Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) will no longer make new versions of the Zune device, ending a four-plus year effort to challenge the dominance of Apple’s iPod music player, according to a Bloomberg News report. The company isn’t confirming the story, saying it has “nothing to announce about another Zune device.”

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) appears ready to take more of its Zune services outside the U.S. for the first time, using Windows Phone 7 as a beachhead. One observer spotted this website inviting UK sign-ups to Microsoft’s all-you-can-eat Zune Pass music service, with unlimited streaming and downloads, priced at £8.99 a…

Buried in yesterday’s onslaught of Bing announcements was news that Microsoft’s Zune service was launching a new MP3 store. Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) said that anybody who looked up a track on Bing would now be able to stream the track for free via Zune and “purchase any of the millions…

*Microsoft* rolled out a slew of new social features for the Xbox 360 today, making its already popular Xbox LIVE network a much more comprehensive source of entertainment. The upgrade lets people post status updates to Twitter and Facebook, view and share photos, and even stream music from Last.fm. The…

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) takes a major step closer to a cross-platform entertainment experience with today’s launch of the Zune HD, Zune 4.0 software and a Zune Net upgrade with web streaming for Zune Pass subscribers. And it should get even closer later this year when Zune video expands to Xbox…

Updated: Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is betting the pot on the soon-to-launch Zune HD—at least when it comes its own devices.

After weeks of leaks and sneak peeks, the Zune HD has an official launch date: Sept. 15. Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) will sell two Zune HD models—16G black, $219.99; Zune HD 32GB platinum, $289.99—with HD Radio, touch screen, full web browsing and HD video output. The iPods looked better early on…

With Staci D. Kramer: Yes, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is moving ahead with plans to take its Zune business international. No, Microsoft isn’t giving out many details. In an interview with paidContent.org, Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft’s entertainment business, said “It’s always been part of our ambition…

In the latest twist to Microsoft’s Zune saga—and its quest to decouple the Zune “platform” from the device itself—*Microsoft* is reorganizing the Zune team along the hardware and software lines. The bulk of the staff remain with the software and services unit, which will now be overseen by Enrique Rodriguez,…

Zune, Microsoft’s big portable music and video hope, has added an original content production unit that will produce a series of free ad-supported short videos for its users. The first project is a comedy series called “Cinemash” that it has created with arts and entertainment mag Mean. It will launch…

Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices division, particularly the Zune group, reportedly was hit hard in Thursday’s unprecedented layoff of 1,400 employees and the company’s plans to cut up to 3,600 more jobs. (Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) isn’t breaking down the layoffs by numbers and departments.) Late Friday, when the company filed its…

Microsoft’s Zune, which earned kudos in 2008 for its software upgrade, sleek new look and wireless features, ended the year on an odd down note when a glitch stopped all of its 30 GB units cold. Reports of dead units started overnight; it took Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) the better part…

Once again, rumors have re-surfaced that Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is going to launch a Zune phone—this time at CES in January. I’ve held off reporting on the rumor because I don’t think it is true, but more importantly, if it were true, it wouldn’t be that big of a deal.…

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) just added some lagniappe to its Zune Pass music subscription: effective now, 10 tracks a month can be downloaded for keeps. It’s a nice gesture for subscribers—I am one so can attest to that—but it’s also a very real PR effort to goose interest in the subscription…

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is partnering with Univision on Baja Zune Musica (Download Zune Music), a music download service that will be featured on Univision.com. The deal gives Microsoft another outlet for its over 4 million tracks available through the Zune Marketplace as it will serve as the exclusive provider of…

Sitting in a McDonald’s in suburban St. Louis, breaking my rule about eating fast food when I’m not on the road and trying out the latest Zune gimmick— free wireless access via Wayport at roughly 9,800 golden arch outlets across the US. First impressions: Way easy and way slow. It’s…

The Zune 3.0 update went live today and with it, news that users will have free WiFi access at more than 9,800 McDonald’s via a deal with Wayport. Insert obvious comparisons to Apple’s (NSDQ: AAPL) iTunes deal with Starbucks here. As is the case with that arrangement, much of the…

Not me asking that, but Todd Bishop, the Seattle PI reporter, in an interview with Robbie Bach, president of the company’s Entertainment & Devices Division, after yesterday’s announcement of new Zune launches, and on the day when Apple launched its new iPod Nano. So first, whether the new Zune will…

Ahead of an expected new *Apple* iPod Nano launch tomorrow at an event, Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) has announced a new version of Zune, and some new interesting features. —In the latest versions, it is expanding the hard drive-based model to 120GB and the flash-based player to 16GB, with new colors…