No Zune for Europe this year

When Microsoft launched their Zune player in the US in late 2006 it was expected that a European launch would follow sometime in 2007.

In an interview with the German Wirtschafts Woche, Steve Ballmer has now said that the Zune launch for fall 2007 has been canceled indefinetely. He blamed the delay on the fact that the Zune is still not profitable in the US. In late 2006, a Microsoft spokesperson mirrored Ballmer's announcement and said a European launch might not occur until 2008.

Microsoft recently announced it had almost sold 1 million units and expects to do so by the end of the month. New Zune models are anticipated for Christmas this year as well.

Source:
IFU

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 3 Jun 2007 19:59

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12 comments

sk8flawzz

in my opinion...as of right now..the zune zucks

3.6.2007 20:24 #1

elfman12

Ok, fair enough, but WHY do you think that it "sucks". Just curious.

3.6.2007 21:55 #2

sk8flawzz

the whole limits placed on the songs shared, the wifi sucks up the battery, not usable as a hard drive
this one is just me but i dont 'feel' it when im holding it, ya know?

3.6.2007 22:05 #3

borhan9

This is sad news but it will happen eventually. The limitations on this Zune device is a issue but if i know modders and everyone that likes making changes there will be programs that will make it possible for users to do what they really want to do with the Zune Device. Same thing has happened with the ipod. When it was not possible to transfer music files on to the computer from the device someone created sharepod.

After a time period and once the Zune gets a foot hold in the market many possibilites will happen for it.

4.6.2007 00:37 #4

ZippyDSM

Originally posted by borhan9:This is sad news but it will happen eventually. The limitations on this Zune device is a issue but if i know modders and everyone that likes making changes there will be programs that will make it possible for users to do what they really want to do with the Zune Device. Same thing has happened with the ipod. When it was not possible to transfer music files on to the computer from the device someone created sharepod.

After a time period and once the Zune gets a foot hold in the market many possibilites will happen for it.So once the modders fix it it will be better than the Ipod?

4.6.2007 03:00 #5

borhan9

Quote:So once the modders fix it it will be better than the Ipod?I'm no expert im only guessing cause of what i have seen them do with the ipod and even the psps hacks etc... So who is to say it wont happen with the zune.

4.6.2007 03:07 #6

ZippyDSM

Quote:[quote]So once the modders fix it it will be better than the Ipod?I'm no expert im only guessing cause of what i have seen them do with the ipod and even the psps hacks etc... So who is to say it wont happen with the zune.[/quote]well MS and sony tend to make hackable devices that are only complete once hacked :P

like the DVD player PSP thing (well compressed video off a HD but still :P)

4.6.2007 03:56 #7

elfman12

Originally posted by sk8flawzz:the whole limits placed on the songs shared, the wifi sucks up the battery, not usable as a hard drive
this one is just me but i dont 'feel' it when im holding it, ya know?
The WIFI features are getting expanded soon (reportedly to allow downloads from Marketplace from any hotspot) and modders will expand on that I'm sure.

As for battery, I get about 5% less battery time with WIFI on than off, it's not that big of a deal. Now if you are sending/receiving alot, it's probably more.

The feel thing is personal. I like it alot, and I like the interface much better than my old ipod. And with updatable firmware, it'll just get better.

4.6.2007 07:59 #8

REAM

good i say, because itll be onyl typical that the prices of the zune player in here in the uk, seeing as what MS has done with all their products, will be doubel that of the american price.

4.6.2007 13:21 #9

rihgt682

So microsoft think europe should skip zune and wait for zune 2. Not a bad idea microsoft.

4.6.2007 14:30 #10

sk8flawzz

Quote:Originally posted by sk8flawzz:the whole limits placed on the songs shared, the wifi sucks up the battery, not usable as a hard drive
this one is just me but i dont 'feel' it when im holding it, ya know?
The WIFI features are getting expanded soon (reportedly to allow downloads from Marketplace from any hotspot) and modders will expand on that I'm sure.

As for battery, I get about 5% less battery time with WIFI on than off, it's not that big of a deal. Now if you are sending/receiving alot, it's probably more.

The feel thing is personal. I like it alot, and I like the interface much better than my old ipod. And with updatable firmware, it'll just get better.hell yea when modders get into it theyll make it alot better, it has potential, just that right now its not there yet
and i did put that the feel thing is personal

4.6.2007 14:55 #11

Unfocused

It seems that Microsoft released this without really having a clear idea of what they wanted to do with it.

20.7.2007 18:09 #12

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