Microsoft Zune Digital Media Player is Dead – Long Live the Zune 2

Such has been Apple’s impact on the digital media player market that it would seem that just about every (though, in our opinion, by no means all) manufacturer looking to carve a niche of their own are seemingly, in the most part, left trailing in Apple’s wake – and few would argue that this has undoubtedly been the case when it comes to Microsoft’s much lamented Zune player.

It’s not that the Zune is an especially bad device, its just that, in terms of specification and innovation it’s hardly acted to set the world alight and, whilst a great deal of the criticism concerning the Zune has by no means been unfounded, we cannot help but feel that, from the outset, Microsoft really ought to have known that Apple’s crown would need to be sideswiped by something fairly spectacular in order to displace it. And, whilst the Zune is certainly a capable device, you’d be hard pressed to find a single review that uses such a term in the context of either the Zune’s capabilities, its styling or (lets be frank here) Microsoft’s somewhat lacklustre promotion of their product.

The question is, will the Zune 2 mark the turning point in Microsoft’s fortunes when it comes to relieving Apple of a sizable chuck of its wholly dominant market share in portable, digital media players?

The answer is, exactly what you’d expect – more than probably not. But that’s not to say that the revisions offered in the Zune’s capabilities are not welcomed.

A total of three new Zunes have been unveiled in the guise of the more rounded Zune 2 – with each able to sync with wireless networks (including syncing with PCs – not just other Zunes), each offering touch sensitive navigation controls and with two of the models sporting flash memory storage.

Of the new Zune 2’s, the greatest change has been at the top-end of the range, with the new largest capacity Zune 2 offering not only a larger 3.2 inch screen but 80GB of hard disk storage space (previously the most on offer was 30GB). Additionally, we now have 4GB and 8GB capacity models reliant on solid state flash memory to choose from.

But the changes brought about with the new Zune 2 range are not just restricted to the hardware. The Zune Marketplace, for example, has been overhauled to sport better searching functionality and the inclusion of one million DRM free tracks is sure to be widely welcomed. We also have the Zune Social online community website that will act as a central place of convergence for Zune owners, with each member being able to create Zune Cards that will not only offer a insight to others regarding your music tastes but that will also allow others to sample your collection. Again, a worthy addition to the Zune experience that will doubtless serve to build a centralised fanbase for the player.

But, of all the developments, the one that will surely be welcomed with opened arms by owners of the original Zune is the fact that you will be able to update your player to Zune 2 software standard courtesy of a series of downloads – at no expense whatsoever.

It’s all great news for established Zune users, and for those currently looking for a new digital media player, but we cannot help but feel that unless MS acts to generate a buzz (in the way Apple have always managed with great aplomb) the result will be, at best, a mere whimper in an already somewhat saturated marketplace.

Which is a shame as, whilst it’s still overtly fashionable to knock all things Microsoft, the Zune (hitherto Zune 2) is by no means a poor device (it’s just not all that inspiring either).

Link: Zune Press Webpage