Zune to miss '07 launch window

Microsoft's Steve Ballmer has said that the iPod rivalling Zune device which was released in the United States in September 2006 will not be released in any European territories during 2007.

Speaking to German magazine Wirtschafts Woche, Ballmer admitted that the Zune business, much like the firm's Xbox 360 activities, is still losing money, and added that to launch in other markets under such conditions would be "dangerous".

[PS360WII]

I think MS was stretching a bit for the Zune. Honestly who would of thought that the iPod really was gonna be the next best thing. Specially when there are much cheaper and higher storage mp3 players out there. Zune should of competed with those and not the iPod. I think at least.

[SuperSaiyan4]

Sorry but look how chunky it is and its still got some software issues.

Its a failed product.

Leave the music to the REAL companies like iRiver, Creative, Archos and Sony.

Even Apple is a joke with the cr@p pod if you think thats an MP3 player wow your a joke.

[WilliamRLBaker]

you lost all credibility when you said the mp3 player that has 70-80% of the mp3 player market is crap, and sony hasn't had a good music player since the discman.

[THAMMER1]

I is nice. It only has a few extra feature over the ipod, but those features were enough for me to buy it over the ipod. standard FM radio, Wifi file share, larger screen. People who complain about the soft ware must have some sorry @ss computer skills or a crappy computer the soft ware automatically updated all of my music after installation.

[BIadestarX]

I have 3 MP3 players.

Motorola M500
http://www.engadget.com/200...

Ipod Video

and a Zune.

out of all of them, the one with the least amount of features is the IPod and the one I use the least. No FM on the IPod.

I love some of the features of the M500 that I think the zune can support easly that with just software upgrades.

the M500 can record FM radio.
... ... Allows you to bookmark songs (i.e. It's a great feature when you are listening a podcast and you want to stop and listen to something else and play it where you left it off).

I think the zune is great, it probably has the best hardware in the market as far as MP3 player is concern. Microsoft just need to work on improving the software by adding features like (bookmark and FM recording).

[HandShandy]

The Zune was a good little piece of kit (I've used one)

A few mile stones better than the iPod... but no one can really compete with the big name the Ipod has among the teenie-poppers.

[pshizle]

but it was stolen in school when i locked my gym locker anyways...'

the zune is the best mp3 player out on the market

the marketplace needs improvement i found one thing thats better in the zune marketplace than itunes is that when you buy a song in itunes you cant burn it to a cd compared to zune maketplace you can!

zune marketplace needs more songs incorporate video and games

the zune needs to be as slim as the ipod i dont think its much thicker though when i compared it its just longer but still needs to be that slim

[kewlkat007]

The IPOD is not the BEST MP3 device out there. Just do your homework.
Apple is just very good at making visually appealing products with great Marketing.

I'm a music junkie and I would pick a Creative Zen :Vision over Ipod any day. Well the public is just not as aware that there are alternatives with more features, better screens and less fuss when importing videos, Unlike Apple.

I tried the Zune but returned it(not quite there yet), then again it is a first generation device, while you'll get no MP3 player that shares awesome characteristics of each competing player out there(well its would be the best MP3 player if there was one) they can only get better with new generations.

Just like Smart Phones, I've tried many MP3 players, nobody has hit the perfect Ideal phone or even the Perfect MP3 player. Apple hit it at the right time, especially with Itunes download service. Napster was the shzznit..lol

Oh yeah I hate Itunes, I use ANApod by redchairsoftware.com, its way better, and not bloated.

On the Topic, sucks for MS eventually it will get there, nothing new with Europe ya know..

[gta_cb]

was this the UK launch? or the launch of the new Zune? (as UK havnt even got the original one yet... i think anyway lol i have an iPod so havnt checked, but the last time i heard the UK hasnt even got the original Zune

[omansteveo]

Ive got a zune the its really a good product and theres plenty of other mp3 players out there that are competing with the Ipod but for some reason people say the Zune has Failed when its surpassed some players in sales that have been out twice as long.....Lets not bash everything MS just bc you don't prefer other products from them