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If you’re comparing the iPod with Microsoft’s new line of Zune music players, there’s several important facts you should consider before making a purchase. It can be difficult to find a realistic, direct comparison between Apple’s iPod + iTunes and Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player and its accompanying Zune software. As a tech consultant, digital outfitter, and the author of a variety of in depth consumer electronics reviews for popular technology web sites, I keep close track of the consumer electronics industry. I’ve prepared a free buyer’s guide based on my hands on experiences with both product lines, as well as...

REDMOND, Wash. — Microsoft Corp (MSFT) on Tuesday introduced three new models of its Zune digital media player that wirelessly and automatically update their music, photos and videos when placed near a user's computer. They mark the second generation of Microsoft's answer to Apple Inc's (AAPL) iPod, which has sold more than 100 million units in various shapes and sizes since its 2001 launch.

Microsoft Relevant Products/Services posted revenue of $13.76 billion for the company's fiscal first quarter -- a 27 percent increase over the year-earlier period. Net income amounted to $4.29 billion or 45 cents per share. "The first quarter represented an outstanding start of the fiscal year, with every part of the company performing above expectations," said Microsoft CFO Chris Liddell. "I was particularly happy that we increased revenue while meeting operating expense guidance." Microsoft's Client, Business Division, and Server and Tools units grew combined revenue in excess of 20 percent, with demand for Vista, Office 2007, Windows Server, and SQL Relevant...

......You made a smart choice in choosing an iPod. And now you can protect it from theft and still enjoy using it in public with the new Hide-a-Pod anti-theft case. It’s really very simple. Just tell us what iPod model you want to protect and we provide a gutted and hinged Zune with our custom molded iPod casing adapter...... Can I choose my Zune color? Sorry, no. We only use brown Zunes for the maximum anti-theft protection. Will all iPod models (and iPhone) fit? Of course! The Zune is so incredibly huge that there’s plenty of room for any iPod...

REDMOND, Washington (Reuters) - Microsoft Corpintroduced on Tuesday three new models of its Zune digital media player that wirelessly and automatically update their music, photos and videos when placed near a user's computer. They mark the second generation of Microsoft's answer to Apple Inc's iPod, which has sold more than 100 million units in various shapes and sizes since its 2001 launch. By comparison, Microsoft joined the fray last year with a single 30-gigabyte Zune model and has sold 1.2 million units. The new Zunes will come in 4-gigabyte, 8-gigabyte and 80-gigabyte models. All will come with a feature that...

April 06, 2007 (IDG News Service) -- Following digital music pioneer Apple Inc.'s lead, Microsoft Corp. said it will soon sell digital music online without digital rights management (DRM) protection. Microsoft's apparent change of heart on selling DRM-free music came in response to Apple's deal earlier in the week to sell unprotected content from recording company EMI Group PLC. The company previously claimed that DRM was necessary for current and emerging digital media business models. "The EMI announcement on Monday was not exclusive to Apple," said Katy Asher, a Microsoft spokeswoman on the Zune team, in an e-mail to the...

Crunchgear reports that Microsoft may be working on their own mobile phone under the Zune brand. We’ve just received a sound tip that Microsoft is working on its very own phone to be branded under the Zune moniker. Our tipsters inform us that Microsoft execs are in meetings today hammering out details of the device and developing strategies and timescales for its release. The Zune phone is reportedly not even in development yet, but is expected to be a "smartphone" and run a modified version of the current Zune interface/operating system. The target launch date, however, is said to as...

It's official: record companies don't like you. After all that griping about signing up for the Zune music store -- and keep in mind that these record companies receive monies for selling songs here -- that resulted in Universal Music Group getting some sort of fat royalty check from Microsoft for Zune sales, not to mention whatever negotiations went on behind closed doors to come up with that ridiculously minimal "three days or three plays" sharing scheme, a couple of labels have once again gone out of their way to make life hard on you. It appears Sony Music and...

So Microsoft's strategy for its Zune player is becoming clear. Just dig up what Register readers were talking about five years ago. Having attempted to add "BluePod" features ("squirting" music between devices wirelessly) to Zune, Microsoft is now promoting another concept that may sound familiar to long-time readers. On Saturday, Microsoft's media business chief Chris Stephenson said he wanted to see music dispensed by over the air "filling stations" to Zunes. The British-born executive was addressing the Midem Music expo in Cannes. Stephenson said the best candidates for these digital dispensers - he called them "filling stations" - were retail...

When Derrick Woods and Chanell Martin decided to surprise their 12-year-old daughter with a Microsoft Zune media player, they had no idea how big of a surprise they were in for. The gadget, they said, came preloaded with more than an hour of raunchy pornography.

REDMOND - Microsoft Corp. said Wednesday that it expects to sell 1 million of its new Zune music players through the first half of 2007. That figure would pale in comparison to Apple Computer Inc.'s market-leading iPod, but Microsoft contends it would be a good start. "We think that's actually pretty awesome," said Bryan Lee, corporate vice president for Microsoft's entertainment group. The $250 Zune, whose 30 gigabyte hard drive can hold 7,500 songs, debuted in mid-November to mixed reviews. One unique aspect of the Zune, its ability to let users wirelessly send songs to each other, has been panned...

Review: Microsoft's Zune (or, the iPod's Ugly Cousin) Our Zune is here, with Microsoft’s big entry into the digital music market set for its official release tomorrow. We'll post a more detailed review once we can test it with other Zunes, and once we have access to the Zune Marketplace download service, but here are initial impressions from Popular Mechanics’ Upgrade editor: Looks It's bigger, boxier and less shiny than the iPod. In my book, that's a bad thing, as is the bizarre brown color and even more bizarre semi-translucent green tones at the corners. Interface The control pad is...

Microsoft's Zune gets off to a promising startMicrosoft's Zune portable audio player may not exactly be setting the sales charts ablaze, but it did make a respectable showing during its first few weeks on the market. According to market research firm NPD Group, the Zune managed to capture second place in the digital audio player market in its first four days of availability.For its first week, the Zune managed to grab 9% of the market according to NPD. "Considering it is a new brand, it's a very good first-week showing," said Ross Rubin of NPD Group. Rubin went on to...

Excerpt - A recent out-of-court settlement between Apple Computer and a Vermont-based inventor has landed Apple the rights to a prestigious software design patent that may allow the company to seek royalties on a broad spectrum of digital downloads. Michael Starkweather, a lawyer and author of the 10-year old patent, issued a statement on Thursday calling it a "billion dollar patent" that will have affects on the future of the "cell phone, iPod and PDA" industries. "I believe that, with this patent in hand, Apple will eventually be after every phone company, film maker, computer maker and video producer to...

AllofMP3.com gets the first axe in a new war on piracyThis week the U.S. government announced a joint program with Russia in an effort to thwart piracy as well as protecting intellectual property (PDF). The new joint program calls to address what the U.S. terms IPR, or intellectual property rights, which is a big concern in Russia right now as well as other countries such as China and Taiwan. The agreement between the U.S. and Russia will attempt to address critical issues, including but not limited to the following:

DVD Movie to iPod Ripping Not Allowed Says CongressBut if you're a teacher, you can rip DVDsThere's no doubt in the world that Apple's iPod is leading the race in terms of sales, popularity, and social status. Apple has done an incredible job at keeping its multimedia pocket-wizard at the top of people's wish lists. Out of the three available flavors of the iPod, the video iPod is Apple's flagship; able to play not only music but also games and full length movies. Despite its features however, movie playback is where controversy has stirred. This week, the US Library of...

Yes, Microsoft's new Zune digital music player is just plain dreadful. I've spent a week setting this thing up and using it, and the overall experience is about as pleasant as having an airbag deploy in your face. "Avoid," is my general message. The Zune is a square wheel, a product that's so absurd and so obviously immune to success that it evokes something akin to a sense of pity. The setup process stands among the very worst experiences I've ever had with digital music players. The installer app failed, and an hour into the ordeal, I found myself asking...

Yes, Microsoft's new Zune digital music player is just plain dreadful. I've spent a week setting this thing up and using it, and the overall experience is about as pleasant as having an airbag deploy in your face. "Avoid," is my general message. The Zune is a square wheel, a product that's so absurd and so obviously immune to success that it evokes something akin to a sense of pity. The setup process stands among the very worst experiences I've ever had with digital music players. The installer app failed, and an hour into the ordeal, I found myself asking...

Zune launched this week and, as predicted, it easily jumped to the number one spot in one of the most critical market metrics. How can this happen? How can a company known for practices that should dominate this metric fall so far behind its Redmond rival? Sometimes it’s about focus and commitment and a never ending desire to maximize critical metrics like third party studies. Sometimes it about executive integrity and the ability to present a product in the most favorable light in the face of all information to the contrary to overcome all objections in getting a product to...