Today's rumors...

[snicholls]

Originally Posted by Moonrakerone

Did you click the "zune HD" section of the apps?

There is no Zune HD section (and yes it is the correct software and I am logged in )

[CrowdAds]

[Master_Jackson]

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B84...ut=list&num=50

[Uberman5000]

Originally Posted by snicholls

There is no Zune HD section (and yes it is the correct software and I am logged in )

Log out, close the software, switch your computer's region to United States in the control panel, and then open it again.

[Mr Manager]

Originally Posted by Olley

The tech sites are all just passing on a "guess" as news reported by Bloomberg. Blame the general lack of anything exciting going on in the tech world for the runaway fire that one little match caused.

My "guess" is that there is probably a prototype or two in the labs at microsoft of a "next generation" Zune PMP or media player series.

...

I would understand both scenarios being possible. MS could just give up, or they could take another shot. Do a Samsung and make a phoneless version of one of their Win7 Phones for sale as a PMP. Anything is possible, and from experience we know that what MS actually does doesn't have to make sense to us.

JMHO

Of course, what you're saying makes a lot of sense. I actually would be happier if Microsoft came out and said "We haven't decided what the future of Zune hardware is; we're still trying to gauge demand." Of course, they can't (or won't) come out and say that. My problem is that the Zune brand has, unfairly to my mind, become a joke, a synonym for a failed experiment. When CNN says the Zune hardware is dead and Microsoft responds "The Microsoft Windows Live music software conglomerate of Zune services networked to Windows Phone, Kin, Courier, and XBOX continues to be thought about, explored, and discussed" that does absolutely nothing to mitigate the effect of that story. Those of us who already love Zune may hold out a hope and, should they decide to bring out another hardware device, many of us will probably buy it, but Microsoft's potential future customers are getting the message, loud and clear, that Zune is dead. The company is killing the demand while waiting to measure the demand.

[Uberman5000]

Gotta love what gets the media going. They immediately publish a report from "a man on the inside" like it's actual news, and they also do a story about people lining up to get an iPad 2 like it was an entirely unexpected phenomenon. "Gosh, people lining outside the Apple Store to get iShit! Have you ever seen such a thing, people?"

Probably just what they assume people want to read, especially when it involves Microsoft's foot in its mouth. You don't see Cnet posting articles extolling the death of the Creative Zen player.

[aimran]

Originally Posted by Mr Manager

Of course, what you're saying makes a lot of sense. I actually would be happier if Microsoft came out and said "We haven't decided what the future of Zune hardware is; we're still trying to gauge demand." Of course, they can't (or won't) come out and say that. My problem is that the Zune brand has, unfairly to my mind, become a joke, a synonym for a failed experiment. When CNN says the Zune hardware is dead and Microsoft responds "The Microsoft Windows Live music software conglomerate of Zune services networked to Windows Phone, Kin, Courier, and XBOX continues to be thought about, explored, and discussed" that does absolutely nothing to mitigate the effect of that story. Those of us who already love Zune may hold out a hope and, should they decide to bring out another hardware device, many of us will probably buy it, but Microsoft's potential future customers are getting the message, loud and clear, that Zune is dead. The company is killing the demand while waiting to measure the demand.

I would like to see Microsoft release a new Zune right now just so all these news websites lose credibility. Of course, most news organizations just spit out lies these days just to get views. And keep in mind that apparently it is cool to write negative spin on anything Microsoft and the media knows they will get hits if they do that.

[Darkhyperchaos]

I just have to question why a few new games and apps being released here and there suddenly warrants the device as being "not dead". As I've said before, if a few new apps were so important and so great, then there's another device that offers a much better experience for apps. One of the reasons many bought the Zune HD is because they didn't care about apps. So why are a few apps now so meaningful?

I don't mean to discredit what you're doing, Dave. I appreciate that you still care and are trying to make the Zune HD better. However, I don't see how a few new apps being released every so often on a aging and locked up device suddenly makes it not dead. The Zune HD is dead. It might not be 100% shut down yet, but a few apps on a device that "wasn't about the apps" is hardly convincing. And for those who are drooling over the new apps, the reality is there is a similar device that offers you 400,000+ apps and that number is rapidly growing.

[Darkhyperchaos]

Originally Posted by aimran

I would like to see Microsoft release a new Zune right now just so all these news websites lose credibility.

I would too! That would be the best way for MS to redeem themselves, announce a Zune HD2 that is finally competitive with the latest iPod Touch. Unfortunately, at this point that seems like a pipe dream.

[jonhapimp]

i'm still waiting on a zune phone, one that has wp7 but has the same musical presence the hd has. hint hint

[Master Devwi]

Thanks for the update, Dave. The internet just loves to jump to conclusions based on the rumor and speculation.

I love Zune, the Zune HD, and Windows Phone 7. While I'd really like to see a WP7-based Zune HD2 down the line, I'm quite happy with my Samsung Focus. You guys do a great job, and it saddens me to see the internet make fun of Zune at the first chance they get.

Thanks again for the response and keep up the great work!

[foolishgrunt]

Just wondering, did anybody verify that this Dave account is legit?

[Master Devwi]

Originally Posted by foolishgrunt

Just wondering, did anybody verify that this Dave account is legit?

Yes, Dave McLauchlan is a Senior Business Development Manager for Zune. He has a long history of posting on our forums. You can definitely trust what he has to say.

[poisonousjuice]

Originally Posted by foolishgrunt

Just wondering, did anybody verify that this Dave account is legit?

At least you registered an appropriate user name for that question

So with these rumors, you can look at it this way...

You can now have an mp3 player that they will announce in a few months that an even better one is coming out, or you can have an mp3 player that you know will always be the best one of it's kind. lol.

[Moonrakerone]

Originally Posted by poisonousjuice

At least you registered an appropriate user name for that question

So with these rumors, you can look at it this way...

You can now have an mp3 player that they will announce in a few months that an even better one is coming out, or you can have an mp3 player that you know will always be the best one of it's kind. lol.

you're a glass half full kind of guy, huh?

[ToysSamurai]

Originally Posted by DaveMac-MS

So for those who tweeted or emailed asking what I'm "going to do now" - I'll be going to work tomorrow, working on Zune hardware bizdev. And when Microsoft announces news that is actually news, you'll hear it from us directly, and I'll be sure to pass it on immediately. Only then should you take it as gospel.

Cheers, Dave.

Dear Dave,

Thanks for sharing the info. Now, when you are back to work, can you please think about the following:

I love my Zune. Really, I love it. But the chance I am getting a Windows Phone in the next couple years is NEXT TO ZERO. Yes, I know Microsoft is very proud of its new phone OS, but the reality is that many people, like me, cannot and/or will not change their smartphone OS. I use Android myself. I would ABSOLUTELY love to see a Zune client on Android. To be honest with you, if there's not a Zune client for Android in the next year or so, I am afraid that when Google finally releases its music store, I may have no choice but cancel my Zune membership because I do not intend to carry one more devices with me other than my smartphone.

So, please think about developing a Zune app for platforms other than Microsoft's own. There is Office for Mac, I don't see why there couldn't be Zune for Android, for iOS, for Mac, for Linux.


Sincerely,

Kam

[Mr Manager]

Hey, Dave's famous! I hope he doesn't get in trouble for sharing what little info he can with us. We do appreciate the updates, even if it leads to being singled out in snarky blog posts. I still say that this is why a definitive statement needs to be made. Each equivocating response is just fuel for the fire.

[epithetless]

Originally Posted by Mr Manager

Hey, Dave's famous! I hope he doesn't get in trouble for sharing what little info he can with us.

He won't. He shared just little enough to be in the clear.

[daglesj]

Originally Posted by Master Devwi

Yes, Dave McLauchlan is a Senior Business Development Manager for Zune. He has a long history of posting on our forums. You can definitely trust what he has to say.

But in all honesty, he hasnt really said anything has he.

Other than 'Watch this space' which we've all been watching with fading interest since the HD was launched all that time ago.

[Joe_Linux]

Is the Zune HD a drag and drop system player that is fully compatible with Linux?

[Master Devwi]

Originally Posted by Joe_Linux

Is the Zune HD a drag and drop system player that is fully compatible with Linux?

The Zune HD only syncs with the Zune software client on the PC and the Windows Phone 7 Connector for Mac. As far as I am aware, it's not compatible with Linux.