James Delahunty
3 Oct 2007 5:12
Microsoft Corp. has updated its line of Zune MP3 players, showing off three new models it hopes will cut somewhat into Apple's dominant share of the market for MP3 players. A new black Zune model is thinner than the original, and comes with a new 80GB hard disk drive (HDD), replacing the 30GB unit released less than one year ago.
The black Zune has a 3.2-inch screen and like the original Zune, it sports WiFi capabilities for sharing music with other Zunes and an FM receivers. The new Zunes sport shiny glass screens and a new touch-pad for navigation. As well as the HDD model, Microsoft is also offering flash memory-based models. Similar in shape and size to the original iPod Nano, the new pink, green, black and red flash-based Zune models offer 4GB or 8GB of storage.
The new models will go on sale in mid-November, with the 80GB model selling for $249, 4GB model selling for $149 and 8GB model selling for $199. The prices match the iPod line-up. "There's nothing earth-shattering there," said Van Baker, an analyst at the research group Gartner. "Maybe next year they can make an aggressive push against Apple."
Source:
Yahoo (AP)