TOPIC: Microsoft Unveils the Zune
Rex Crum from MarketWatch.com reports, "Microsoft Corp. [has] unveiled Zune, a 30-gigabyte music and video player that marks the software giant's entry into a digital-media player market dominated by Apple Computer Inc. with its 80Gb iPod.
Microsoft said Zune will come with a three-inch screen, which is larger than the iPod's two-inch video screen, as well as built-in wireless and FM-radio tuning technology -- features that also aren't available on the iPod.

Additionally, Microsoft launched what it calls the Zune Marketplace, an online music site where customers can purchase individual songs or buy a subscription that allows the purchase of unlimited songs for a flat fee.

Microsoft said the Zune would be available in time for the holiday shopping season, but didn't immediately disclose prices for the product, or for songs bought through the Zune Marketplace. Katy Gentes, a Microsoft spokeswoman, said the Zune price would be "very competitive."

The company touted the features of Zune and Zune Marketplace, saying consumers will be able to use Zune's wireless capabilities to share sample tracks of certain songs, music playlists and pictures between Zune devices.

Microsoft's debut of Zune comes two days after Apple revamped its line of iPod media players to include an 80-gigabyte device that can play movies in addition to songs, TV shows and videos and digital pictures. Apple also showed off a new 8GB flash memory version of its iPod Nano device and a 1Gb iPod Shuffle that is about the size of a matchbook.

Microsoft is seen as having its work cut out for it in the media-player market. Apple has a five-year headstart with the iPod, and the latest figures from NPD Group say the iPod has 75% of the U.S. market for digital media players."

Check out ZuneTalk.com for up to date information and discussions on Zune and Zune Marketplace.

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