“After years of rumors and brusque denials, it appears the Zune phone is the real deal,” Jose Fermoso blogs for Wired. “According to Trip Chowdhry, an analyst at Global Equities Research, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer will announce a Zune-style mobile device during his keynote address at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, on January 7, 2009.”
MacDailyNews Take: A lone analyst does not “the real deal” make. Not saying it’s not true or won’t happen, just that it’s specious enough to no use the term “the real deal.” We’ll save that for Microsoft’s press release (for which we fervently pray).
Fermoso continues, “Chowdhry claims that the company’s new centerpiece will combine the best features of the Zune media player with the hardware design of Danger’s mobile Sidekick, in addition to ‘motion enhancement features,’ like an accelerometer.”
MacDailyNews Take: “The best features of the Zune media player.” Would that be the fecal color scheme, the squircle, squirtability, or all three rolled into one brick?
Fermoso continues, “Basically, this means the device will come with a physical keyboard like HTC’s G1 and will likely feature a larger screen to accommodate heavy multimedia elements. And since we’re all here copying each other’s mobile phone features, we’ll be shocked if the Zune phone doesn’t feature multitouch capabilities. This report seems to confirm an earlier one revealing that Microsoft was working on a phone code-named ‘Pink.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Let’s be clear: everyone’s copying Apple’s iPhone. Oh, and by the way, Multi-Touch™ is a trademark of Apple Inc. – May 29, 2008
Fermoso continues, “It’s a long way from Ballmer’s original statement in April 2007 regarding the iPhone: ‘It’s not a concept you’ll ever get from us. We’re in the Windows Mobile business.'”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Bernd” for the heads up.]
Please. Enough already Microsoft. You’re becoming a joke.
Can’t wait to see this!!
The Phune is here!
I word:
DOA
Ok, so perhaps that’s really three… but still, you get the idea.
Why not? WinMobile won’t have many customers in the near future. MS may as well try to make use of it.
I actually want to see this maybe more than I want to see Macworld live.
Best word ever: squircle
Official Urban Dictionary def:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=squircle
It would be interesting if the M$ phone was powered by other than Windows mobile……..
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Just a thought.
en
If that’s the date selected for this, it’s right in the middle of MacWorld 2009. Steve will have already stolen any ‘thunder’, besides the sound of falling chairs, that Steve Ballmer has to offer!!! LOL!
The difference between Apple and MS?
Apple tries to increase the number of giga-flops per product. Microsoft tries to increase the number of flops per year.
I thought Apple had patented MultiTouch capabilities on small devices. Maybe instead it will have Surface© capabilities with numerous integrated cameras under the glass to detect where the user (notice the use of the singular case) is putting his fingers.
Imagine the gasps of awe when this user pulls the ZunePhune out from the suitcase he uses to carry it. Tens of people will be amazed when this baby is shown off at the Center For Sightless Studies in Redmond.
I can’t wait for January!
The perfect phone for Zune Tang, though….
I hope they do. It will be fun to laugh at.
This sounds like the most pathetic phone ever!
When I read the headline, I puked in my mouth.
Wait a sec… I thought I had a Microsoft phone? With software 2.0, 2.0.1 and 2.0.2 bugs, I thought Microsoft wrote the software for Apple…
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It will happen. And when they tie in Silverlight and all these business ties in with Active X only access and full compatibility with email attachment using new Office file extensions with embedded Windows only metadata….
Now they’re applying lipstick to both ends of the pig.
If true, Microsoft is yet again screwing with its so-called “partners,” this time over Windows Mobile, by releasing its own competing mobile phone convergence device.
What’s next, a Microsoft-branded PC?
I can’t wait for seeing another crap! that’s fun. MS spends all the money for nothing. just take a look at subway stations nationwide. all ‘I am PC’ crap nonsense commercial. so now they try ‘Phone’? I assume that they will be next big 3 automakers. why not died MS?
It will also be waterproof so that it can continue to transmit as it swirls around the bowl like all its chrome plated cousins
I honestly CANNOT believe this report.
I know MS has been behaving REALLY stupidly in recent years, but a Zunephone?!
No. They cannot possibly be that stupid. No-one in the history of the world has ever been THAT stupid.
Now there will be yet another phone much worse than the iPhone but will it be any better than the incredibly appalling blackberry storm? I can’t wait – sign me up for pre-order of this vapor-phone zune! Look out iPhone – another piece of junk is on its way to waste everyone’s time and dilute programmer resources that could otherwise solve real problems in the world! Has the backberry storm been recalled yet? RIM really knows their way around an operating system – they deserve a storm of applause for a wonderful and stable paperweight
May be what people does not understand about microsoft that they are moving to produce comic shows and that is why they are making so many and so funny announcements. Don’t you get it? just read all what Steve Ballmer has said, and all the failed presentations from Bill Gates, and all their adds. Everything points to comic shows productions.
Scoop up a dog turd and stick it to your ear and that will give you the Zune Phone experience.
I’m a PC….not.