New Zune sports Halo 3 branding

by Justin McElroy { May 13th 2007 at 3:05PM }

When we saw the Halo 3 bubble shield, all we could think of was the music of Dashboard Confessional. In much the same way that the shield protects from assault rifles and plasma grenades, the heartfelt music and lyrics of singer-songwriter Chris Carrabba help protect us from the assaults of being scorned by the opposite sex and parents who just don't get it.

Now, in an deliciously odd crossover, we can actually listen to the soothing sounds of DashConfess (a name, like Brocktoon, only used by fans) on a Zune we spotted at the NYC Halo 3 event that features imagery from the game! Count "a lack of corporate corporate synergy in our lives" as one fewer thing we need Dashboard Confessional's music to protect us from. We don't know when the gadget will be available, only that it can't come soon enough.

Tags: halo3, zune

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

jay @ May 13th 2007 3:09PM

So they still haven't realised the Zune was a Bad Item™

Moe @ May 13th 2007 4:55PM

MFST GUY#1: Zune is in trouble!
MFST GUY#2: It's ok! We've got halo!!

MFST GUY#1: EXBOCX is in trouble!
MFST GUY#2: It's ok! We've got halo!!

brian @ May 13th 2007 3:43PM

i like it

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ May 13th 2007 3:46PM

I like the Zune, I have not purchased on yet. I think I'll wait for a later edition to the series. I'm hoping they add a click wheel similar to the iPod or even the SanDisk Sansa series. I have the Sansa and really enjoy it. The Zune's screen is really great.

James @ May 13th 2007 3:56PM

Could any item single you out as a bigger dork than a Halo Zune? It's like concentrated female repellant.

Ken @ May 13th 2007 4:05PM

Not even Halo 3 will sell the Zune.

The Zune just looks too bulky compared to any other MP3 player.

Diskoboy @ May 13th 2007 4:05PM

I have a White G5 30GB Ipod and Black Zune.

I actually like the Zune a little better. The Zune takes abuse a little better than the Ipod. But the sound and video quiality are virtually similar. My ipod has had a protective case since day one, yet it's still scrathed to hell. My Zune still looks like I just took it out of the case.

Lewis @ May 13th 2007 4:24PM

FUCK IT WAS IN BLVD!? AND NO ONE SAISD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE!?!:? WTF!

Grant @ May 13th 2007 4:32PM

I think the zune can really make it, they just need to work on the size a bit... and all the bugs.

I've played with a friends' and at really feels released way too early, and has alot of room for improvement, but it's possible to turn it into a competitor once they get more functions on it and kill the bugs.

BBXboy @ May 13th 2007 5:13PM

Zune = yawn. I have no idea why Microsoft feels they need to dominate every single new market that pops up... there's zero unified vision and everything they do sucks in some glaring way or other. The 360 is a good product (when it works, I'm on my 6th red ring of death incident across 3 separate machines), but that's about the only compelling Microsoft product on the market. This kind of move only weakens the Halo property.

Mike @ May 13th 2007 5:31PM

Press X to deploy Zune.

Spartans in the immediate sonic radius will collapse in tears to the sound of heartfelt emotional music.

Arturo @ May 13th 2007 5:33PM

I actually like my zune a lot. I don't notice any "bugs" that people keep claiming, I don't mind the size, and it does everything I need it to do, so I'm happy with it :D

Mitochondria @ May 13th 2007 5:43PM

Yeah all you guys that bash a Zune don't even have one. It's great, people always ask me if it's better the a Ipod, but really all it's about is personal preference. It's not like they can't get better.

BluLotusArtGuy @ May 14th 2007 12:22AM

Ive had my zune since it came out and have yet had any trouble with it. I notice at school when i pull it out most of the kids go "Zunes are retarded!" (Note they are usually listening to there very personalized black ipod video) Then, once i start up the movie 300, and turn it wide screen... they pay a little more attention. Sure they can watch it on their video... but its funny when i catch them looking over my shoulder watching the movie from 4 feet away and can tell whats going on. People dont like the zune because its MSFT, they refuse to admit its a pretty cool peice of tech even if every class period they sit there glaring into its screen

Xizer @ May 13th 2007 5:53PM

The Zune is awesome, superior to the iPod in every way. It just got even better.

Gouki4u @ May 13th 2007 6:12PM

Am I the only one who thought the entire article was sarcastic?

Justin U @ May 13th 2007 6:15PM

I'm realllllllly hoping they are joking about the Dashboard Confessional thing...

If not... *Sigh*

tobin92 @ May 19th 2007 3:58PM

If Zune could add Wi-Fi downloads it would be the must awesome thing ever....add Wi-Fi streaming too and maybe some games.

I would buy a Halo 3 Zune over an Ipod.

FrankTheCrank @ May 13th 2007 7:44PM

I'm really looking forward to Halo3 toilet paper.

and @ May 13th 2007 8:02PM

My husband has the brown/green zune and since we got it... my ipod has been collecting dust. We subscribe to the download service for $15 bucks a month... and it is absolutely ridiculous how much music we've downloaded...

and I'm so jealous when he takes it that I think I'll buy the Red zune when it comes out cause the download service will work for both. or maybe the pink one ;)

Steve Tran @ May 13th 2007 8:53PM

I was thinking of getting a zune since iPods hasn't been treating me well for the past few years. Once zune has some good podcast support then I'll buy it

Smoke_Dawg_187 @ May 13th 2007 8:56PM

FrankTheCrank is an idiot! Drop the ban hammer on that idiot.

Pete @ May 13th 2007 9:21PM

Nothing about Halo should ever be compared to Dashboard Confessional.

ill trooper @ May 13th 2007 9:27PM

"Yeah all you guys that bash a Zune don't even have one."

OF COURSE we don't... I don't need to own everything to know what sucks or doesn't. We did our research, checked it out, tried it out in the store... Then decided not to 'have one.'

davey @ May 13th 2007 9:39PM

Am I the only one who suspects a few corporate shills in this discussion? I mean, people that actually like the Zune, let alone loves it? Come on. I borrowed a friends for a while, since he didn't want it and I was curious, and it pretty much sucks. Can't think of a single thing about it that was better in any way compared to an Ipod, or a Sandisk, or even anything from Creative.

Steve @ May 13th 2007 10:25PM

Question: do I need to apply for a zoning permit before owning one?

A year ago I was looking forward to Microsoft's new line of MP3 players. We were told that Microsoft was preparing its iPod killer and Apple better watch out! At first I thought it was going to be an iPod killer in a business sense; you know there'd be a Zune of roughly equal features for each of Apple's iPods. I didn't realize the Zune was an iPod killer in the literal sense: drop this sucker on an iPod and the iPod's dead.

I would image that taking a jog with a Zune would be as comfortable as jogging with a laptop.

Steve @ May 13th 2007 10:33PM

I would consider buying a Zune if Microsoft would remember that Zune is part of a portable market. Key word: PORTABLE. It needs to be as tiny as possible and the screen only needs to be big enough to locate tracks and playlists. It doesn't even need to be in color. First thing they need to do is chop the size down to at least 1/8th of what it is now.

I see people mentioning bugs with this and I'd like to know if this has to do with the WMA format. Every single time I've tried to use that format I've been burned in one way or another with obvious defects in the audio. It happened on too many different systems and across too long of a period of time to blame on hardware. I've ripped thousands of MP3s and can't remember ever creating a bad one except for the couple times when I had seriously scratched up discs. WMA always f's up on me, but I guess that's due to the Microsoft pedigree of the format. In theory WMA is great, but when it comes to ripping audio it has to work perfectly 100% of the time.

jasonp @ May 14th 2007 12:34AM

poor attempt to try and make the thing seem worth a crap.

Chris @ May 14th 2007 12:33AM

-nice screen
-great color scheme
-radio
-and what a name eh? ZUNE!

Well, I'm a zune fan for the features it already has... A Halo theme isn't really that interesting or cool to me in any way. I mean, I like them both (Halo and zune), but they are pretty much a flop together.

I think the marketing money was put in the wrong place on this one. Give me a second generation zune or just some real info as to new developments and not rumor this or that, and then I'll look into it a bit more... it all just seems like a bad joke... halo? pepto pink?

and @ May 14th 2007 12:43AM

@23

yeah.. i probably sound like that... but i get stupid excited about stuff and that's how it comes out..I think it happens to everyone when they like something.. need i say.. there is a little fanboy/girl in us all :)

I just like the Zune. the download service, the Huge screen so i can watch videos on road trips, i like that it takes damage really well*my ipod looks like shit* things just fly out of my hands.. I drop/throw everything *you don't even want to know what my phone looks like*. and honestly size DOESN"T matter to me... lol ;) and i will stop my ramble here..sorry i'm just delirious from lack of sleep.

Myrpok @ May 14th 2007 12:48AM

With a bigger screen, radio support, and nice menu layout, I haven't regretted buying in the least. I really do love my Zune. Plus the software tracks down CD album covers really well.

kingofwale @ May 14th 2007 2:00AM

instead of Halo branding, why don't Microsoft advertise it like it is? A brick, sure, Ipods get broken when you're stupid enough to throw them around (name me something that doesn't), why not get a real brick instead? Save yourself couple of hundred dollars and it is STILL more likely to find someone else carrying another brick around than another person carrying a zune around.

two things people can't help with, mental retardation and naturally clumsy. And neither case should be allowed a CAPABLE portable advice

ftrunks2k @ May 14th 2007 3:12AM

'only that it can't come soon enough.' XD
Yeah right.....whatever.............

Scott @ May 14th 2007 9:17AM

"The Zune is awesome, superior to the iPod in every way. It just got even better."

Please list the ways it's superior. Really. The world wants to know.

It's physically larger than the iPod, doesn't have a scroll wheel, and doesn't sync with iTunes (the same advantages the iPod has over every other music player), but I can't WAIT to see this list of ways the Zune is better than an iPod. And if you list poop brown as a color choice, you fail it.

baby sea tuna @ May 14th 2007 10:42AM

I don't have a zune (nor do I want one) but I guarantee that none of you n00bs complaining solely about the size of the thing ever owned a first-gen iPod.

Back in my day, we had huge 5 gig MP3 players with black and white screens that didn't even play videos...and we LIKED IT!

ikyouCrow @ May 14th 2007 12:08PM

@33 - Scott: a list of things not necessarily making better than other players but just the iPod.

1. bigger screen - with the ability to watch video without that weird pixely thing that happens when you put video on a smaller than native res on a lcd. screen

2. no scroll wheel - yeah that is a plus if you're absent minded and just shove things in your pocket without throwing the hold switch.

3. content navigation - i'm still waiting for someone to tell me what's better than hitting left or right to get to the next artist/album/song. on every other player on the market you have to go up one level to get to another item.

4. seriously rugged - probably because of its size but honestly because of its material. dropped mine Saturday talking on the cordless with my buddy and actually chipped one of the corners. still working though; must be that steel cage the hdd is in. a friend of mine dropped his 5gen iPod and had to get a new one because the screen got all rainbowy, not to mention maracas-sounding.

5. so far scratch resistant. and i got mine the week after launch. you'd have to literally take a knife to it to make scratches. haven't tried it on mine though.

6. colour choices for a 30GB player. sure iPod minis and nanos have colour choices but why should you sacrifice 30GB of storage for colour. as for poop brown (your words), it goes really well with the brown suede case it comes with and my brown safety shoes and my brown belt and my occasionally brown t-shirt. (okay, so it's pretty gay/metro that i can see it as a fashion accessory). and admit to yourself - the frost white and the black with blue glow effect look a lot better than any iPod on the market. pepto pink? i feel you on that one, but i swear some teen chick is gonna gobble this up. sigh.

7. built-in radio - no weird dongle thingee. period. but it would be cool it fm transmission were built-in.

8. wifi - admittedly blows right now (mainly the whole 3/3 thing) but think of the possibilities.

9. remote control - not necessary but with it plugged in you get 3 (read THREE) headphone ports to use (2 on the remote itself). used two the other day in the car to listen/critique the new Linkin Park album with a friend.

i'm sure there are others but i'm just too frickin hungry right now. i'm going to lunch. will be watching Heroes Episode 21 to recap for tonight.

wetworker @ May 14th 2007 12:36PM

why all the hate for the zune, I’ve had an iPod and I think the zune is a better product, sure the software needs some work, as well as the design of the player, but hey it's the first one.
The navigation is far superior and I actually like the size
check out www.zuneboards.com for some nice hacks and a good community which I’m a part of (wetworker) , I wonder are there any hacks for the iPod… love my brown zune.

Patrick @ May 14th 2007 2:49PM

id totally buy a zune, if the software it uses doesnt slap drm all over my music. next time i upgrade to a new player, if they implement this, then i will get one like that! but, should apple implement a widescreen ipod, bye bye zune, why should i reconfigure everything for that?

Lunaclown @ May 14th 2007 2:57PM

The selling points for the Zune to me were:
1. Marketplace Pass- a subscription based service that lets you download anything from the marketplace catalogue for use on the Zune, PC, and 360.
2. Bigger screen. Very nice for viewing video and pictures not to mention the nice big album art making it easy to find albums.
3. Gamertag integration. I have the 360 and love Xbox LIVE. The points that I've purchased for my LIVE account are linked to my Zune account. Use those extra points for music.
4. Wireless sharing. Find some cool music? Nice..share with a fellow Zune user (granted there aren't many yet...but I've already gotten 3 other people I know to get one)...and the bonus here for the Zune Pass subscribers is that the music isn't 3 play or 3 day...if it's on the marketplace AND you have a Zune pass you can continue to play the music as long as you have your subscription.
5. Community. Zuneinsider.com has a PR guy that listens to the community and they have been taking that input and make changes to the firmware accordingly. Nice to see a company listen.

Bottom line is that you should buy something that you feel is a value to you. I've never downloaded this much music in my life...but now that I have so much music at my fingertips I'm downloading ALL KINDS of stuff I know I wouldn't buy. The XBOX integration just sweetens the deal. I personally can't wait for them to further the XBOX LIVE integration with the device. Buy what you like people....as for me I like my Zune (YES..the Brown with the double shot of Green....pimpin)

Try something out before you hate on it.

Hatchetforce @ Jun 18th 2007 11:40AM

I purchased the HALO 3 Zune and couldn't be happier. Too bulky? What are you, a hobbit? And as one user said, I have already been hotswapping my MS points and blasting it through my 360. PC/360 Live integration is a really cool thing. I purchased the car adapter and now I am having to try and keep my wife from swiping my Zune when she drives someplace. Regardless, I don't believe I have read so many foxes typing their woes over the sour grapes.