As reported everywhere, Microsoft has officially announced the launch of Zune, a music and entertainment platform which includes portable media players and a content download service (Zune Marketplace). Expected to arrive just before the holiday shopping season (at TBD price), the first Zune device is a 30GB digital media player built by Toshiba which includes WiFi, an FM tuner, and a 3-inch screen. Every Zune device comes preloaded with content from several labels including Virgin, Sub Pop, and Astralwerks. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown, and white.

Zune Marketplace is an application which works like iTunes or Napster in allowing you to manage your existing content (music, movies, and photos) while buying new content from the service. Content can be purchased a la carte or through the Zune Pass subscription service.

Sharing and community are key components in the Zune product line. Using a wireless connection, Zune users can share some of the full-length tracks with friends who also have a Zune. You can listen to any shared track three times over three days. If you like it, you can flag it and the device will purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.

At launch, you will be able to purchase several Zune accessories including a Car Pack to enable integration into your car, a Home Pack which will include a dock with wireless remote and various cables, and a Travel Pack which will include premium earphones, a remote control, and a bag.

Update: Video of real Zune in action (very cool):

iPod Video
Apple announced the 6th generation iPod which will be similar to the current iPod Video but with several major upgrades. The 60GB iPod is being replaced by a new 80GB iPod. Prices are also dropping as the 30GB will retail for $249 and the new 80GB will retails for $349. Additionally:

• The screen will be 60% brighter (as if the current screen wasn’t great already)
• Battery life was upped from 4 to 6.5 hours
• Includes games such as Tetris, Pac-Man, Mini Golf, Texas Hold ‘Em, Mahjong, and Bejeweled
• Additional games can be downloaded from iTunes for $5
• Instant search will make it easier to find tracks

iPod Nano
Also changing is the new second generation iPod Nano which is now available in colors (black, blue, green, and pink) and aluminum. Pricing and sizes are as follows: 2GB Nano (aluminum) for $149, 4GB (colors) for $199, and 8GB (black) for $249.

iPod Shuffle
The new second generation 1GB iPod Shuffle comes in an aluminum case and includes a built in clip. Oh, and it’s the size of a stamp. It’s the smallest MP3 player on the market. Priced at $79 it will include a dock and the new earbuds.

iPod Accessories
Even iPod accessories are seeing a change. The ubiquitous earbuds have changed a bit and the power charger is 40% smaller.

The not-so-secret-secret is no longer a secret: Apple has added full-length movies to iTunes 7. As expected, the first 70 movies all come from the Disney family. New movies will cost $12.99 as pre-orders and during the first week. To help produce “Near-DVD” video, movie resolution is upped to 640×480 instead of 320×240. This feature is only available at the US store but will launch internationally in 2007.

The new iTunes 7 will look similar to iTunes 6 but also an organized navigation bar, album viewing, and album art viewer. The upgraded iTunes will also download missing album art (a feature which will make many iPod Video users very happy). Another major update is the ability to transfer purchased content between authorized computers using your iPod.

As for new shows, iTunes 7 will offer highlights of the whole 2006 NFL season for $1.99 per game or $24.99 for a season pass.

Download iTunes 7

See Also: Apple Makes the iPods Even Better (and also Cheaper)

We just received the official launch announcement for the Sony Ericsson P990i. It’s no secret that the phone has been available through smaller retailers for several weeks, but now Sony Ericsson is accepting orders for the UK version. The pricing for the Vodafone locked handset is £569.99.

Here is the email we received:

In a day full of new product launches, Palm joins the fray with the release of the Palm 750v for Vodafone’s European markets. This latest antenna-nub-less Windows Mobile Edition Treo comes with quadband GSM and triband UMTS (finally, a European UMTS phone that may actually work in the US). With a 300MHz processor, miniSD slot and 1.3 megapixel camera, this smaller Treo could be fun.

We will update you as soon as we hear any news on Cingular‘s plans.