Who gives a toss about the Microsoft Zune?

By Davey Winder
Tuesday, 09 September 2008 20:36

Home IT

With less than two hours to go before the Let's Rock Apple Event in San Francisco kicks off, does anyone really give a toss about an update to the Microsoft Zune? 

Let's Rock, that's what Apple has called the crunchy special event set to explode onto the front page of every technology, music and entertainment related news publication in just under a couple of hours as I write.

Fuelled by all but confirmed rumours of iTunes 8 making an appearance and even the possibility, albeit a long shot, of a next-gen MacBook, Apple has dominated newsfeeds all day.

Much of the media feeding frenzy revolves around the anticipated launch of the new iPod Nano 4G which seems to have touched a nerve with Microsoft.

Which is why it has attempted to divert some of that attention to the Zune, or rather some announcements regarding forthcoming updates to the Microsoft MP3 player.

How do new 80GB and 120GB hard-drive based models grab you?

OK, try 4GB to 16GB Flash Zunes then?

Dammit, you must be impressed by the ability to buy songs online using a WiFi connection?

Last chance saloon now, you will be able to tag songs identified on the built-in FM radio. There, that must have impressed you?

I am guessing, to be honest, it did not. The harsh truth is that, today of all days, nobody really gives a toss about the Zune. If these announcements were meant to get us drooling about the Zune, they failed.

I conducted a pop-quiz of people in my office and even a couple of likely looking ladies in Tesco (yes, I am that sad) today. "Want to hear about a new Zune or a new iPod?" I asked.

What's a Zune, they replied. Apart from one switched on chap who knew what a Zune was and told me exactly why he couldn't care less about it.

Hey, only an hour and a half to wait for the real news now...