. you will be able to you what you paid for. (not much but still beats the brick part)

@Cursemaster0: Because companies the come out as money grubbers don't sell well, for the most part.

I'm sure there are some people out there who think companies are rolling out products to benefit the public, for a nominal fee.

The more I look at that image, something just doesn't look right with the firmware 2.1 zune. Not saying it's an outright fake, but something seems off...

@velglarn: Didn't really expect anyone to answer my question.

There is always some payout. Even in Open-Source. Somewhere Linux is making money.....

Yes it is DOMZ...just another reason to get a Zune...Sorry apple, but I switched sides. I'm done with over priced pretentious apple. No offense to the fanboys out there, I just think its time the market gets some more competitors...

@RobotVampire: That's the old version. My Zune says the same thing in the "Settings > About > zune" screen right now. The one on the left is the updated one.

@Rhainor: Yeah I have a red Zune, so mine looks excatly like the one on the right. I was saying something just looks off about the v2.1 on the left. May just be my imagination. I do realize that the font and logo are smaller, but something just seems off. Can't wait to see waht we get with the new firmware though. Can I just skip Tuesday maybe?

@Rhainor: Oh, I see how you got confused by my second post now. I said "something just doesn't look right with the firmware 2.1 zune", not "the firmware 2.1 zune on the right".

@DesiBoi:

I know, right? Everyone I know probably has an unending supply of brown bricks, though.

Microsoft would do well to try and get as many features in the old Zune as possible. It would reverse the Apple model (just put in enough features to get fans to upgrade, but not enough to cause them to keep it for too long).
It would be a smart move on Microsoft's part and show original thinking.
Chances are though that they will be following the disappointing Apple business model. The Zune 1(.1) came out November 2006 and it's been less than a year, which follows Apple.

WTF Zune is?

Agrajag42, like when apple added games, 640x480 video, better battery life, gapless, faster scolling (with letter popup), and brightness adjustment to the 5G when they updated to the 5.5G?

@zip22: Releasing a new product is not the some as updating firmware and adding features.You just did a fine job of strengthening agrajag42's point as you tried to tear it down. Bravo!

*not the same.

you misread. apple added those features to the old 5G via a firmware update when they released the 5.5G

@RobotVampire:

Nope, those are all the things Apple added to the 5G, via a firmware update, when they released the 5.5G.

Sorry, I don't know anyone who has a 5G or a 5.5G ipod, I apologize for talking out of my bum. ;) I was under the assumption that apple didn't update firmware on the ipods, but I've been wrong before and this won't be the last time. Thanks for the clarification.

@DesiBoi: "At least with this firmware update you wont end up with a brown brick. you will be able to you what you paid for. (not much but still beats the brick part)"

So you're saying that the vibrant Zune hack community cranking out third-party apps for the Zune won't be affected by this firmware update.

zzz