Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/23/ms_confirms_zune_2/
Microsoft has confirmed it will detail its second-generation Zune media players in time for the Christmas sales season. Speculation as to what the software giant will announce currently centres on a higher capacity hard drive model and a cheaper, Flash-based Zune.
According to blog Whizbyte, an MS representative emailed (http://whizbyte.wordpress.com/2007/07/20/zune-2nd-gen-confirmed/) it to say: "Zune follows the cycle of the consumer electronics cycle so you can expect an update later this year prior to the holiday season."
The US holiday season covers not only Christmas but also November's Thanksgiving break, a key point for consumer electronics purchases.
MS' Zune 1.0: not now coming to Europe?
The MS spokesperson provided no other details about the anticipated announcement, but did suggest that's it's not hard to guess where the company is heading: "new sizes, styles and price points" for the Zune line; more features to bring the player "towards parity with iPod... at the same time build on key differentiators such as the wireless feature, the FM tuner, etc"; and expansion of the "international footprint of Zune... when we can ensure an offering which is tailored to that market."
Zune - reviewed here (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/02/06/review_microsoft_zune_mp3_music_player/) - is not expected to appear in Europe until 2008, based on pronouncements Microsoft has made (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/04/no_zune_til_bedtime/) a number of times in the past. And with new models coming later this year, it looks like we're not going to get the original model after all.
MS said to have delayed Euro Zune debut to 2009 (13 March 2008)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/03/13/microsoft_zune_euro_delay/
Microsoft turns to Zune for mobile game edge (21 February 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/02/21/xbox_live_zune_mobile_gaming/
Amazon leaks US Zune launch date (23 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/23/zune_release_date_november_amazon/
Microsoft revamps Zune with Flash (3 October 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/10/03/microsoft_zune_revamp/
Zune price slashed to under $200 (5 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/05/zune_price_cut/
Apple to announce HDD-less iPods tomorrow? (4 September 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/09/04/apple_announcement_preamble/
iPod Nano revamp to see widescreen display? (20 August 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/08/20/ipod_revamp_due/
Microsoft in ads deal with Digg.com (26 July 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/26/microsoft_digg_deal/
Sony shows self-filling Walkman (24 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/24/sony_shows_b100/
Transformers, MP3 players in disguise (23 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/23/transformer_mp3/
Retailers price up Microsoft Xbox 360 Elite (19 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/19/elite_uk_prices/
Zune DRM stripped (16 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/16/zune_drm_crack/
Red ring of Xbox death costs Microsoft $1bn (6 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/06/microsoft_red_ring_death_charge/
No Zune in Europe until 2008 (4 June 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/06/04/no_zune_til_bedtime/
Zune to sell one million by June (30 May 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/05/30/zune_sells_1million/