Way too Early for Zune 3

Zunescene is reporting that meetings have already begun involving the new Zunes, dubbed as Zune 3. I don't know about this but I think Microsoft should focus more on what's in the present, and improving the current Zune 2 line base on initial customer feedbacks and reactions.

The image on the right is only a mock-up made by a user (you can relax now.) But if ever this mock-up design would be a reality (if ever) then this would surely be a flop, just like Zune 30 social-thing. The interface looks lost, there is no consistency on the typographic elements, the Zune logo button is too redundant plus it looks just like an iPhone merged with a Samsung player.

Just barely a month after it's release, I want my Zune 80 (in stock) first before any ZPhone or Zune 3 joins the scene and I do hope that Microsoft would set a high priority on the release of zunes outside U.S.A and Canada. In any case, Zune 3 would just be too early, we wouldn't want a repeat of the early compromise made on Zune 30 last year.

Comments

[Jason Bayer]

Yea, really. And they havent even officially sold it in Canada yet, it is still a U.S. Only, but there are numerous reports and facts that ultimately lead to a launch in Canada soon. and yea, I dont even have a Zune 2 yet, and they are already talkin about Zune 3 or Zune Phone. Geezzzz

[Jaxim]

Seriously. I agree. They need to start issuing updates to the firmware and software based on customer feedback, and do it soon!

[Louis Davidson]

Actually you want them talking about Zune 3 and possibly 4 right now. These things take a lot of time to actually materialize, and they need to be planning far in advance.

No question that they need to finish up what they have started with the second edition, and hopefully the groundwork they laid this time by rebuilding everything from the ground will mean that the next edition will be more evolutionary than revolutionary like this time, where we lost features that some people wanted (auto playlists) in order to fulfill on other desires (podcasts).

If they start to trickle out the features and fixes at a good pace, and especially keep upgrading my Zune 30, I will be very impressed (and will be the owner of an 80 and probably an 8 soon enough!)

[Khidr]

Roman, Amen, amen and amen. I have a perfectly awesome wm6 phone. I'm still waiting on my zune 80 preorder.

Besides that, the whole iphone convergence fever is a little misplaced, I've definitely thrown tracks on my phone in a pinch, but my phone also works as my gps, and well, my phone. Try handling those three tasks enjoyably in a car.

Now what could be hip down the line (and much less likely to alienate HTC and other windows mobile device makers), would be to offer a software only version of the zune os for embedding into future mobile devices, but keeping a distinct phone-less zune hardware line. That way, you could use your phone as one of your zune pass devices, but still have your beefy hdd zune for the extended remix.

[Rom]

I agree that Windows Mobile 6 is far more "experienced" than any mobile OS, other than maybe the Symbian platform.

iPhone is known for being a crippled device but Apple is learning and opening up to developers slowly. Microsoft should learn from that and first focus on user experience and from there gather useful feedbacks and integrate them into the SAME device and not creating an all-new device which may have new problems in itself.

Do we really need a zPhone at the present? or follow Apple's product line all the time?

[Sean]

I think they SHOULD start talking about the next Zune. Don't forget Microsoft is HUGE company. It doesn't take the entire Zune team to update the current line of Zunes, the same way it doesn't take the entire Zune team to begin the process of visualizing the next generation of product. These things take months to even plan, years to even develop. Now is the time to think about the future.

[stubby boardman]

there are mutliple teams that work together to make a product like the zune. a research and development team may be working on the Zune 3 right now while 2 others are working on the Zune 2's firmware and Zune marketplace's functionality. there's no reason to fret. this is standard in nearly all technology markets.

[Paul]

I totally agree! i mean look how long Apple we refining the iPod before the relsease of the iPhone! ( which i still feel is a glorified PDA!! ) Microsoft need to slow down, market the product over the world first, refine it, make it a real winner of the personal music industry! The Zune has a great chance of beating sales of the iPod down to it's unique selling points, such as FM radio and WiFi and file sharing! those things would be a great hit between children using them and sending songs to eachother!
They should get the idea of a Zune 3 out of there heads and make better what is already made! If not then they are just going to loose all customers! I recenlty purchased a Zune 80GB, and you know what, i actualy want a chance to use it propperly before they bring out a new version. I mean c'mon, are they really that stupid!?

[Workman]

What do any of you have against the Zune 3?? SERIOUSLY! i love the concept of a well made mobile computer merged with a cell phone. For those who like the concept of an Iphone but dont carry singular the zune 3 would fix that problem. i am greatly looking forward to the sune 3 and if anyone on a design team reads this i like the look of the concept model shown above and on zunescene. i think its a great idea wether its a copy or not and it will help all of us who would like to have an iphone but cant because were not on the singular network. my only wish would be that it would be made affordable to purchase and have a relitivle reasonable phone plan.

[Amos]

From a new Zune, I would want sensible additional features, like the ability to read RTF and TXT and a way of searching for songs.

From newer software, I'd like better metatag editing capability (being able to change the artist of a particular song, for example) and expansion of the Marketplace to Europe.