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Microsoft “Deeply Committed” To The Zune, Company Says

1/15/09, 1:18 pm EST

Photo: Clary/AFP/Getty

Contrary to reports from last week, Microsoft says the company is “deeply committed” to the Zune. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer had hinted that the company might be preparing to “throw in the towel” on their digital music player and instead focus on software, however Adam Sohn, head of the Zune marketing division, said, “We’re not getting out of the hardware business at all.”

There’s no question that the Zune has encountered problems as it struggles to cut into the iPod’s dominance. While the Zune marketing department would obviously want to sound optimistic about the future of their product and downplay the discontinuation talk, they have at least outlined some possible ways to expand the Zune’s visibility, including delivering the Zune music service to the company’s XBox 360 consoles.

Expansion would also mean developing software for non-Windows-based phones, and possible apps for competitors like Apple and Google. “We would be thinking about nailing experiences in our own platforms concurrently with, if not before we’re thinking about going beyond that,” said Sohn.

In other news, if you think nothing says “I love you” on Valentine’s Day like a Zune, the Zune Originals store is offering free laser engraving and a Valentine’s Collection of designs between January 15th to February 14th. Plus, the 120GB Zune will be offered in the color red to celebrate the Hallmark holiday.

Related Stories:

Is the Zune About To Become Extinct?
Microsoft Adds More Wi-Fi Options, Bigger Hard Drives For Zune
At a Glance: Microsoft’s New Zune Players


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Comments

Anonymous | 1/15/2009, 4:49 pm EST

Who gives a shit about Zune, anyway?

Anonymous | 1/15/2009, 4:54 pm EST

I give a shit about the zune you fuckin’ opinionated piece of shit..:)

George | 1/15/2009, 6:43 pm EST

Really MS – do the inevitable, put the Zune to rest, and move on.

George | 1/15/2009, 6:45 pm EST

That way the 35 people out there who own Zunes can move on too.

Anonymous. | 1/15/2009, 10:52 pm EST

I love my zune.
Fuck iTunes…and apple. Hell, fuck steve jobs.

Anannymouse | 1/15/2009, 11:22 pm EST

What’s a “Zune?” Is it a type of iPod? :P

Anonymous | 1/15/2009, 11:26 pm EST

zune is a great product, it just needs a physical appearance update, touch screen model, marketplace connection with xbox, and more advertizing, and they are planning to do all of them i think

GiveItAShot | 1/16/2009, 1:20 am EST

Don’t hate on the Zune. I have an iPhone and an iPod Touch, but still love my 8GB Zune + Zunepass. For the cost of one CD per month I get 10 free songs, plus unlimited downloads through the Zune store. The UI needs some polish, but I like the wi-fi sync, sharing songs with other Zunes, the FM radio and downloading albums with Zunepass direct to the device.

Williamc | 1/16/2009, 8:31 am EST

Why is Rolling Stone using a photo of the older model Zunes? Do they do the same for all MP3 manufacturers — show their outdated hardware?

ilovemyIPOD | 1/16/2009, 11:49 am EST

the zune as well as any other MP3 player dont come close to the IPOD as far popularity is concerned! you think MP3 and most people think IPOD

Anonymous | 1/18/2009, 12:24 pm EST

Zunes and Ipods both suck. I have had 3 ipods go bad and today my piece of shit zoon. Fuck their shitty software and now I have 1000 dollars in fucking paper weights thanks microsoft and apple GO FUCK YOURSELVES

Anonymous | 1/19/2009, 4:00 pm EST

oh please.. i can’t believe all these Zune haters on here. open your freaking eyes. Apple’s Ipod is terrible. Zune has a better GUI, better software, and better features. i’ve been a super proud Zune owner for over 2 years and i’ll never change.

Hail the Zune!

Alex... | 1/19/2009, 4:42 pm EST

dude… if people handle their mp3s, ipod, zune, or what ever like they talk… get a top 40 station radio and never change it…

Anonymous | 1/20/2009, 7:21 pm EST

your mom gives a shit about Zune!! No really. Zune is superior to Ipod. Ipod has the market cause they have been out much longer than the zune and at the time of it’s launch no real competition. Microsofts (failure) to market the zune is the reason for it’s failure thus far.

Mark | 1/20/2009, 8:45 pm EST

Happy Valentines Day honey, if you put out a little more I would have given you an IPOD

Mike | 1/25/2009, 11:30 am EST

I am using Zune for 1 year and really like it. It’s awesome.

Derrick | 3/2/2009, 3:27 pm EST

Obviously all you zune haters out there have never touched a zune and realized that it is way better than the I Pod. I have owned a zune for almost three years and it is superior to the i pod. Microsoft just needs to do a better job of marketing the Zune because that is why people are still buying I Pods. Plus I had an I pod for a while and it always seemed like it broke all the time. I have never had any problems with my zune. Also I think the Zune social is extremely cool. In conclusion all you Zune haters need to go and try out a Zune at your local Best Buy and see that it is better than the I Pod.

yo mama | 3/27/2009, 11:53 pm EST

i think im gettin a zuney… ipods are too anal

Joey | 4/25/2009, 5:06 pm EST

Have older model zune…have owned ipods….but the zune just works for much more..not hating on the ipod but the zune really just I find to be much more entertaining.

Anonymous | 7/22/2009, 1:34 pm EST

fuck zune. half of my songs are missing and are nowhere to be found. the whole digital download idea is fucked and i think it will be a long time before we can safely rely on a service to give us what we oay for. fuck itunes too.

BRIEANNA | 9/19/2009, 10:17 am EST

RIT ME

BRIEANNA | 9/19/2009, 10:18 am EST

I LOVE YOU

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