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| Focus on Microsoft's Apple iPod killer -- Zune |
| Since the news that Microsoft will develop a player around this September to rival Apple's iPod, more and more people focus on it. As more application functions of Microsoft's Zune media player revealed, we are trying to develop our products for the iPod killer to meet users' need: ImTOO DVD to Zune Converter and ImTOO Zune Video Converter. For Zune software can import audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC, photos in JPEG, and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264, the DVD to Zune converter is going to be easy-to-use, professional DVD rip software, that can rip and convert DVD to Zune video MP4, AVI, MPEG, WMV, MOV, RM, RMVB, DivX, XviD, ASF, VOB, 3GP, APE, VOB, VCD etc, and DVD movie to Zune audio WMA, M4A, MP3, WAV, AAC, AC3, MP2, RA, OGG, CDA etc. While the Zune video/movie converter, an all-in-one Zune converter, would convert to Zune video and Zune audio with excellent quality from most popular video and audio formats. Here we will share the news with you. |
| As everything has not been clear enough at present, no one knows what Microsoft will develop indeed, and when it will come out either. Here are just clues and tips we get from the Microsoft staff men. |
About the player's name:
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It is said there are several names at first like Argo, Pyxis, Zune, and Alexandria etc. According to the words of Microsoft, it is more likely to be "Zune". Here are the clues:
"Today we confirmed a new music and entertainment project called Zune," Chris Stephenson, a general manager of marketing for the software maker, said in a statement on July 21, 2006. "Under the Zune brand, we will deliver a family of hardware and software products, the first of which will be available this year."
In the "Financial Analyst Meeting 2006" held on July 27, 2006, Robbie Bach, President, Entertainment & Devices Division, said that "Finally, one of the things that we just announced last week is a move into the music and video space in portable entertainment, something we call Zune."
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This player will be a multi-functional one as combines music, video and game together:
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"The initial device will have Wi-Fi and use a hard drive to store music," Microsoft said. Stephenson's statement also lent some credence to speculation that the company's player will use wireless connectivity to share music with other Zune devices.
And Robbie Bach said "...I think the first thing to understand about Zune is that we are taking a more integrated approach to this......We think that's important to produce the number one thing that has to happen in this marketplace, which is a great customer experience. And we have to tie those things together in some ways like we have in the Xbox world, where in the hardware, software, and Xbox Live service we have tied things together in a great experience."
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New features revealed
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The Zune-to-Zune sharing feature may not be available for all songs on your device, and works only between Zune devices within wireless range of each other. This feature allows recipients to play full-length sample tracks up to three times in three days. Recipients cannot resend music that they have received via the sharing feature.
Music estimates are based on 128KBps WMA files, with length of four minutes each. Pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size. Video estimates are based on 500KBps WMV files with 128KBps WMA audio tracks.
To display station name and song information, stations must broadcast a Radio Broadcast Data Standards (RBDS) signal. Availability may vary.
Zune software can import audio files in unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC; photos in JPEG; and videos in WMV, MPEG-4, H.264.
Requires a PC running Windows® XP with Service Pack 2 and high-speed Internet connectivity.
Dates and functionality of updates are not specified at this time. Microsoft makes no guarantees, express or implied, about the features contained in future Zune updates.
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| What we can get from the official department are the above ones. And here are more news which even more specific than the above ones from Medias. |
First Zune content revealed
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The official Zune guys of Madison and Pine just shared some of the content "that is going to be preloaded on the Zune While the complete list is still coming together".
No matter people like the music or not, it seems to tell us that there's video and audio(.swf supported?) in the Zune. --- Madison and Pine |
Razer Pro|Type Multimedia Keyboard: Zune Dock
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Razor Pro has an expensive-looking keyboard on its website that is designed with an integrated iPod dock.
Now it seems that it has modified it to host Microsoft's first Zune player.
Mock-ups of the Pro|Type keyboard, which has 32kb of built-in memory, programmable hot keys, and USB ports, have been circulating on the Internet.
Gadget blog Gizmodo has been tipped off that the keyboard will be released in November, but whether that's the iPod-compatible one features on Razor's website or the Zune-friendly edition isn't clear. --- Pocket-lint.co.uk |
Microsoft's Zune set to make a big noise
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A technology writter said that the Zune is bad news not only for Apple's iPod but also for the likes of Creative, iRiver, Toshiba and Cowon, who produce music players that work with Windows Media Player.
Microsoft is unlikely to exclude its current partners from using its music software and online music store Urge, but the level of integration the Zune has with Windows Media Player and Urge including codec WMV/WMA will give the Zune an advantage current iPod rivals have been lacking. |
Much about Microsoft's iPod rival is still shrouded in secrecy.
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One Indian media said that Microsoft's Zune player will be out in Nov.14th this year, and it will be in Dark, Grey and White. And any two colors can be combined together upon the user's favor.
And the player is with 30G hardware and supports FM broadcasting. Its screen is 50% larger than the one of Apple iPod player. And it will be sold around $399 which is the same valued as Apple iPod 60G player while more expensive than 30G Apple iPod player. The professionals points out the reason is that Microsoft Zune player has richer functions.
The insider disclosed that the Zune player's menu list provides options for "music", "video", "picture", "community", and "settings" while "game" is not included at the moment.
Some media said the player will support 400MHz DSP Processor, 30G hardware and Windows Mobile system. |
| We can not be sure about everything unless the player comes out finally just like that we can not know the result before the end of the match. What Microsoft will develop in the end? Let's wait and see what happens!
ImTOO Software Studio keeps an eye on the issue like you do. To provide our users with tools that are most needed, we also have the intention to develop Zune player related software, such as ImTOO DVD to Zune Converter, ImTOO Zune Video Converter etc, which is also a time-unsure work as it is much determined by the publish of Microsoft Zune player. Before that, we are providing professional tools for Apple iPod player like:
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