New Zune Players Available Tomorrow; Device Customization via New Zune Originals Store
Microsoft partners with 18 renowned artists to fuse high
style with portable entertainment.
REDMOND, Wash. — Nov. 12, 2007 — Tomorrow, consumers
ready for a richer, more connected and more personal entertainment experience
will have the first opportunity to get their hands on sleek new Zune players,
redesigned Zune software, and new online services including the Zune Marketplace
and Zune Social, an online music community. The players — along with dozens of
accessories — will be available at retailers across the United States, while
the new Zune software will be available for free download at http://www.zune.net.
For the first time, consumers also will have the option to
customize their Zune player with laser-engraved designs and personal text
through a new Web store called Zune Originals. Customers will be able to
purchase a Zune player directly from Microsoft at http://www.zuneoriginals.net and
choose from a collection of laser-engraved artwork designed exclusively for
Zune by 18 internationally recognized artists.
“We’re bringing the entire category to the next level by
empowering consumers to play a role in redefining the digital music
experience,” said J Allard, corporate vice president for Zune. “Zune brings
music discovery and acquisition into one simple, end-to-end solution, and the
addition of unique customization options puts the originality back into
portable entertainment.”
Zune Originals Gives Consumers a New Canvas
Consumers no longer need to settle for the same portable
media player as everybody else. The new Zune Originals online store will let
people make a unique statement by customizing their Zune with laser-engraved
art or personal text. Zune worked with 18 accomplished artists from all over
the world to create a collection of 27 different designs, called the Artist
Series, which will be available exclusively through Zune Originals. In addition
to the Artist Series, a separate Tattoo Series will feature 20 graphics that
consumers can have laser-engraved on their Zune with up to three lines of text.
Alternatively, people can choose to engrave up to five lines of text in place
of a design. On the Zune Originals Web site, customers can choose their Zune
(Zune 80GB, Zune 8GB or Zune 4GB), pick a color and then select a design and
their desired text.
The Zune Originals Artist Series will launch with designs
from artists Colletivo Studios, Catalina Estrada, Laurent Fetis, Sam Flores,
Klaus Haapaniemi, Pierre Marie, Kenzo Minami, Parskid, Mike Perry, Phunk
Studios, Chisato Shinya, Skwak, Iosefatu Sua, Tado, Nobumasa Takahashi, Ramiro
Torres, Darvin Vida and Steve Wilson.
“I’m always interested in the way art can merge with
technology to create a new dialogue,” Estrada said. “My work has been shown in
different venues all over the world, but Zune represents a brand-new canvas for
me to display my ideas.”
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