Aug 25, 2006
Zune Goes to the FCC
by Cesar Menendez at 11:09 AM

So I come into the office today and I have about 1000 emails linking to this FCC report. And many of you have asked for comment. The report is legitimate. 

Toshiba is our manufacturing partner for Zune.  As for the report, I’m not able to confirm or comment on the specific details right now. But know that Zune details (the full feature set, the bona fide UI, etc, etc) are coming in the next few weeks. 

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42 Comments
Comments
Cesar--Good job stepping up to the plate on this one instead of 'we do not comment on rumors or speculation'. I've gotta say I like the device but I really hope a 60gb model drops. As I have 32gb of music only and 10gb of video, this model doesn't help me. And not to forget of course the UI for connecting to PC--please no WMP. Otherwise, it looks cool.
would have preferred a 60G drive, but other than that looks good. Shame it wasn't kept confidential though.
So the rumors are true....that's the Zune. I think it looks pretty simple, yet powerful...can't wait for more info.
Update: Microsoft’s Cesar Menendez confirms ...
good skins is what the device needs im sick of white devices :) black/ blue... cobalt/ice :) And i must agree i have well over 35 gigs of music/videos so i'd really want to see a 60gb version of the device.... So is it a Microsoft device, or a toshiba device ;) i know i know microsoft partners are the ones that make the parts and then microsoft assures quality assurance and brands the device :)
I looked at the FCC pictures it looks like the vendor for the WiFi is KeyStream a small Japanese Manufacturer. http://www.keystream.co.jp/en/tech/cpu01.php
NOOOOOOOOO from those screenshots im seeing a lacking... a lacking of a battery compartment... i really hope they dont do like apple, and make it so the batterys cant be replaced... on long flights and stuff sometimes a second battery is soooo helpful,... i also really really really hope zune at launch and thereafter have some strong accessories partners (like say bose and pioneer etc)
arggg and i knew it was too true the docs are lacking any mention of the "fmtransmitter" that was rumored... there goes the incar communication without the need for a addon uggh
Actually, the first page of the user's manual lists "FM Tuner" under "Features"...
Oh I see, you're talking about a transmitter. Nevermind...
Eric--I think Chris is more tweaked on the transmitter piece. It lists 'tuner' which by definition means you can 'tune into' or listen to FM. He wants to be able to transmit FM to a car stereo/boombox a la iTrip, etc. There are no mentions of the ability to transmit to a FM frequency which would have had to be disclosed to the FCC.
beat me to it....the joys of getting a phone call while typing...
I have to admit, seeing it now I am unimpressed. Other than the quite useless DJ/transfer stuff ( only in an ideal world where everyone had zunes would that be practical ). I really hope they wow me or else I will just go with a Clix or Creative Zen.
I have 34.14gb of music and 1 terabyte of video. I what a 2 terabyte Zune. ;P
The whole secretive, let the leaks tell the story thing is getting weird. Why wouldn't they (MS) want to spill the beans themselves in a controlled environment. It's just a little strange to let the FCC and a bunch of low-key websites do the talking about your prized device. And, this is coming from someone who is very excited about the product and runs a site blogging about the Zune. Just my 2 cents. I will still be anticipating the news coming in the next few weeks, which will apparently be old, although official, news by the time it hits the press. This mini rant has nothing to do with Cesar or Richard, but rather, the whole setup of this product from a company perspectivie could've been better.
I would prefer a larger hard drive, myself. My current iPod 60GB isn't even large enough anymore. That, and battery life. I hope the batteries can get a good amount of time out of them, especially when it comes to video. The max four hours that current portables are getting is way too low.
So yet again, this "official blog" is last with the news about Zune. All the other gadget and iPod websites do the digging, find the info and all it's left for Cesar to do is to say: "I can confirm this" or "don't believe all that you read elsewhere". Is there anything that you've actually been first to tell us about the device itself yet? I don't count news of bundled videos, yawn.
Toshiba is building the Zune for Microsoft? You mean, the company that is the only one AFAIK to have built a Windows Mobile Portable Media Center 2.0 (or whatever the new build with portrait display, extra OEM apps and PTP support version number is) ? The more I hear about this, the more I believe Zune is Portable Media Center 3.0, which is very good news, PMC rocks and only needed some good hardware to be a real competition to other high-end portable players. However, as someone why like to use A2DP Headset with a Pocket PC (Plantronics Pulsar 590A), I feel having Bluetooth in the Zune and support for A2DP in PMC would be a real high-tech improvement over wires. Hope the first gen will be an impressive device, and second gen will bring all the power of the underlying OS.
According to an FCC report, Microsoft's coming Zune player will be manufactured by Toshiba Corp. This news does not come as a surprise, we noticed similarities between Toshiba's GigaBeat S series player and the Zune design already. Of course Microsoft's
I wonder if the Gigabeat S will be upgradable to PMC 3.0? Obviuosly the Gibabeat is missing the WiFi, but besides that they seem very similar...
What's a "pyxis device" as seen in the user's manual?
Thanks for the confirmation, Cesar. I agree with SportsUnit that it's a funny way to funnel info, but- it's still info. 30 gb limit doesn't particularly bother me. I understand these are "portable" devices," and I might have access to my computer more that once every 395 hours. Lack of a swap out battery would be unfortunate. These players typically see a lot of use, especially if they have connectivity to allow use in cars and at friends. I'm hoping it's not white- It'll bomb, because white is so overdone and boring and yesterday. Even Apple is experimenting with really daring colors like *****black******. Talk about cutting edge ....
If unimpressive leaks are genuine, this must be very good. How do sharing and DJ modes manage IP rights? How new will this be? Thanks
Thanks Cesar for confirming the Toshiba news. It sounds great. Is the FCC "user manual" legitimate? We're likin' the sounds of the "DJ" feature. Harvey - Zunerama.com
The features sound pretty sweet, to be honest. Suggestion fo Microsoft: Integrate the Zune with Media Center boxes. I don't mind buying shows if I want to keep them forever, but for a quick train ride, I'd like to just transfer my recordings to my Zune for the day. Of all of that was mentioned, though, my biggest concern remains battery life.
It seems like the new legal bearshare, version 6.0 will be beating zune to the market with some of the community and social networking features. However, it is plays for sure so the MS wins anyway... just thought I'd share this: http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060817005185&newsLang=en
I just want a 60GB version to hook up to my 360.
I am seriously ditching the Ipod the day this comes out. My wifi has been begging for this for years now. Im not buying a 360 until WE11 comes out so, gotta dish the cash for this and the plethora of accessories to follow. you guys keep up the good work and lets hope toshiba gets it right:)
See I told you http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/gear.tcl?gear=Patagonia-Spraymaster&gear_id=2461&action=showgear Microsoft is teh suck WTF is up with this? An iPod "competitor" that's just a rebadge of an existing device with extra features and software to confuse users even more. If this was by any other company it would get a "Yet another unremarkable nondescript knockoff out of Korea" post and then be forgotten. What is it about MS that makes them think their name gives them license to ship crap and call it A Revolution?
It's official, the trolls have found documents on the FCC's application web site and the Zune Insider has confirmed that Toshiba will be manufacturing Zune for Microsoft. Here is a picture from the external photos document on the FCC's web
Jamarlo, I'm kinda leaning towards your sentiment. The whole slow-bleeding of information only makes you question how confident M$ is about this product. I've been a fan of the Zune since I heard about it, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but man when I see that they're letting the FCC double as a PR firm...that makes me wonder. I mean, we only need to look at the XBOX 360 and the entire 3 days of air time that m$ bought on MTV to pimp it. But like I said, I suppose it's too early to say something like that won't happen. But still. They gotta come correct.
...it seems to me the FCC public disclosure was not intentional. If you read the docs they clearly say that it was meant to be confidential. No doubt there are a lot of highly annoyed Microsoft execs right about now, while Apple execs chuckle. still, Zune looks hot, i think it will do well and become the defacto HW standard for URGE, Yahoo Music, Napster and other stores. lv
^^ Like I said, if that is true, Microsoft must be the worst secret keepers ever. It was bad enough when 360 screens were leaked days before the unveiling, but now with the zune, it has been nothing but stupid viral sites, "leaks" and hype. I really hope this isn't a marketing strategy, because in the end it will leave many with a sour taste in their mouth. translation to microsoft: stop the viral videos unless it is actually good ( Ilovebees, not hex or bunny ) or hypes something that is completely different ( origami ). Also, stop "leaking" info. I would much rather have a blog post or press release to reveal info to me. ( leaks are only cool when they are occasional, they just become annoying and repetitive when there are too many ). Finally don't let rumors run around. If it doesn't have a feature, tell people, don't let them hype a feature that doesn't exist. Let them focus on what your player actually has, not what it might or doesn't have.
What Microsoft doesn't get is that they are NOT ,and can never BE, cool. Never. Ever. Ever. Watch the Simpson's, guys. The first rule is that if you are trying very hard to be cool, you are definitely NOT COOL. It is universal.
Would someone at Microsoft please at least confirm that Zune is URGE compatible? There's a lot of speculation that it's not. I'm an URGE subscriber whose Creative player just took a fatal fall and will be shopping for a new player soon.
^^ MS would be shooting themselves in the foot if the zune wasn't urge compatible. THEY HELPED BUILD THE SERVICE. ( sorry there is no underline to make my point ) I bet this will be the second device in the new "ecosystem" of wmp11 and urge. ( iriver clix is the first device ) Even if MS makes their own service, they will make their player playsforsure, or else face backlash from both consumers and partners.
So, why is it ugly?
I think that the device is the lees important thing of Zune. Software and the community tools are what will set the difference. You know, a device could be replaced by another one, a community is more difficult to build.
And when do you plan to comment on the rather startling similarities between this Zune product of yours and the DuroSport company's new Pütz media player? I find it hard to believe this is a coincidence.
Got one for the wishlist!! Leverage Wi-Fi to support online music services i.e. Rhapsody, Napster, Yahoo! Music Wouldn't it be cool to have a mini interface to any of these services? Have the option to play music on-demand? With Google and services like clearwire helping to make Wi-Fi coverage get closer that of cell phones - wouldn't that be a great little feature for a portable music device? Access to 2+ million songs without limitations associated with storage capacity - AWESOME!!!
The hardware: lame, derivative, butt ugly The software: I'm sure it will be up to Microsoft's usual standards. IOW full of bugs, spaghetti code, and vulnerabilities. Hell it might even run Office apps. The public reaction: Yawwwwn.
Ok well the zune looks cool but im not getting it unless i can get replacement batterys cause my ipod went dead after a year and a half and i cant even return it wtf.
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