iTWire - Microsoft Zune allows try before you buy shared music

Microsoft Zune allows try before you buy shared music

By Stan Beer
Thursday, 14 September 2006 23:24

Microsoft Corp today unveiled details of the first products to be released under its Zune brand for the holidays. Aside from the news that the device will be available in black, white and brown, there was a bit of additional information about sharing music, accessories and the payment model.

As already mentioned, the device will let friends share their music wirelessly.

What is new information is that friends who receive a shared music file can listen to the full track of any song they receive up to three times over three days. If they like the song and want to buy it, they can purchase it from the Zune Marketplace - Microsoft's iTunes equivalent - straight from their device.

It appears that Microsoft has decided to offer users a choice between both pay per track or flat fees subscription downloads.

An enticement to new users, every Zune device is preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Music's Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records.

There are also three accessory packs:

- a Zune Car Pack includes a built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and a car charger.

- a Zune Home A/V Pack includes five products that integrate Zune with the TV and music speakers: an AV output cable, dock, sync cable, AC adapter and wireless remote for the dock.

- a Zune Travel Pack includes a set of five products earphones, dual connect remote, gear bag, sync cable and AC adapter.

"The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning," said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft, who is leading the charge for building the family of Zune products. "With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections."

Microsoft is also working with accessory manufacturers Altec Lansing, Belkin Corp., Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), Dual Electronics, Griffin Technology, Harman Kardon and JBL, Integrated Mobile Electronics, Jamo International, Klipsch Audio Technologies, Logitech, Monster Cable Products Inc., Speck, Targus Group International Inc. and VAF Research to develop further accessories.

According to Microsoft, as Zune evolves, the device can be easily updated. The Zune software on your PC will let you know when these updates are available for download.