The iPod turns 20 this year.
That gadget changed tech as we know it, starting Apples resurgence and eventual dominance of the tech industry.
I am, of course, talking about the Zune.
Its matte, soft-touch hardware was weird but unique
Brown.
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Though I was partial to the blue-on-black colorway, I ended up with the brown design.
And somehow, I still dug it.
It was so different from the litany of glossy fingerprint magnet devices, including the iPod.
The Zune had a soft-touch finish that rejected fingerprints and felt genuinely nice to hold.
In the case of my brown unit, this translucent plastic glowed green.
Mind you, Im just talking about the original Zune.
The Zune predicted the screen-centric focus of our modern-day life.
I probably wouldnt have gotten in if Id shown the video on an iPod, just saying.
The Zunes original 2006 UI was comparatively colorful, dynamic, and modern.
It let you gasp set a wallpaper.
Microsofts Metro design language, which still influences Windows 11 and Xbox debuted here.
I mean, tell me which one of these two you think looks better.
It wasnt just pretty looks either the UI was incredibly functional and easy to understand.
It offered more control over playlists and made better use of the display real estate.
It has my old mp3s and games are still working!
The syncing process was a mess compared to the iPods.
And just a year later, the iPhone was released, beginning the slow death of MP3 players.
), one that still looks good today.
