More High-Resolution Zune Photos

[Jason Dunn]

The <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/zune/default.mspx" target="_blank">Zune Virtual Pressroom</a> has some CMYK JPEG images, print-ready, that neither IE nor Firefox can render in the browser. So here are the best of the bunch, presented for your Zune-loving pleasure.<br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/rendered-boxshot.jpg" /><br />Above, we have a rendering of the Zune packaging. They're really liking the whole brown thing. I think we need to have a whole separate post about brown, so I'll save my comments on the subject for later. Below are a series of nice product shots with backdrops...<br /><br /> <a target="_blank" href="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zune-whitedrop-big.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zune-whitedrop-small.jpg" /></a> <br />[click image above for high-resolution version]<br /><br /> <a target="_blank" href="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zune-blackdrop-big.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zune-blackdrop-small.jpg" /> </a><br />[click image above for high-resolution version]<br /><br /><a target="_blank" href="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zune-browndrop-big.jpg"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/zt/2006/zune-browndrop-small.jpg" /></a><br />[click image above for high-resolution version]

[egads]

The screen looks very bright and very nice, but other than that I'm very unimpressed with the hardware. I'd like to see some battery life info also and some pictures of the Zune next to a IPod or Zen.

I guess this is not targeted at my age group (40+) because I could care less about all of the sharing junk MS is sticking into it. I just want to play music and maybe keep a picture or two on it.

I hope they come out with a few more models quickly and I hope I like one of them fits my needs better. Till then I'll stick with my Zen Micro a bit longer. I hope MS has a hit on their hands with these because people will have no end of fun calling the brown Zune's "turds" :)

[SuperFreak]

Very nice. Looks a bit thick, but nonetheless looks saweet!

[Phillip Dyson]

This guy definitely looks better than the original pictures that I saw. Microsoft may have another winner here.

Oh woe is me... what will become of my Zen:M.

I'm excited to see how this will fit into MS' entertainment sub-ecosystem. Hopefully there's a place for my SageTV setup.

This may sound a bit strange, but IPod users should be excited too. No that Microsoft is involved, the game is afoot! Apple's got a race on their hands. They may be in the lead now, but you can bet they're in the board room right now revamping their roadmap. Could this be the end of Apple's incremental updates?

Lets see, what else am I wondering about? Oh yeah, music stores? Movies? Are they working out a partnership with YouTube? Or are they planning to squash it.

Lots of people in the media space need to be looking at how the Zune has just changed their worlds.

[echoreader]

Let me just get this out of the way - I am a huge Mac fan and an owner of 4 iPods.

But, I really admire J Allard's ability and what he's done with Xbox team. He's the right person to provide direction for the Zune team and I really think Microsoft's first full dive into the digital music arena is going to be a good one. Aside from the typical questions about the Zune's initially limited Wi-Fi sharing, this platform has all the makings of a good user experience, which is what it's all about.

I love that my iPod has all my content - music, pictures, tv shows, movies, podcasts, games and all that good stuff. But I'm really looking for some new ideas and Microsoft has the muscle, money and people to make it happen.

I really look forward to the Zune's launch. I want to get my hands on this hardware 'cause it looks great, everyone says it feels great and I like that twist interface. I look forward to Apple and Microsoft thriving b/c competition is great for everyone. Go Zune!

[Darius Wey]

Let me just get this out of the way - I am a huge Mac fan and an owner of 4 iPods.

Great to hear your thoughts, echoreader. Welcome to the site. :)