Microsoft discontinues hard drives, "squircle" from Zune lineup

With the impending launch of Microsoft's iPod touch competitor, the Zune HD, the Redmond, Wash., company will discontinue its previous offerings, which included high-capacity hard drive players and the "squircle" input method.

According to Paul Thurott at the SuperSite for Windows, Microsoft will no longer offer its "classic" line of Zune MP3 players. That includes the flash-based Zunes with capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB, as well as the hard drive-based Zune 80 and Zune 120. The products will only remain available as long as supplies last.

The new Zune HD launches on Sept. 15 with flash memory capacities of 16GB and 32 GB. The new device will have a 480x272 pixel multi-touch screen that displays with OLED technology. Its announced price points are $100 less than Apple's comparable iPod touch models, though that is likely to change next week.

Apple is expected to unveil its new line of iPods at an event scheduled for Sept. 9. Likely on tap are new models of the iPod touch and iPod nano with cameras.

With the discontinuation of the original Zune lineup, Microsoft will no longer offer any hard drive-based players. Many have believed Apple would soon go down a similar route, seeing the iPod classic and its spinning platters as on their last legs.

However, a recent rumor suggested Apple's iconic device may have at least one last new offering available, this time with a camera.

30 Comments

quinney 2527 comments · 18 Years

About 15 years ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider According to Paul Thurott at the SuperSite for Windows, Microsoft will no longer offer its "classic" line of Zune MP3 players. That includes the flash-based Zunes with capacities of 4GB, 8GB and 16GB, as well as the hard drive-based Zune 80 and Zune 120. The products will only remain available as long as supplies last.

or until the retailers get sick of having them take up space.

teckstud 6475 comments · 17 Years

That last rumor is ridiculous- video recordings churning off that hard drive. Not only that , but who with a classic evens wants a camera? Its the storage capacity that drives people to the classic, not bells and whistles.

elroth 1201 comments · 18 Years

Please, a 240 GB Classic with no camera. After that you can discontinue it, but give us one last shot to get a dedicated music/video player with a lot of storage. Please no camera on the Classic.

macgregor 1399 comments · 23 Years

The whole point of the Classic iPod is to hold EVERYTHING and to be a mobile hard drive. As a teacher I use mine to hold all sorts of media that are a couple of clicks away and can follow me from room to room, agnostic as to the computer that I use to access them.

Why does the Next New Thing crowd try to push out the old and reliable just to have the appearance of being cutting edge. That is a 6th grade mentality.

As for this article - MS just admits defeat but is trying to keep its hand in the game long enough for their mobile phone s/w to catch up. Once the MS market place is established, they think, then I bet they expect their developers, developers, developers to out-compete Apples developers in the next generation of mobile devices in which playing music is one small point.

That is what Apple may be attempting with cameras on "all" iPods. I wouldn't mind a camera on my Touch (I still can't afford AT&T and the iPhone), and I don't need one on my 160 gig iPod Classic ...

... however if they did have a camera option on the classic, just think of having a camera that can hold EVERY photo you've ever taken! Interesting ... as long as it is at least 5 megapixels.

denmaru 187 comments · 20 Years

Paul...Who?

Mr. "Oh, The Press is so Anti-Microsoft" Thurrott? Mr. "I have no clue, but like to make believe?" Thurrott? Quoting him is pathetic, just like his "I use Macs, too" excuse. His whole site is just a big marketing-campaign for Microsoft - too bad they don't even pay him.