Microsoft working on 'Zune HD2' powered by Windows Phone 7
At this week's Game Developers Conference, Microsoft unveiled its new XNA Game Studio 4.0, which allows developers to create games that can run on a variety of devices, including Windows desktops, the Xbox 360 and future phones running Windows Phone 7 Series. In addition, ZDNet's Mary-Jo Foley said Microsoft is working on a "Zune HD2" that will be similar to the iPod touch, in that it will have no phone functionality.
But the migration to XNA 4.0 means the current version, 3.1, will be left behind. XNA 3.1 is used to write games and applications for the existing Zune HD, which was just released last September. Microsoft has reportedly encouraged developers to migrate their titles over to the Windows Phone 7 Series platform.
That move would make the small number of developers who have written applications for the current Zune HD to abandon the device, at least in its current iteration. Though Microsoft has not announced any plans, it's possible that the Zune HD operating system could be updated for compatibility with the new XNA 4.0 suite.
"The company's decision to cut Zune HD from the list of targets for XNA Game Studio 4.0 may rile some developers/users, I'd think," Foley wrote.
Windows Phone 7 Series was revealed in February and will be on devices due to hit the market by holiday 2010. The new mobile operating system borrowed heavily from the Zune HD touchscreen interface, and uses the Zune branding for its integrated media player.
The Zune HD sports an OLED multi-touch screen, can tune into HD radio stations, offers playback of high-definition movies and TV shows, and has access to the $15-per-month unlimited download Zune Pass.
Last September, Apple introduced a 64GB iPod touch with a 50 percent faster processor supporting Open GL ES 2.0. In January, the Cupertino, Calif., company revealed that iPod touch sales have been strong, growing 55 percent year-over-year.
Recent surveys have found that the iPod touch has grew faster than the iPhone in late 2009. Another study discovered that iPod touch users spend more time using applications on their device than iPhone users.
50 Comments
Do not be too hard on Redmond Guys. They are trying to do the best they can at what they do best (or at least what they think they can do best) "COPY" We all know how that usually turns out.
Do not be too hard on Redmond Guys. They are trying to do the best they can at what they do best (or at least what they think they can do best) "COPY" We all know how that usually turns out.
Someday Microsoft is going to get this right, then they'll try to leverage their existing monopolies to push it through. A decade later the Justice Department may chime in, but it may be too late. I'm already seeing pressure to use Microsoft's Surface SDK and .NET 4.0 touch SDK in future vertical software development since it integrates well with the Windows computers in many offices. It could very well be that Apple wins the consumer market but Microsoft ends up with several times the market share as the business market wakes up to multi-touch...
So let me get this right. Zune, HD, 2, with Windows, Mobile, version 7....???
Uhhhhhgggg, puleazzzz just stop Microsoft.... seriously, stop it now.
Microsoft's new slogan: "A day late, and a dollar short... oh, uh, also 'developers, developers, developers.'"
Lol Zune HD 2 with Windows Mobile 7 Series. That's a mouthful and does not really tell you what the device actually does.
But jokes aside I was not very impressed with WinMo7. It definitely departs from the iPhone / Android / WinMo 6.5 way of doing things, but in my view it makes it more complicated and harder to find what you are looking for. Plus I don't want all the pictures and status updates right there on my home screen for all to see without even having to open an app.
Xbox is really the only consumer good in recent memory that Microsoft got right (not withstanding the RROD) and it is good to hear that there will be more integration between xbox and WinMo7 devices.
This however is no enterprise OS, and I feel that business users will either ditch WinMo completely for blackberry or stick to 6.5 for as long as it is supported.