Zune 30

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Zune 30: Microsoft’s first Zune portable player

The Zune 30 was Microsoft’s inaugural hardware in the Zune line. It launched on November 14, 2006, offering 30 GB of storage for music, videos, and photos. It featured a 3-inch color display, a circular navigation pad, and ran Windows Embedded CE 6.0. The device weighed about 5.6 ounces and measured roughly 4.4 by 2.4 by 0.58 inches.

Key features
- Storage: 30 GB
- Display: 3-inch LCD, 320x240, 16-bit color
- Controls: Circular directional pad with select, back, play/pause, and hold
- Connectivity: Wi‑Fi (802.11b/g) for Zune Marketplace downloads, USB 2.0
- Battery: 800 mAh lithium-ion; about 12–14 hours of music, around 3–4 hours of video; charging ~2–3 hours
- OS: Windows Embedded CE 6.0

Colors and accessories
- Available colors: black, brown, and pearl white; translucent glow colors in matching hues (blue, green, clear)
- Cases: first-party leather and fabric; many third-party silicone cases

Pricing and evolution
- Launch price: $249.99, later reduced to $199.99 in 2007
- The original Zune was later renamed Zune 30 as newer models arrived

Special editions and collaborations
- Pink (magenta) and orange limited editions: about 100 units of each color, with certificates; some pink units were widely discussed
- Halo 3 edition: black or dark brown versions with Halo branding and content; Halo 3 Zunes sold through GameStop (black/brown variants) and military PX/AAFES channels
- Wisin & Yandel edition: black Zune sold at Walmart, pre-loaded with the album and related media
- Some units given as gifts or distributed in limited runs

Freescale driver issue (late 2008)
- December 31, 2008, some Zune 30 devices froze due to a Freescale driver issue (MC13783) tied to leap year day counting
- Contained nicknames like Z2K9, Z2K, and Zunepocalypse
- Official fix involved draining the battery and recharging after midday GMT on January 1, 2009

Hardware snapshot
- CPU/architecture: Freescale i.MX31L (ARM-based)
- RAM: 64 MB
- Storage: 30 GB hard drive
- Display: 3" LCD; 320x240; 65k colors
- Audio: standard headphones output; analog/digital components for sound
- Wireless: 802.11b/g; basic streaming/download capabilities
- FM radio: included
- Weight/size: about 5.6 ounces; 4.4 x 2.4 x 0.58 inches

Legacy
- The Zune 30 kicked off Microsoft’s Zune family and laid the groundwork for later models like the Zune 80. While the line eventually faced strong competition and broader shifts in digital media, the Zune 30 remains a notable early entrant in portable media players.