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BY TRACY PFEIFFER

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

You're watching multisource tech video news analysis from Newsy.
 

Time to face the music. It’s official, says WTVJ: the Zune is dead.

“Microsoft confirms its Zune portable music players have been axed. The one-time iPod rival had gone for two years without an upgrade. Microsoft says it will focus on Windows Phone for mobile, music, and video.”

The announcement came down through the Zune website, where Microsoft says it will no longer produce the players but will still offer customer support and services, and honor warranties on existing devices.

But few in the tech world were surprised and neither is Bloomberg’s GiGi Stone.

GIGI STONE, BLOOMBERG: “Who knew they were still producing the Zune? I certainly didn’t.”

CORRESPONDENT, BLOOMBERG: “I did not either.”

Adding to the blasé response, Gizmodo reports, Microsoft accidentally pre-empted its own announcement on the axe.

“After prematurely yanking the Zune HD off of the Zune website yesterday, Microsoft had originally claimed it was a publishing error. Nope. This is the end of the road.”

A writer for PCWorld says although the Zune was meant as an answer to Apple’s iPod, it never really got a foot in on the portable player market.

“Sales of the Zune have consistently trailed far behind those of the iPod. While not a definitive ranking, the list of best-selling MP3 players at Amazon.com is telling: Nine of the 10 best sellers are iPods (Sandisk has a $40 Sansa model in eighth place) and the first Zune device now appears at number 24, preceded by 16 iPod variants.”

In his eulogy, a writer for VentureBeat says even as the player itself exits the stage, its impact will still be apparent in other Microsoft products.

“The Zune HD’s flashy interface served as the basis for Windows Phone 7′s gorgeous ‘Metro’ user interface, and Zune’s impact has also made its way to Microsoft’s Xbox 360. It’s also worth mentioning that Microsoft’s Zune software is among the best media players on Windows, especially compared to iTunes.”

A writer for Ars Technica is more concerned that Microsoft is boxing itself into a corner with the move.

“With the Zune gone, Microsoft has lost the potential to extend the Windows Phone platform to devices where consumers wouldn't face recurring costs or contracts, which Apple has in the iPod touch. Microsoft could still extend its mobile platform to non-phones, though the Windows Phone branding will make that a bit difficult.”

Finally, a blogger for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a parting message for the player:

“Farewell Zune, say hi to my old buddy Walkman for me.”

The death of the Zune comes on the heels of rumors that Apple will also be axing its iPod classic and shuffle.


Transcript by Newsy.