Allow Me to (Re)Introduce Myself, My Name Is. . .

Hi there, I’m Cesar Menendez. Like my buddy Richard, I just started working on Microsoft’s new music project, Zune.

Today, we’re admitting officially announcing Zune, via an article in Billboard. So what’s Zune? It’s Microsoft’s new, holistic approach to music and entertainment. And yes, this year, we’ll be releasing a device as part of the project. Under the Zune brand, we’re looking to build a community for connecting with folks, all to discover new music and entertainment.

So, in part, that’s where this blog comes in. Sure, I’ll have the official word on Zune, but really, I want to make this blog about music, music culture, videos, cool bands, things like that. Ok, well, here goes.

Edit: RSS is back working real nice.

Comments

[Rjay]

Let's play a game. What tune should launch zune?

"How Zune is Now" - Morrissey

[MSZUNE.COM]

Congrats dude! You and Richard are probably two of the luckiest bastards on the planet. Just don't forget the little folks when you become the "zune god". Also be mindful that it's the unofficial zune sites like www.mszune.com (our very own site), www.zunezone.com, et. al. that's been generating the buzz and will continue to generate the buzz for ya'll. Deliver a great product or we'll write crap about it :).

[Some Guy]

So, are you guys going to give away a free iPod with every unit?

Frankly, that's about the only hope you have of getting anyone to take these things off your hands.

Hey kids, if you thought it was bad to get a Zen for Christmas because your parents couldn't tell the difference, wait till you try hiding your "ZOON" behind a pair of aftermarket white earbuds.

[CrossFireXT17]

Awesome! Very excited for this product, hope it looks amazing (cause it needs to look really cool as well to take on the IPod). This will be my first MP3 player if everything turns out well, I 've never bought one before, but so far this seems to be a good deal/idea so I will pick it up if it appeals to me

[Emma]

I don't mean to be negative, but Zune's name and logo alone make me cringe. How come Microsoft can't get any of this stuff right??

[Richard Giles]

Hi Cesar

I found your weblog today. Great work getting on the Zune team. It's
sure to be amazing.

I run a popular podcast called The Gadget Show:
http://gadget.thepodcastnetwork.com

It won the best Australian Podcast for 2006, but to be honest the
audience (as you'd expect) is international.

I was wondering how I might go about contacting someone, like
yourself, to do an interview about Zune. Does it go through MSFT PR?

I've chatted with a few people at Microsoft before (Larry Hyrb, Robert
Hensing, Scott Henson, and Robert Scoble), and have gone through your
PR. So I'm guessing that might be the go. However, any tips on who the
right people are would be cool.

Cheers
Rich

[anounymous]

bring it

[MSZUNE.COM]

Hi Emma, I actually LOVE the logo. If you look hard enough it starts to "spell out" M, S, Z, U, N, E and whatever else you want it to make say :). The second part that I like about it is that it embraces the "integrated" them.

[MSZUNE.COM]

OMG - sorry about the multiple post! The site keeps freaking - I have no clue what happened. Please delete the duplicate posts.

[Jamais]

is this real?

[MSZUNE.COM]

Well here it is, I guess someone’s got to be the bearer of bad news. Apparently, if you pronounce the “u” as in “tribune”, the word Zune translate to “fucked.” So is the Zune an iPod-killer? Or is it doomed to be fucked zunked like all other iPod contender before it?

http://www.mszune.com/zune-in-hebrew-translates-to-fucked-2214.php

[J.Goodwin]

I've got an Archos Gmini.

It has line in and records uncompressed 48k stereo. I use it all the time for concerts and so forth.

It would take a lot for me to give that up, and without Live Arcade features, Zune isn't going to get anywhere.

[SportsUnit]

If Zune allows interaction with other music listeners in a way similar to XBOX Live, you can count me in. Wi-fi for adding songs and accessing a digital music locker sounds great. But, a friends list and all that other good stuff that made XBOX Live so interesting would kill anything rotten apple has ever done.

[TheH2s]

I am a bit skeptical but will keep it on the radar. The only thing I'm wondering however is will it be able to download podcasts? I've only hear about music so far and that scares me. Music is great and all but i'm a podcast whore. If it doesn't download podcasts it won't even get a second glance from me.

[DigitalMusicBaby]

Sounds cool, so what do you do Caesar, tell us a little about yourself and will zune be able to kill the labels, I'm tired of paying $15 a CD. It would be cool if they give us some discounts as fans of zune instead of just another hyped up website like all the other marketer websites. Been there, done that.

[Daisy]

How cool, is this the next iPod, I can't wait to get one in Pink.

[wazza]

Leaked interface screenshot here:
http://flickr.com/photos/guyguy/196027191/

[sammy mazola jr™]

I'm so stoked that the Zune has street-cred. This blog proves it! I can't wait to read about how great the Zune is, all the better to prepare me when it eventually gets released! No need for that 'can get it anywhere' iPod when Zune will be coming! Soon! And it will be great!!!!

[sammy mazola jr™]

I'm so stoked that the Zune has street-cred. This blog proves it! I can't wait to read about how great the Zune is, all the better to prepare me when it eventually gets released! No need for that 'can get it anywhere' iPod when Zune will be coming! Soon! And it will be great!!!!

[sammy mazola jr™]

I'm so stoked that the Zune has street-cred. This blog proves it! I can't wait to read about how great the Zune is, all the better to prepare me when it eventually gets released! No need for that 'can get it anywhere' iPod when Zune will be coming! Soon! And it will be great!!!!

[sammy mazola jr™]

I'm so stoked that the Zune has street-cred. This blog proves it! I can't wait to read about how great the Zune is, all the better to prepare me when it eventually gets released! No need for that 'can get it anywhere' iPod when Zune will be coming! Soon! And it will be great!!!!

[Donald Burnett]

Did anyone in marketing who decided to name the player "Zune" bother to research if someone else was using this name before them?

The name Zune is being used by the AROS open source project already to name their "take-off" on the MUI user interface for that project. Since it's something not going on in the USA it might not have garnered notice but it sure did in the AROS community. If you want to know more about AROS and Zune for Aros check out www.aros.org..

I really think they should relaunch the player under another name considering the fact that this name is already being used ELSEWHERE..

That's not to say I don't love the player. I think it's super cool..

[Donald Burnett]

Did anyone in marketing who decided to name the player "Zune" bother to research if someone else was using this name before them?

The name Zune is being used by the AROS open source project already to name their "take-off" on the MUI user interface for that project. Since it's something not going on in the USA it might not have garnered notice but it sure did in the AROS community. If you want to know more about AROS and Zune for Aros check out www.aros.org..

I really think they should relaunch the player under another name considering the fact that this name is already being used ELSEWHERE..

That's not to say I don't love the player. I think it's super cool..

[Donald Burnett]

Did anyone in marketing who decided to name the player "Zune" bother to research if someone else was using this name before them?

The name Zune is being used by the AROS open source project already to name their "take-off" on the MUI user interface for that project. Since it's something not going on in the USA it might not have garnered notice but it sure did in the AROS community. If you want to know more about AROS and Zune for Aros check out www.aros.org..

I really think they should relaunch the player under another name considering the fact that this name is already being used ELSEWHERE..

That's not to say I don't love the player. I think it's super cool..

[miniplayer.info]

I am really excited about getting one of these players as soon as they come out.

So far... nice work Microsoft!