Microsoft's iPod Killer is Officially Named ZUNE!

[slaughterbeck]

Microsoft Argo's Final Name: The Zune?
Our inboxes are on fire with brand new information about the new Microsoft MP3 player. We thought the player was code-named "Argo", but we now got word that the final product name that's been flying around is the "Zune"!

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!

Source: Gizmodo


Get your ZUNE domain names now. They're going fast!

 

[newton]

Registered a few and worth a shot for the few bucks it cost.

audiozune.com
emailzune.com
gameszune.com
pornzune.com
sexzune.com
topzunes.com
videoszune.com
zunesblog.com
zunesmusic.com

 

[Volholic]

Exactly----the domain business is all about risk----if you dont risk you cant make money.
If I had not risked $7.00 a couple months ago on Supernaturalcosmetics.com because it was a new makeup my wife was using---I would not have sold it for $500.00 2 weeks ago.
If I had not taken a risk 2 weeks ago when I heard about a new ringtone that only kids can hear because as adults we lose some of are hearing for high-pitched sounds ( called mosquitotone ) then I would not have regged FreeMosquito.com which in the last 2 days has received 20 views and 7 clicks.
I will take the risk when it comes to a few dollars

 

[Sam]

Volholic you play smartly, no risk

CHeck out poker.** . GUARANTEED money

-SAm

 

[Domainate.com]

I somehow doubt the Zune will be an iPod killer if it comes out. Microsoft would also need a huge music download site to compete with iTunes to have even a remote chance. Sure, I bet MSN could advertise the hell out of one and get something going, but not enough to compete IMO. We'll see I guess. A lot of people thought Microsoft was dead in the water with X-Box too.

 

[peaches017]

We'll see I guess. A lot of people thought Microsoft was dead in the water with X-Box too.

Exactly my point to all the doubters. I agree it will probably never overtake the iPod but Microsoft gets it done. Period.

 

[jimmy23]

You guys missed a few...Based on ipod keywords...

WholesaleZune.com
PortableZune.com
ZuneGiveaway.com
ZuneDeals.com

If you want to buy any of these or develop them out, let me know.

 

[harkster]

Been watching the posts here all day feeling bad because I got called out on business earlier today with ZuneZone sitting in the cart and when I returned it was gone. After that I lost interest in taking the plunge.

The names on my 'interesting list' list kept getting smaller. While ago I discovered my NameDrive deposit had been made so I reg'd
ZuneMart-com and
ZuneBuzz-com just cause I like the sound. Wonder if anyone ever has success with a forum type site using the buzz suffix.

Still there
ZuneExtras-com, ZuneXtras-com, ZuneAccessory-info (I really like this), ZuneTown-com

Those saying this is a waste of money may well be right but there is very little reward without risk.

 

[MyPGP]

other ideas.

HisZune, HerZune, ZunePatrol, DotZune, ZuneStorage

 

[movingconcierge]

Zunezone was definately the popular choice. Hark, you're the 3rd to say they tried...

 

[slaughterbeck]

Hello,

I understand that we have one of the most diverse communities on the internet. With that in mind, I feel the need to ask all who read this thread to please say a prayer for a wonderful person. “Christine Pechera” has undergone a procedure that we hope will save her life. She underwent a partial match bone marrow transplant on July 5th, and while we do not have an update on her condition, I hope our prayers can, in some way, help her.



If you can find it in your heart, please say a prayer for an exceptional person:
Christine Pechera



Thanks,
Kimmy

 

[equity78]

The other thing that you have to look at is will microsoft follow myspace's lead and just send a lot of C & D letters out because if they Reg the tm ZUNE there is no doubt that people are infringing on a tm. Now if you have a developed review site or online magazine incorporating a name that one thing, but if just looking to sell it definitely is infringement. AND not sure how many IPOD names or XBOX names or WII names have shown up on DN JOURNAL sales charts over the years. SOME people got some good ones here but I think you have to put a little dev into them as a precautionary move

 

[Zilla]

Hi...Dears, I knew I already too late, but anyway, I regged this one, ZuneFans.com...is it ok?

8 hrs before, I checked the avai. name in DNA, the best I want is zuneclub.com and zuneplus.com, now, both of them gone, so, I try zunefans, thanks God, still avai...

 

[Zilla]

sounds it become quiet, several hours w/o new post? anyway, using this period, I regged my second one Qzune.com.

 

[MyPGP]

MyZTunes.Com

 

[lambda]

Zune approaches!

Engadget link

 

[cbracht]

Hi everybody,

interesting Thread...
I made a little research and found this:

web.archive.org/web/20010309030533/http://zune.com

Think I`m not gonna reg some zune domains. In Germany its to expensive to mess with Bill...
Maybe they haven`t released a trademark for (music class)zune, but I`m sure, that they already startet the process.

Chris

reggae.cn ...

 

[MyPGP]

how about zune2vista.com

has anyone tried the colors? bluezune, redzune, etc?

 

[actelvision]

..zzz...

 

[Monsterman]

Let me guess? Uzune

And what do you mean own by other?

Wow it's hot i just reg ?-zune.com and ?-zunes.com own by an other... :D

 

[SteveAR]

who's going to turn theyre .com into a community?

 

[actelvision]

..zzz...

 

[kev]

who's going to turn theyre .com into a community?

im turning my name into a download site. where or what is the best mp3 download site to have?

kev

 

[lambda]

who's going to turn theyre .com into a community?

I'm seriously thinking about it.

 

[Jo]

Hi everybody,

interesting Thread...
I made a little research and found this:

web.archive.org/web/20010309030533/http://zune.com

Think I`m not gonna reg some zune domains. In Germany its to expensive to mess with Bill...
Maybe they haven`t released a trademark for (music class)zune, but I`m sure, that they already startet the process.

Chris

reggae.cn ...

The results from 2001 show a different result than that. Imagine that...microsoft has owned that name for a long time it looks like. I checked the whois and didn't see a reference to microsoft at all. But the name is regged:

Record expires on 21-Jun-2009.
Record created on 22-Jun-1998.

Could he be an employee? Quite strange.

 

[Lasher]

The other thing that you have to look at is will microsoft follow myspace's lead and just send a lot of C & D letters out because if they Reg the tm ZUNE there is no doubt that people are infringing on a tm. Now if you have a developed review site or online magazine incorporating a name that one thing, but if just looking to sell it definitely is infringement. AND not sure how many IPOD names or XBOX names or WII names have shown up on DN JOURNAL sales charts over the years. SOME people got some good ones here but I think you have to put a little dev into them as a precautionary move

You don't see many sales, but you can be sure that the folks with the best xbox/ipod, and later wii, domains are laughing all the way to the PPC bank.

In the meantime, I see zune.com was registered in 1998, so the lucky owner of that is going to get a nice boost in traffic. I also noticed that 'Zunecast.com' was registered on May 24th, either coincidence or an insider I guess, I know where my money is

I missed the boat on this one, but you can always count on piracy to be popular, so I grabbed Zunetorrents.com, 'zunewarez.com' still unregged right now if anyone else wants to grab it. (Btw, not that I'd create a pirate torrents site, for ppc only).