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Zune Ready to Take On iPod Again... In November

Microsoft hoped its original Zune media player would knock Apple's iPod for a loop, and now is ready to try again in November. The Redmond-based company announced on Tuesday that it plans to roll out a new Zune product line up next month.


The New Zune Review

The new Zune will be available in an 80GB hard drive-based model, and smaller 4GB and 8GB Flash-based models. All will continue to include Wi-Fi support, and now will also support wireless syncing with Windows-based computers.

Microsoft will also launch an updated version of its Zune Marketplace designed to compete with the iTunes Store. The new online media store will sport a redesigned interface that Microsoft called "fun and easy," but most notably will offer about a million DRM-free tracks in MP3 format.

The new Zune services will include Zune Social, which Microsoft describes as an online community where users can share their musical tastes and knowledge.

The 80GB Zune will be priced at US$249.99, coming in at $0.99 more than Apple's 80GB iPod classic. The 4GB and 8GB Flash-based models price match their iPod nano counterparts within 99 cents as well at $149.99 and $199.99 respectively.

Microsoft's original Zune model took about a year to ship a million units. In comparison, Apple sold a million iPhones in about three months.


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