Awesome news!!!

Yes! Way to go, I like that aggressive price drop.

Sweet! Does this mean a New Zune soon?

Wait, does this have to do with the New iPod commning out tomorrow? *winks*

You know, whenever I hear of an aggressive price drop, it immediately make me think a new product is about to be launched and the manufacturer is trying to clear out inventory beforehand. (i.e. Apple giving away free iPods with a new computer purchase in the Fall.)

Call me crazy!

Don't playa hate! Speculate!

:)

thats cool. i, for one, am impressed with the hardware. the device, though bulky, is increadibly easy to use and in the 2nd gen zune wouldn't change a thing, same for the ui. Now the part that is irrating me; the fact that the zune seems to be completly abandoned by microsoft. only to 1.4 in almost a year, not good. wifi restrictions need to be lifted to make "the social" work, add video to zm. in short the zune is the only good thing about owning a zune.

Oh, and by clear out inventory beforehand, I mean clear out Zune 1 inventory before Zune 2 arrives - not iPod stuff. You know it's true. You guys have already admitted that ZUne will have a line-up refresh later this year.

Word up! (Do people still use that phrase?)

But... I just bought my Zune last week...

*cries*

I'm guessing this has something to do with Apple's iPod press conference tomorrow?  Maybe, maybe not.  But anyways, $200 sounds like a pretty good value!

I'm so glad I bought my Zune back in May when Circuit City was selling it for $199 but Staples still had it for $249.  Staples did their 110% price match thing, and I've loved the Zune since then.

A week later I got my wife the pink Zune when Circuit City had it online for $199 for in-store for $249.  They price matched it as well. :)

So... I'm real glad people are going to more easily be able to get it for a great price.

Sweet!!!!! Will they let me trade my RETARDED IPOOP NANO for the one, the only zune?

You guys got a B-. Come on step it up.

http://www.cliczune.com/2007/09/microsoft-v-p-z.html

Ah, going to match the big Apple event tomorrow? Clearing out stock? Suspicious, ah yes, suspicious. /mystery

Filed under: Portable Audio Microsoft is quite clear on the Zune Insider blog that this price drop has

The Zune officially got a price drop today, now retailing for only $199 and what a shock I still don’t...

The Zune officially got a price drop today , now retailing for only $199 and what a shock I still don

Why are the Zune team always seem to be reacting? When Apple released a new iPod last year, you were forced to lower the price you wanted for the Zune ($250). Should have been $199 on initial release, could have made a bigger dent in the iPod at $250, and a bigger (possitive) impression. Now that Apple is releasing a new iPod you lower the price again?

BTW: If the Zune was selling like hot cakes, there would be no need to lower the price, so the excuse about you having it planed for months don't cut it! Unless you really had low expectation

Aw man Cesar, I was gonna get me girl a pink Zune for her Birthday (August 21) but I only had $180 and some $40 of my birthday money. (Radioshack had it for $200 but they didnt have pink). Well, you're never too late for a late birthday present. Except I spend that money on a Wii. =/

  Most of these comments sound like they were composed by the same person.

  Past that though, there aren't enough people with a Zune to be building anything exciting for. If M$ has to mark them down to sell them, I would have to save finding this situation "cool" for down the road. Best of luck with your investment.

"something in the books for months"

The timing seems awfully suspicious considering it's the EXACT SAME DAY APPLE ANNOUNCES NEW IPODS!!

I think it's because the 30gb iPods will drop to $199 with the introduction of the new iPods. Am I right? Oh Caesar, your poker face is showing.

This is an obvious preemptive action to combat the massive publicity to be generated tomorrow by Apple. Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

Dave: Saving money is not "uncool". Just because Apple never cuts prices doesn't mean MS shouldn't. Whatever the motive, I applaud a price cut.

Tomorrow is going to be very interesting.  I think Apple is going to throw a knockout punch that will render this price cut and the latest batch of Zunes useless...

Find out what Social News Sites are discussing this post over at metagg.com

Cool, I can use the extra money I save by not buying a Zune to buy a new iPod! ;-)

Cesar, whats up with the spam post approval?

Hey Cesar: I think its great that the Zune is pushing competitively in the pricing war, but do you guys honestly believe thats all it will take to really break out of the current status quo? Or is Microsoft satisfied to just push a few more units?

What I've found extremely disappointing has been Microsoft's [lack of] participation with the community around the Zune. There are some MS teams with great blogs out there and excellent community outreach [notably the XDA/.net team and msjobsblog], but everything Zune related is really, really lacking.

Sure ZuneInsider is great for what it does - music centered information - but has MS really forgotten the whole "Developers, developers, developers" side of things? Its really sad that Microsoft hasn't cared enough to truly back the Zune all the way - with more software features, firmware updates, answers to the community's requests, anything substantial.

Wake up... your customers don't see any worthwhile distinguishing features in the Zune over its competitors [oh wow utterly useless gimmicky locked WiFi - well done]. The teams of dedicated, enthusiastic, early adopters that were hoping for much more have been let down. The Zune's best hopes of having any sort of community-driven grassroots marketing have been completely dashed. I don't think theres a single person left deluded enough to think Microsoft gives a damn about the Zune, there definitely haven't been any developments coming from you guys to convince us otherwise.

I bought a Zune because of the excellent hardware and the promises of having a company like Microsoft aggressively backing it to push through the market. Suffice it to say that hasn't happened. Consider this customer pissed off and extremely disappointed :(

Y'know, I've always loved my Zune. I bought it about a month after launch, never had any issues. The interface is cool and the screen is awesome.

As a matter of fact, the interface and screen was more than enough to stop me from even considering other digital audio/video players.

Case in point: http://fykn.net/other/zune1.jpg and http://fykn.net/other/zune2.jpg

Beautiful stuff.

I'll be picking up a second Zune soon and at $199, the Zune just got a lot more sweeter.

Zune Insider : Price Drop. Some of you may have already heard, but tomorrow we’re dropping the suggested retail price for Zune to $199. It’s part of the normal product lifecycle, something we’ve had on the books for months. We

this price is drop is definitely in preparation for the new ipods.... microsoft expects that the new ipod will lead to the extinction of zune. survival of the fittest. hail apple!!!

'm not considering to get a Zune in the near future but this is great news and good sign to get more buyer. Let's the price war begin.

Microsoft is dropping the sugguested retail price on Zunes . If you are considering getting a Zune hold

Pingback

Zune Prices Fell

nice, now all you have to do is open it up to more formats like creative has - and it would be worth considering.

I like this move. Guerrilla tactics indeed.

Go Zune!

Zune should have been at this price all along.  It is a great device (I like mine) but it really needed something like this to close the deal when people are looking at the Zune and iPod side by side on store shelves.  It is too late now because next to the new iPod the current Zune will probably look old and busted.

Looking back, I do feel a bit mislead by Microsoft.  Even in the product brochure there is a paragraph talking about how the Zune will evolve with updates.  We've seen virtually nothing in this regard.

Leverage what the zune is well known for:

- WiFi

- Social

- New Music & content

- Experience

And add:

- Innovation

- Design

The Ipod is a MP3 player known for:

- Design

- Fashion

- Trendy

- Video

You should not compete on those grounds.

Cool and thanks for letting us know.

$199??... I bought my Zune 2 weeks ago in theWoot-off at $149... Like the unit so far, although NO ONE, not iTunes or MS can touch the simplicity and excellence I had in the software of the Creative Labs Nomad 2...

Hey friends, I love the comments and conversation, I'd just like to remind everybody of the comment policy: no trolling, swearing, or spam :)

http://zuneinsider.com/archive/2006/11/27/if-your-comment-got-deleted-here-s-why.aspx

C, may I add a bit more on the "speculate" front? (just delete this if it gets annoying, i won't mind)

http://crunchgear.com/2007/09/04/zune-2-headphones-details/

If that's true (especially the cloth wrapped buds), then it's a pretty darn classy move!

Yeah, I know you can't comment... :)

Good luck Steve Jobs getting your message out now -- pwned!

Mazola, you always crack me up. Damien, you too man.

The hour is approaching where the current leader reveals its cards.  I'm thinking new iPods will mainly sport the CoverFlow interface, improved video output and wifi capabilities.  Since Zune was first with wifi, it will be very unfortunate if Apple beats Zune to the punch with significant capabilities.  At all costs, Zune team needs to make sure Zune retains its *leadership* position when it comes to wifi capabilities.

Microsoft’s Cesar Menendez says that tomorrow the suggested retail price of Microsoft’s Zune personal media players will be cut to $199. ...

You guys need another price drop!! 80GB Ipod for $250.

Wow yet again i am dissapointed with my zune. the new ipod touch has wifi with a web browser. way to go microsoft. now im extremely mad.

Oh, and a Wi-Fi Music Store too.

Good job guys. You had a 10-month head start. What went wrong? You had huge leverage.

It's just sad that Microsoft got such a potentially good piece of hardware into the market, and spent almost a year doing noooooooooothing, as if they were just parked by the side of the road waiting for Apple to zoom past, which they just did quite dramatically.

Won't get stung by promises of firmware updates ever again, so i guess at least it's a learning experience.

it makes me think of selling my zune and buying an ipod touch because of the amazing wifi capabilities. web browser, wifi music store, amazing battery life. i love my zune to death but now its obsolete and its not unique anymore. great. what do i have to look forward to my zune for?

Wow, zune, im preety sure its gonna be way to hard to go after ipod now.  Its just so advanced anymore.  I love my zune to death, but man....

yea Espioz a 10month head start down the tube. and now for no reason at all i cant sign into marketplace and the only thing left support told me i could do is format and reinstall windows xp

Not just wi-fi, but browsing with the same safari as on the iPhone, YouTube videos, and  

you can buy songs directly on the iPhone from iTunes.

Squirting just seems a bit underwhelming (even if you can find someone else with a Zune).

I agree with last couple of posts on this. You had a chance to totally blow us away, yet here goes Apple plowing through feature after feature after feature - and every single one should have been first on the Zune.

Yeah I gotta agree with I Want A Zune 2 there.  With an 80GB iPod at $250 it makes the Zune seem seriously lacking at the $199 price point.

It's kind of funny here.  MS being a software company and all it's hard to believe that, IMO of course, the best part of Zune is the hardware.  It doesn't seem to have been fully realized on the client side and the device OS is, while easy to use, lacking in anything but the most simplistic get the job done features.

I really like my Zune and will continue to use it but it really seems after Apple releases this latest generation of iPods that MS is at least two generations behind them and losing ground.

Wow, you guys had the jump on WiFi, we complained about the lack of features and guess what, Apple beat you to it!

Destroyed my faith in you MS. Guess I'll be buying a new Mac instead of a Vista.

OMG

I want a Ipod touch

OMG

Zune team keep your price drop

Any comment on what just happened Cesar?

But guys maybe we will get the clock feature we have been wanting!  Yeah, to tell the time, what a world!

While the new IPOD Touch does look cool it's still pretty high in price for only 16 gigs.  I still have faith that Microsoft will add some killer features to the existing Zune to make us early adopters happy.  If not...well...I guess I'll still enjoy my Zune as much as I have since day one...and I still love the "all you can eat" Marketplace Pass.  

Although a update to the Zune firmware would be sweet...oh so sweet....

-Still a very happy Zune user

It's a disgrace that Zune is being pwned on the Wi-Fi front like this, when they were first out of the gate with it.

Iphone price cut, must be soft demand, right?  Or does that only apply to the Zune, Ishan?

Quote:Ishan Bhattacharya

This is an obvious preemptive action to combat the massive publicity to be generated tomorrow by Apple. Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/05/steve-jobs-live-apples-the-beat-goes-on-special-event/

Cesar, Zune,

What happened?  B-?  You had better have good answers to the ipod wifi bomb that dropped today with the itunes wifi store.  

I love my zune, but man...  

Someone just asked me 2 days ago, iPod or Zune?  That's a pretty tough argument now...  no FM tuner now?  that's it?  

And 8GB iPhone for $399 A $200 price drop!  Zune only dropped $50.

Time for a hardware/software refresh and some new features.  Yesterday!

I think the whole zune community feels totally let down.  We begged for months to do simple things, add simple updates to make the zune better.  All we ever heard were, tour, nmf, new colors, buses, its not what we want.  Those of us who bought the zune, beleived it would suceed.  We were wrong

in less than an hour and a half apple just stomped,crushed, ran over and burned my zune

I have a feeling, and this is just my opinion, that Toshiba and Microsoft didn't part on such good terms in regards to no using Toshiba to create the Zune 2.  Therefore all the support Microsoft was getting from Toshiba for software/hardware development on the Zune 1 project went bye bye.  Again this is just my opinion.  

Also, lots of bad sentiments toward the Zune from a Zune user base.  Cesar, Microsoft, you know this is not good.  We deserve an explanation on what went wrong here.  How about blowing us out of the water at 3pm ET with an announcement about Zune Video Marketplace or Zune Wi-Fi Marketplace.  I know, Zune doesn't make announcements.  My question is, why not!!!

Microsoft, there are some opportunities to exploit the latest iPod weaknesses.

Shuffle - We all know that Zune needs more form factors for budget conscious consumers.  We don't know much about the rumor'd Zune Sleeve but if it is a SD card type device then it might offer conveniences over Shuffle.  Plug into your Windows Mobile phone?

Nano - This is an area Microsoft can really hurt Apple.  If Zune nano includes wifi with real functionality and price, storage, content and battery life to match...Zune stands make up some ground.

Classic - Some might be inclined to say Microsoft needs to match storage and price.  I think its more important for Zune to get real wifi capabilities, streaming, smaller footprint and better battery life.

Touch - This is more troublesome to Microsoft long term.  It is bring OS X to the masses.  Microsoft has no equivalent and has pretty much gotten rid of PocketPC.  Not to mention there is no Zune software to run on Windows Mobile today???!!!

With iPhone price reduction to $399, the Starbucks deal and new Wifi iTunes... Zune is further behind then ever.  The Zune team should be embarrassed that Apple has beat it to the punch in delivering a Wifi download store.  Zune team, times up..time to show us what you've come up with.

Yeah Brandon, if they can just find some way to push the boundaries of technology and get us that clock... that'll stop the apple fanboys laughing..... :)

You can see the mac vs pc ad now - iPod: I have a touch screen, a web browser, a wireless store and a huge screen. What about you Zune? Zune: I know what time it is... oh hang on, I might do soon.

madbikeskilz yes we were very wrong. i am more than let down. im crushed, and sick of tour buses, cakes, and nmf.

"The Zune team should be embarrassed that Apple has beat it to the punch in delivering a Wifi download store."

My sentiments exactly.

Stick a fork in that Zune, he's done.

Cesar,

I don't know if you're in some sort of conference call right now or something, but even a post of "News upcoming..." or something.. let us know that you're still there.

Palm dumped the Foleo (thank goodness!) they new when to cut and run.  - on that note, We the community love our Zunes!  Give us something to talk about other than ipods!

Something Microsoft needs learn & realize...Apple is getting OS X into the hands of iPod owners.  Believe me, in the future all iPods will be running OS X !!!!

Zune price drop 20% after 1 year.

Iphone price drop 30% after TWO MONTHS!!!

Absolute porking of their customers.

I do agree sjgmoney that got stuck hard

Well I can safely say there isn't a reason to hang around here anymore. :( I was looking forward to Zune news but it seems to be limbo, and what just got announced today seems to appease me for a need for a new mp3 player.

It's not just that MS didn't use the potential of Wifi, it's the fact you havent launched in the UK yet or Europe for that matter. Apple launched their new ipods and they will be in Europe very quickly. By the time Zune comes to England, Uk it will be a very outdated product and selling for a silly price I would expect, £200 ($400).

Cesar, my advice, go back to the xbox team, the xbox360 is innovative and amazing compared to any other console out there and has pushed the enevelope so much Sony and Nintendo had to copy features! The zune in comparison lacks what the xbox team has, the experuience and the innovation to move forward, they don't seem hungry enough to want to implement basic principles into an mp3 player.

Apple has certainly raised the bar significantly. Time for the Zune to step up to the plate and significantly enhance its feature-set or be prepared to be a footnote in the history of media players.

I like my Zune. I'd rather not have it be a footnote.

All the kids will want this stuff. They sold 110 Million iPods until now. And it will be getting more and more day by day. Why you are sleeping at MS? You have XBox Live with film and tv series downloads. Why not bring that into the zune marketplace? Why no international release. Why no zune wireless store? Why no browser on zune. Why no wireless snyc? Why no podcasts? I wonder what your team is working on?

However I continue with my zune for the time being. Still hoping...

It is like Apple has been reading the requests from the Zune community, and took it seriously and delivered what many have been asking for.  I guess I am still holding out hope until after the holidays, just because that would be the soonest I would replace my current player.  

sjgmoney said:

"Zune price drop 20% after 1 year.

Iphone price drop 30% after TWO MONTHS!!!

Absolute porking of their customers."

I'll speculate as to why Apple dropped the price of the 8GB iPhone. Originally, the iPhone was available in two capacities (everything else being equal): 4GB and 8GB. The 4GB iPhone was $499, the 8GB iPhone was $599. I just don't think the 4GB was selling at all, and the 8GB wasn't selling as well as Apple would like (although they say they are on track to reach their sales goal of 1 million before the end of September.) So. Eliminate the 4GB model, and the efficiencies gained by streamlining the manufacturing lines help reduce the price of the 8GB.

I bought an 8GB on launch day. I paid $599. Does it sting that just a few months later, it's $200 cheaper? Sure. But, that's the technology industry folks. Always moving, always changing, always getting cheaper for better technology. It comes with the territory.

Oh. And the Zune got seriously spanked today. Now *that's* gotta sting.

I'm sure Microsoft has some killer stuff waiting in the wings. According to Mandy Mount, though, it won't be released until after the holidays.

I think we'll be seeing a lot of those new iPod Nanos in stockings this Christmas.

Wow that new iPod is the worst looking iPod to date, Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar! Integrate the Xbox Live Marketplace with the Zune! IT will work! Add Wireless Wifi, a browser and more pixels! YOU CAN DO IT!

There is still hope.  The Ipod Touch won't ship until Sep 28th.  We have WiFi now... Fix the capabilities soon and the Zune can still be in the running.  

Cesar whats Zune doing about this?  Please don't just roll over; come out swinging.

No doubt the Zune got spanked Zuneless, and price cuts occur all the time, but name the last product you bought that dropped 33% in two months?

Supply and demand, not enough demand = 33% price cuts.

Now before I get accused of being a Zune-boy I have to say it is ridiculous that:

1.no new wi-fi features have been introduced in 1 year.

2.No Video material available on the Marketplace.

3. The lead in wi-fi features has been lost.

Hey, what do you know? Apple just released a product many of us have been screaming at Microsoft to make months and months ago. I don't know how many times I posted about the need to add internet browsing to the Zune! They had all the time in the world to make a big splash and they didn't. I gave Zune a chance, but I don't know how much longer I can take this inactivity. Where are all those WIFI features??? Where?!?!?!?

The new iPods are awesome, no doubt. Still, they can't beat the Zune for video playback.

Only the iPod touch ($300) and the iPhone ($400) offer better screen sizes for video playback. The Zune still has the edge at $200.

But then, I'm big on screen size and that's not a priority for everyone.

Wow this is pretty heated. I'l just like to point out that Mandy didn't say there wont be updates till after the holidays, she just said she couldn't announce anything at that time. At any rate, ball's in your court microsoft

Maybe Apple took a look at this website and built the iPod Touch from what we wanted, Zune can still beat Apple to the MP3 market. NEW FIRMWARE, WE NEED IT, and maybe sharing over Wi-Fi and talking to people over Wi-Fi internet and trading songs and stuff.

All you guys screaming yr heads off just wait for Zune 2. Lets see what they have for us before spanking them. And they will release more info only after the iPod excitement dies down a bit. Remember last year. I think the timeline will be same.

Wait, who's moderator currently checking all our posts? It coulnd't be cesar. I'm sure he went to see the new iPod to see what the Zune could beat them in. Oh yeah, forgot about timeline.

sjgmoney said:

"No doubt the Zune got spanked Zuneless, and price cuts occur all the time, but name the last product you bought that dropped 33% in two months?

Supply and demand, not enough demand = 33% price cuts."

If you go back and look at what I wrote, you'll see I specifically called out demand as being a possible concern and reason for the drop. And yes, you are a Zune-boy... whatever that is.

^^ The problem is that that is exactly what we've been saying since we first bought our Zunes last year! Just wait and see what it can do and we haven't been shown one thing yet. Now we have to wait and buy an entirely new product so that we can unlock the features that were supposedly so "easily unlockable" in the first place. The ability to easily download and update firmware on the Zune was a major reason a lot of people, including myself, bought one.

Cesar,

Bring a message to the masses.  Renew our faith.  Get whoever up the chain to release information.  Be our hero!!

well after the disappointment that was the iphone touch, it's time for the zune 2 to hit the market!

Lets see a ultra slim 4" touchscreen with full zune store and wifi, BUT GIVE US SPACE, the touch was killed dead by the fact it has only 12gb, that sjust rediculous for a highend music player. Ya they included safari, but with that little space it's nothing of a video player, give us a 60-80gb version atleast!

Come on Microsoft do us right! I own a Zune 1.0 but i want my uber sexy Zune 2 Elite ;)

ya and whats the deal how come we havent had a firmware upgrade with new features in... forever, i mean come on wheres the zune store, wheres the video downloads, podcasting, you know... the cool stuff we were all expecting after we were told that the zune firmware would be an evolving platform.

I'm screaming at them because they have lost the plot. How can you say wait for Zune 2, when they haven't even launched the first in Europe?!?!

What are they going to do, release a new one in America only? They need to think about strategy in the rest of the world too, this is where MS have failed, not just in selling the zune, but promoting it and features which have been asked for over the year. Poor show.

So where you say wait, I say re-think. If MS bring out their new ones and they aren't as attractive on half of the features Apple announced it's game over.

I've been an Iriver user for the past 4 years, it's dying on me I need a new mp3 player, Zune was my first choice, but none sold in the Uk. Now they have the itouch, very tempting...

Rohit, you got admit its embarrasing that the Zune team let Apple steal their thunder by releasing a Wifi store first.  I think most are willing to wait a week or two.  Lets just hope that Microsoft announces enough to narrow the gap that was made even wider today.

not only am i upset by lack of firmware. right now im even more upset at lack of even so much as a response from the zune team. its absolutly ridiculous

John Zune has WiFi in all their models while iPod has it only in the iPod Touch. Keep that in mind. So if they implement their WiFi feature all Zunes will get it. Lets see how they implement it. Lets wait and see their new models. Lets see the new software updates. Lets see the new contents.

I am not saying they will nail it but we cannot pass a judgment before seeing what they have to offer.

I think the biggest mistake they did was to build an expectation that a bunch of features will be added throughout the year. That got a lot of people wanting for more. It’s a new product and you will need some years to develop it.

I gotta say I agree with John S. Please update us soon! (at the same time, they'll always be behind without a subscription feature).

Oh, and I just got an e-mail from FedEx today, telling me that Microsoft's prize fulfillment center (for Club Live) is sending me a package weighing 1.7 lbs tomorrow. The Zune weighs a pound or so... Coincidence? I hope not!

(This is for my brother, a Zuneless college student in New York)

Wait for Zune 2? I for one won't be buying another Zune unless Microsoft does something quick to salvage this one. They've really dropped the ball on this.

Cesar: some sort of response man? Not about the new iPods specifically, but about what the hell has been going on at the Zune team the past 10 months... is anyone even still there? Its pretty clear from the majority of the posts here that you guys have a lot of very disappointed customers who *still* back you guys over Apple, how long until we get completely disenfranchised?

If Microsoft has ever been serious about getting into the market - short of the pre-launch ad campaign it really hasn't shown. This should be the point one of you guys comes out here and responds..

I've been pretty pro-zune since it first came out but what i'm gonna do is return my zune(got the 2 year plan) and get an ipod classic 80 gig. Then I'll wait and if I see a new zune in that 30 days that's worth it, i'll return it. If not, guess I'm going ipod.

Since the initial release of Zune 1.0, Microsoft has offered no new Zune products, no new features, and no major software upgrades.

With today's announcement, Apple extends it's lead.

As an Anti-Apple person, it's all very discouraging.

“Apple’s going to do with WiFi what others have failed to do.” - Steve Jobs

seriously, ouch.  i know everyone on here is screaming at you, but the zune team really has asked for it.  even steve jobs who pooh-poohed wifi early on got right what you guys blew.  i don't know what you guys are doing, but i do know that you have no one to blame but yourself for all the flack you're getting.

Not only that but Apple is giving iPhone users (early adopters) the upgraded feature of viewing and purchasing music over wifi.

Goodnight Zune

The only i_Pod with Wifi is the 8GB one. The classic didnt get it..much less the nano...MS add a flash Zune with WiFi and Apple is toast...

But anyways...the expectations are higher...higher, indeed.

I wonder what Zune has up their sleaves...... They should, if possible, add more than a wifi browser, if possible, maybe like Ms word, That would be cool.

Ok, here's the deal.  I've got a zune.  I bought it due the superior hardware with the promise of updates that would compensate for the arbitrarily imposed lack of functionality on that hardware.  Wifi, lack of divx, xvid support (I don't want to use, and hate having to use wmv with a passion) to name just some.

It's been a year, and frankly the promise for updates in functionality are by and large vapor ware.  

Through it all people keep saying just wait to see what they come up with.  To hell with waiting we've been waiting long enough.

It's put up or shut up time already.

Either zune puts up and meets it's promises, and hopefully the desires of it's customers, or I'm walking.

I have come to regret with a passion having purchased the zune, and Apple's newest offering is not making me feel better about my zune purchase especially in light of the fact Zune has done next to nothing with the incredible hardware it has in the zune.

Never again.

@Ricardo Dawkins

The WiFi we've been saddled with is arguably no better than no WiFi at all. An advantage so minuscule is hardly enough to "toast" Apple.

The iPod touch is already being called "The final nail in Zune's coffin"

http://www.medialoper.com/hot-topics/apple/ipod-touch-the-final-nail-in-zunes-coffin/

Ricardo - it's an 8GB and a 16GB model.  Also, the WiFi actually DOES something.

Zoa - MS word on a portable media player?  I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to try something like that (and not in a good way).

MediaLoper article pretty much right on target.  

My old MP3 player died and I finally got a 'brownie' over eBay.  I went the budget route hoping to standby for the Zune 2 announcement but somehow I suspect the bar just got set a bit too high for Zune to stick around too much longer.  Do you even have a bone to throw us Cesar?

Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely not an iFanBoy and have avoided the iWorld but eventually you can't ignore the best value.  (Sort of like driving my Toyota, sorry Detroit...)

Too bad for the guy with the tattoo, ouch!

If iTunes had a subscription service my zune would be in a dumpster. Common Zune pull something together. I'm loyal to microsoft and want to stay that way!

I'm not so sure anymore. I'm not jumping ships. Mainly because all Apple has done is redesign the ipods video and nano. Nothing new except for interface. You guys can still do some damage. Add a browser to the current Zune and all the crap the Ipod touch has. (not all it has) Or introduce something to compete with that. Zune Touch or something. The iPod classic doesnt have Wifi. The nanos dont either. Shuffles? Still useless.

In all when you look at it closely, nothing has really changed. They just introduced a onver priced touch screen ipod. I mean, 8GB for $300? Its PS3 all over again! lol

But yeah, you get the point. Not much done now that I think about it. Just redesigns again. But the brand is enough to make it sell. You guys can beat that.

As someone says above, get up or get off! just dont stand bending for apple to kick your butt.

Get someting going please!!!!

Go you!!!

Add me to the list of very frustrated Zune users.  I have to agree with much of what has been said above.  I love the Zune Pass and I love the potential of the Zune's hardware but that can only go so far.  MS, your handling of the Zune is a study in missed opportunities, broken promises, and (dare I say) incompetent project management.  Allow me to offer some points to back that up:

1.  Advertising has been a joke.  Hard to think MS has been serious about the Zune based on this alone.

2.  Customer support is very lacking.  I speak from experience.

3.  You gave customers the understanding that the product would evolve.  Not much has happened here.  Basic features still are not present.  (Can anyone say podcast?)

4.  Software still doesn't work correctly at times.  I have trouble with many different aspects of this.  You are a software company, after all.

5.  You have failed time and time again to address in a substantial way the complaints of so many of your customers.  I think more than anything else this makes me question the quality of management the Zune team has.

One last thought and I will go.  I am a teacher in a high school of around 1000 students.  To date I have known only three students who have purchased Zunes.  I even asked students at the start of this school year if anyone they know had one.  The only name I got back was one of the three I already knew.  But I heard a bunch of "What is a Zune?".  A lot of high school kids should know what the Zune is after so many months on the market.  Now for the three students I have found:

Two of them got theirs before I did.  Both of those are now dead.  The third got his around the same time I did.  He couldn't get it to install on his computer (I had same problem) so it went back in the box and was returned to the store.  He now has an ipod.  Not a good track record.  That leaves me as the only person with a working Zune in the building (so far as I can tell).  Lots of ipods though...

I love the fact I can load up my mp3 player from Napster and listen to whatever I want.

This is what prevents me from buying an ipod. I'm not paying 99cents per song or buy a bunch of cd with 1 good song on it. Napster and Rapsody is the way to go. As for Zune, its a boat. Make it thinner, make it work with DRM music, and I would buy one.

"Speaking about the Wi-Fi feature, Jobs made a dig at Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) MSFT rival Zune media player. "Some others have done this, and it's failed," ..."

'Nuff said.

Listen I love the price drop, I love my zune.  I hate the zune marketplace, I hate that my zune will not hook up with MS Urge, I hate that there are still no videos on Zune marketplace.  I hate that I bought a aystem that has so much potential, and yet has only one system update in the last 6 months.  I could care less about a flash version, or touch screens.  I want my zune to use at least 50% of the current capabilities.  get off the crapper and do something before I return my zune using the service plan I bought.

The iPod Touch is everything the Zune should've been...

2cents

j

Let's see, what to buy.

A $200 so-so Zune chained to a really bad media player or the 80GB iPod for $249 that I can use with winamp or Apple's really bad player. This is a no brainer, for $50 more, I'll go for the kewl iPod.

Yesterday, no doubt to capitalise slightly on Apple's iPod frenzy , Microsoft announced on its official Zune blog that the decent media player is getting its price hacked down to $199 with immediate effect. Zune Insider also reports that "customer satisfaction"

I'm a Zune owner. I imported to the UK from the US. I love my Zune and try to excite people about it. I am putting my faith in Zune 2.0 because quite frankly the lack of major firmware updates leading on from 1.0 has been appalling. AND, the lack of interaction from MS bloggers on the Zune team. Welcome to the social???!  Pah!  No-one's talking!

UK Zuner:  I second that.  

Cesar I feel bad for you moving from XBOX to Zune.  I bought 2 Zunes so have a couple days pay on me buddy, but now I am finding myself feeling like a fool.  MS has no balls left.  Don't you know that you will be sued for anything you do regardless?  It's time to get proactive with your legal staff and find some loopholes that let you clear out the restrictions and for F sake, admit to us once and for all that the Zune hardware is not capable of anything more.  The WiFi is unable to connect to a regular router/hotspot.  And the hints of potential features was just a bunch of fluff.  Just say that and I might consider buying another product but otherwise without some monster update I am calling it quits.

What I would really have liked to see is Zune downloads via XBOX.  Or shared license with XBOX media.  Bad enough I bought all these shows from marketplace that I can't move to another device or make a backup of.  I paid a lot for this media that I don't even own and it makes me sick now!  Mostly because I have to keep deleting stuff that I paid for to make room on the bs xbox hard drive.

Damn you all for getting my hopes up and for once again punishing the early adopters.

quick one - any news on uk release yet - I've been a zune user for sometime now but want access to the zune store !

Nige

Speaking about early adopters, Jobs decided to give the early iPhone adopters $100 back to spend on more Apple gear! Nice way to take care of early adopters. Cool features like iTunes Wi-Fi music store and the Starbucks feature will soon come for free to iPhone users.

Lots of Zune bashing here...

I was an early adopter and now my Zune sits on the shelf and is only used by my 1.5 year old to watch Dora and Wiggle videos.

People keep saying wait to see what MSFT does... Well guess what? We can't wait anymore!  The ipods are here, they look REALLY nice, they are supported by a store that has more content than I know what to do with, you can connect them to almost all new cars and their price points are reasonable.  I said goodbye to Zune a while ago and I am happy I did because (laughing) MSFT still hasn't done anything with it!!

Wait and see doesn't work for technology.  It just moves too fast.  

I think the Zune team blew it.  They had a great concept.  They have had nearly a year to implement supposed great things in their device.  Now many companies are doing better things.  Sure, the iPod just announced its lineup, but there are other great players out there that do even more than the Zune for about the same price.  Archos is just one that comes to mind.

Face it, unless something amazing comes out soon, Zune is just another Microsoft Bob.

Body: With Apple looking to make waves today around the iPod Microsoft quietly announced a $50 price

i hope this means that they will come out with a new lineup...although the price drop didn't do much for me its cool...i got mine on sale for 199 and i also had a coupon for 40 off of 199 or more so i payed about 170 for mine...

What's is with everyone bashing about lack of features? It is a media player... and it excels at that. What is the use of a web browser on a device with no keyboard? If you want all those features, buy a laptop. The zune is a reasonably priced media player. Sure, they could add more features, but it is a media player, not a Godly all-in-one device.

Personally, I want my media player to play media, not browse the internet. shave my face and walk my dog. The zune is a well build devices that excels at playing media.

I am in no way a microsoft fan boy, I absolutely hate windows and run linux on my main computer, but I think that the zune is a reliable, beautiful device that works better than my lock-up-every-day ipod video.

On the other hand though, if M$ wants to truely compete with their fruity competitor, they really need to develop more features. The zune is great and what it does, but it could be mediocre in multiple things, and that is what M$ is best at.. sucking at more than one thing.

El mismo día que Apple tiene previsto presentar una nueva gama de iPods, Microsoft decide rebajar su reproductor multimedia. No obstante desde Zune Insider Microsoft deja claro que esta rebaja de precios no tiene nada que ver los nuevos modelos de iPo

I'm outraged that the prices droped! I demand a gift card for the price difference!

;)

Zune 2.0 and Flash Zune Details Leaked

http://www.zunescene.com/zune-2.0-details/

I just bought my Zune on the 26th, and I love soem features of it. I am enjoying listening to my Zune. The only thing that I was not happy with was the fact that it took soooo long to Install Zune the program. I was pretty unhappy with that. I also have a 30GB iPod Video and I enjoy that as well although after getting my Zune I will have to say that I am not using my iPod as much as I once was before. Thanks Microsoft.

ZUNES ARE TO SWEET

ofcourse zunes are far better than ipod and the price drop is a great news for other music lovers. It's now in reach of many more people willing to have it in their pocket....

very thanks

thanx docs

thanx docs

The Third Gen isen't due out till next year but they are coming out with a 120 GB Version for 249.99

Wow that new iPod is the worst looking iPod to date, Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar! Integrate the Xbox Live Marketplace with the Zune! IT will work! Add Wireless Wifi, a browser and more pixels! YOU CAN DO IT!

Hi there,

Gadgetzone has posted an article outlying 20 reasons why Zune is better than iPod.

loader.gadgetzone.com.au/.../20-reasons-why-the-Microsoft-Zune-is-better-than-t.aspx

Dave Jansen

Editor

Gadgetzone.com.au

Hello

Nice site!

Bye

If iTunes had a subscription service my zune would be in a dumpster. Common Zune pull something together. I'm loyal to microsoft and want to stay that way!

I think Zune 120 is better than iPod.just visit inanotechnology.blogspot.com/.../new-zune-now-with-120-gb.html

thanks alot

Excellent stuff. The key to unlocking new business models

i want another zune! yay =)

Apple has certainly raised the bar significantly. Time for the Zune to step up to the plate and significantly enhance its feature-set or be prepared to be a footnote in the history of media players.

I like my Zune. I'd rather not have it be a footnote.

Zune Insider : Price Drop. Some of you may have already heard, but tomorrow we’re dropping the suggested retail price for Zune to $199. It’s part of the normal product lifecycle, something we’ve had on the books for months. We

Does this mean a New Zune soon?

Does this mean a New Zunes?

thanks

I love my zune, and they make great gifts!

BTW: If the Zune was selling like hot cakes, there would be no need to lower the price, so the excuse about you having it planed for months don't cut it! Unless you really had low expectation.

<a href="http://www.pressdigital.com.au">Press Digital</a>

thanks

The only thing that I was not happy with was the fact that it took soooo long to Install Zune the program. I was pretty unhappy with that. I also have a 30GB iPod Video and I enjoy that as well although after getting my Zune I will have to say that I am not using my iPod as much as I once was before. Thanks Microsoft.

thanks zune

Does this mean a New Zune soon?

Hi!

My name is Jessika!

hey love the zune

hi thank you

zune can be buy now.it is so cheaper then before

Thanks for the new low price  .great for us...

 How is that relevant?

I'm thinking new iPods will mainly sport the CoverFlow interface, improved video output and wifi capabilities.  Since Zune was first with wifi, it will be very unfortunate if Apple beats Zune to the punch with significant

Thanks for the new low price  .great for us...

ı love my zune, and they make great

Wow that new iPod is the worst looking iPod to date, Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar! Integrate the Xbox Live Marketplace with the Zune! IT will work! Add Wireless Wifi, a browser and more pixels! YOU CAN DO IT!

Wow that new iPod is the worst looking iPod to date, Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar! Integrate the Xbox Live Marketplace with the Zune! IT will work! Add Wireless Wifi, a browser and more pixels! YOU CAN DO IT!

I just bought my Zune on the 26th, and I love soem features of it. I am enjoying listening to my Zune. The only thing that I was not happy with was the fact that it took soooo long to Install Zune the program. I was pretty unhappy with that. I also have a 30GB iPod Video and I enjoy that as well although after getting my Zune

thank you..

If iTunes had a subscription service my zune would be in a dumpster. Common Zune pull something together. I'm loyal to microsoft and want to stay that way!

i want another zune! yay =)..

All the comments are same. The price is to high for me ...

I'm thinking new iPods will mainly sport the CoverFlow interface, improved video output and wifi capabilities.  Since Zune was first with wifi,

I'm guessing this has something to do with Apple's iPod press conference tomorrow?  Maybe, maybe not.  But anyways, $200 sounds like a pretty good value!

Thanks alot for the post.

thanks goodd

goodd

Thanks alot for the post.

thanks for post

nice post

thank alot

thnx 4 the post

IT'S VERY GOOD

thanks

Cool

thanks

thank alot

GOOD

thanks for you..!

hanks for you..!

This looks very good and well made. nice text, Thank you very much.

thanks

This looks very good and well made.

thank you

awesome news. thank you

This looks very good and well made. nice text, Thank you very much.

thank you

thank you

Now the part that is irrating me; the fact that the zune seems to be completly abandoned by microsoft. only to 1.4 in almost a year, not good.

thanks alot

Now the part that is irrating me; the fact that the zune seems to be completly abandoned by microsoft. only to 1.4 in almost a year, not good.s

Now the part that is irrating me; the fact that the zune seems to be completly abandoned by microsoft. only to 1.4 in almost a year, not good.

the fact that the zune seems to be completly abandoned by microsoft.

Wow that new iPod is the worst looking iPod to date, Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar! Integrate the Xbox Live Marketplace with the Zune! IT will work! Add Wireless Wifi, a browser and more pixels!

I bought a Zune because of the excellent hardware and the promises of having a company like Microsoft aggressively backing it to push through the market. Suffice it to say that hasn't happened. Consider this customer pissed off and extremely disappointed :(

nice job, congratulations, thanks.

Thanks nice job

I love my zune, and they make great gifts!

This is an obvious preemptive action to combat the massive publicity to be generated tomorrow by Apple. Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

oh god i bought it las month..

This is an obvious preemptive action to combat the massive publicity to be generated tomorrow by Apple. Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar!

Wow that new iPod is the worst looking iPod to date, Cesar common! You gotta raise the bar! Integrate the Xbox Live Marketplace with the Zune! IT will work! Add Wireless Wifi, a browser and more pixels! YOU CAN DO IT!

I love my zune, and they make great gifts!

Why are the Zune team always seem to be reacting? When Apple released a new iPod last year, you were forced to lower the price you wanted for the Zune ($250). Should have been $199 on initial release, could have made a bigger dent in the iPod at $250, and a bigger (possitive) impression. Now that Apple is releasing a new iPod you lower the price again?

be reacting? When Apple released a new iPod last year, you were forced to lower the price you wanted for the Zune ($250). Should have been $199 on initial release, could have made a bigger dent in the iPod at $250, and a bigger (possitive) impression. Now that Apple is releasing a new iPod you lower the price again?

This is an obvious preemptive action to combat the massive publicity to be generated tomorrow by Apple. Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

thank you man.Now that Apple is releasing a new iPod you lower the price again?

Wait, does this have to do with the New iPod commning out tomorrow? *winks*

When Apple released a new iPod last year, you were forced to lower the price you wanted for the Zune ($250). Should have been $199 on initial release, could have made a bigger dent in the iPod at $250, and a bigger (possitive) impression. Now that Apple is releasing a new iPod you lower the price again?

Oh, and by clear out inventory beforehand, I mean clear out Zune 1 inventory before Zune 2 arrives - not iPod stuff. You know it's true. You guys have already admitted that ZUne will have a line-up refresh later this year.

Word up! (Do people still use that phrase?)

Filed under: Portable Audio Microsoft is quite clear on the Zune Insider blog that this price drop has

The timing seems awfully suspicious considering it's the EXACT SAME DAY APPLE ANNOUNCES NEW IPODS!!

I think it's because the 30gb iPods will drop to $199 with the introduction of the new iPods. Am I right? Oh Caesar, your poker face is showing.

I'm guessing this has something to do with Apple's iPod press conference tomorrow?  Maybe, maybe not.  But anyways, $300 sounds like a pretty good value!

The Zune officially got a price drop today , now retailing for only $199 and what a shock I still don

Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

I think its great that the Zune is pushing competitively in the pricing war, but do you guys honestly believe thats all it will take to really break out of the current status quo? Or is Microsoft satisfied to just push a few more units?

What I've found extremely disappointing has been Microsoft's [lack of] participation with the community around the Zune. There are some MS teams with great blogs out there and excellent community outreach [notably the XDA/.net team and msjobsblog], but everything Zune related is really, really lacking.

Sure ZuneInsider is great for what it does - music centered information - but has MS really forgotten the whole "Developers, developers, developers" side of things? Its really sad that Microsoft hasn't cared enough to truly back the Zune all the way - with more software features, firmware updates, answers to the community's requests, anything substantial.

Filed under: Portable Audio Microsoft is quite clear on the Zune Insider blog that this price drop has

Dave: Saving money is not "uncool". Just because Apple never cuts prices doesn't mean MS shouldn't. Whatever the motive, I applaud a price cut.

What's with all the attacks on the lack of features? Is a media player ... and which excels. What is the use of a web browser on a device without keyboard? If you want all those features, buy a laptop. The Zune is a media player at a reasonable price. Sure, that could add more features, but it is a media player, not a God all in one device.

Personally, I want my media player to play the media, not surfing the Internet. shave my face and walk my dog. The Zune is a construction device that excels in playing the media.

<a href="http://plot-movie.com/" title="plot-movie.com/">plot-movie.com</a>

<a href="search.plot-movie.com/" title="search.plot-movie.com/">search.plot-movie.com</a>

I am by no means a Microsoft fan boy, I absolutely hate the windows and run linux on my main computer, but I think the zune is a reliable, beautiful device that works better than my lock everyday video-ipod.

On the other hand, however, if M $ really wants to compete with its fruity competitor, they really need to develop more features. The zune is great and what it does, but it could be mediocre at many things, and that's what M $ is the best .. sucking in more than one thing.

199$ is good price,your option is good,

You guys have already admitted that ZUne will have a line-up refresh later this year.

On the other hand, however, if M $ really wants to compete with its fruity competitor, they really need to develop more features. The zune is great and what it does, but it could be mediocre at many things, and that's what M $ is the best .. sucking in more than one thing.

Be honest guys...you don't lower the price of a hot-selling product. You keep it the same and add more features.

What's with all the attacks on the lack of features? Is a media player ... and which excels. What is the use of a web browser on a device without keyboard? If you want all those features, buy a laptop. The Zune is a media player at a reasonable price.

You guys have already admitted that ZUne will have a line-up refresh later this year.

Awesome news!!!

I just bought my Zune on the 26th, and I love soem features of it. I am enjoying listening to my Zune. The only thing that I was not happy with was the fact that it took soooo long to Install Zune the program. I was pretty unhappy with that. I also have a 30GB iPod Video and I enjoy that as well although after getting my Zune

While the new iPod Touch has a fresh appearance is still quite high in the price of only 16 concerts. I still have faith that Microsoft will add some features of the murderer current Zune to make early adopters happy. If it does not ... ... I think we will still enjoy my Zune as I have from day one ... and still love all you can eat "Market Pass.

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While a firmware update for Zune would be sweet ... so sweet .... http://imdb-film.com/

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