14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft is taking the Zune 2.0 evolution debuted at the end of 2007 one step further and has made a move that could end up causing Apple to see red over the new offerings orbiting the digital media player. Well, maybe I am exaggerating a tad. The Redmond company has announced the availability of a new Zune 80GB, this time in red, a shift from the basic colors associated with the device. The explanation is simple, the red Zune 80GB comes to help consumers better celebrate Valentine's Day. In Microsoft's perspective, love and sharing go hand in hand with the red Zune and some extra Zune originals content.
"Zune gives consumers a dynamic canvas that is brought to life by the music, pictures, videos and podcasts they fill it with. Zune Originals makes it easy to design a customized player, while wireless sharing and the Zune Social online music community give people new ways to connect," said Scott Erickson, senior director of product management for Zune at Microsoft.
In addition to the red Zune with a traditional 80GB hard drive, the Redmond company is also enriching the materials available over at Zune Originals with 20 new designs. And on top of that, Microsoft revealed that Zune Marketplace will feature Valentine's Day playlists for this special occasion. The new artwork on Zune Originals comes from artists such as Colorblok, Friends With You, PSYOP and Studio Play Pretend, and each design can be laser engraved on the back of the device in order to personalize it.
"With a bright 3.2-inch screen and premium in-ear noise-isolating headphones, the red Zune 80GB is the latest addition to the new line of Zune wireless players, which also includes the slim, ultra-portable Zune 4GB and Zune 8GB, available in pink, green, black and red. All three models offer wireless sync and sharing, a built-in FM tuner, and the new Zune Pad, a touch-sensitive navigation button that lets people fly through menus or lists with the flick of the thumb, or click to easily change songs or adjust the volume," Microsoft added.