AfterDawn: News

Zune to be packed with music videos from EMI

Music company EMI has agreed to put music videos of it's signed bands preloaded on the Microsoft Zune when it's launched. Such British bands as Hot Chip and 30 Seconds to Mars.

After initial reports came out, many speculated that the Zune would not play video, however this new deal seems to prove that the Zune just may be an all around device. With the ability to download software, play video and music, Microsoft may have a contender to take the 70% share away from rival Apple.



Details on the Zune are still few and far between, however it has been said that the Zune will come with a hard drive and wireless access allowing it to download software and music on the fly.

Source:
BBC

Written by: Dave Horvath @ 18 Aug 2006 5:51

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• 22 comments

• gogochar

  Tsk, tsk, tsk. When will Microsoft learn that Apple will forevermore dominate the portable music player market? Zune is just another device for M$ to mess up!

  18.8.2006 06:07 #1

• AIM2Shame

  like the MAC would continue to dominate the computer market over IBM? Then along came windows...
  
  Tsk tsk tsk
  
  
  (Anything free with a device is good news.)

  18.8.2006 07:30 #2

• Cinnjerm

  Yea, glad to see people are starting to pay more attention to other mp3 players. Ipods are crap without a replacement plan. It's like buying a 400 dollar paperwieght. Besides, Apple can SMD.

  18.8.2006 08:03 #3

• lxfactor

  you never know.. the pc beats the mac.. maybe the zune will beat the ipod... also i think microsoft is way better than apple... if you guys hate windows its because you don't know how to use anti-virus or even update your computer.. i had my computer for over 2 years now and runs like new because i keep viruses and spyware out.. =] im getting mad at my ipod.. the video mode eats the battery.. the screen scratches easily.. and sometimes my ipod freezes or the album art doesn't show... lacks better games and replacement accessories are expensive.. 40 dollars for earbuds that sound like tin foil when you have any sort of bass on your music.. id say this will be quite interresting in the mp3 player battle.

  18.8.2006 10:46 #4

• andersg

  Quote:however it has been said that the Zune will come with a hard drive and wireless access allowing it to download software and music on the fly.Now, That would be cool.

  18.8.2006 10:48 #5

• neurokasm

  I hope it flops (but it probably won't), M$ has enough domination in this world.

  18.8.2006 12:48 #6

• nitrous3

  I don't think that the Zune will beat the iPod no matter how any extra features it will have

  19.8.2006 13:07 #7

• vudoo

  You Already have the Creative Zen and the iRiver which has made video players. I'd either go with iRiver or Creative Zen. However the iPod is king

  19.8.2006 23:04 #8

• borhan9

  To me this whole thing is not even off the ground yet soo i just sit and wait till we get some hard evidence.

  21.8.2006 01:16 #9

• djgizmo

  No so true lxfactor. Widows has ALWAYS been buggy. I've been using it since windows 3.0, and its far from perfect. As for updates / anti-virus, that does not prevent source code from being buggy. Granted, MS has come up with some really nice inovations (like the right click menu), but after having windows XP / 2000 installed for 8-12 months, you will notice a slow down (if you don't then you just don't pay attention) The registry gets clogged and causes more issues than it should.
  
  Spyware is a problem, but not the only problem. I can't say macs are 'better' than pcs, cause I am a pc man myself, but very very very few viruses / spyware can affect macs, and overall, its rare that one has to reboot them due to a system issue.
  Quote:the pc beats the mac.. maybe the zune will beat the ipod... also i think microsoft is way better than apple... if you guys hate windows its because you don't know how to use anti-virus or even update your computer.. i had my computer for over 2 years now and runs like new because i keep viruses and spyware out.. =]

  21.8.2006 06:53 #10

• pantsfire

  The I-pod will never be defeated. LOL.

  22.8.2006 07:57 #11

• mikedk90

  Will the built in wireless ability be only limited to downloading music, or will browsing the internet be capable?

  1.9.2006 15:10 #12

• pamsipod

  ...along came windows.
  
  Windows SUCKS! PC users are just drones! I've only had my mini mac for a month, but it hasn't crashed once! Oh! My! Gosh! That's unheard of in PC/windows world. Microsoft will never surpass the ipods' success, nor will it even begin to rival it! Keep dreaming Billy Boy.

  1.9.2006 20:51 #13

• vudoo

  Well every electronics store sells accessories for the iPod. Radio Shack has been doing it for quite some time as well as Wal-Mart. You can’t say that for some of the Plays For Sure devices I’ve seen. Although I do like Plays For Sure Mp3 players. The reason I bought an iPod was because it works well with my internet Downloads when I use Videora iPod converter and I can convert my DvD’s to iPod files with Clone DvD mobile. Well if the iPod would only dominate the p2p networks there would be less confusion about which video codecs I may have to install just to play movie files on my PC. Thank God for KL codec pack. Without that I’d be totally lost.
  
  This Zune device with wireless Internet sounds like a dream. Who knows it could have a cellular Internet built into it and along with that there will be of course more gimics for a certain cellular carrier. I see Microsoft getting involved with tricks like this too. And along comes Spiralfrog which will allow FREE legal music.

  1.9.2006 22:25 #14

• bsrealm

  Quote:
  ...along came windows.
  
  Windows SUCKS! PC users are just drones! I've only had my mini mac for a month, but it hasn't crashed once! Oh! My! Gosh! That's unheard of in PC/windows world. Microsoft will never surpass the ipods' success, nor will it even begin to rival it! Keep dreaming Billy Boy
  
  Nah, I've been using Windows XP SP2 for eight months. No error. No crash. And I'm a hardcore user. Only once did my hard-drive burn out due to power problems. That ended my 8 month period. I have all the beta stuff, all the wacky software. Just use genuine windows. Windows Defender, firewall. Just too good. M$ is awake again!

  4.9.2006 10:18 #15

• vudoo

  I'm not saying this by no means because I may be against piracy cuz I'm not but here it is:
  
  If you use a PIRATED, Cracked, Modified version of an OS you can expect to have errors. Yes I had that so called corporate version of XP and about every 3 months it went down. Why? Because it was made that way on purpose I believe. That is why MS is not too worried about it. Problem is that those who use PIRATED versions of windows are the ones that are probably spreading viruses and they don't even know it.
  
  I suggest you pay for the OS even if every other piece of software in your PC is Pirated or open source. You'll probably get better results from a licensed OS. If your super cheap then get Memphis which is Linux. At least Linux is a FREE OS and there is no hacks, cracks, serial numbers needed. Otherwise pay for Windows and if you don't oh well deal with the bugs then.
  
  OK back to topic. The only thing I hate about the iPod is that you don't have subscription services like Yahoo Music unlimited. And you don't have subscription viceo services. But with the invention of Spiralfrog it may change that. Maybe Apple will license a version of its Fairplay to Spiralfrog or maybe they will have an AEM version of iTunes comming soon.

  4.9.2006 19:53 #16

• pamsipod

  Quote:
  Nah, I've been using Windows XP SP2 for eight months. No error. No crash. And I'm a hardcore user. Only once did my hard-drive burn out due to power problems. That ended my 8 month period. I have all the beta stuff, all the wacky software. Just use genuine windows. Windows Defender, firewall. Just too good. M$ is awake again!
  
  First of all, you have obviously never been introduced to MS Mellinium Edition (genuine). At least XP runs for a day or two in between crashes (also genuine). I have never used any MS software that wasn't genuine...makes no diff!
  
  Point is, I know iPod has it's problems, what doesn't? Nothing big enough to bother me. I am new to Apple products because I have had it with MS...14 years of bug ridden crap...I am finished! MS could NEVER come up with a product to rival iPod, it just isn't possible...windows proves that with each new version that continues to be bug ridden and crash happy! I am an Apple convert, and it's all because of my iPod!
  
  Wireless downloads would be nice, but so what, it needs to charge sometime. It isn't like you would never need to plug it in again.

  4.9.2006 20:19 #17

• bsrealm

  Just wait and watch. Thanks to all (Linux, Google, Apple) for waking up the slumbering giant ^_^

  5.9.2006 10:50 #18

• pamsipod

  The slumbering giant overslept! Too bad so sad!

  5.9.2006 11:20 #19

• bsrealm

  Better late than never ;)

  7.9.2006 17:27 #20

• whyandy

  Zune will be preloaded with some music and videos, such as "30 Seconds to Mars", the best rock video at this year’s MTV VMAs!, and "Serena-Maneesh", etc.
  A lot of Zune's specifications have been revealed, includeing Zune video file, audio formats, photos, software, capacity, size, weight, Zune service, battery, WiFi wirless, system requirements, etc.
  http://www.afterdawn.com/general/adprices.cfm

  16.9.2006 23:50 #21

• yan060717

  It's highly recommended for you ipod video converter software it more fit you.
  from here:
  http://www.afterdawn.com/general/adprices.cfm

  3.1.2007 20:41 #22