The pic on the right seems to be the final design, which makes the player very clean—a definite departure from Microsoft's other endeavors. You all remember the video Microsoft's own people made to illustrate their packaging shortcomings? Well, it seems like they haven't learned much, as our tipster tells us the packaging itself is pretty ugly.

More info after the jump!

Our mole also says there's no game menu to be seen on the device, putting those rumors of portable gaming from Xbox branding in possible jeopardy. More game options possibly coming in the 2nd iteration.

There's also mention of a black version of the Zune, being shown on a music video for the band CSS, and the brown version on the cover for "Band of Horses". You can display Album covers for the song you're listening to on the screen, which is "big enough" and looks "pretty good". Paul Oakenfold also has a tie-in deal.

From the looks of things, the Zune will definitely be ready for a Xmas release.

We'll have more information plus possibly the logo and/or UI Shots tomorrow. Stay tuned! – Jason Chen

Thanks Tipster!

Thanks for the tip slaughterbeck.

anyone reg any names? do u think microsoft will come down like a tonne of bricks on ppl who reg them?

i have went and regged one name and i have promised myself not to reg anymore. The name is zunetunes.com. What do you think?

Microsoft is indeed developing a digital-media player to compete with Apple's iPod, and there's much more to the story.

A few details trickled out last week from music companies that Microsoft is lining up to support the device. Microsoft isn't commenting, but I was able to piece together a broader picture with some research, reporting and information from a source close to the project. What's being developed is actually a complete line of Xbox-branded digital-media products, including a device that plays media, a software media player and an online media service.

The project, or at least part of it, is referred to internally at Microsoft by the code name Argo — a reference to the huge warship used by the hero Jason in Greek mythology.

Argo is being developed within the Xbox group under the leadership of Xbox co-founder J Allard. His team includes people who previously worked on MSN Music, an online music service that had a promising debut in 2004 but fell victim to Microsoft's dithering over its music strategy.

Now the company is firmly behind Argo. It has committed hundreds of millions to produce and market the devices.

As reported last week, initially by Bloomberg News, the device is expected to go on sale by Christmas. It has Wi-Fi capability so it can connect wirelessly to home and public networks and other players.

Wi-Fi sounds like a big deal if you're comparing the player to the wire-bound iPod. But this is more than just another MP3 player. It will also compete with game players from Sony and Nintendo that have long had Wi-Fi and work as media players, Internet terminals and communication devices.

Argo is likely to showcase another Allard project — XNA, a new toolkit that helps game developers create titles for multiple platforms.

It's a grand plan, but as with a few other big projects in Redmond, it may be a struggle to get it all done by the end of 2006. The project isn't completed yet, the holidays are approaching fast and the team is under intense pressure to get everything absolutely right.

The timing of the hype cycle is perfect, however. Microsoft's annual meeting with financial analysts is July 27, and it's looking bleak. Wall Street is furious Microsoft won't be selling new versions of Windows and Office in the fall as promised.

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Argo could help the December quarter and give executives something to discuss with analysts other than product delays, Bill Gates' departure and the high cost of doing battle with Google.

I had thought Microsoft would put its holiday marketing effort behind Urge, a music service it developed with MTV and bundled into Windows Vista's new media-player software. It's helping device makers produce players that show off Urge and the software. Now, those efforts are in parallel with Argo.

On the surface it seems like a rebuke of the Windows team that has carried Microsoft's digital-media torch. It's also a test of Chief Executive Steve Ballmer and his reorganization of the company. Has he truly made the product groups more autonomous? Can Xbox's young guns get past the old guard with a less Windows-centric venture?

By approving Argo, Ballmer was at least willing to try a bold new approach and risk alienating device makers that buy a lot of software.

But there's more at stake. Apple and others are becoming entertainment gateways, broadband-era broadcasters. If Microsoft doesn't do the same, it would, heaven forbid, be just a software company.

so basically, the zune is gonna be a MP3/Gaming device with WiFi
*quickly visits moniker*

its a 9 euro gamble for me, and after a year maybe i decide to let it expire.
not a big deal.

this is one busy thread. 18 members viewing! Anyone else get any more?

Thanks for sharing!

I've been regging names like crazy =) Several names regged by others secounds before I managed to check out and pay. These are going fast!

Rep added and NP$ donated. Thanks again!


central

I had ZuneDownloads.com in my cart at Namecheap and while I added a few more this earlier morning it had been registered out from under me.

Thanks for the headsup.

Was able to register ZuneTracks.com


Kev - your ZuneTunes.com is awesome. I am sure you will do very well with that one.


Thanks Again

Alex

But im not bg (..yet)