14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has just unveiled their Zune player, determined not to let Apple's recent announcement go by without any thunder of its own. Unfortunately, Microsoft's thunder isn't all cracked up.
The player - that will be manufactured by Toshiba - will have a capacity of 30GB and be able to play both music and videos as well as display pictures. Other than the different orientation of the display and the click-wheel looking control that is in fact not a click-wheel, the device is very similar to an iPod at first glance.
The main differences, according to Microsoft are the built in FM tuner, which has so far proven to be a moot feature in all other players; the bigger screen, which is only in fact 0.5 inch bigger than that of the iPod, while having the exact same 320x240 resolution; and the wireless capabilities that are indeed a differentiating factor.
Interestingly enough, Microsoft has not given any details about the pricing of the players, or the battery life or the exact dimensions or weight. In terms of actual 'unveiling' of the product, little has been said that was not actually known for some time. Also, in terms of differences, the only thing Zune can do - that an iPod can't - is share music wirelessly, a feature whose usefulness or appeal is hard to predict, and the fact that it comes in brown. Maybe Apple will release a new Brown iPod and will cut those differences down to half.