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!

 

[airwav]

Just grabbed Zune2oons.com

 

[MyPGP]

Just grabbed Zune2oons.com

I have an idea for a logo for that one. The number really helps.

 

[movingconcierge]

Not quite Wii, but still WoW!

Results 1 - 10 of about 712,000 for "zune".

This is up from 3,860 on the day of the announcement...two days ago!



BTW: for those who like to pee in the Wheaties of others,

Results 1 - 10 of about 27,100,000 for "nintendo wii" now...

and, although not as explosive...

Results 1 - 10 of about 5,190,000 for "umpc"

Taking offers on wiigod.com & wii-cheat.com :hehe:​

 

[airwav]

I have an idea for a logo for that one. The number really helps.

Do you want to share? :]

 

[GreenGambler]

If they do name it the Zune, and they may or may not....though most say yes.

I kinda think IpodorZune.com would be a good forum site for people who are looking to buy but are torn between the two.

Or for people looking to buy a used Zune or maybe share the music there are:

ZuneExchange
ZuneSwap
ZuneTrade

Or if you wanna go a brandable route maybe:

Zunetastic.com
Zunicale.com
ZuneFest.com
ZuneParties.com

Perhaps you want something more promotional:

ZuneLottery.com
WinAZune.com
ZuneWin.com



They are all unreg'd.... throw me an NP or two if ya reg it

 

[harkster]

I love these threads. Very intertaining and yes I have bought exactly 2 names for a total investment of $14.40 which is somewhere around the price of a pizza or 5 gallons of fuel. The things many miss here is the whole thing is a 'crap shoot' and noone is forcing you to spend a single $.

There are a couple more I may pick up but I guarantee that I ain't spending the rent money here.

As in most of these speculative threads I see some trying a bit to hard to get 'that name'. If it doesn't feel right let it pass at this point. I have been known to make real bad choices and have no doubt I will do it many more times -- all in the price of playing the game and never a total loss as I figure that every mistake is an education.

I sure am glad someone picked up ZuneTown.

 

[SteveAR]

I kinda think IpodorZune.com would be a good forum site for people who are looking to buy but are torn between the two.

yea i was going to create a site similar or a community with both. half ipods half zune. i reg zunevsipod.com another idea i had was to have a competition between the 2 groups. maybe pranks and points etc. still a ruff idea but def a good one.

 

[Static]

Longhorn was the Codename for Vista. Last year I discovered them registering WindowsVista in many different extensions 2 months prior to “Officially Naming it”.
Argo is the Codename for Zune. And, while I do think it’s possible that they could change their minds between now the “Official Naming”, when I see that they registered the domains ZuneLive.com/net/org/info/co.uk/de/in/.cn/com/cn etc. BTW, when you see “internationaladmin” as the email contact you know that a major organization wants to keep things quite. It’s like their form of privacy protection.

It makes me think two things 1) there’s going to be a tie in with the way Xbox Live connects you to other people, 2) this is the final name but Microsoft wants to appear cool so they released it virally in hopes of doing just what this thread is doing.


Generating publicity.



Best wishes,
Kimmy

After my post above, I tried to reg zunelive.com (obviously taken) and checked out the whois. Seems like the domain is registered as its pointing towards Microsoft. (ns1~5.msft.net).

MSFT
http://www.google.com/search?hs=ilu...org.mozilla:en-US:official&q=msft&btnG=Search

Safe bet to say that this is the final name. Will be regging the one I've been looking at in a few minutes. :P

[EDIT] If you search for "Microsoft Zune" on Google, there are much more articles now than the time when Gizmodo announced it. (Obviously, receiving info from Gizmodo).

Seems like Zune is the final?

Also, there are talks of the iPod Nano competitor, Pixas too?

 

[whitebark]

Well Microsoft hasn't denied the name yet...

They are getting great free viral marketing from this, so I would hope that they understand leaving the **zune** named sites as is will only continue the outstanding free marketing for them. As long as you don't go out of your way to misrepresent your site as being official MS, I wouldn't worry. I'm more worried of them adopting another name to use...

In that light the partner and I decided to get some more zune names. Canadians are asleep at the wheel. The best sounding .com zune IMHO is zunezone.com so we got zunezone.ca about an hour ago.

Add also - zunetool.com and zunefix.com - it's MS - you know it's going to break!

Haven't checked these in the last couple of hours but were available earlier today:
zunefreak.com
zunefreaks.com
zuneguard.com
zunehost.com
zunejuice.com
zuneload.com
zunemod.net
zunepeople.com
zunepic.com
zunepics.com
zunepimp.com
zunepimps.com
zuneway.com
zunewebs.com

and one for the canucks - freezune.ca

Roll the dice or walk away.

 

[combs84]

I registered zune-downloads.com a few days ago. I dunno if the hypen makes it worthless but i'll give it a try!

 

[pmnd1966]

and one for the canucks - freezune.ca

Roll the dice or walk away.

i just regged freezune.eu and izune.eu also i regged a couple days ago ezunelive.com

 

[DomainBELL]

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"!

Source: Gizmodo


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

thank you for sharing the info...
NP$ 250 added and REP left (just learned how to do both those recently)

thanks again...

~DomainBeLL (Patricia)

 

[rome2ng]

thks for bring attention.


but i believe most god zune name are taken out by this time.

 

[DomainBELL]

what if you created a site like ZUNEVSIPOD.COM where half of the site was dedicated to ipods and the other to zune. maybe cut it down the middle and have several recourses for both.

or even a community with a template half white and half xbox green. what about that idea?

that sounds like and interesting idea... are you going to do that ??

~DomainBeLL (Patricia)

 

[SteveAR]

that sounds like and interesting idea... are you going to do that ??

~DomainBeLL (Patricia)

probably yea i reg the domain im sure i can grab both markets so i think ill be at the advantage. ipod owners will want to see what zune has and vise versa. plus they can compete as a community.

i also own zuneowners.com so that just might be a single forum or tutorial site . dont know yet. have you bought a domain for zune? if so what are your ideas?

 

[whitebark]

i just regged freezune.eu and izune.eu also i regged a couple days ago ezunelive.com

Nice ones.

if freezune.ca is still available when i get up in the morning - will register it.

i think Canadians are avoiding the zunerush. izune.ca is still there too.

 

[DomainBELL]

probably yea i reg the domain im sure i can grab both markets so i think ill be at the advantage. ipod owners will want to see what zune has and vise versa. plus they can compete as a community.

i also own zuneowners.com so that just might be a single forum or tutorial site . dont know yet. have you bought a domain for zune? if so what are your ideas?

I haven't yet decided how to utilize mine...

so far I only grabbed 3...
these:

ZuneDUDE.com
ZuneCHAMP.com
ZuneCHALLENGE.com

oh and BTW - you left the backdoor open on:
http://www.zuneowners.com/

I've never installed a forum script - not a techie type person...
but one of these days - I would like to have one...

what's the easiest script to install and maintain ??

~DomainBeLL (Patricia)

 

[MyPGP]

YourZuneNow.com (available)

nb$

 

[slaughterbeck]

Here are a couple available that seem cute to me.

Zunatic(s).com
Zunetic(s).com

I have to add TwilightZune.com and TimeZune.com they're just to cute not to add.





Best wishes,
Kimmy

 

[VV]

There are some very nice names I've seen registered in this thread, assuming the "zune" name become reality, but there are also quite a few that appear to be much weaker, and the result of people grabbing ANYTHING with the name "zune".

iPod*****.com
XBOX*****.com
Playstation*****.com
Wii*****.com

If you wouldn't register those, you probably shouldn't register the ZUNE***** version.

Spend those pennies wisely, or save them for another day.