Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and Corporate Vice President J Allard unveiled the next generation of Zune portable media players, software and online store. Gates and Allard also introduced Zune Social, a beta online community Web site "built around and powered by people's passion for music".
The two new models of Zune portable media players feature the new Zune Pad, a touch-sensitive button for navigating on the device, as well as wireless sync, a feature that allows Zune devices to automatically sync over the device owner's home wireless network when it is connected to an AC adaptor, in a dock or speaker dock accessory. Existing Zune owners will automatically receive new software features, the redesigned PC and device software and access to the new Zune Marketplace when everything is released to the public in mid-November.
"Twenty years ago we bet the company on an integrated productivity suite of word processing, spreadsheets and presentations, and we changed the way people work," Gates said. "Today we're making big bets on games, music, video and connecting these entertainment experiences to help change the way people play."
"By tapping into customers' passion for music with Zune Social, we're starting to change the game," Allard said. "This lets us start building a new, more valuable kind of relationship with consumers that, combined with other Zune innovations, will start to drive the entire music industry forward."
"The time is right to let go of the older business models and recognize that consumers want something different when it comes to music today," said Terry McBride, CEO of Nettwerk Music Group. "People are looking for simple ways to find great music and easily take it with them wherever they want to go, and Microsoft is not afraid of doing things differently to deliver on this vision."
Microsoft announced three new models of Zune portable digital media players: a sleek, black Zune 80GB hard-drive model, which has a bright 3.2-inch screen and comes with premium headphones (ERP $249.99); the ultraportable Zune 4GB (ERP $149.99); and Zune 8GB (ERP $199.99) flash models, both available in pink, green, black and glossy red. The new Zune devices feature the Zune Pad navigation button, with its touch-sensitive surface. Consumers can flick their thumbs over the pad to fly through lists of songs or albums or to fast-forward through picture slide shows or videos. For those who need to pause, advance or adjust the volume on the device without looking, they can also navigate the Zune Pad using physical cues by pressing on the four sides or the center of the button to adjust the volume or choose the next track.
New features for fall include the following:
Wireless sync : Zune devices will automatically sync over consumers' home wireless networks with this helpful new feature, aimed at ensuring that Zune owners always have the latest podcasts and other content ready to go when they‘re leaving home. Syncing with the collection on their PC happens via a home wireless network and will start on its own when the device is placed in its dock or plugged in to charge. Alternatively, the sync can be started manually.
Extended wireless sharing : Share select full-length songs, albums, playlists, pictures and even audio podcasts from device to device. Consumers can now listen to any song received up to three times with no time restrictions, and they can now also pass along songs to other friends who have a Zune.
Recorded television content to go: The Zune software will now automatically import broadcast content recorded on Microsoft Windows Media Center for Windows Vista Home Premium or Ultimate, so consumers can sync them onto their Zune media player and watch them on the bus, in their car or wherever they want when they're out and about.
New Accessories Work Across the Product Line
Zune will also be offering a new line of accessories to help consumers get the most from their Zune content wherever they are â€" at home, in the car or on the go. To make it easy and affordable for existing Zune customers, original Zune accessories will work on new Zune devices and new accessories will also work with the Zune 30GB device. In addition to a selection of accessories from partners, eight new accessory options are available from Zune this fall:
Zune Home AV Pack: Home Dock with three faceplates to accommodate each Zune device, wireless remote, AC adaptor and composite AV output cable (ERP $99.99)
Zune Dock Pack: Home Dock with three faceplates to accommodate each Zune device and AC adapter (ERP $49.99)
Zune Car Pack: Redesigned FM transmitter/charger and dashboard grip pad (ERP $79.99)
Zune Cable Pack: Sync cable, composite AV output cable and audio cable (ERP $39.99)
Zune Premium Headphones (ERP $39.99)
Zune Leather Case (ERP $49.99)
Zune Sync Cable (ERP $19.99)
Zune AC Adapter (ERP $29.99)
