Neowin News Feed for: Zune

Microsoft Weekly: bugs, apps, IE not dead, and the overall calm before Build

Taras Buria — Sun, 21 May 2023 08:58:01 +0000

Although we haven't received any new Windows 11 builds this week, the last 7 days brought plenty of news. It is time to recap the most interesting and noteworthy stories from the world of Microsoft. Read more...

Microsoft is giving away an unopened Zune player but admits, "We have no idea if it works"

John Callaham — Mon, 15 May 2023 20:38:01 +0000

The 8 GB Microsoft Zune player is being given away to help promote Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which features the defunct media MP3 player in a very prominent role. Read more...

Microsoft uses Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 to revive Zune.net for STEM promotion

John Callaham — Tue, 02 May 2023 14:46:02 +0000

Microsoft is helping to promote Marvel Studios' Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which features its discontinued Zune media player. It's also helping to promote STEM efforts in schools. Read more...

Microsoft is giving away four months of free service to new Groove Music Pass subscribers

Andy Weir — Mon, 28 Nov 2016 21:22:01 +0000

Microsoft is hoping to entice more people to buy its music subscriptions. In addition to a free 30-day trial, it's offering new Groove Music Pass subscribers a further three months of service free. Read more...

7 Days: A week of iPad Pro-blems, Zune's swansong, and Windows update upset

Andy Weir — Sun, 22 Nov 2015 03:24:09 +0000

From Bing reimagined and Lumia launches, to Windows Phone's 1.7%, PS2 on PS4, Anonymous v ISIS, Black Friday buildup, and Jolla in 'death valley', it's our regular roundup of the week's top tech news. Read more...

Microsoft is terminating Zune services today

Usama Jawad — Sun, 15 Nov 2015 13:22:01 +0000

Nearly ten years after launch, Microsoft is formally retiring Zune services as of today. Existing Zune Music Pass subscriptions will be converted to Groove Music Pass subscriptions. Read more...

7 Days: A week of budget-friendly Fire, Windows 10 updates, and Microsoft's iPhone Pro

Andy Weir — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 02:00:35 +0000

From Microsoft's DVD-saster and Rockstar's "bollocks", to buggy fruit, Android delights, a Dislike for Facebook, and Snapchat's pay-to-replay, it's our regular roundup of the week's top tech news. Read more...

Microsoft will retire Zune music subscriptions on devices starting November 15

John Devon — Wed, 16 Sep 2015 06:22:01 +0000

Microsoft has decided to retire Zune music services, on devices and PCs, asking users to transition to Groove Music. Read more...

Microsoft: Zune Marketplace to shut down as early as Nov. 22

John Callaham — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:27:25 +0000

Microsoft has sent out an email informing the remaining Zune Marketplace users that they won't be able to purchase or rent content, or even browse movies and TV shows, as early as Nov. 22. Read more...

Microsoft to end Xbox Video support for Windows Phone 7, Zune software + devices

Andy Weir — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 19:21:34 +0000

Microsoft has announced that it plans to end Xbox Video support for Windows Phone 7 devices, Zune media players and the Zune desktop software, from late February 2014. Read more...

Microsoft to stop rentals and purchases on Zune Marketplace after Aug. 22nd

John Callaham — Fri, 16 Aug 2013 20:17:07 +0000

Microsoft is sending out emails to the remaining users of Zune and the Zune Marketplace, telling them that rentals and purchases of music and video will cease on the Zune Marketplace after August 22nd Read more...

Windows Phone 8 syncing tool drops beta but is it better?

Rob Brand — Fri, 31 May 2013 07:26:09 +0000

Improved Windows Phone App for desktop released. We ask if Microsoft have finally bested their previous sync champion the venerable Zune. Expanded podcast support and flexibility, we dive in! Read more...

From Xbox 360 to next Xbox, Microsoft has launched lots of products in between

John Callaham — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:51:49 +0000

Microsoft announced the current Xbox 360 console just over eight years ago. Between that day and today's next Xbox reveal, the company has released a ton of new products in other divisions. Read more...

Why was the Zune brand so hated?

Anthony Tosie — Sun, 10 Feb 2013 15:28:44 +0000

Microsoft's Zune brand may be dead, but it's still often the brunt of many pop-culture jokes. But why? The Zune music players were well received, yet for some reason the public hates the Zune name. Read more...

Microsoft retires Zune.net; redirects to Xbox.com

John Callaham — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:01:06 +0000

Microsoft has now officially shut down its long running Zune.net website. Visitors who go to that URL are now redirected to the Xbox Music page located at Xbox.com. Read more...

Trivia Tuesday: A Microsoft Family Tree

Tyler Holman — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 09:20:19 +0000

Check out Trivia Tuesday's awesome infographic pedigree of Microsoft operating systems, from MS-DOS and OS/2 all the way up to Windows 8, and everything in between. Yes, even Zune. Read more...

Microsoft giving 1k Microsoft points to Zune pass subscribers

Brad Sams — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 22:33:33 +0000

The history behind the demise of Zune is a long winding tale and emotions and awkward delivery of information. To help Zune heres adapt to Xbox Music, Microsoft is giving away 1k MS points. Read more...

The Simpsons poke fun at Microsoft's Zune

Anthony Tosie — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 14:57:26 +0000

During its annual "Treehouse of Horror" episode last night, The Simpsons poked fun at Microsoft's Zune brand, equating it to garbage in one of the episode's segments. Read more...

Microsoft Points starting to be phased out

Jake Durasamy — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 11:53:52 +0000

Microsoft looks like its removing its Microsoft Points system as a method of payment in later builds of Windows 8. One can only wonder whether this change will show itself on the Zune and Xbox. Read more...

Captain Obvious: Xbox Music pricing = Zune Pass pricing

Tim Schiesser — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:34:53 +0000

A few leaks have surfaced that show off the pricing of Microsoft's new Xbox Music service, and as you might expect, the prices are exactly the same as for the Zune Pass. Read more...

Rumor: Nokia's Zune-like "Zeal" WP8 device coming in 2013

Tim Schiesser — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 02:42:28 +0000

A rumor claims that Nokia is planning to launch yet another Windows Phone 8 device, this one codenamed "Zeal", packing mid-range specs and a design similar to Microsoft's Zune devices. Read more...

Microsoft closing some Zune Music features after Friday

John Callaham — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 01:59:51 +0000

Microsoft has sent an email to the remaining Zune Music subscribers, revealing that the company will be shutting down a number of its features after Friday, August 31st. Read more...

Has the Zune Insider blog been retired?

John Callaham — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 06:03:54 +0000

Microsoft's Zune Insider blog has not been updated for the past few weeks, and it's likely that Microsoft has shut down updates to the blog in advance of the closing of the Zune brand itself. Read more...

Analyst: Microsoft Surface is the new Zune

Andy Weir — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 07:48:15 +0000

Microsoft hopes to sell "a few million" new Surface tablets, but tech market analysts Canalys believe the new devices will be a market failure, drawing comparisons with Microsoft's Zune music players. Read more...

Could Microsoft be reducing usage of the word 'Metro'?

Paul Ferson — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 21:04:36 +0000

Information from sources inside Microsoft seems to indicate that the company is attempting to reduce the usage of the word 'Metro', which has become synonymous with their modern design. Read more...

Xbox Live and Zune services currently down [Update: It's back up]

John Callaham — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 17:40:46 +0000

Microsoft's Xbox Live and Zune online services are experiencing some extended downtime today, with Microsoft saying they are "working to resolve the issue." Read more...

More rumors of new Xbox Music service hit the Internet

John Callaham — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:50:57 +0000

More rumors about what Microsoft has planned for its previously announced Xbox Music service have been posted to the Internet, including word of both download and streaming plans. Read more...

Surprise Microsoft event could be Xbox Music unveiling

Owen Williams — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 21:54:26 +0000

A mystery Microsoft event that was announced today seems to point to the unveiling of Xbox Music/Video, days ahead of the Windows Phone Apollo release to set the stage for a huge overhaul in WP8. Read more...

Zune branding is dead but the dream is still alive

Brad Sams — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 23:27:03 +0000

Amid all of the excitement today surrounding Microsoft's E3 announcement, one service did not come out on the other-side fair so well. The Zune branding is now confirmed dead but the spirit lives on. Read more...

Microsoft previews Xbox Music

Tyler Holman — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 20:49:27 +0000

Microsoft (sort of) took the wraps off its new Xbox Music service, showing off its sleek new Metro interface and social features in a teaser at today's E3 press conference. Read more...

Zune branding to be replaced with Xbox branded services

Owen Williams — Wed, 30 May 2012 06:04:34 +0000

It's been a long time coming, but we finally have confirmation that the Zune branding will be officially retired this year, in favor of the Xbox branding in Windows 8 and more. Read more...

Former Microsoft exec: We should not have launched the Zune hardware

John Callaham — Sat, 12 May 2012 00:07:19 +0000

Robbie Bach, the former head of Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, had admitted that in hindsight, the company should not have launched Zune as a hardware media player device. Read more...

'Xbox Music' Zune replacement to be announced at E3?

Anthony Tosie — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 13:45:23 +0000

Following endless rumors of its impending demise, Microsoft is reportedly set to finally drop its Zune software, with the company revealing a replacement service at the E3 expo this June. Read more...

Windows Phone app store to be removed from Zune software

John Callaham — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:37:32 +0000

Microsoft has announced it will soon remove the option to purchase Windows Phone apps from the Zune software. Windows Phone users will also have to upgrade to Windows Phone 7.5 to access apps. Read more...

Lumia 900 data connection update released

John Callaham — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 01:16:12 +0000

Nokia has now released the promised software update for the Lumia 900, which hopefully will fix the data connectivity issues that some users of the smartphone are experiencing. Read more...

Zune and Windows Live brands killed from Windows 8

Tim Schiesser — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:32:13 +0000

According to a recent report Microsoft will be killing off their Windows Live and Zune brands for Windows 8; including replacing the Windows Live ID branding for "Microsoft Account" Read more...

Rumor: Microsoft to launch another music service?

John Callaham — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 03:37:55 +0000

A new rumor claims that Microsoft is in talks with the major music companies about a launch of a new music service for the Xbox 360 and Windows Phone, even though it already has Zune Music Pass. Read more...

Microsoft hasn't killed Zune in Windows 8 consumer preview, new client coming

Owen Williams — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 20:20:31 +0000

Zune and Windows Phone owners rejoice! It appears Microsoft isn't killing the Zune service in favour of a new one after all, with Microsoft's latest post showing off Zune in the Windows Store. Read more...

Microsoft Points to be retired, replaced with real money

Andy Weir — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 02:29:57 +0000

The scourge of Microsoft Points - the confusing and inconsistently applied digital currency system - will soon be over, as plans are revealed to replace them with cash payments by the end of 2012. Read more...

Over a quarter of web users engage in music piracy, makes music industry sad

Andy Weir — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:41:01 +0000

Despite worldwide music revenues growing faster last year than in 2010, a new industry report indicates that music piracy is increasing too - 1 in 4 global web users acquired music illegally in 2011. Read more...