With Microsoft shifting its focus toward Windows Phone, the company confirmed this week that it will no longer be manufacturing its Zune music players, though it will still offer support for the devices.
"We will no longer be producing Zune players," Microsoft said in a note on Zune.net. "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."
The company will also honor warranties for existing devices as well as those last few players that people might buy in the coming days. "Customer service has been, and will remain a top priority for us," Microsoft insisted.
No word on Zune fire sales like the HP TouchPad. The 16GB Zune HD is currently available for $159 at Walmart.
The Zune made its debut in 2006. At the time, PCMag found that "tight software integration, a subscription plan, and slick design make the Zune an interesting, if not compelling, iPod alternative."
The Zune was, in fact, well-received among the review community but never really caught on with buyers thanks to competition from the Apple iPod. At PCMag, the 80GB player earned an Editors' Choice, while 2009's Zune HD (slideshow below) boasted "a beautiful touch-screen, an excellent user interface, HD radio, and the best browser we've seen since Apple's mobile Safari." But as Lance Ulanoff pointed out, Microsoft got digital music right, but it was five years too late.
As a result, Microsoft has folded its Zune software into its Windows Phone platform, which launched last fall. At the time, PCMag said this was a good move because "software is Microsoft's strength, and while the Zune HD was an excellent device, it simply didn't matter because Apple's iPod lineup virtually devoured the entire MP3 player/portable media player market."
There was speculation about the demise of the Zune at that point, but the Zune player lived on for another year. Will we see the same thing with the Apple iPod? In the lead up to today's iPhone event, there was talk that Apple would kill off some of its standalone iPods since it too has incorporated the iPod software into its iPhone and iPad. Is the iPod classic on the chopping block? Will the iPod touch be the only device in Apple's iPod lineup going forward? Stay tuned for Apple's press event at 1pm Eastern, which PCMag will be live-blogging.
Microsoft, meanwhile, just released the first major upgrade for Windows Phone, known as Mango. For more, see PCMag's full review of Mango, as well as a guide to when your device will likely see the update.