R.I.P Microsoft Zune

According to Bloomberg, Microsoft will no longer introduce new models of the Zune line of media players, citing low demand.

The company will now focus on integrating the Zune software into Windows Phone 7 devices.

WP7 device owners will be able to use Zune for subscription unlimited music and to rent/buy movies and individual tracks.

The original Zunes were released in 2006 but did not take the market share Bill Gates hoped they would. Despite the critical success of 2009's Zune HD, the Apple iPod (in all iterations) still controls a massive 77 percent of the media player market. The Zune was only a top-10 device.

Microsoft declined to comment on the report but did offer:

We have nothing to announce about another Zune device -- but most recently have introduced Zune HD to Canada via the Zune Originals store and remain committed to supporting our devices in North America. We are thrilled by the consumer excitement for Zune across many new platforms, including Windows Phone 7 and Xbox 360. Our long-term strategy focuses on the strength of the entire Zune ecosystem across Microsoft platforms.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 15 Mar 2011 11:40

Morreale

I was actually set to buy a Zune HD when the came out, but then I found the Cowon S9 and ended up importing one of those instead. Fantastic MP3 player, I'll never buy another brand (until I can save up some real money and try some other higher end audiophile players).

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15.3.2011 14:31 #1

cdxanti

I have an original and its survived more abuse than any Ipod i've ever had.

15.3.2011 16:45 #2

xnonsuchx

LOVE that Family Guy bit...was always one of my favorite MS slams, but I think the Win98 bit in the South Park movie takes the cake.

15.3.2011 16:49 #3

Frogfart

MS limited its potential by only selling the Zune in the USA market.I would have considered buying it in Ireland but never got the chance. Everybody knows what a Zune is, but, they never became available to buy. If you are in the market to sell a product then sell it to everybody

15.3.2011 18:31 #4

nintenut

This is awful, awful news.

My Zune 80 has lasted me nearly three years... whereas the iPods I've owned previously rarely hit the ten-month mark before some bullshit problem cropped up.
I never was into the ZuneHD (I hate touchscreen-only devices), but I'd heard good things about it...

I think it all boils down to a lack of good marketing. :(

15.3.2011 19:29 #5

ntense69

ived had about 6 ipods all of them are junk.....the original ones too....didnt have the $$ for the zune so went and bout a creative mp3 player 8gb and have had it for 3 years.....and it was refurbished too lol

15.3.2011 22:12 #6

biglo30

Originally posted by Frogfart: MS limited its potential by only selling the Zune in the USA market.I would have considered buying it in Ireland but never got the chance. Everybody knows what a Zune is, but, they never became available to buy. If you are in the market to sell a product then sell it to everybody I can agree with that, I really don't understand how microsoft thinks sometimes. The make products but they don't support it. The marketplace for the zune hd is embarrassing! The device had so much potential yet microsoft since found a way to kill it. I think if they had implemented a camera maybe it would have made a difference because everyone knew that the ipod after that was set to be release with one.

15.3.2011 23:49 #7

No_ID

The thing is Microsoft is that they put out a product, just so that they have a product in that market. If the product initially does well, then they will improve on it, but if it doesn't they just let it die on it's own. Or at least, that's the way I view their marketing. With all the money that Microsoft generates, if they wanted to, they could easily dominate any market they have a product in. I just don't understand why they would spend countless of millions for R&D then let the product, or brand, just fade out.

16.3.2011 17:11 #8

KillerBug

I think Microsoft feels guilty about being able to crush competition so completely and easily...so they don't. Just look at the Win7 mobile phones...microsoft has blocked app pausing, copy-n-paste, and a list of other basic features...that can't be an oversight, it is just that they don't want to take even a single customer from RIM, Apple, or Google. If you need more proof, look at the office suite...every new version makes the users relearn the crap, and the learning curve to move to openoffice is much less than moving to the new Microsoft Office...nevermind that openoffice is free. Or how about windows media player? The only media player that works worse than that is the stock media player on the PS3. Or their web browser that is so crummy that PWN2OWN didn't even bother to include it...it just wouldn't have been fair for it to take longer to PWN than Chrome just because the startup and loading times were so much longer. The only field were they even sorta try is in PC operating systems...and even then, Windows 7 is their best OS ever, and it really isn't very good.

18.3.2011 06:17 #9

OmegaMega (unverified)

Originally posted by KillerBug: I think Microsoft feels guilty about being able to crush competition so completely and easily...so they don't. Just look at the Win7 mobile phones...microsoft has blocked app pausing, copy-n-paste, and a list of other basic features...that can't be an oversight, it is just that they don't want to take even a single customer from RIM, Apple, or Google. If you need more proof, look at the office suite...every new version makes the users relearn the crap, and the learning curve to move to openoffice is much less than moving to the new Microsoft Office...nevermind that openoffice is free. Or how about windows media player? The only media player that works worse than that is the stock media player on the PS3. Or their web browser that is so crummy that PWN2OWN didn't even bother to include it...it just wouldn't have been fair for it to take longer to PWN than Chrome just because the startup and loading times were so much longer. The only field were they even sorta try is in PC operating systems...and even then, Windows 7 is their best OS ever, and it really isn't very good. Um, Chrome did not, and has never been pwned at Pwn2Own...so don't let your fanboyness trip you up on the way out.

As for Windows 7 not being "very good," back up your odd statements with some reasons, thanks. Or better yet, don't, no one cares.

18.3.2011 10:33 #10

voyager

too bad Zune is my favorite MP3 player and is better that Ipod.

25.3.2011 17:03 #11

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