The geeks over at Whiz Byte have the scoop on the G2 Zune and when we might see it. According to a MS rep, we can expect to see it just in time for the holiday rush. It’s a bit strange that MS wants to move the Zune towards ‘parity with iPod’, but then again, MS has been playing second fiddle to Apple for quite some time. What a waste of time. Hot Scoops, Whiz Byte, Hot Scoops!
If thou art super interested to know what the MS rep said then here you go:
We have seen the rumors floating around, but we haven’t announced specific dates or details for the next generation of the Zune devices or service. That said, Zune follows the cycle of the consumer electronics cycle so you can expect an update later this year prior to the holiday season.
There are three predictable paths along which we’ll expand Zune:
Device family – adding in new sizes, styles and price points
Features – we’ll move towards parity with iPod building in support for video, podcasting, etc and at the same time build on key differentiators such as the wireless feature, the FM tuner, etc
Geographic Markets – we’ll start to expand the international footprint of Zune over time but only when we can ensure an offering which is tailored to that market
And one thing about Zune that’s really great for consumers is that the device is future-proofed. Consumers can buy without fear of their device becoming obsolete. Zune’s software (firmware) can be updated so their device gets automatically updated with new features when the new software is launched.
Zune 2nd Gen Confirmed [Whiz Byte]