Industrial Design reports on something that Zune owners have known for a long time: brown is the new black. Saying, "When Microsoft revealed last fall that its new iPod challenger, the Zune, would come in brown, there was a chorus of snickers on the blogosphere.

I've had a few arm-chair designers (and a few professional ones) ask about Zune and design. Curious myself, I sat down with Steve Kaneko: Design Director, Entertainment and Devices Division. You can find his bio here (scroll down some). Now the interview: