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Microsoft: Don't buy an iPhone, Zune June is coming! photo

According to Microsoft, you should really hold off on buying an iPhone just yet, because huge Zune news is coming in June, and it will blow your mind! Just in case you didn't know, June is E3 time, so it seems like MS will have a hot reveal for the Zune in LA.

MS dropped the news via its Office 2010 Twitter account, where it's been hyping up Zune June. The term "Zune June" was my idea, but MS can use it if it wants to give me money. The Office account has been saying things like: "New product launch ... hold off from buying an iPhone/Pre," and "June 2009 will be an important month for Zune lovers." All five of them?

So, why would we want to hold off on buying those products? The most logical answer of course is that MS is adding iPhone-esque functionality to the Zune, continuing Microsoft's commitment to follow in Apple's footsteps with less success. Could E3 see the announcement of the ZunePhone? It would seem to be a likely bet.

Would you choose a ZunePhone over an iPhone? I somehow can't help feeling that if the Zune tried to copy the iPhone, it would fail on a number of issues, not least the fact that MS is a dictatorial emperor, and I can't see it embracing the freedom of Apps in the same way Apple did. Still, MS has its hands on some decent game licenses, so who knows what will happen? Mobile Gears of War, anyone?


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55 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Popliteal's Avatar
Popliteal at 05/12/2009 08:08
I love my Zune, but I think it would probably be best for all if they left the phone market alone.
Black Nexus's Avatar
Black Nexus at 05/12/2009 08:10
What is it a zune phone? And the zune still exists, its been years since I seen anyone with one.
Justice's Avatar
Justice at 05/12/2009 08:11
No interest in a ZunePhone whatsoever. Will leap years cause it issues too?
Quistnix's Avatar
Quistnix at 05/12/2009 08:12
MS a dictator while apple offers freedom? That's either uninformed, naive or fanboyism.

Don't get me wrong, I love my iPod Touch, but the lockdown really gets on my nerves.
Balaamsafe's Avatar
Balaamsafe at 05/12/2009 08:12
Bring it to europe and ill listen up, xenephobic pricks.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar
Sexualchocolate at 05/12/2009 08:13
Microshaft - so fond of copying they're practically a mirror!

No ideas of their own since Windows 3.1.
atastysammich's Avatar
atastysammich at 05/12/2009 08:14
Oh boy! I can't wait for the Mac vs PC commercial making fun of it, followed by the Mac vs PC commercial making fun of Microsoft defending it!
ChaosTeaCup's Avatar
ChaosTeaCup at 05/12/2009 08:21
Everything is a copy of something these days.
metroid fetus's Avatar
metroid fetus at 05/12/2009 08:22
I love my zune and also unlike iPod (or with iTunes) users I had no problems when the podcastle changed their rss.
jpw21683's Avatar
jpw21683 at 05/12/2009 08:26
I too love my Zune, as the subscription model works for me.

Jim: "I can't see it embracing the freedom of Apps in the same way Apple did."
I hope you're being sarcastic here.
funran's Avatar
funran at 05/12/2009 08:35
Nope, sorry microsoft. You can make software, but your hardware sucks. I'm not a huge apple fan, but they know how to make hardware. I've had my iphone for 2 years, and I'm still happy with it everyday. That's pretty rare when it comes to gadgets and toys. Can't blame you for trying though, pushing the industry forward with competition is a good thing.
Rogue Trooper's Avatar
Rogue Trooper at 05/12/2009 08:43
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar
LsTr Of SmG at 05/12/2009 08:44
Meh, Apple's no better in the hardware stakes.
TheToiletDuck's Avatar
TheToiletDuck at 05/12/2009 08:48
Too little too late, Iphone has the market/mindshare now. Start innovating dammit!
(still interested to see what it's like though)
fetusmilk's Avatar
fetusmilk at 05/12/2009 08:52
thats the second time if seen the term PRE referenced to a iphone/cell phone.
what the hell is a pre? i dont follow all the hip lingo cause its stupid.
Jim Sterling's Avatar
Jim Sterling at 05/12/2009 08:57
I thought the idea of Apps was that anybody could make their own shit and put it up, which is why I said it was free. Was I wrong here?
Sup3rt3d's Avatar
Sup3rt3d at 05/12/2009 09:08
I'd buy a zune phone. I hate the fact that itunes tries to charge to strip the DRM from songs I already paid for, and that they use a shit format that nothing else can read.
MisterGrieves's Avatar
MisterGrieves at 05/12/2009 09:08
I also love my Zune. I don't know about a Zune phone, but there's definitely nothing wrong with Zune hardware.
Okstuke's Avatar
Okstuke at 05/12/2009 09:26
I think you're totally right about that, Jim. If there's countless fart noise generators on the App Store, the uploading process must be pretty lenient.
silvain's Avatar
silvain at 05/12/2009 09:29
"No wait! Don't go with the company with market share and an excellent product! We'll do something cool sometime in the future! Someday! We promise!"

lol
CatalinZima's Avatar
CatalinZima at 05/12/2009 09:36
"I can't see it embracing the freedom of Apps in the same way Apple did."
So what's Community Games, then?
CatalinZima's Avatar
CatalinZima at 05/12/2009 09:43
"I thought the idea of Apps was that anybody could make their own shit and put it up, which is why I said it was free. Was I wrong here?"
No, you have to pay ()$99 to put stuff in the AppStore. See http://developer.apple.com/iphone/program/apply.html
pseudo hero's Avatar
pseudo hero at 05/12/2009 09:47
I don't know why all the Zune hate, I actually really like my Zune refurb I got off Woot. Only bummer is it doesn't work on Mac, but hopefully they fix that with the next run.
trixik's Avatar
trixik at 05/12/2009 09:57
i dont know if this is the real deal, but a german site started to provide pictures of a so called zuneX last week, and today they released a fact sheet:

http://www.mimbee.tv/blog/2009/05/harte-fakten-zum-zunex/
Foamysking's Avatar
Foamysking at 05/12/2009 10:00
sorry but when the original iphone came out i choose microsoft over apple and regretted it every day and i was in line for the 3g day one and ive never been happier
Spilt Milk's Avatar
Spilt Milk at 05/12/2009 10:03
As long as it's on Sprint and not AT&T then, I am there.
BluDesign's Avatar
BluDesign at 05/12/2009 10:15
To me, it's not even an Apple vs Microsoft thing.

MS spent years relying on smartphone manufacturers to peddle their goofy WinMo platforms, which has basically become an extension of XP/Vista and not it's own unique platform.

They can kinda write their own blank check on this to create a new platform with a Zune Phone, but with the iPhone, Android, Palm, and Blackberry covering the smartphone market ALONG with WinMo phones, I don't think there's room on the market for MS to make a real dent into the marketplace.

It's too late to market for me to care, personally. Add in the fact that there's no way a casual phone like a ZunePhone will be able to make marketshare inroads with the business community, it's going to end up a niche product like the NGAGE did.
Swizzler121's Avatar
Swizzler121 at 05/12/2009 10:17
I used to own a zune, worst purchase i've ever made. it only works with their horrible clunky software instead of the much better ms product, the iRiver, which actually lets you use other media sync programs.
Wghj55's Avatar
Wghj55 at 05/12/2009 10:23
@fetusmilk

The Pre is the new touchscreen Palm phone that is coming out. It's all the rage.
Chronic Logic's Avatar
Chronic Logic at 05/12/2009 10:59
Apps are the lifeblood of the iphone. Even the shittiest of apps can make hundreds of thousands of dollars.
vApathyv's Avatar
vApathyv at 05/12/2009 11:05
I never understood the Zune hate, personally. I've had 3 iPods break on me, but when I bought a 30g Halo Zune off somebody secondhand a year ago, I never had any problems, the thing still works flawlessly, even though it's secondhand. That being said though, I wouldn't buy a Zune phone, as I'm perfectly content with my Samsung Rant and don't see why I'd need a smartphone. I'd love to see what the next non-phone Zune's gonna be though, I'm almost out of space on my Zune and would love to upgrade.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 05/12/2009 11:10
It'll just be a bigger thicker iPhone that doesn't work as well.
JynxShot's Avatar
JynxShot at 05/12/2009 11:12
I hate macs and iPods, but I love my iPHone. Apple did quite a damn good job with the thing, and I don't think MS is really going to touch it.
CelicaCrazed's Avatar
CelicaCrazed at 05/12/2009 11:17
I'm getting a BlackBerry. Waterloo represent!!
whatisdelicious's Avatar
whatisdelicious at 05/12/2009 11:25
The actual Zune device, like the piece of hardware in your hand, is miles ahead of the iPod. I say that as a former Zune owner and current iPod owner. The problem with the Zune, (and why I switched to the iPod), is because the software side of things is so godawful. When I used Windows, it was just bad trying to add music and sync to the Zune and have everything show up the way I wanted it to. Now that I use a Mac, I literally had to load up Windows in VMware Fusion just to sync stuff to my Zune because there's ZERO Mac support. The whole process became insufferable.

However, once you get the music onto the device, the Zune is leaps and bounds better than the iPod. Navigating is easier, the menus are better thought out, features like shuffle and repeat are much easier to access (on the iPod you have to back all the way out to the main menu), the device just looks nicer and doesn't have a retarded metal fingerprint magnet for a back, bigger screen, etc.

So if they want to do a Zune Phone, go right ahead. I'm sure the device will be cool but the software will be so atrocious that I still won't get one. Which is a shame because I loved my old Zune. My iPod... eh.
Cowboy TTop's Avatar
Cowboy TTop at 05/12/2009 12:02
I think that MS are going to announce a Zune Live/360 hand held console, more similar to iTouch or PSP. The Zune has been a real problem for MS, so what better way to fix that, but adapting Zune from a what it is, into a hand held console and media/mp3 player.

This would steal Sony's PSP Go! thunder, and perhaps worry Nintendo and Apple too. Zune is already hard drive base too. If we could transfer Live Arcade/XNA games onto it, it would look just as attractive to devs as iPhone. Hopefully, its open source too.

Zune has never been launched in Europe either, but if it was a new hand held, with DLC games, better hardware etc, I'd certainly buy one, after getting and enjoying my 360, and a lot of U.K/EU would too.
jpw21683's Avatar
jpw21683 at 05/12/2009 13:11
Jim: "I thought the idea of Apps was that anybody could make their own shit and put it up, which is why I said it was free. Was I wrong here?"

As CatalinZima points out, there is a developer fee you have to pay.

Also, Apple has to approve your app before it can be posted. They've denied legitimate apps for no reason.

On WinMo, Palm, and (I think) Android, anyone can create their own apps and host on their own website.
feliponz's Avatar
feliponz at 05/12/2009 13:22
The apps are limited to the App Store. If you want to get something from somewhere else, you need a jailbroken phone and go through cydia or one of those places.
To be honest, an iphone without jailbreaking sucks, hard.
(if you own one and haven't jailbroken it, you're missing out)
oknd's Avatar
oknd at 05/12/2009 13:33
Don't ever put the words freedom and apple together in the same sentence.
BoBoTheChimp757's Avatar
BoBoTheChimp757 at 05/12/2009 13:50
LOL I love seeing all the anti-Microsoft rabblerousers showing up. Their crazy comments always give me a giggle.

I am a wee bit frustrated that I just bought a new Zune 120gig a matter of weeks ago. Hopefully whatever xbox functionality there may be will come to the older models like they did with the Zune 30s. I'm not too concerned about the phone part, I already got my G1 ;)
Infinite Obscurity's Avatar
Infinite Obscurity at 05/12/2009 14:09
http://www.mimbee.tv/blog/2009/05/weltexklusiv-zunex-der-microsoft-handheld/

These pics from that German site look fairly legit. Christ, this thing looks big and hideous. Going by pics of the specs for the thing from the same site though, the features are fucking awesome. This thing seems to be a powerhouse that could compete with the PSP, DS and Iphone all at once if not for the damn thing being so hideous. Still, I think I see Braid being played in that bottom screen shot. Looks like I'll be torn by the awesomeness of the feature and the sheer hideousness of the design -_-
Foamysking's Avatar
Foamysking at 05/12/2009 14:34
@ feliponz
i have jailborken my iphone 3 times and go sick of troubleshooting it constantly im perfectly fine using my 3g with apple approved firmware with appstore content sure there are things that you cannot do but the key factor is the phone works! When ever and where ever i need it to work
HarassmentPanda's Avatar
HarassmentPanda at 05/12/2009 15:00
@jim sterling

Submitting apps to the iTunes store is akin to submitting Xbox 360 community games. In both cases, you pay a $99 fee for the development tools and then have to pass a screening process before your game/app seems the light of day. I don't think it would be a stretch for MS to extend the XNA community development stuff to the new Zune, which would be a welcome development. Overall, the Zune is a pretty slick piece of hardware--I would prefer it to just about any iPod, save the iPod touch, as a portable media player. However, the iPod touch's enhanced utility from the apps store just blows the current generation Zunes out of the water.

I currently use an iPod touch and a regular Verizon cellphone because I refuse to switch to AT&T. If I can use the Zune phone on my Mac (can't do this with the current Zunes) and it's available on Verizon, I'd certainly pick one up.
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 05/12/2009 15:24
Why would anyone buy somenthing with such a awful name?
Mulk Calathar's Avatar
Mulk Calathar at 05/12/2009 16:22
What if it was functionally equivalent (or even superior) to an iPhone, was cheaper, AND was an open phone that let you choose the provider YOU want?

That's a lot of what if's but why write it off without even seeing it? If it;s crap it's crap. If it's not crap then you'll looks silly.
CWal37's Avatar
CWal37 at 05/12/2009 16:30
@whatisdelicious

Really? The software was your issue? I find the Zune software to be far superior to iTunes, literally light-years ahead. I have absolutely no problems with it, and people are always interested in what sweet looking program I'm running.

Also, I love my Zune.
Dexter345's Avatar
Dexter345 at 05/12/2009 17:31
If they made it not exclusive to one service provider, I bet they could actually make a dent in iPhone sales.
Daxelman's Avatar
Daxelman at 05/12/2009 17:45
I might have caved in and bought an iPhone if AT&T didn't suck dicks down here.

Sprint's expensive, but their shit works like a charm man.
Johnny Justice's Avatar
Johnny Justice at 05/12/2009 18:04
Songsmith for Zune!
LsTr Of SmG's Avatar
LsTr Of SmG at 05/12/2009 18:53
Everyone keeps saying 'ZunePhone' and yet no one has yet made up 'Zone'? *sigh*
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