Gizmodo
I'm told that tonight, at 12:01am EST (okay, so tomorrow), the division of Microsoft that launched the Xbox and the Zune will unveil something very special . What it is, we do not know for sure, but it's "something totally new coming out of the Entertainment and Devices division, and it's going to change the way people interact with technology." The email (which was not a tip but rather was mistakenly sent to me through official channels) also stated that "you really have to see it to believe it." How tantalizing.
The timing is good, since tomorrow is when Bill Gates and Steve Jobs get to point fingers at each other under the grandfatherly gaze of Grand Vizier Walt Mossberg, and in these heady iPhone days, Gates needs all the ammo he can get. But what the heck is it? We're convinced Zune 2.0 is still a ways off, but then again, what else would this division be up to? Stay tuned, and we'll get back to you with the details right around midnight.
Comments
I don't get it. Why spend time and money developing a totally new product, when you can develop time and money to improve a product that already exists?(i.e. Zune)
Anyway, I think Microsoft is about due for a handheld gamer device to compete with Sony and Nintendo.
Something motion-sensitive? Just judging by the "change the way people interact with technology" schtick.
I would love to see a handheld gaming device from Microsoft. My guess is you will be able to play music from your Zune wirelessly on your XBOX 360 AND watch videos on your Zune from your XBOX 360.
Just a guess...
Everytime there have been rumors about a new MS product recently (mostly with the Zune stuff) it ends up being nothing at all or a false rumor. I'm not gonna get my hopes up yet.
it will either be hugely successful or a huge flop.
My guess is that it's that Microsoft multi-photo assembly software (to generate panoramic pseudo-3D virtual spaces) which we've already known about (but which hasn't released yet)...
"going to change the way people interact with technology"
Hmmm... could it be... the ZuneWay?
It's the Xboy or the GameBoX or the, or the XBox 3.14 anyway it's a super duper secret hand held MS gaming thingy
I'm wagering that it's some form of talking clock.
Its going to be the wPhone, I'll bet ya.
I would guess the MSFT version of the Apple TV
Uh? A virtual Segway?.
Oh damn, I just noticed jmdecombe beat me to the Segway bit. Damn you and your quick wit and quicker fingers, jmdecombe! Get back to work!
Anyway, Kaiser's right. It's gotta be a Pocket X-Box.
X-Pox?
you're all wrong. it's the second coming of christ.
repent sinners.
mPhone ahoy!
OMG! They finally fixed the D-Pad on the 360 controller???
Its that branded Xbox thermometer that was on the Forza display.
"You won't believe it because we're actually showing how overheated our damn system gets."
How about an operating system that works?
Here's hoping they're updating the Dick Tracy SPOT Watch.
millionth-edition golden zune.
gune.
it wont be out for a while...
Virtual Clippy
Or, even better, Virtual Bob.
I heard that it's an internal computer. It comes with the hollow point needle and everything!
@TommySez: You JUST beat me to it. I was all over Bob 2.0.
It's a clock that sings. It downloads music from Urge. It can squirt (ugghhh) tracks to the zune. It greets you by your x-box handle.
Or it's just like an iphone only different-(see above paragraph for details-except it's a little thicker.
I'm with El Daveo, I think that they will be releasing their newest entry into the handheld gaming arena.
Maybe it'll be something like the XPocket 3000: one handheld to draw the masses, one handheld to corrupt them; one handheld to sell in 12 regional flavors, and in the madness bankrupt them... or something malevolent along those lines.
The Xbox180 (handheld) ;)
Maybe they bought out Meizu and are releasing the MiniOne...
another mouse... yay!
How am I supposed to know what to buy if MS won't tell anyone what it is? Would be nice if it was the motion-sensing, 'Wii-Like' controllers for the XBOX360 that I've been waiting for...
I thought we were due for an announcement on June 1st!
I am thinking it is a way for the Xbox and Zune to talk to each other.
OMG I can hardly wait to find out!
Or, it could be their new flavors of OSes:
Windows Vista: Parlor Gamer Version
(Comes with 200+ captivating desktop games to entertain and challenge your mental ability, plus 37 flavors of Sudoku!)
Windows Vista: Casual Gamer Version
(Just as stable as Windows Vista Ultimate, but with a sku that is targeted to the growing casual gamer market.)
Windows Vista: Ultimate Gamer Version: The OS That Can: Now With Fewer BSODs than Windows Vista: Ultimate
(a.k.a., WinXPPro with a system intensive 3D-enabled desktop engine.)
zune phone or handheld game thing or both in one would be nice...
What's a Zune?
/getting it out of the way
If I could download movies and TV programs from the Xbox marketplaace and transfer them to my Zune that would be cool. Too bad they only have 166 movies on the marketplace...
Hey I got my thumbnail image back today, thanks Giz!
Would if there was a reason for all 10 million Xbox owners to buy a Zune...
Then there would be 10 million Zunes!
Wouldn't it be better if Microsoft told the public what they were developing while they're doing it? Surely then they could get a reaction so that they could decide if it's going to do well or not.
Anyway, it's probably not going to be something worthwhile anyway, if anything at all..
and gizmodo takes the bait........or its zune games
handheld gaming system is my bet...
A USB powered 360?
its a Microsoft version of the psp with all the networking abilities of 360 and will play the games from the original xbox. With maybe a built in cell phone....oh wait that would be a good idea... never gonna happen.
@Paradise:
I thought that was the Jesus, erm, iPhone.
Red Zune will be announced.
@DeadPlasmaCell:
This: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune
microsoft-TV
@ssjmichael
"Red Zune will be announced"
hehe, yes that is probably it...
What about some touchscreen and gesture based interaction model?
During the last couple of days Mary Jo Foley has posted some info regarded to Microsoft's Top Secret project called Milan (also known as PlayTable), and as she has got info related to this no Microsoft person is allowed to comment on it after May 31st... check it out here
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=478
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=474
OR IT COULD BE SOME SUPER COOL QWERTY TYPE PAD THAT ATTACHES TO YOUR X360 CONTROLLER FOR EASIER CHAT ABILITIES. :0)
its gonna be a third arm! like you know the new arms amputees get, except aimed for people who already have two arms. it would change the way people interact with technology, and everything else, and now you can hold a hot dog, a drink and type!
but would be too awesome for something made by microsoft,
so itll probobly be another universal remote.
@Maksimir:
Windows does work. I've used both XP and Vista, and they seriously do work quite well.
They can call it MTV! Oh wait...
It's the wheel.
"I don't know, Herb. Why don't you just take and existing product, and stick a clock on it or something...."
I don't know why that just came to mind.
/Carry on...
Isn't an XBox 360 already Microsoft TV?
Media Center Extender People!!!
How about a bluetooth Zune?
Microsoft's Microfone for the MCE Karaoke
I think the "mistakenly sent ... through official channels" was more likely an intentional early release to generate buzz. If not there would have been more specific information.
I also doubt that anything less than a thought interface computer or a sex capable robot would "change the way people interact with technology"
Hehehe...you guys are going full speed. I bet its Zune 2 with a larger screen.
Okay, give me Longhorn/Windows 2008 Enterprise for free...
-mPhone
-MStv
-MicroBox(handheld videogame system)
-New firm/software upgrade for 360 for communication with the zune
-TouchScreen Zune
-Customizable Zunes (diff. colors and patterns)
-Microsoft PDA/GPS/JesusPhone/Gaming System-All-in-one
....an endless list of guesses
A Xune 360 perhaps?
If this is the product (Featured on Microsoft's homepage as of 05/29/07), no one has anythng to worry about...
Wireless Notebook Presenter Mouse 8000.
http://www.microsoft.com/hardware/mouseandkeyboard/Product...
I can just see the buttons on the bottom of the mouse getting snagged on mousepads and/or getting mucked up with dirt and grime from rolling over desks.
Crap. Pure crap.
Have you noticed that there isn't such a thing as a 'Microsoft fanboy'? It doesn't even sound right.
I abhor Micro$oft.
The Bored Apple fanboy
i'm guessing some sort of multi-touch display technology. remember that vid from a few weeks ago that was floating around, where the MSFT tech guy was giving a demo for biz folks, a desk-thing that was all touch-sensitive, where you could manage a manufacturing business with it. you could lay a paper document face down on it, and it would scan it and convert it to text for use in the system. and it could understand voice commands.
well since we haven't seen any leaks leading up to this point, i would most likely say that there isn't anything coming out today (pacific time is still today)
serious guesses would be phone or home automation/gadget integration system. maybe a standalone unit that distributes media to wireless set top boxes. hell... its a shot in the dark really.
Clippy360!
@Kaiser: Do you think the Zune team has not been working on anything for the past 8 months since it came out? I don't think they laid all those people off...
It's a 80,000 employee company, there's plenty to work on more than one project at once!
i hear they're bringing back the Trackball Explorer, after having perplexingly pulled it from the market a few years ago despite strong demand and no comparable replacement. they're tired of eBayers getting @$100 for 'em. the new version will have green casing and be called the Trackball XPlorer.