Zune

Microsoft to Launch Zune Brand Outside U.S. Next Year

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 16, 2009 - 12:22pm.
London - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) plans to launch its Zune entertainment distribution brand outside the U.S. next year, the Financial Times reported.
tags: Video | TV | Music | Microsoft | Movies | Retail | Zune |

Microsoft Discontinuing Current Models After Zune HD Release

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 2, 2009 - 12:02pm.
San Francisco - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is discontinuing its current line of Zune media players as it releases the new Zune HD player, Wired.com reports. The new line of Zune HD players are slated to go on sale Sept. 15, sporting price tags of $220 (16GB) and $290 (32GB). Meanwhile, rival Apple is expected to update its own line of iPods at an event next week.

tags: Music | Microsoft | Zune | Zune HD |

Is It A Good Idea For Microsoft To Launch Another Music Service?

Authored by Jay Baage on July 14, 2009 - 11:43am.

Report: Microsoft to Launch Spotify-Like Music Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 14, 2009 - 9:07am.
London - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is preparing to launch a streaming music service similar to the popular European ad-supported service Spotify, the Daily Telegraph reports. "We are looking at launching a music streaming service imminently. It will be a similar principle to Spotify but we are still examining how the business model will work," MSN executive producer Peter Bale told the Telegraph.

RealPlayer SP Ports Web Video to Social Nets, Media Players

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 24, 2009 - 12:07pm.
Seattle - RealNetworks (NASD: RNWK) on Wednesday released RealPlayer SP, an application that lets users transfer video from many websites onto their social network profiles or various portable media players. After installation, RealPlayer will identify video on sites like YouTube and CNN.com that users can port to Facebook, Twitter, or email. For portable device transfers, a selects the cell phone model or type of device -- including iPhone and iPod, BlackBerry, Android, Palm Pre, Zune, PSP, PlayStation 3, Xbox and Apple TV -- and RealPlayer SP then transcodes to the appropriate format.

Microsoft's Zune, MEAN Magazine Team on Original Digital Series

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 4, 2009 - 12:57pm.
Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) Zune division announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with MEAN Magazine to produce an original, ad-supported digital series. "Cinemash" "will take a comedic approach to reinventing classic scenes from popular movies," and the first episode will be available for free download from Zune Marketplace in the spring. Zune said it aims to develop additional pilots over the next 13 months, and expand distribution to MSN and Xbox Live platforms.

Revenue From Microsoft Zune Platform Down 54%

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 26, 2009 - 1:18pm.

Redmond, Wash. - Revenue from Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) Zune media player platform was down $100 million, or 54% for the quarter, PaidContent reported, citing the company's 10-Q filing.

Microsoft Fixes "Leap Year Bug" on 30GB Zune

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 5, 2009 - 10:31am.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft's 30GB Zune digital music player experienced a "leap year bug" that caused the device to freeze and become unusable, prompting the company to post a fix on the Zune website that suggests users let the battery drain completely before rebooting the device.

tags: Music | Microsoft | DRM | Zune |

Report: Microsoft Denies "Zune Phone" CES Launch Rumor

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 11, 2008 - 11:30am.

Los Angeles - After much speculation about whether Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) will be introducing a "Zune Phone" -- or device that mixes its Zune digital media player with Danger's Sidekick phone -- at the Consumer Electronics Show next month, Zune Group Manager Brian Seitz told Kotaku there will be "no Zune phone at CES."

tags: Mobile | Music | Microsoft | CES | Zune |

Report: Microsoft to Introduce "Zune Phone" at CES

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 10, 2008 - 8:47am.

New York - Microsoft will introduce a new mobile phone that combines elements of its Zune digital media player, Danger's Sidekick device and additional "motion enhancement features," Barron's reported, citing Global Equities Research analyst Trip Chowdhry.

Microsoft Expands Zune Subscriptions; Users Can Keep 10 Tracks

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 20, 2008 - 1:29pm.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) on Thursday announced the launch of a new subscription model at its Zune music and entertainment service, which will allow customers who pay $14.99 per month for on-demand access to select 10 tracks per month to keep for their personal collections.

tags: Music | Microsoft | DRM | Zune |

Microsoft Lowers Prices on Zune Digital Music Players

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 18, 2008 - 1:10pm.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is discounting the prices on its Flash-based Zune music players, Silicon Alley Insider reported, citing MobileDevicesToday. A 16GB Zune will now cost $179, while the same capacity iPod sells for $199. Likewise, the 8GB Zune was reduced in price to $139 (iPod: $149), while the 4GB Zune will now sell for $99.

tags: Music | iPod | Microsoft | Zune |

Microsoft Debuts Zune-branded Music Store on Univision.com

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 28, 2008 - 11:31am.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) said on Tuesday that it has partnered with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision to launch a Zune-branded music download service on Univision.com, a site that draws 15 million unique monthly visitors. The Baja Zune Musica en Univision.com service will offer Zune music charts, artist profiles and access to over 4 million tracks via the Zune Marketplace online store.

tags: TV | Music | Microsoft | Univision | Zune |

Microsoft Revenues Down at Xbox/Zune Division

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 24, 2008 - 10:41am.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) yesterday reported a 9% overall increase in fiscal first quarter revenues, but saw revenues at its Entertainment and Devices Division (EDD) -- home to its Xbox and Zune -- fall from $1.93 billion to $1.81 billion.

Microsoft Zune Software Update Includes McDonald's Wi-Fi

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 16, 2008 - 9:56am.

Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) on Tuesday released its previously announced software update for its Zune portable digital media player, and also said that it partnered with Wi-Fi hotspot firm Wayport to allow Zune owners to access the Internet from more than 9,800 participating McDonald's restaurants in the U.S.

Nine U.S. Radio Broadcasters Support FM Song Tagging

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 9, 2008 - 12:42pm.
New York - Nine U.S. radio broadcasters on Tuesday announced their support for FM Song Tagging, which allows listeners to use tag songs they hear over the air on supported devices, and retrieve artist data and links to purchase them. More than 450 FM stations operated by Beasley, Bonneville, CBS Radio, Citadel, Clear Channel Radio, Cox Radio, Emmis, Entercom and Greater Media will support Song Tagging, which was developed by Jump2Go and Clear Channel Radio. The announcement coincides with a Microsoft Zune update that lets users tag and instantly retrieve songs they hear on the device's built-in FM radio.

Zune Update to Add Wi-Fi Song Purchases, FM Tagging

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 8, 2008 - 1:23pm.
Redmond, Wash. - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) said on Monday that next week it will update its Zune media player software so that users can wirelessly download or stream songs from Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as tag and purchase songs directly from the built-in FM radio. Zune owners will also be able to log into the Zune Marketplace and find personalized music recommendations based on their own preferences. Microsoft further added 16GB and 120GB capacity Zunes, in addition to a range of new color schemes.

 

tags: Music | Microsoft | Zune |

Microsoft Begins Shipments of 120GB Zune to Retailers

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 5, 2008 - 10:14am.
San Francisco - Microsoft has slowly begun rolling out a new $250, 120GB model of its Zune digital media player, CNET News.com reported, citing a reader who found one on sale at a local Fry's. A Microsoft spokesman told CNET that more retailers in other regions will be receiving shipments of the new device in the coming weeks.

tags: Music | Microsoft | Retail | Zune |

GameStop to Discontinue Sales of Microsoft's Zune

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 23, 2008 - 9:18am.

San Francisco - GameStop (NYSE: GME), the nation's largest video game retail chain, has decided to discontinue sales of Microsoft's (NASD: MSFT) Zune portable media player due to lack of demand, TheStreet.com reported.

Microsoft Developing Ads to Run on Zune Portable Player

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 22, 2008 - 11:49am.

San Francisco - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) is working on ways to place advertisements on its Zune portable media player, according to reports from its annual Advance conference for advertisers. Some examples provided by Robbie Bach, president of Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, included selling sponsorships on Zune Social artist profiles to fund free downloads, or asking consumers to play an advergame in return for free downloads. The initiatives discussed were of an opt-in variety, and also included other Microsoft devices like the Xbox 360 and those running Windows Mobile.