Zune 2.0?

Looks like there are some things in the works for the Zune which will be out in time for Christmas. I think it's kind of like Edsel releasing a new car, but hey... Buick's still around and they haven't had a compelling product since Donnie and Marie Osmond wore underroos.

Microsoft is going to try to right their train wreck with a thinner model with more capacity, and an all-flash version, which sounds to be interestingly thin.

I hope Toshiba is making a good buck from Microsoft's "throw money at the problem" approach they've developed to gain market share where they apparently don't belong...

Anyway... check out some details on techeblog.com

ComingZune not by Microsoft?

Several sites have referred to ComingZune.com as being a marketing site by Microsoft. ZuneInfo.com has raised a few points about the domain having been registered at GoDaddy. I thought I'd follow up with some more evidence that it's not likely to be a Microsoft site.

-bash-2.05b$ host comingzune.com

comingzune.com has address 216.182.82.168
comingzune.com mail is handled by 0 mail.adhost.com.
-bash-2.05b$ whois 216.182.82.168

OrgName: Adhost Internet Advertising
OrgID: ADHT
Address: 140 Fourth Ave North
Address: Suite 360
City: Seattle
StateProv: WA
PostalCode: 98109
Country: US

NetRange: 216.182.80.0 - 216.182.95.255
CIDR: 216.182.80.0/20
NetName: ADHOST-SBLK2
NetHandle: NET-216-182-80-0-1
Parent: NET-216-0-0-0-0
NetType: Direct Allocation
NameServer: NS.ADHOST.COM
NameServer: NS0.ADHOST.COM
Comment:
RegDate: 2005-07-26
Updated: 2005-07-27

RTechHandle: ZA153-ARIN
RTechName: Adhost Internet Advertising
RTechPhone: +1-425-454-9520
RTechEmail: hostmaster@adhost.com

OrgTechHandle: RS141-ARIN
OrgTechName: Stockton, Richard Lee
OrgTechPhone: +1-206-404-9000
OrgTechEmail: stockton@adhost.com

# ARIN WHOIS database, last updated 2006-07-22 19:10
# Enter ? for additional hints on searching ARIN's WHOIS database.
-bash-2.05b$

Now what's this adhost.com? Well... according to their website:

Adhost specializes in server colocation, Web site hosting, e-commerce solutions and email marketing at our data center in Seattle.

Well, so it's not hosted at a Microsoft data center. Might it be an MS employee who created and is hosting the site at Adhost? Is it some random schmuck? Can't tell right now. But if you enjoy the site, enjoy it. If not, ignore it.

Rhapsody launching Zune killer?

In what's got to be considered a comical take on things, PSFK reports that online music service Rhapsody will be introducing a portable media player which, like Zune, will incorporate WiFi.

Real hasn't done much of anything to innovate, and they're trying to figure out how to follow in the footsteps of Microsoft? One has to wonder if the intent is to just be able to sit at the table and get a settlement some day.

Zune to have ads?

Playfuls.com is reporting that Zune is going to have ads which, if watched, will offer either a discount or a free song. Their report says that these ads will be voluntary, but given Microsoft's historical take on DRM, one has to wonder if this is the case. Says Playfuls.com:

Well, the MP3 player that Microsoft is reading now boasts, besides the long commented wireless-fidelity capabilities, with the possibility to receive a bonus of some kind if the owner of the gadget agrees to watch entirely an advert presented on the screen (bonus that ranges from a discount coupon to voucher) and probably a larger screen. The gadget shall receive an ad from an “Ad-Node”, through a sensor integrated into the MP3 player, which is another indication of the iTunes rival that the Redmond giant is preparing.

This certainly isn't something that enhances the user experience, which is what it's going to take to be the "iPod killer". Of course, we'll have to wait and see how it comes out, but I don't know how promising Zune is.

Zune, Microsoft's iPod competitor

Microsoft has confirmed that it will be introducing a competitor to Apple's iPod under the brand name Zune. The player will reportedly have WiFi, which will allow purchasing music wirelessly from a Zune-branded music store from any location with a wireless access point.

How this will impact the iPod's 70% market share is unclear, though any corporation with Microsoft's bankroll can't be denied.

GamingSteve got the scoop on this device.