this thing is ugly...better have great specs.

LOL what do you mean its ugly... its in black and white ... and the shape is aobut the same as the ipod with a bigger (much bigger) screen... so how is your logic that its "ugly" i love the look and in color its probably awesome.

One question for Gizmodo: Find out if theirs a video output for our MyVu :) I've been wondering that for months and months, how about a screen resolution? anything hehe

Does it do video or not? Surely with this photo there's an answer to that...

Ugly is just my opinion. And i never compared to IPOD. I have a video ipod and never use it for vids. It was a gift. i just think the layout is ugly. The huge screen set off by the controls. and the strange linage that falls from the screen to circle the "Wheel"

okie dokie i guess to everyone their own opinion:)

Yes the device does video it was just some stupid rumor that it wouldn't they've already even confirmed some of the preloaded content over at zuneinsider so far only indie content (video and mp3s) have been confirmed but they have said their is more preloaded they just cant discuss yet.

Thanks, cchance. I'm willing to give the Zune a fair trial. Does it take only as single format like the iPod video? That's what eventually prompted me to buy my Montego PMP. You don't have to convert everything to put it on there.

Microsoft comes with a reasonably original idea to stop product leakages and bam, someone smarter comes along and finds a way to circumvent it.

they haven't said yet... i'd hope not but, considering apple does it and the whole legal crap i wouldn't doubt it would be wmv or something like that

i like the ear phones, but im wondering what the stuff around the screen is i havent seen that in the mockup drawings that have been everywhere and it looks kinda like a screen protector... but not lol

This thing is going to be crap unless it can run Linux and play Doom

Damn you Gizmodo...now Microsoft is gonna be on my @ss for handing out info...

---signed, Charlie Chaplin

Why would anyone care just for the video? The original iPod was built for music only, so why would video matter? I mean come on, both the Zune and the iPod don't even have widescreen LCDs to watch DVD movies. I really think Redmond is really over their heads if they think that they can really copy Apple with their signature "wheel" and take the market from Apple. Ultimately, I think they will based this around Windows Media Player 11 or their Windows Vista Media Player something.

they arent basing the wheel on apple... apple based the wheel on just about every cell phone sold's wheel... except theirs is touch sensitive... just because the controls are round doesnt mean its an apple copy... hell my vcr at home has controls in a circle and its like 9-10 years old

Charlie moved to Microsoft from IBM?

http://news.com.com/i/ne/pt/2001/08/ibmpc/charlie.jpg

I wonder if microsofts gonna piss me off again like they did with the 360 and give them the zune to a bunch of rich people that could buy 10 of them with the change in their pocket... but instead give it to them for free instead of me :( F*cking Paris Hilton

KJA:

"and take market from Apple"...so, you don't think MS can sell even ONE of these?

hehe One? lol Me and about 8 other people i know all have ipods that broke... so ya i think apple lost us as repeat customers... especiially since i'm currently on my third ipod that the HD suddenly stopped working..... AND I WAS GENTLE this time atleast lol

Arken:

;)

KJA:

Wheel: inventor:
In c.3500 BC, the Sumerians invent the wheel. The Sumerian wheel consists of two or three wooden segments held together by transverse struts that rotate on a wooden pole. This invention transforms transportation, warfare, and industry. It also suggests that draft animals had been tamed by this date and that metallurgy for making saws and axles is already available. Evidence indicates that the wheel was invented only once and then spread to Asia and Europe.

Didn't know Steve 'Buy a new iPod every 6mos' Jobs was Sumerian.

"give them the zune to a bunch of rich people that could buy 10 of them with the change in their pocket... but instead give it to them for free instead of me :( F*cking Paris Hilton"

You may be refering to their unofficial advertising method. ;)

I predict Zune will fail.

Joe...

How are you measuring 'Fail'ure...

Zune needs to become #1?
Zune needs to become #2?
Zune needs to last at least 3 years?

etc etc....

its not about who invented the "wheel" its about who holds the patent. there will be some suing going on about this, but they have more lawyers then programmers

arg its not a clickwheel... its just the controls in a circle thats all hence apple has no hold on it via patents shesh

If the battery is easily replacable, then they already have a feature that iPod has been desperately needing since day one.

The key is that the iPod has the coolness factor, and that is why everyone wants it. (Don't kid yourself, folks - it is not the feature set that is selling millions of white and black boxes.) How Microsoft will make their product 'cool' is the big question, because if they fail that test, then it will be just another pothole Apple will cruise right on over.

The key to make this at least a competitor for iPod is marketing.

Most people just have an iPod because it's a buzzword and everyone has one.

I really can't see M$ getting that kind of customer support.

when an 800lb gorilla gets moving you'd be suprised what it can get done :)

I don't understand what the fascination with touch wheels on a device like this is all about. I would think that instead of making a ring to select stuff, they'd just go straight to a circular finger-pad (akin to laptops, but a circle), especially when there's video involved. If they're going to use a touch sensor anyways, why not just turn it into a mouse-type of function?

they should have outsourced the design to sony

KsprayDad says:

KJA:

"and take market from Apple"...so, you don't think MS can sell even ONE of these?

Microsoft will sell a multitude of the Zune but I doubt that they will overtake the market from Apple since the iPod has dominated digital music player sales in the United States, with over 90% of the market for hard-drive-based players and over 70% of the market for all types of players.

"The iPod is currently the world's best-selling digital audio player, and its worldwide mainstream adoption makes it one of the most popular consumer brands."

Devices in the iPod family are designed around a central scroll wheel (except for the iPod shuffle) and provide a simple user interface. Although Apple did not invent the wheel as KsprayDad has remarked, Apple did first implement the scroll wheel into a digital audio player (DAP) that made it most compelling to consumers for them to like the iPod.

In the week-and-a-half since the rumors sprung up, all sorts of details about what is being dubbed the Zune have emerged. Reportedly, the player will have a click-wheel interface similar to that of the iconic iPod However, the hardware inside is reportedly much beefier. It will run Windows Mobile on a 400MHz DSP processor, contain a 30GB hard drive, and built-in WiFi.[13]{(Eric Bangeman (07-17-2006). Is Microsoft's iPod killer coming Zune?. ArsTechnica. Retrieved on 2006-07-17.}
Microsoft is reflecting their click wheel to the iPod.

does anyone besides me think the "magnetic earbuds" are a bad idea?

if they don't tangle up as much, might be good

"paulmp says: they should have outsourced the design to sony"

Yep, Sony has done a great job in the DAP market.

Ha...

Ha...

Ha Ha....

Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha....
Oh...

Oh no I soiled myself. :(

Speaking of market share the PS2 dominated the US market but then came Xbox which grabbed a major pie. But it did have Halo.

hehe the fact is microsoft is a big name... just like apple... and i have to agree... analysts and critiques said the xbox wouldnt even make a dent in the market... tada it beat out nintendo and did a very good job of ramping up sales to gain on sony... even though it was years late. And the 360... well we know where thats headed :)

DOn't under estimate the Zune, people seem to neglect the untold... its got a 400mhz DSP... why? i mean no ones has settled down on the real reason why the hardware inside is so much beefier it isnt for video i mean video as with the ipod can be done on a much cheaper less powerful chip... just because microsoft hasn't said much doesnt mean their isnt alot going on behind the scenees that we haven't seen yet...

I agree with the most recent comments... if the Zune does indeed have the horsepower that it being reported then it will do a lot more than just play music. I wouldn't count out a web browser.

My porblem is delaing with the DRM in media center. If this let me put on my HBO shows, that would be pretty sweet!

KsprayDad: Many have touted this as an iPod killer, so if Zune does not "kill" the iPod, then it's a failure.

ZOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!