09/29/2006 - Microsoft Announces Zune Launch Date, Pricing

Microsoft has now confirmed a Zune launch date of November 14th, and a price point of $249.99. That is equal to the price tag of a comparable, 30 gigabyte iPod, which Apple revamped this month. The mid-November slot will offer Microsoft a splash ahead of the holidays, a crowded and critical time for consumer electronics manufacturers. At this point, Apple is pushing its slate of updated iPods to holiday buyers, though the company lacks a smashing, attention-grabbing new device. That offers a nice opportunity for Microsoft, which is pushing a social networking angle, thanks to WiFi-based device interconnectivity. The feature will enable Zune-to-Zune sharing of music, pictures, and other assets.

In addition, the Zune player will come packed with pre-loaded content. That includes materials from Sub Pop, Quango, V2, and Astralwerks, as well as videos from 30 Seconds to Mars, BT, and Paul Oakenfold. Short action sports film clips will also be pre-packaged. In addition, a bevy of Zune accessories will coincide with the release, including adapters, remotes, and an FM radio transmitter. The device, which features a bright, 3-inch LCD screen, comes in three colors: black, brown and white. The player is designed to work hand-in-glove with the Zune Marketplace, similar to the iPod+iTunes insular architecture. Earlier information pointed to a price tag of nearly $400, though that has now been lowered considerably.