Zune 3 for 2009

[Яichard]

Our friends at GenMP3 have tipped ups off to some exciting European Zune news. Since the launch of the Zune I have received countless emails from people all over Europe asking if I knew when the Zune would be released in the EU. It looks like we finally got an answer from Microsoft France’s Francois Ruault- stating in a French newspaper GNT, that the third installment of the Zune would be released in late 2009. This would likely be in the fall to coincide with the holidays.

There are some more interesting pieces of news from this article stating that the Zune Marketplace will hit mobile platforms on the upcoming Windows Mobile 7 OS. Could this be the start of a Zune Phone? My guess would be that is will not be a fully fledged Zune Phone but an intermediary step with music being a tight integration with Windows Mobile 7. Without a doubt we will see this new mobile Zune service in coming Sidekicks since Microsoft’s recent acquisition of Danger.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/03/third-generation-zune-in-fall-2009-europeans-included.php

[Tyler]

Im guessing that since they are going to wait about two years for the third zunes that they will have some major major upgrades compared to zune 2.

[Radiation]

My guess, based on several previously stated facts, is that this whole article is a load of $@#t. first several figures from microsoft have as recently as Jan/Feb said no Zune phone. Second, in order to stay in the game M$ needs a new product showing in fall 08' otherwise they might as well cancel Zune all together. Third Robbie Bach himself said that Zune division is on par to have their first profitable year THIS YEAR. Because of the massive unpopularity of Zune 2 that would only be possible with a Zune 3 in 3rd quarter this year, no later than that (like they did with Zune 80 this year, announced 3rd Q not available until 4th Q and even then in limited quantaties.) Any way the whole thing doesn't mesh well with previously established facts.

edit: the article does state Zune Market place will be available to other phones. This is consistant with what MS has been saying about Zune, but the concept of a "Zune phone" has been rejected out right.

[FrnchDp]

guess is as good as any!

This extended release date is looking like the make or break for Zunes.  They better have something topnotch or they will fold.  Who knows where Apple will be by then - probably Eye Movement Recognition Interface for all we know!!

[xune]

This "news" is like Ford announcing a 2009 Mustang in... 2009.

.. but that's crazy that it's gonna take that long to have the 2nd gen zune replacement.

[Socal]

I think if there is no Zune refresh for 2008 they're through. They're already having trouble holding onto retail shelf space, can you image Christmas 2008 with only last year's product lineup - Zune Originals might be the only place left to get one.

Apple is forecast to sell 30 million iPhones in 2009 (40 million total since launch), 2009 is too little too late for Zune and Windows Mobile.

[M.J]

Off course a new Zune will be out in 2009, it's only natural especially since the Z80 isn't exactly super high tech. When Apple keep cutting prices of the iTouch, refreshing it and release SDK the Z80 become less and less tempting.

[xune]

if zune goes under.. I wonder if some here will ask to have this forum renamed.

Time for some updates Redmond.. keep it competitive at least, wet the appetites with something more than just news of upcoming widgetry and come out with it already.

Gaming is the one thing that seemed to be in MS's corner, yet.. it's not quite here yet... and where are the movies? Heroes is cool n' all, but MS/Universal can't expect the entire buying public to be satisfied on just that as an offering for too long. Universal has a huge catelog of content... why can't that be available on Marketplace already? The starting gun has gone off long ago, and the horses have all run around the race track thrice.. the zune is still just out of turn 2 on it's first lap compared to Apple's juggernaut. Wasn't that one of the advantages of coming into market so late, to be able to see what the formula of success was and try and do it better than the incumbant?

What on earth is the hold up? If these rumors of a 2009 release are anything close to the truth, the towel might as well be thrown in now. By 2009, many will have moved on to a touch, an iPhone, or one of the dozens of other offerings from Samsung, SonyEriccson, LG, or any number of the wireless companies. Those holding out for the great surprise MS has in store for all of us might just be wishing upon a star, as the time to innovate was yesterday and the time for a new product is tomorrow.. not next year.

[FrnchDp]

if zune goes under.. I wonder if some here will ask to have this forum renamed.
...

yeah.. cuz changes are implemented so rapidly around here!   LOL

[seko]

MAYBE THERE WILL BE A CLOCK!!!! OMG! =)

[XT9115]

in order for zune to compete they have to release every year. I don't think they should continue to talk a minimalistic approach tho. They need to come up with something huge the ipod doesn't have. wireless sync is good but people can live without it. I like wireless sync, but I tried to get it to work and eventually I gave up cause it took too long to sync and to get working properly.

Best bet idea for them tho. Wireless sync with an Xbox 360, and you can change the song by changing the song on your zune instead of having to stop the game and choose a song from the Xbox itself. Thats something I am wishing for since I love using the zune and playing games. That would mean xbox would preferably need built in wifi, something ms can do with their money 

[Ricardo Dawkins]

ummmmm....
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/03/why-doesnt-best-buy-sell-creative.php

Best Buy launched its digital music store powered by Rhapsody not too long ago. They asked manufactures to be Rhapsody certified, similar to being PlaysForSure certified, so that all players will fall into one of three music services: Best Buy Music Store (Rhapsody), Zune Marketplace, or iTunes. Creative failed to comply with the request and was thus dropped from Best Buy retailers.

[Kaiser]

Late 2009? I believe Socal's correct. Microsoft is going to have to follow up on their devices yearly, or suffer the wrath of being significantly below the tech curve. Microsoft can't seriously think that the product can do well on a 2 year upgrade cycle, especially since Apple will likely not slacken their upgrading just because someone else does.

[Ricardo Dawkins]

www.cliczune.com

A few gadget websites are reporting that Microsoft will launch a Wi-Fi music store in Europe before the end of 2009, and that the Zune 3 would be release only in Fall 2009.  But these websites are taking this out of context and badly translated the article (being a French speaking person helps me this time!).

This all started after ?Les Echos?, the most trusted French financial newspaper, published quotes from Fran?ois Ruault, Director-Consumer division of Microsoft-France.

Fran?ois Ruault was talking about Microsoft plans to integrate Musiwave, bought by Microsoft last November. Ruault said ? Nous lancerons notre plate-forme de t?l?chargement Zune sur plusieurs terminaux en 2009 ?. The english translation of that would be that a "Zune music downloading platform will be launched on multiple devices in 2009". So what?s the news here? Where early 2008! This gives Microsoft 21 months to release Zune in Europe with a an online store??? This strategy was revealed by Steve Ballmer months ago. Nothing new here. Sorry folks, false alarm.

Fran?ois Ruault did not mention that a Wi-Fi Zune marketplace would be released. It did not even talked about Wi-Fi. He also said that this agenda was not set for good, and was subject to change, if this was appropriate for Microsoft and its partners.