Zune Boards - Bach: Zune+Phone=Nope [But ZuneTouch=Yes!]

Bach: Zune+Phone=Nope [But ZuneTouch=Yes!]

Written by ACE

Sunday, 08 June 2008

ZuneTouch MockUp Today, Robbie Bach, Microsoft's president for entertainment and devices, renewed the news that Microsoft will not be making a ZunePhone. "“We don't make phones ourselves. We don't have any plans to make phones ourselves.” He said. This really isn't something we haven't heard before.

Further, Bach continued the discussion and confirmed rumors that Zune will be expanded. He made it clear that Zune is not simply a media outlet, but is a platform that we will see integrated into other Microsoft products. Again, nothing we didn't already know and have mentioned in the past. The Windows Mobile Team has even asked how Zune could work better with Windows Mobile.

But one tidbit worth noting is on what Robbie Bach said about the future of the Zune device itself.

“Take the device independent for a second and just assume that over time where there's a screen, touch will be part of it. It's not going to matter what the product line is. You're going to see it be a cornerstone of the work we do.”

That's as clear as clear can be. Zune will have a touch screen interface in the future. As always, keep it locked on ZuneBoards for any more news on this topic!

[Image is a Mock Up]

[via Gizmodo and AnythingButiPod]

Comments

Chi - wow..

| 151.199.20.xxx | 2008-06-08 16:55:55

commonsense - what?

| 75.21.198.xxx | 2008-06-08 17:35:47

wow they still keep copying apple. why don't they add a bunch of features that ipods don't have like: voice recordings, MD card reader, replaceable battery, and other things. come on, come up with something original, something to make it integrate well with the xbox consoles. microsoft has the money to do these things, they're just lazy.

RustyO - Copy

| 12.195.86.xxx | 2008-06-12 11:51:35

And Apple copied Archos, and I'm sure Archos copied somebody, and I'm sure whoever Archos copied from copied someone too, etc...

ty	\| 76.179.21.xxx \| 2008-06-16 17:36:03

the reason that they don't do this stuff is because most people don't really want it. what apple has created is pretty cool, but what zune needs to do is choose who to satisfy. they can satisfy the masses, or they can satisfy the tech geek. their choice.

gordigor

| 66.133.110.xxx | 2008-06-25 10:25:14

Actually I think the MD Card Reader is a good idea. It would be great if you could slide a card into the Zune, say when your on vacation away from your PC, and show photos and videos.

Kevin - zune vs ipod

| 75.31.136.xxx | 2008-09-23 21:23:22

the main difference is Zune did it write with the firmware. The itunes firmware sucks.

nonetheless the two devices are extremely similar and i can say that ipods and zunes are the best mp3 players on the market today

Leif902 - Lazy?

| 71.31.232.xxx | 2008-06-08 18:21:38

@commonsense:

"microsoft has the money to do these things, they're just lazy."

I agree with you on most points, but lazy? The Zune team designed the Zune software from scratch... version 1, a modified form of Windows Media Player was lazy... the new Zune software uses some amazing technologies that the Zune team designed themselves to make the product easier to expand in the future. I duno about lazy.

deluding

| Registered | 2008-06-08 18:27:07

hey the zune was orginally designed to be like the ipod killer... zuneTouch would just make the zune more like the Ipod which sucks, many zuners might not even buy it just because people like me wouldnt want something that is apple related IPODS SUCK

parker

| 65.188.242.xxx | 2008-06-08 19:18:38

i agree, if the zune ever truly wants to become as widely used as the ipod, it will have to do something completly new and different than the ipod.

coasterfreak212

| 68.4.48.xxx | 2008-06-08 21:57:50

I'm not too sure of this you guys. He said touch will be a part of it. Are you guys sure he just didn't mean touch pad? And touch screen is not copying apple, it just seems like it cause it's so popular. They've had touch screens on devices before ipods that were mp3 players. and voice recording, MD card reader, replaceable battery, and other things is hardley original, sansa been doing that since day 1 and it's not a critical need of consumers. If they are promoting the zune as a social device then they need to revamp it's social qualities. have better intergration with 3rd party social networking sites, make more use of the wifi (internet radio, rss feeds, podcast downloading, xbox intergration wirelessly). Heck, if they made the zune a vista sideshow device or a media extender device it'd greatly help it. Microsoft is just serving to what people want these days, and ever since the iphone/ipod touch people want touch screens. and this screenshot looks awfully like the cureent gen ...

ACE	\| Administrator \| 2008-06-09 16:02:51

[color=blue]"...there's a screen, touch will be part of it..."

It's obvious he's not talking about a touch pad.... [/color]

trustagustus

| 71.52.247.xxx | 2008-06-08 22:06:11

touch would be awesome. I dont mind that Apple has it. I look at it as the next logical step.Nevertheless, the 2nd poster nailed it pretty down. Creativity and originality are needed.

Anonymous

| 24.252.28.xxx | 2008-06-08 23:01:16

ZuneBoards, best Zune site ever. Thanks guys.

Anonymous

| 68.223.14.xxx | 2008-06-09 09:34:38

Epoc - re:

| 64.223.106.xxx | 2008-06-09 14:02:36

Anonymous wrote:

is that a real picture??

[Image is a Mock Up]
"From the bottom of the article"

Shadoblak

| Registered | 2008-06-10 00:55:16

Honestly, take a normal 80 gig, make the screen touch sensitive and stick a stylus in the back and I'm happy...Then I get the features of a touchscreen but I can also scroll without making my device look like a pair of sunglasses you'd find on the subway

asdf - asdf

| 222.125.199.xxx | 2008-06-10 16:37:56

charmed - stand out from ipod

| 76.126.88.xxx | 2008-06-10 09:33:45

Skyldehis

| 75.104.128.xxx | 2008-06-10 20:55:42

That would be sweet! and the ability to delete pictures straight from the zune

someone

| 70.114.150.xxx | 2008-09-21 16:27:43

that would be awesome.
THEY SHOULD ALSO ADD ZUNE MARKETPLACE TO THE ZUNE DEVICE SO YOU WOULDN'T NEED A COMPUTER TO BUY SONGS

Anonymous

| 12.202.221.xxx | 2008-06-10 09:41:35

I'm sure they will try to roll out some sort of multi-touch like what Apple has many patents for.

I can see the lawyer fees mounting already.

Anonymous

| 74.224.37.xxx | 2008-06-10 09:58:04

Jim	\| 66.153.50.xxx \| 2008-06-10 10:46:30

Supapeach

| 207.224.18.xxx | 2008-06-10 15:03:41

either upgrade your ram or turn the visual effects option off simple as that

Oyun	\| 88.239.39.xxx \| 2008-09-29 18:46:18

With that kind of permeation and the deathgrip that Apple has on their market share, MS sat back and observed for a while. It's ludicrous to think that MS did not have the technology oyun or know-how to build a better mouse-trap to go head to head with the Ipod. They simply waited for the tech to get a little bit cheaper and put out a solid product in the Zune30.

Anonymous

| 67.84.60.xxx | 2008-06-10 11:21:56

Skyldehis

| 75.104.128.xxx | 2008-06-10 20:53:45

If zune had launched at the same time ipod had, they would do alot better. But now everyone has got an ipod so they wont buy a zune. Anyways, what would be cool, is if instead of a radio reciever, they should have a built in radio transmiter, that would get them a lot more buys. and wifi access to the internet, not that thats an original idea.

MercifulBoss - Zune Wi-Fi

| 199.235.123.xxx | 2008-06-12 08:34:10

If the Zune Wi-Fi was expanded, with access to the Xbox Live MarketPlace and with certain features or items being only accessible by the Zune. As was also previously stated the Zune could have a Camera, email, which can be set up to integrate with Windows Mail, unhookable batteries, voice recording, and if it doubles as a small computer, it will do significantly better with many Ipod users converting.

This is mostly an elaboration of ideas posted by other users.

random guy - better coop with the xbox

| 68.196.94.xxx | 2008-06-12 13:03:23

if the zune is going to increase the social and devices in that social they should allow the xbox to access zune marketplace and teh zune to send messages to xbox users

Zunite - Microsoft = genius

| 208.79.15.xxx | 2008-06-14 03:13:17

Microsoft is competing with the Ipod in the smartest possible way; by not competing directly. Like it or not, the Ipod has become synonymous with personal media. With that kind of permeation and the deathgrip that Apple has on their market share, MS sat back and observed for a while. It's ludicrous to think that MS did not have the technology or know-how to build a better mouse-trap to go head to head with the Ipod. They simply waited for the tech to get a little bit cheaper and put out a solid product in the Zune30. The kicker was that they aren't marketing the Zune as a stand-alone product but, as a social music platform. It can be used in ways in ways that Apple hadn't touched on. Independent artists can spread their music on the fly. Friends can share their favorite tracks. And, we've only seen the tip of the ice-berg here. Zune is and will continue to develop into everything that the Ipod just can't be. Microsoft would be wise to use similar strategies in other areas of developmen...

8007859 - re:

| Registered | 2008-06-15 13:44:19

[quote=coasterfreak2
12]I'm not too sure of this you guys. He said touch will be a part of it. Are you guys sure he just didn't mean touch pad? And touch screen is not copying apple, it just seems like it cause it's so popular. They've had touch screens on devices before ipods that were mp3 players. and voice recording, MD card reader, replaceable battery, and other things is hardley original, sansa been doing that since day 1 and it's not a critical need of consumers. If they are promoting the zune as a social device then they need to revamp it's social qualities. have better intergration with 3rd party social networking sites, make more use of the wifi (internet radio, rss feeds, podcast downloading, xbox intergration wirelessly). Heck, if they made the zune a vista sideshow device or a media extender device it'd greatly help it. Microsoft is just serving to what people want these days, and ever since the iphone/ipod touch people want touch screens. and this screenshot looks awfu...

Anonymous - re: what?

| 24.166.74.xxx | 2008-06-17 08:01:04

commonsense wrote:

w
ow they still keep copying apple. why don't they add a bunch of features that ipods don't have like: voice recordings, MD card reader, replaceable battery, and other things. come on, come up with something original, something to make it integrate well with the xbox consoles. microsoft has the money to do these things, they're just lazy.

every thing they come up with has all ready been done by ipod. If they are going to make something that is just like ipod they should put more features.

Patsfan06

| 12.110.156.xxx | 2008-06-17 10:54:36

Some of you guys have really good points. I personally work in an electronics department at a particular store and to love zunes. However most people up until the recent boom in zune advertising, have never heard of zune. When Microsoft set out to launch the zune, they certainly had their work cut out for them since (for a lot more people than you think) the definition of an MP3 player was an Ipod. So the task for Microsoft has been to change that definition, which thus far they have been doing a pretty good job so far.

Some of the best selling features are some of the things that some of you want to change, such as the FM radio. This ability of zunes is one that many times can sell a zune like non other. You take anyone that goes to a gym and the capability to have your player receive the FM signals from the televisions sets while running and that is usually enough the sell the player there. And if it wasn't then the other features like, wireless sync, zune to zune sharing, unlimite...

Braedon

| 68.148.75.xxx | 2008-06-18 00:21:08

Meh, it's only a normal step forward. I only hope that if they go the flash route like with the iPod Touch, they at least make it somewhat different. Maybe a 64GB? It would be expensive though. Personally I would rather they just used a hard drive though. I probably wont get one if they don't make it have a bunch of space, because I need it. And honestly, I think people are taking this a little to seriously. They aren't copying Apple. Not even Archos. After all, touchscreens have been around for a while now. You could say that if anything they're copying Palm Inc, for crying out loud. Besides I don't think that Apple can claim to have something as innovative and awesome as Microsoft Surface.

matt genrich

| 98.223.173.xxx | 2008-06-19 20:37:49

y doesn't microsoft make a zune thats window's mobile 6 compatible w/ the internet and everything? we already have some wi-fi abilities, but that'd rly show up iPod users if they could do that

S.C	\| Registered \| 2008-06-29 16:06:05

That would be freakin' hot. I'd buy it.

Oyun	\| 88.239.39.xxx \| 2008-09-29 18:47:41

Honestly, take a normal 80 gig, make the screen touch sensitive and stick a stylus in the back and I'm happy... Oyun Then I get the features of a touchscreen but I can also scroll without making my device look like a pair of sunglasses you'd find on the subway

erter - wow gold

| 222.185.81.xxx | 2008-06-25 22:37:48

MercifulBoss - Mods

| 199.235.123.xxx | 2008-06-26 06:56:22

Whats with all the spammers? Can somone contact some mods to ban these/this guy. Please.

S.C - That..,sounds...awesome

| Registered | 2008-06-29 16:05:17

A touch screen Zune. Wow. I want one already. But it would be cool if Microsoft came out with something way different from the Apple iPod ideas

dhh - dgn

| 123.114.186.xxx | 2008-07-27 20:23:33

Anonymous

| 123.118.12.xxx | 2008-08-09 11:57:34

Tristan - Mr.

| 97.96.41.xxx | 2008-08-12 20:41:17

Yeah, I kinda doubt there will be a Zune Phone anytime though. What provider would they use?

someone

| 70.114.150.xxx | 2008-09-21 16:32:27

IF THEY DO MAKE A ZUNE PHONE, THEY SHOULD TOTALLY USE VERIZON. VERIZON ALREADY HAS V-CAST, SO THEY COULD USE MUSIC FROM THAT AND BE ABLE TO SAVE IT TO THE ZUNE DEVICE.

Anonymous

| 221.221.179.xxx | 2008-09-01 23:44:45

powerleveling
World of Warcraft power leveling
World of Warcraft power leveling
Rolex
rolex replica
replica rolex
Runescape Gold
RuneScape Money
Watches Rolex
Rolex Watches
rs gold
World of Warcraft power leveling
World of Warcraft power leveling
World of Warcraft power leveling
[url=http://www.wow-wowpowerleveling.com...

ExxWhyZee - re:

| 12.217.211.xxx | 2008-09-04 08:28:03

Jim wrote:

How about something that's really revolutionary: having the Zune able to sync with WMP 11 out of the box. Argh! I've had the Zune 80 for 2 days and the Zune software (2.5 version) makes my 4 year old computer slow. To. A. Crawl.

I have the same problem with just videos. Mp3s transfer quickly. It is just he wmvs have to get converted.. Well at least that is what is being told.

warahmmer gold11 - warhammer

| 222.240.139.xxx | 2008-09-05 05:58:46

aoc gold buy aoc gold cheap aoc goldage of conan gold buy age of conan gold cheap age of conan goldwarhammer gold buy warhammer gold cheap warhammer goldwarhammer gold buy warhammer gold cheap warhammer goldwarhammer gold buy warhammer gold cheap warhammer goldwarhammer gold buy warhammer gold cheap warhammer goldwarhammer gold buy warhammer gold cheap warhammer goldwarhammer gold buy warhammer go

dona	\| 221.220.196.xxx \| 2008-09-12 02:34:50

dvd ripper for mac is such a Mac the Ripper which allows you to rip DVD videos to various formats like rip DVD to AVI, MPEG, MPG, WMV, DIVX, RM, MOV, FLV, 3GP, 3GP2, MP4, MP4 AVC.With the Mac Riper and a DVD Audio Ripper installed, this DVD Ripper for Mac OS X also supports Audio formats like MP3, WAV, WMA, AAC, AC3, M4A (AAC), OGG, RA, AU.

mac vedio converter is powerful software which can convert video files from one format to another format and convert video files for Mac OS X users. It supports all video popular formats indcluding FLV, MPG, MP4, 3GP, MOV, AVI, M4V, WMV, etc.

sdfsdf - esfsdf

| 58.83.46.xxx | 2008-09-14 20:56:01

wow power leveling LWB
EVE ISK
2 Moons Dil
Warhammer Gold
Warhammer Online Power Leveling
wow powerleveling
world of warcraft power leveling
world of warcraft powerleveling
wow gold
AOC Power Leveling
MapleStory Mesos
WARHAMMER ONLINE GOLD
RuneScape Gold
[url=http://www.toppowerl...

Naturalrice

| 76.23.79.xxx | 2008-09-19 14:11:09

I dislike Zunes trying to follow up with ipod that there's really little different with the newer ipod/zunes... but I hope MS can put in some originality with all this

Rusty O.

| 12.195.86.xxx | 2008-09-19 20:12:13

Apple wasn't they first to do anything in the PMP market. That being said, as much as I dislike them, they are marketing geniuses, and really bring some of these features to the mainstream.

Anonymous