history of zune mp3 players

The first Zune models were released in the United States on November 14, 2006, with 30GB of capacity. The Zune 4, 8 and 80 were announced on October 2, 2007. All Zunes (new and older models) now offer the ability to sync wirelessly (automatically if connected to a power supply but can be manually started without it), a new touchpad-style input device, additional file support for H.264 and MPEG-4 files (although the older Zune 30 requires these formats to be transcoded to WMV prior to sync), podcast support, and an upgraded song-sharing licensing. The Zune also allows a Zune to communicate with other Zunes. Zune 80 also has a 3.2” screen. A free firmware update added the new software features to the original Zune (now called the Zune 30) and was released on November 13, 2007.

The first-generation Zune was created while Microsoft was in close cooperation with Toshiba, which took the design of the Gigabeat S and redeveloped it under the name Toshiba 1089 as registered with the FCC starting in the year 2006.[8] Xbox 360 overseer J Allard ran the project, codenamed ‘Argo’, which consisted of some Xbox and MSN Music store developers,[9] who worked on ‘Alexandria’ and finalized it as Zune Marketplace,[10] then later unveiled both products united under a single brand in the U.S. market as the Zune.

The second-generation Zune 4 GB, 8 GB, and 80 GB were announced on October 2, 2007. The 4 and 8 GB Zunes are flash-based and smaller in size than the 80 GB version. The 30GB Zune was not redesigned.

Zunes now feature games developed using XNA. Games feature custom soundtracks and 8-player wireless multiplayer using the built-in Wi-Fi. An early version of XNA Game Studio 3.0 released on May 7, 2008 allows developers to work on games that can be played on the Zune.
Zune 3.0

On September 8, 2008, Microsoft announced the Zune 3.0 update, which includes the ability to tag for purchase songs heard on FM radio, channels which can be customized to deliver suggested songs for the user, the ability to purchase songs from the Zune device via the Zune Marketplace, as well as updates to the Zune software. The update also included two sample games, Hexic and Texas Hold'em. In addition, support for audiobooks from online stores like Audible.com, and Public Libraries that support OverDrive media files such as the Free Library of Philadelphia was added.[13][14][15] Other noticeable changes included the introduction of a clock, and the change of the "quicklist" functionality.

On November 18, 2008, the Zune 3.1 update was introduced which is primarily a stability-oriented release, but also introduced a few additional games for the Zune device. However, a new policy announced on November 20, 2008 allows Zune Pass customers to download 10 tracks per month in the protection-free MP3 format (if available) for permanent ownership otherwise WMA Protected format will be downloaded, in addition to the existing "all you can eat" subscription usage, at an unchanged monthly cost.
 From Wikipedia(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zune_Software#Zune_Software)