Microsoft Zune makes a comeback in Guardians of the Galaxy giveaway

[midian182]

In brief: Remember the Zune, the iconic MP3 player that was discontinued in 2012? Microsoft is offering an unopened one as a promotion for Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3, in which it features heavily, but there's no guarantee it works.

In a tweet on its official account, Microsoft announced a giveaway for the recently released (and excellent) Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3. Keeping with the theme of the movie, the product being given away is an unopened Zune. It's the same retro MP3 player that Chris Pratt's Star-Lord jokingly received as a gift from Kraglin in the second film as an upgrade over his Walkman. He explained that "it's what everybody's listening to on Earth nowadays. It's got 300 songs on it."

The Zune also appears in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. The device plays a massive role in Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 3, especially near the end of the movie.

Microsoft said in the tweet that it doesn't know if the Zune it is giving away still works, but it's likely that many people would want to win an unopened one (and sell it, probably). The competition ends tomorrow, May 17. You just need to retweet the post for a chance to win. The giveaway is only available to residents of the United States.

In honor of @MarvelStudios' #GotGVol3 we're giving away this never opened Microsoft Zune. We have no idea if it works. Like and RT for a chance to win! US 18+. Ends 5/17/23. Rules: https://t.co/Mdr2C4z9aY. #ZuneSweepstakes pic.twitter.com/SOR6IMCKqB

– Microsoft (@Microsoft) May 15, 2023

Microsoft launched the Zune in 2006 to compete with Apple's iPod, which had been around for five years at that point. But slow sales and the rise of smartphones meant it couldn't compete in the same market as Apple's incredibly popular digital music player. The Zune was discontinued six years after its arrival, with software support ending in 2015. The Apple iPod lasted until 2022.

However, the Zune is making plenty of headlines these days. In addition to the attention it's getting from Guardians of the Galaxy, Microsoft recently partnered with aerospace manufacturer Redwire to 3D print a Microsoft Zune on the International Space Station (ISS). There's also a SETM educational promotion on the Zune website that includes coding challenges and resources.

For a nostalgia-filled look at other products from many years ago, check out our Once-Iconic Tech Products That Are Now a Fading Memory feature.

Permalink to story.

https://www.techspot.com/news/98700-microsoft-zune-makes-comeback-guardians-galaxy-giveaway.html

 

[y6Tq2RGXEejb]

A brand new nug~

 

[Kotters]

My friend had one and it was pretty slick.

 

[Bl00dyMinded]

Had the black zune, it was a great device! Even used it as a portable HD for a while .

 

[mbrowne5061]

I still have my Zune HD, and its battery seems to still be good, too. Listening to HD radio, being able to 'like' a song there and have it automatically added to my library via Zune Pass was pretty freaking awesome. Keeping 10 DRM-free songs from the subscription service was pretty awesome, too.

 

[yRaz]

I honestly miss the Zune desktop music app. I liked it way better than iTunes and I was using Apple products at the time. There was a guy I knew in college who had a zune and he SWORE by it. He had what must have been a several hundred dollar pair of sennheiser headphones and said the Zune made his iPod obsolete. I remember his main criticism of the iPod was that it boosted the bass too much even on the flat setting. He even had good things to say about the hardware but that it was "tuned" to sound a certain way and there was nothing he could do to un-do that.

 

[paul1122]

Have one I had to open up because of a broken headphone input, the back was engraved on the inside with 'to my lovely Princess Leah'. Practice on the inside perfect on the outside, I guess. Never did order any engraving on mine, lol.
Still have 2 of those things, keep them charged on and off just for fun.