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Microsoft launches MP3 player to rival iPod
Chris Laker14.08.09
Computer giant Microsoft goes head-to-head with rival Apple today as it launches its new Zune HD digital music player.
The MP3 player, which also plays video, costs 219.99 dollars (£133) for a 16 gigabyte version - typically about 4,000 songs - and 289.99 dollars (£176) for the 32 gigabyte version making them cheaper than the market leader, Apple's ipod.
The ipod Touch players are priced at 299 dollars (£181) and 399 dollars (£242) respectively.
The Zune HD, which is only available for pre-order in the United States and will not hit the shelves there until September 15, is slimmer than previous incarnations and now has a touch screen.
It will be available in five colours and has a built-in radio receiver, Wi-Fi, and can display high-definition video to a big screen.
Users can stream and download music from Microsoft's Zune Marketplace.
The company had no information on when the Zune HD would be available in the UK.
Reader views (3)
Oh dear, here come the Apple users with their usual chip on the shoulder. Why do Apple users feel so bitter about Microsoft winning the global technology race all those years ago? If we had all used Apple Macs, firstly the spread of the computer would have been slowed by the higher price Apple commanded, and secondly there would not now be the huge and diverse hardware industry brought about by the humble PC, running Windows software. There would not be thousands of jobs in the IT support sector that we see today either. The Mac is undeniably a great computer, but it is limited not by it's software, which is great, but by it's hardware (cue the ‘but you don’t need to upgrade a Mac. Ever.’ statements). Apple is a very innovative company, but I am bored with the inevitable comments from Mac users basing a company that brought affordable computing to the world. Do you ever here Ford car drivers cursing Renault for making a different type of car? Freedom of choice people - if you want a Mac, get one, but don't feel you have to ram it down everyone else’s throat.
iPhone? iDontwantone.
- Alex, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The iPod/iPhone is head and shoulders above everything else as it just 'works', as does all Apple stuff. How long before Microsoft have to bring out a patch to sort out problems to fix an unexpected 'issue' that wasn't addressed in its rush to get the item to market.
Some 3 years ago, I completely switched to Apple (computer, laptop, and now iPhone). They make me use a PC at work, but it struggles to work and no doubt it will need a major upgrade next year.
This is no more a threat to Apple than are all other software inventions a 'threat' to Google.
- George, London
Here we go again, the new Zune, how many units did the old "iPod killer" sell again?
- Bob, Cheam
