The web has been hot with speculation and photos of the new Zune HD.  First, well, I am just excited to see excitement about the Zune, because I know I love mine.  Zunited has said that their inside sources confirm that this picture is indeed a picture of the new Zune.  Point for me.  I knew a Touch Zune had to be next.  Now there is quite a list of suggested specs for this latest addition to the Zune family.  There has been no confirmation, but here is what is supposed to be up next.

• multi-touch capacitive OLED screen in a 16:9 aspect ratio – total screen size 3.6″
• 3D Xbox game support
• playback of “HD media” available from Zune Marketplace
• TV-out from HDMI port
• HD Radio
• choice of 16GB or 32GB of storage – possible 120 mega-version
• wireless sync
• multi-touch Internet browser
• launches this Fall, “around September” in the US, Canada, UK, France and possibly other European countries.
• likely to be a “showcase” for Windows Mobile 7 when released

Wow!!!  That is a lot going on.  The most curious item is the 3D Xbox game support.  Now, I think tying the two platforms together is a great idea, but I will be very interested to see how this is accomplished.  I can’t imagine playing a complicated Xbox game without  a control pad and buttons.  Maybe there will be accessories to attach onto the end of the Zune to help with that.  Of course, that assumes these specs are accurate, but no one knows for sure.  I still don’t see an app for doing my laundry, but I believe MS is moving in the right direction.  If they want to compete with Apple, they need to have similar abilities to the iTouch.  Plus, HD gives them something that Apple does not have and hopefully that will continue to generate buzz.  I can’t wait to see what is ‘leaked’ next.

You have to love the way Mac and PC users are loyal, to their OS and hardware of choice. Although I’ve never actually seen a beat down between users, although I would liken it to jelly wrestling, it would have the same sort of morbid appeal.

Apple’s Mac v PC ads set a standard, and of late MS have been taking a marketing tack to counter, Apples efforts to humiliate their OS. There have been some likeable inclusions in the  PC Hunter series of ads from MS, but even more amusing are the independent responses to the campaign.

Considering that I work with people like this on a daily basis this struck a chord with me!

A beautifully satirical comeback to the campaign, although, it lacks the concentrated design efforts of Steve Jobs, it’s well done, and should really make us all think about how seriously we take ourselves!

Fabulous news!!!  Microsoft is planning on releasing a new Zune device.  Brian Seitz, from the MS Zune team, confirmed that the company will release new Zune hardware this year.  When the device will be released, or what it is, is still a mystery.  There has been a lot of talk about the Zune software being incorporated into other devices, like Windows Mobile smartphones and the Xbox.  I was worried we might not see a new device anytime soon, or at all.  Well, I think this will finally be the Zune Touch I have been waiting for.  I’d love to see a whole mobile gaming/music/internet/movie device.  That would rock!!!  I don’t believe we will see the gaming, ala Xbox, but I think the internet will definitely be there.  I am also hoping that it will transform into a robot that does my laundry, but that might be a year or two away.  With the new device on its way, it makes much more sense why Bill Gates didn’t send me my blue Zune, he was waiting for the new ones to be released.  That is so considerate of him.  There is also rumblings that this new device could be the much talked about Zune phone.  That one I am not believing, but I guess we will all have to wait and see.

Via SlashGear

 Well, at least in these tough economic times, lawyers can still make money.  There have been rumors swirling, but today it finally happened:  Apple is suing Palm for patent infringement for multi-touch and other technology associated with the iPhone.  Apple has also petitioned the court to issue an injunction stopping Palm from releasing the Pre.  After hearing this news, all I could think is ‘David vs. Golliath’, but in this case, I think David loses.  Apple has more than enough resources to win.  However, in an interesting twist, Microsoft has joined Palm in their defense, and is supporting Palm’s counter-suit.  Palm is suing Apple for using the touchscreen in the first place.  They claim they were the first true touchscreen device, and Apple has pirated their technology.  In addition to Apple, Palm is also suing RIM, Google/Android, and Nokia.  Google also has issued a suit against Microsoft over their dominance in the netbook market.  Google is claiming that MS has made it impossible for any other OS to break into the market, and they want them to be labeled an illegal monopoly.  There are additional rumors that MS is planning a takeover of RIM in order to have a larger smartphone market-share.  Steve Ballmer, CEO of MS, stated that MS is always looking to ‘remove any roadblocks to the advancement of technology, and that anything that was bad for Apple made him smile.’  Ok, so he didn’t really say that last part, but you know he has to be thinking it.  To get a clearer picture of all the legal battles, check out the complete details after the break.

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 Microsoft reported awful numbers for Zune sales this holiday season:  54% decrease in revenue which equals $100 million difference from 2007.  In comparison, Apple saw its revenue decrease 16%, but they still brought in $3.3 billion in revenue vs. less than $100 million for MS.  I will admit, that looks pretty bad.  However, a few things to think about:  Apple released the iPod in 2001, and Zune did not arrive until 2006.  That is a lot of time to have the market to yourself and create brand loyalty.  If you had an iPod, and liked it, most people  will just stick with what they know, and will buy another iPod.  Plus, until recently, all of the music from iTunes could only be played on an iPod.  Honestly, I don’t know how many people would want to take the time to try and convert all of their music.  Finally, revenue figures include player sales, as well as on-line purchases like the Zune Marketplace and iTunes.  Now I am not just saying that the only reason the Zune did bad is because of its youth.  MS definitely has some blame in this…

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