Zune facts for kids
Zune was a brand of digital media products created by Microsoft. It included portable music and video players, software for computers, and an online store called Zune Marketplace. Zune was Microsoft's way of competing in the world of portable music players, like the iPod.
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What Was Zune?
Zune was more than just a music player. It was a whole system designed to help people enjoy their digital music, videos, and podcasts. The Zune system included:
- Zune Devices: These were the actual portable players you could hold. They let you listen to music, watch videos, and view pictures on the go.
- Zune Software: This was a computer program for your Windows PC. You used it to organize your music and videos, and to transfer them to your Zune device.
- Zune Marketplace: This was an online store where you could buy or rent music, videos, and podcasts. It was built right into the Zune software.
Zune Devices
The Zune devices were portable media players. They came in different models with various storage sizes. Some Zune players had a touch screen, while others used a special touch-sensitive pad called the "Zune Pad" for navigation. They were known for their unique design and social features, like the ability to wirelessly share songs with other Zune users nearby.
Zune Software
The Zune software was like a central hub for your digital media. It allowed you to:
- Organize your music, videos, and pictures.
- Create playlists of your favorite songs.
- Sync content from your computer to your Zune device.
- Access the Zune Marketplace to find new music and videos.
Zune Marketplace
The Zune Marketplace was an online store. It offered a large collection of digital content. Users could:
- Buy individual songs or entire albums.
- Rent or buy movies and TV shows.
- Download podcasts for free.
- Subscribe to a music service that allowed unlimited streaming and downloads for a monthly fee.
The Zune Marketplace also worked with the Xbox 360 game console. This meant you could access your Zune content on your TV through your Xbox.
History of Zune
Microsoft first launched Zune in November 2006 in the United States. They continued to release new models and update the software over the next few years. However, in 2011, Microsoft announced that they would stop making new Zune hardware devices. The Zune software and Marketplace continued to operate for a few more years. Many of Zune's features and services were later integrated into other Microsoft products, like Xbox Music (now Groove Music) and Windows Phone.
Images for kids
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Zune software for Windows PCs showing the Zune Marketplace
See also
In Spanish: Zune para niños
