Microsoft announces the Zune 2

Microsoft today announced the long-awaited update to its Zune player. Its first attempt never made it across the pond, but judging by the reviews stateside, we didn’t miss much. The new models look markedly improved; slimmer, less brick-like and with new touch buttons that respond to both clicks and brushing of fingers over them. The top-end Zune 2 packs 80GB of storage – a big step up from the original 30GB – and resembles a streamlined, 27%-smaller version of the original. Also being introduced are two flash-based 4GB and 8GB players, which take on a slimmer form not unlike the previous generation iPod Nano. The original Zune included WiFi in order to trade tracks between players, but Microsoft has gone one step further and introduced wireless synchronisation with your PC; no more fumbling for spare USB sockets, then.

  As with the original Zune, all models feature a built-in FM radio and can be connected to an XBox 360 to ‘customise the soundtrack’ of your games. It’ll also import any recorded TV from WindowsMediaCenter.

Of course, all this means very little if we’re not going to see it over here – having struggled to hit the 1 Million mark in sales in the US with the original model, Microsoft could do with the boost it’ll get from opening up the UK market. Hopefully, it’ll see sense and we’ll soon be trading songs on the Tube…