Rumors: Meet the ZuneX, Microsoft's Handheld

[John Funk]

Rumors: Meet the ZuneX, Microsoft's Handheld

Photos have surfaced on the internet of Microsoft's alleged answer to the PSP, DS, and iProducts - the ZuneX.

It's no secret that handheld platforms are the real cash cows of the industry. Whether it's various incarnations of the DS selling a bajillion units, or the PSP selling slightly-less-than-a-bajillion-units-but-still-more-than-the-others, or the unparalleled success of games via the iPhone app store, one can hardly express surprise that Microsoft is eager to throw its hat into the ring along with its competitors.

So, when these leaked photos surfaced from what appears to be a demonstration of the new ZuneX - combining the Microsoft Zune media player with Xbox Live Arcade - it's hard to disbelieve them. Of course, they could be a really (really, really) elaborate hoax, so don't go counting your chickens before the fat lady sings, or something like that. Nothing is confirmed before an official announcement.

Let's assume these pictures are real, for the moment. If the specs are to be believed, the ZuneX will have a whopping 128MB of RAM and 32GB flash memory - rather unparalleled in the handheld space for the moment, beating out even the mighty iPhone. On the downside, it seems that there will only be one - optional - analog stick (Microsoft, have you learned nothing from the PSP?!), and the device seems to lack both the aesthetic sense of the PSP or iPhone, and the handy portability of the DS.

Back on the plus side, though... if the presentation is to believed, not only will the ZuneX be fully compatible with Xbox Live (mmm, are those some delicious Xbox Originals?) but it will reportedly be designed to work with OnLive. Yes, folks, you heard me - if the ZuneX does everything they want it to do, Crysis on a handheld isn't impossible. And then it will make you a grilled cheese sandwich, cut it diagonally, and remove the crusts just how you want it.

(Via TeamXbox [http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/19667/Is-This-the-Microsoft-Digital-Entertainment-Handheld/])

Permalink

 

[Lvl 64 Klutz]

If you're a nintendo fanboy or if there's a chance you like Sony a little too much, You should not use ZuneX, as ZuneX may cause an unsafe rise in blood pressure. Some studies show that people who use ZuneX, and handhelds like it are at an increased risk of violence, these side effects are usually complete BS. Ask your reviewer if ZuneX is right for you.

 

[Stormcloud23]

Fuckin' awesome

 

[IsoNeko]

As a Microsoft fan, who normally appreciates all their products.

NO. NO. NO. NO AND NO AGAIN.

Doing this will be going the way of Sega. Have people not yet realised that specs don't impress people? Look at the Dreamcast compared to the PS1 or 2. Look at the PS3 compared to the 360 or the Wii. Look at all the Atari flops compared to every underpowered generation they fought against.

Work on your games and the territory you own first, then look elsewhere.

 

[ffxfriek]

i like grilled cheese like that....but im still not quite convinced....possibility if it has a good game lineup i might show more lust interest in it.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Optional analogue stick? Does that mean it will be on some models and not others, developers won't have to use it or (most likely knowing M.Soft) you'll have to pay extra to make the little stick one the console work.

It sounds interesting, but it could also be an expensive unreliable disaster in the making. It's not like Microsoft have a history of releasing under developed products onto the market right... right?

 

[tendo82]

Whatever the eventual truth, two things strike me:

As Lvl 64 Klutz points out, the name is reminiscent of a prescription drug.

Are two analogue sticks like the cold fusion of the gaming world? Why the reluctance, or difficulty in incorporating a second analogue stick? What am I missing here?

 

[Rickyvantof]

Worst. Name. Ever.

 

[obisean]

As a Microsoft fan, who normally appreciates all their products.

NO. NO. NO. NO AND NO AGAIN.

Doing this will be going the way of Sega. Have people not yet realised that specs don't impress people? Look at the Dreamcast compared to the PS1 or 2. Look at the PS3 compared to the 360 or the Wii. Look at all the Atari flops compared to every underpowered generation they fought against.

Work on your games and the territory you own first, then look elsewhere.

Sony and Microsoft have basically the same game line-up, I love how developers are starting to stop being loyal to their console. So if Sony can justify a hand held and have it sell well, then so can Microsoft.

On another note, if this really does feature On-Live, this could be the one major thing that saves a possibly great idea from dying due to people not willing to try it. If you already own the technology, you would be willing to pay a sub fee for a month or two just to try it out. Most people would anyway.

I also wonder, since this looks to be the same kind of controller (prays for four buttons up top) as the 360, if your saves with On-Live will be server side or what. If it goes server side, that would make for some pretty good gaming. Being able to continue your game from anywhere that has Wi-Fi as well as at your home theatre would be pretty sick.

 

[Simriel]

I in fact hope this is true. I want a proper full media centre on a handheld.

 

[Kojiro ftt]

While I think the XBLA is a great idea, I still think the OnLive is a pipe dream. You wouldn't even be able to play Tetris with network lag. Maybe if they setup an OnLive server in my front yard...

 

[Andy_Panthro]

Well, they could still rename it the "Xune"...

As someone who has had a DS and a PSP, I'm interested to see what MS will do with this system. It has great potential, but what we really want to see is what games it will have, and how good will the controls be?

 

[Skizle]

i honestly dont know how i feel about this

 

[dukethepcdr]

Looks like an overgrown Gameboy Advance Micro. Andy_Panthro is right, Zune X is a bad name. Sounds like a drug from Fallout 3. I like his name "Xune" better.

If the Zune X becomes a reality and IF it's better than an iphone and IF it doesn't cost a small fortune (that's a lot of big If's), I'll probably get one. It would be cool to play xbox live games on the go. Assuming this isn't another Ngage. Remember how neat that looked in the previews but what a piece of junk it turned out to be?

 

[jebussaves88]

If they stuck another joystick on it I'd be pretty excited. If the Xbox Originals thing is a reality, I'm excited. If OnLive works, it'll be great. If Microsoft offer the kind of broad content, from harcore FPS's to casual Xbox Arcade games, then finally there's a handheld I'll bother to play. If it has the customisation and modifcation of the PSP, along with third party support for ROM's, I'm damn well ecstatic.

That's a lot of "if's" though.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

[quote="Andy_Panthro" post="7.114102.2075266"Well, they could still rename it the "Xune".../quote]

I c wut u did thar.

 

[HentMas]

did anyone noticed that in the pic the cross pad is identical to the PS pad?

i dont believe one bit of this story... well not right now anywhay

 

[Synek]

PSP - Thumbsstick = ZuneX.

Looks like a PSP created from a box.