Toss this one out on the rumor mill folks, there is no real confirmation about any of this but it sounds real enough to just be plausible. On the heels of the Pink Zune with a 100,000 unit production run which I have no intention of EVER buying some “details” have emerged on the Zune 2.0 and flash Zune.

Microsoft seems to be jumping onto the flash player bandwagon with a flash based version of the Zune, supposedly due out this year. That model will still feature WiFi, have video playback capabilities and a large screen that is reported by Brian Lam of Gizmodo to cover 75% of the front.

The HDD Zune 2.0 will be very similar to Zune 1.0 but will be thinner, have a larger hard drive and the same if not increased media capabilities. Here’s hoping for longer battery life as well.

Though I am an iPod user I do like the interface of the Zune since it is more customizable and as long as it supports at least unprotected AAC files I could be onboard with it. I am not a fan of the Zune software or Windows Media Player; I’d rather to be able to use iTunes to transfer songs to and from the Zune. I can’t complain about Microsoft wanting users to use their software except their software is error prone, likes to crash and isn’t exactly intuitive.

iTunes has it problems as well but it is still far superior and easier to use than anything to come from Microsoft. If they can manage to fix their software and make it more iTunes like then that’s all they really need to do.

If Microsoft can match the hardware and software integration that iTunes/iPod offer then Apple just may have something to fear.

Related:

Entry was posted on Wednesday, April 11th, 2007 at 5:29 am under Microsoft, Technology.

Read more entries by Jonathan Schlaffer.
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