Zune HD back from the dead according to Microsoft’s support team

By Tom Warren, on 5th Oct 11 7:05 am with 33 Comments

R.I.P Zune, or not?

The Zune HD has made a dramatic return from death.

Like a cat with nine lives, the Zune HD players have been close to death several times this week. Microsoft originally removed all references to its Zune HD players from the company’s Zune site on Monday. Microsoft Zune team member Michael Yaeger then revealed that the Zune HD device removals were a mistake and that the device had returned to Microsoft’s pages.

A new support article published on Tuesday made it clear that the company had killed off its Zune players, or did it? Microsoft’s Zune support team claims that the support page was added in error. “We are still supporting the Zune HD hardware. No official info has been released stating hardware is being discontinued,” said a tweet from the company’s official Zune support team. Microsoft’s “mistakes” are clearly in preparation for an official announcement on the death of the Zune devices. The original support article claimed that the company is focusing on Windows Phone:

“We recently announced that, going forward, Windows Phone will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy, and that we will no longer be producing Zune players. So what does this mean for our current Zune users? Absolutely nothing. Your device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And we will continue to honor the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy our very last devices. Customer service has been, and will remain a top priority for us.”

Microsoft is sticking to the official company line on the Zune HD death but its inevitable given the recently published web pages. Zune software is part of Microsoft’s Windows Phone 7 operating system and the company recently confirmed that it is working to port existing Zune HD applications to Windows Phone. Despite the near death of the Zune HD, Microsoft was forced to confirm it is not “killing” any Zune services after it was revealed that the company may rebrand Zune into Windows Live services.

Image Credit: themacadvocate.com

  • Anonymous

    its dead no its not 
    really its dead told you no its not dead 
    dead not dead dead not dead dead not dead -.-’

    its great device and great software i don’t know why people don’t like it :|

    • Anonymous

      because they never heard or seen it before.
      I tried to get one in the UK and realised they didnt even ship them off of the US??
      Plus they dont even market it in the US compared to other products we know.

      MS need to sort out its marketting strategy… if they even have one.

  • Anonymous

    I am happy for this to keep going until tech bloggers run out of clever images of the Zune in coffins and graveyards.

  • Tia A Smith

    Microsoft is confused like a teenage girl … he loves me, he loves me not .. oh he loves me.

    • Penta2100

      I like him instead, no I don’t, yes I do, no I don’t…

    • http://www.zunecards.net/index3.php wetworker

      lol

  • Anonymous

    Given all the back-and-forth around this, the rebranding of Zune Services is probably a great idea at this point!

  • Anonymous

    Is this a whole marketing thing thats going on?  its getting crazy.

  • Anonymous

    Hey Tom, can you add a sorting option to the comment section? I hate how it defaults to “popular first” with no option to change it. I have to go to another Disqus site to flip the setting and come back here. PITA..

    • Just Visiting

      +1000

    • Guest

      While we’re at it, how about fixing the reply buttons that keep running off the screen?

  • Anonymous

    Microsoft probably intended to officially announce death of the Zune HD AFTER the holidays to clear out any remaining inventory. But somebody mangled the website pages. As far as Zune music service goes, my guess is that Microsoft might change name of Zune music service when Windows 8 is released.

  • Gyu

    Great, but I would still like this to enter more markets. Its mostly US and UL only, the choices in Singapore is very limited, to only a few companies like Apple and Creative.

  • Anonymous

    Its a bummer.  No new Zune hardware.  My kids each have an Ipod touch.  Games are only a buck (usually).  I wish there was Zune hardware to compete.  Would much rather have my kids with a WP7 type PMP.  I can always dream……

    • Anonymous

      Agree. iPod touch is the “gateway drug” to the iPhone. :)

    • Anonymous

      Those dollar apps is what gets you stuck into the apple ecosystem and I cant understand why Microsoft doesnt get it.

      At a dollar an app/game you just buy them on impulse, and by the time you need to change your phone you bought 50-100 apps, to repurchase those apps on WP at 5 dollars each it will cost you 500 dollars, so you buy the next iPhone were your apps will work.

      Meanwhile at 5 dollars a game, you make sure the game/app is worth it before you buy it, so you end up only buying 10-20, and when its time to change your phone, you know that if you buy an iPhone, you can repurchase those apps for 20 dollars.

    • Anonymous

      Yeah that is a great point – I am on that fence now.  I was really hoping for an “xbox/zuneHD” hybrid device   They don’t seem to grasp that and I not sure they ever will.  With our kids having a touch – 1$ apps are an easy buy compared to a DS with $30 games (no disrespect to the DS).  The WP7 is great. I own one and with Mango – this is a great phone!!  A little late, but great.  I just have the feeling when they realize that a PMP market is still there, it will be too late.  

  • Frylockns86

    WTF is going on?

  • notePAD

    Yes you, not me, isn’t me, then it’s you, lol!

  • Dave

    The Zune player never caught on because it was never sold internationally. I have one, it’s awesome, but I had to go to the States to get it. At least they finally brought the Zune Pass to Canada!

  • OMG55

    I thought MS hire the gentleman who was in charger of marketing at Disney previously. If so, when are we going to see a clever marketing strategy from him to promote WP7 and even promote zune. I think the zune is a very nice item and as everyone has been saying here, it lacks advertising. I honestly believe that if MS invested in good solid commercials that highlight its features , it would bring ipod sales way down and would server as an equalizer.

  • http://twitter.com/laserfloyd Lewis McCrary

    Give me a WP7 based PMP and I’ll buy it once my ZuneHD dies. :)

  • Anonymous

    While I understand Microsoft wanting to focus on WP being their Zune platform going forward, not everyone can afford a smartphone with a voice and data plan.  There’s a market out there, still, for those that simply want a PMP and/or a PMP with the ability to run apps; and if the iPod/iPod Touch is not evidence of that, then I don’t know what is!

    I would certainly purchase a Zune PMP HD especially if the WP apps could be used on it.  But no one should have to purchase a smartphone along with an expensive 2 year voice/data plan just to experience Zune on a mobile device.

    • Anonymous

      I agree. I can’t justify a $40 a month data plan because I probably won’t use it that much.  However, I would buy a wifi enable WinMo tablet or iTouch/PDA sort of device. 

  • Daniel Cassidy

    Little confused. So they’re still selling Zune HDs?

    • Anonymous

      I DON’T KNOW!!!!

  • Anonymous

    I’m sorry, but I think this article is pointless.  Of coarse we all know that MS will still “support” the Zune hardware.  But other than that, yes, Zune hardware is dead.  No new versions will be made.

  • Anonymous

    How about incorporating Zune functionality into at new Microsoft tablet or a WinMo iTouch sort of device?

  • http://www.wpdownunder.com Sheeds

    LOL – My screenshot of the offending (erroneous?) Zune Support page AND the Tweet I received from Microsoft Zune Support  where they confirmed the error can be found here:

    http://www.wpdownunder.com/?p=2743

    Cheers :)
    Sheeds.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1618268197 Timothy Neinheart

    If I were Microsoft, I’d do this:

    Axe the Zune.

    Revive it with Windows Phone 7 kernels. With all the apps. Uh… That’s be cool.

    now how the classic Zune control pad be compatible.

  • Guest

    Another example of why Ballmer needs to go. Who the fuck is running the place? The Zune device is dead. Anyone with a functioning brain who follows the company has known that was coming for years. Just come out and admit it once. This back and forth makes the entire company look like clueless amateurs.

  • Guest

    Tom, I hope you tweeted a link for this article to @fxshaw. Because this is the kind of poor/confused/mixed messaging that undermines everything he’s trying to do and makes MS look really bad.

  • Guest

    A confusing message from MS, but it’s just semantics. The device is in fact dead. Support will continue for some predetermined period, like it does for other products that get killed.