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Zune players - all versions, colors, and special editions
This page lists all versions of Zune players, including limited editions, special charity-versions, launch gift Zunes, and pre-release versions.
We've tallied dozens of confirmed versions of Zune players, as well as two rumored versions that have been debunked.
Check'em all out in the gallery below!
Zune 80GB Player: Versions and Limited Editions
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#6: Joy Division limited edition Discovered: April 18, 2008, for release June 2008. A limited edition Zune player is to be released to coincide with Joy Division's DVD slated for early June 2008. Rumor has it that the design will be based on Peter Saville's graphic design for the band's Unknown Pleasures album. That art was created from a graph of one hundred pulses from pulsar CP 1919 - the first radio pulsar ever discovered.Source |
TBD |
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#5: Red 80GB Zune Originals Released: March 19, 2008. Red Zune 80GB players became available again, only through ZuneOriginals. They can also be ordered without customizations.Source |
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#4: Red 80GB Valentine's Zune Released: January 15, 2008. Microsoft made a red Zune available through ZuneOriginals, from January 15 through February 14. This was the first red Zune made available, and could be engraved with one of 20 love-themed laser engravings. On February 9, Microsoft announced that some would not arrive by Valentine's, and gave full refunds to those buyers.Source |
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#3: 80GB limited edition GOODS Zune Discovered: December 3, 2007. Zune partnered with skater apparel retailer Goods to release a limited edition of 10 80GB and 8GB Zunes.Source |
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#2: 80GB Zune - ZuneOriginals Released: December 2007. For a limited time starting in December 2007, Zune 80s are available with art and text engravings. Art-and-text engravings include the "tattoo series" of 20 designs. Art-only engravings include a selection of 27 designs by 18 international artists. Text-only engravings are also available. Check'em out at the source link below.Source |
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#1: 80GB Zune - initial release Announced: October 2, 2007. Released: November 13, 2007. This second-generation Zune hard drive player was initially released in one color- black - and, along with the new flash Zunes, featured the touch-sensitive Zune pad.Source |
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Zune 30GB Player: Versions and Limited Editions
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#24: 30GB Zune - Wisin-Yandel limited edition Announced: October 19, 2007. Released: October 29, 2007. Latin act Wisin & Yandel get a plug from Microsoft with this limited edition Zune. The "reggaeton" duo become the first act to get its own customized Zune player.The Zune features the act's new album (Los Extraterrestres), videos, exclusive pictures and customized packaging. Source |
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#23: 30GB Zune - Warriors in Pink edition Released: October 18, 2007. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Microsoft and Ford teamed up to offer this 30GB Zune at $249.99, with all proceeds going to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.Source |
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#22: 30GB Zune - BBQ Discovered: September 28, 2007. This Zune was turned in by a Zunerama member who won it in a giveaway from Zune Thoughts. Evidently it's a limited edition model given away by Microsoft at its Live at the BBQ events.Source |
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#21: 30GB Zune - Orchard Street Released: September 28, 2007. Orchard Street fashion-house teamed with Zune to make 40 limited-edition Zunes. They're available as the "Watermelon Zune Pack" - consisting of a Windbreaker, a matching Watermelon T-shirt and a customized Orchard Street Zune player.Source |
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#20: 30GB Zune - Binary Discovered: August 13, 2007. Don't know much about this one, except that it apparently was given to the Zune web team. If you know any further details, let us know at the link at the bottom of this page.Source |
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#19: 30GB Zune - Brain Balloons Discovered: August 2007. I'm not sure if this is a limited edition Zune or someone's personal artwork. It was discovered on Flickr by mszune.nl and subsequently reported by zune-online. The investigation is in progress.Update (Nov 6, 07): I received an email from a Microsoft intern, who told me that all Microsoft interns in Summer 2007 received this special-edition Zune. Thanks for clearing up that mystery. Source |
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#18: 30GB Zune - Halo 3 Brown Zune - exclusive for military personnel Announced: August 6, 2007. Microsoft announced that it is offering a brown Halo Zune exclusively for military personnel and their families, at discounted rates through military retail stores.They are also giving away 300 of these to a group of soldiers leaving for active duty. Like the black Halo Zune, these come with pre-loaded artwork, trailers and music from all three Halo games. Source |
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#17: 30GB Zune - Staple Design Discovered: August 3, 2007. CrunchGear reported this white LE Zune, appearing in a Staple Design 10th anniversary party at the XChange in New York City.Source |
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#16: 30GB Red Zune Released: June 10, 2007. The red Zune is initially available only at Amazon and Target, starting on June 10. After 30 days, it will be available wherever Zunes are sold.Previously, the red Zune had been preannounced in April by Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp. Source |
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#15: 30GB Zune - Halo 3 Special Edition Released: May 11, 2007. The Halo 3 special edition Zune was revealed for the May 11 Halo 3 event in New York. (The Xbox game Halo 3 was scheduled to be released September 2007.) Microsoft subsequently announced it as being available through GameStop and EB Games as of June 15, 2007.The special edition comes loaded with a collection of "Halo" content, including videos, soundtracks, trailers, ads and artwork. Source |
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#14: 30GB Zune - Adult Swim limited edition Released: April 30, 2007. The Adult Swim Zune, a limited edition of 500, has the Adult Swim logo and preloaded content. This Zune was revealed on April 30, when members of the TV industry and press previewed the Adult Swim season ahead. Each attendee received a limited edition Adult Swim Zune preloaded with shows.Source |
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#13: 30GB Zune - Trouble Andrew Released: April 19, 2007. This special edition Zune appeared in British Columbia's Whistler ski resort, at a Trouble Andrew show at Buffalo Bill's Bar and Grill. Trouble Andrew is the name of a snowboarding band led by pro snowboarder frontman Trevor Andrew. Thanks to Zunerama member Aaron94 for the tip and pics! Source |
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#12: 30GB Pink Zune (limited edition) Released: April 13, 2007. The pink Zune has quickly become a popular Zune, surpassing the white and brown Zune in sales shortly after its release. A limited production run of 100,000 pink Zunes was announced by Microsoft.Source |
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#11: 30GB Zune - Dave's Quality Meat edition A special edition Zune was produced for Dave's Quality Meat (they sell sneakers, not sirloin) in New York City. A "handful" were made, and in addition to the logo on the player, each Zune had a background image of the DQM logo, and a slideshow of NYC people wearing the store's clothing. The Zunes were made in brown, black, and white. Quite a rarity and as far as we know this is the first web posting about this particular limited edition Zune. Thanks to Zunerama member theorie for the tip and pics! |
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#10: 30GB Zune - Capitol 1524 Zune Released: January 25, 2007. This special edition Zune was produced as a tribute to Seattle's underground "Capitol 1524", which deals in vintage and hard to find Nikes. Evidently ten were made, and in addition to the logo they contained related content.Thanks to Zunerama members coot66 and Aaron94 for the tips. Source |
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#9: 30GB Zune - Tempt One Released: March 10, 2007. 35 of these limited-run Zune models were made, to be sold for charity auction to benefit Los Angeles graffiti artist Tempt One and his battle with sclerosis. Custom-printed with graffiti markings on a black shell.Source |
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#8: 30GB Zune - ZuneMaster Edition Reported: December 23, 2006. These limited edition Zune players - available in black, brown, and white - were distributed to 200 ZuneMasters - college ambassadors selected by Microsoft to promote Zune. (Zunerama broke the ZuneMasters story shortly before the program began.) The ZuneMaster versions of the player have artwork on the back by Jeremy Fish.Thanks to Zunerama's resident Zune Master, coot66, for the snap. Source |
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#7: 30GB Zune - Magenta (launch gift for Zune team) Released: November 14, 2006. This magenta Zune (sometimes referred to as pink or dark pink) was given to members of the Zune team as a limited edition launch gift.Source |
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#6: 30GB Zune - Orange (launch gift for Zune team) Released: November 14, 2006. The orange Zune was supposedly given to the Zune team as a limited edition launch gift; however ZuneScene has reported that a family member purchased one. Reportedly, about 100 were made and distributed.Source |
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#5: 30GB Black Zune Released: November 14, 2006. Sporting a blue doubleshot finish, the black Zune was one of the first three Zunes released. It is still the most popular color choice for Zune players. |
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#4: 30GB White Zune Released: November 14, 2006. The white Zune comes with a clear doubleshot finish. |
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#3: 30GB Brown Zune Released: November 14, 2006. The infamous brown Zune (with green doubleshot) sparked strong opinions right from its launch. One of the three original Zune colors, the brown was widely questioned as a color choice. Loved by some, panned by many, it certainly drove some early publicity for Zune. |
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#2: 30GB La Brea Massive Zunes Released: October 29, 2006. Prior to the official Zune launch on November 14, 2006, three of the most influential stores on La Brea Avenue in Los Angeles - Stussy, Union, and Undftd - auctioned off customized Zune media kits. The kits contained a Zune MP3 player, Shure E5c earphones, JBL on tour portable loudspeakers, and Zero Halliburton black aluminium attache.Two kits per store were prepared: a red Union, a black Stussy, and a black Undftd, each sporting the logo of the store and custom playlists. Source |
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#1: Early Zune prototype - transparent Released: N/A. Cesar from ZuneInsider shared with us an image of a Zune prototype, encased in a clear plastic case. Cool!Source |
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Zune 16GB Players: Versions and Limited Editions
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#1: 16GB - Citron - special Zune team launch gift Internal release to Microsoft Zune team: November 2007 In celebration of the Zune flash-player launch, Microsoft gave Zune team members this special lemony 16GB Zune player.The 16GB capacity is not (yet) available in Zune production models. Source |
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Zune 4GB and 8GB Players: Versions and Limited Editions
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#10: Joy Division limited edition Discovered: April 18, 2008, for release June 2008. This Zune is to be released to coincide with Joy Division's DVD release in early June 2008. Rumor has it that the design will be based on Peter Saville's graphic design for the band's Unknown Pleasures album. That art was created from a graph of one hundred pulses from pulsar CP 1919 - the first radio pulsar ever discovered.Source |
TBD |
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#9: Allen Iverson Limited Edition 8GB Discovered: April 17, 2008 Reebok is celebrating the release of the Allen Iverson Answer XI - the latest in its AI sneaker lineup - with 60 limited edition pairs that come with a custom 8GB Zune player. The shoes have the Zune logo, and the Zune comes preloaded with AI interview footage, AI commercials, and playlists selected by the man himself. You get the shoes, Zune, and a Zune/Reebok bag, for $300 at (very) selected stores. Only 60 are being made.Source |
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#8: Gizmodo 8GB Zune Discovered: April 5, 2008. Tech gadget blog Gizmodo held a reader meetup at Alpine Meadows, and got some love from the Zune team in the form of 8GB Zunes with the Gizmodo logo, and preloaded with playlists appropriate for, we suppose, some serious spring boarding. Not sure how many were made, but I'm guessing less than ten.Source |
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#7: Kenna 4GB Zune Discovered: February 15, 2008. Part of Zune's promotion of music artist Kenna, this black 4GB custom Zune player features preloaded content from Kenna, including his album "Make Sure They See My Face", and his “Say Goodbye to Love” video. Engraved on the back is "The Translator" - original artwork from Kenna and Jeff McMillan. The players are numbered and limited to 200 pieces.Source | Via |
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#6: 8GB limited edition GOODS Zune Discovered: December 3, 2007. Zune partnered with skater apparel retailer Goods to release a limited edition of 10 80GB and 8GB Zunes.Source |
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#5: 4GB and 8GB Zune - ZuneOriginals versions Released: November 13, 2007. For a limited time starting in December 2007, Zune 4GB and 8GB players are available with art and text engravings. Art-and-text engravings include the "tattoo series" of 20 designs. Art-only engravings include a selection of 27 designs by 18 international artists. Text-only engravings are also available. Check'em out at the source link below.Source |
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#1 - #4: 4GB and 8GB Zune - initial release Announced: October 2, 2007. Release: November 13, 2007. The first flash-based Zune players, the 4GB and 8GB compact Zune players were released in black, glossy red, green, and pink. The players sport a 1.8" screen, built-in FM radio, touch-sensitive Zune pad, and wireless.Source |
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Zune Player Versions: Rumored, Mythical, and Debunked
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30GB "Red Sports Zune" It hasn't materialized yet, but in April 2007, CrunchGear dropped a rumor about a “sports package” for the upcoming red Zune. The word was that it would "include sports-related content" and a "new segment of its store related to sports". Source |
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30GB Zune - "Copper" (de-bunked) This "copper Zune" was advertised in April 2007 in Office Depot's online site; it was briefly thought to be a sign of another Zune. It was later dismissed as a poorly-colored photo of a mislabeled brown Zune. Source |
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Have we missed a version? Let us know.