Microsoft Announces the Expansion of the Zune Entertainment Service to New Platform and Markets; Confirms New Zune HD Portable Media Player
Premium Zune digital entertainment service to be available internationally on Xbox LIVE.
REDMOND, Wash. -- May 26, 2009 -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the evolution of Zune, the company's end-to-end music and entertainment service, to a new platform and new markets. Zune will extend its video service to Xbox LIVE internationally this fall. This marks an important development in the Zune strategy and brings the Zune brand to more than 17 million international Xbox LIVE subscribers. In addition, Microsoft confirmed the next generation of the Zune portable media player, Zune HD. Available in the U.S. this fall, Zune HD is the first portable media player that combines a built-in HD Radio receiver, high-definition (HD) video output capabilities, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Wi-Fi and an Internet browser.
"The Zune music player is an integral part of the overall Zune experience, and we're proud to be growing and extending our offering beyond the device," said Enrique Rodriguez, corporate vice president of the Microsoft TV, Video and Music Business Group. "Delivering on Microsoft's connected entertainment vision, this news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world."
Zune Service Expands to New Platform
Zune will be a premium partner in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, bringing an exciting catalog of TV and film to the platform. Zune will occupy the first slot within the Xbox user interface in the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace, exposing the Zune brand experience to millions of new consumers for the first time. At the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) next week, attendees will see firsthand how Zune integrates into Xbox LIVE to create a game-changing entertainment experience.
Introducing Zune HD
Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category.
*Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don't like the song playing on your station's HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.
*The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480x272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go.
*The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.*
*Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.
*Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.
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Zune Adds Valentine's Day Designs to Zune Originals
New collection of laser engraved artwork available for free at ZuneOriginals.net for a limited time
REDMOND, WA -- January 15, 2009 -- Starting today, Zune Originals, the online design studio that lets people customize Zune players with detailed laser engraving, is launching a new collection of Valentine's Day designs. Inspired by themes of music and love, the new collection features designs from artists like Gary Fernandez, Sanna Annukka and Si Scott that will make a great personalized gift for your sweetheart. Zune will offer customers free engraving (a $15 value) for any design in the Valentine's Collection between January 15 and February 14 and playlists from each artist will also be featured on Zune Marketplace for download. Zune is also making the Zune 120GB device widely available in red just in time for Valentine's Day at ZuneOriginals.net and at major retailers nationwide including Amazon.com ( www.amazon.com/zune ) and Wal-Mart. Artists in the Valentine's Collection include:
*Gary Fernandez - new contributing artist to Zune Originals, this Vancouver BC-based illustrator and graphic designer created a fluid and rhythmic composition that represents the idea that music and love make the world go around.
*Rubens LP - a Brazilian-born illustrator who's new to Zune Originals says this piece is about kissing. That moment when time stops and 2 lovers find each other and the world disappears.
*Sanna Annukka - also a new contributor to Zune Originals, this design by Finnish-English illustrator and printmaker depicts two song birds entwined amidst a garden of flowers which are encouraged by music to blossom into explosions of pattern.
*Si Scott - new to Zune Originals and known for his unique blend of hand-inked design mixed with modern & traditional typography, Scott uses swans (known to mate for life) in his design to convey the universal belief that there's a true soul mate for everybody.
*Tado - second-time contributors to Zune Originals, the design-duo explains that this design is a light-hearted twist on a classic romantic evening. [ read more ] »
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