p2pnet.net News:- Bill and the Boyz have selected Toshiba as the father of their new baby, Zune, due this Christmas.

Or should that be ‘mother’? ;p

Anyhow, “A source close to the Zune project just informed us that the Zune we see on the FCC site is an OEMed Toshiba Gigabeat with additional features designed specifcially for Microsoft,” says CrunchGear.

But, “This does not mean that Toshiba will sell the Zune – it will be a Microsoft Product.

This was done to make it in time for a Christmas launch and Microsoft will take over production after that, adding many more models to the line including a Shuffle/Nano-style mini players as well as a high end UMPC-like PMP. The PMP is a ‘monster’ with gaming, video, and music built-in, along with the wireless features we’re expecting from Zune.”

The FCC filing included a photo of Zune, which is white with a black-trimmed screen and a black-trimmed, white scroll wheel, says BloombergNews, gooing on:

“Zune will have a 30-gigabyte hard drive, a three- inch screen, and be available in three colors, black, white and brown, according to the Toshiba filing.

“Zune marks the first time Microsoft will control the hardware design, software and service for such devices after 6 years of combining its software with outside music services and machines designed by partners failed to create a product compelling enough to tackle the iPod.”

Bill and the Boyz are no doubt hoping they have better luck with their manufacturer that Apple did with Foxconn, the Chinese iPod firm which Apple admits violated local labour laws.

Also See:
new baby – Microsoft’s Zune hops in, July 24, 2006
CrunchGear – Confirmed: Zune is Toshiba… For Now, August 25, 2006
BloombergNews – Microsoft’s Zune, IPod Rival, Will Be Made by Toshiba, August 25, 2006
better luck – iPod maker broke labour laws, June 27, 2006
Apple admits – Apple’s China iPod report, August 18, 2006