Windows Phone 7 Won't Kill Zune HD... Yet

[Adam Krebs]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10466978-27.html' target='_blank'>http://news.cnet.com/8301-13526_3-10466978-27.html</a><br /><br /></div><p>"<em>[W]ith the impending release of the Windows Phone 7 Series, which will include full Zune HD functionality in its "Music + Video" hub, I've begun to wonder if Microsoft will phase out the Zune as a standalone music player. Here's one clue: Microsoft developer Michael Klucher on Tuesday put up <a href="http://klucher.com/blog/achievement-unlocked-xna-game-studio-4-0-for-windows-phone/">a blog post</a> about the upcoming XNA Game Studio 4.0. Thus far, XNA Game Studio has been primarily used to develop casual games for the Xbox 360 and, more recently, to create games for the Zune HD. ... Long story short, Klucher confirmed that XNA Game Studio 4.0 will support game development on Windows Phone 7 Series phones, but not on the Zune HD.</em>"</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/wpt/auto/1268530978.usr495.jpg" style="border: 1px solid #d2d2bb;" /></p><p>Well that's a kicker. Microsoft really <a href="http://www.zunethoughts.com/news/show/97277/microsoft-doesn-t-want-apps-for-the-zune-hd.html" target="_blank">isn't going to roll out</a> the Zune HD app plan like they said they would? It's hard to see a silver lining in what is essentially Microsoft cutting off any hopes of a Zune HD app store, at least for this generation. Microsoft's Klucher confirmed that current XNA 3.1 code will continue to work with the device, but the features in XNA 4.0, like 3D APIs, Xbox Live integration, and the cool cross-platform Windows/Xbox/WinPhone7 game porting won't be coming. There's talk of a Zune HD2 in the works, which would follow Apple's lead in providing an experience similar to WinPhone7 without a cellular radio (i.e. iPhone to iPod Touch), but Microsoft has made no announcements yet. Personally, I prefer having a dedicated device for music and video, rather than feeling like they're tacked on as an application which needs to be loaded each time I search for a song, but it appears that device convergence is the direction the market is heading.</p>

[jaxim]

Just another fine example of one Microsoft department nit talking to another. If they had, then they could have made the Zune so it would be compatible with the Windows Phone requirements (i.e. 3 button requirement).

Let's hope that after Zune HD2, Microsoft departments are talking to each other so this won't happen again.

[Alber1690]

I thought that the response from Jessica and Matt from the Zune Insider blog to the Zune community's reaction was very interesting in their last podcast. It seems like everyone would be happy if they just enable a system by which developers can create and distribute apps to the Zune HD, even if they have to use older tools, as long as they are allowed, that's all that matters. It would be more of completely blocking app development and distribution to the Zune HD that would be sad and senseless.

[stlbud]

It's extremely disappointing that Microsoft is playing Apple's game of kicking the faithful in the groin. I have a Zune 80. It wasn't but a short time after I bought it that the Zune HD was announced. There was a lot of excitement and hope for a bright future for Zune but then we were told the "traditional" Zunes had no future in Microsoft's development scheme. Now, just a short time later, the Zune HD is in the same situation.

In the past, Microsoft has worked hard to keep older systems in the loop at least partially. Every transition of Windows for PCs has been eased by making software compatible up and down the line. Even Pocket PC/Windows Mobile has given developers the option to roll out products for the previous and next versions.

What Happened??!!? Has Steve Jobs secretly taken over development at Microsoft?

[Adam Krebs]

What Happened??!!? Has Steve Jobs secretly taken over development at Microsoft?

I think Microsoft realized how successful the top-down model has become financially, and comparatively how unsuccessful and fragmented Android, WinMo6, and other open platforms have become. It seems to be just more of a matter of putting resources into development that will see faster returns. And as stupid as it may seem, it just doesn't appear Zune HD was a priority for the app marketplace.

[David Tucker]

I really wish that Microsoft would go head to head with Sony & Nintendo in the mobile gaming market with the Zune platform. I think that would change the game significantly for Zune HD in general (and I don't see any reason why they can't do this). Zune HD as a gaming platform just makes sense to me. Zune is about music and video right now...but to me its always been about portable entertainment.

That would just be another 'thing to do'. I realize it has games now...but I'm talking about giving us a device that has controls like a real gaming platform. A game marketplace through the Zune desktop software with the already established video & music...man, what I wouldn't give to have that.