Microsoft’s upcoming Zune sequel will try to counter new iPods and other players with higher-quality earbuds than those that typically ship with music players, according to a new report. The pack-in earphones will allegedly be a cross between Microsoft’s existing in-canal models (pictured) and V-Moda’s VIBE. In a rare touch, the cabling will also be sheathed with a black-and-brown striped cloth layer, preventing the bent cables and fraying that plague most earbuds.
Whether or not the earbuds will include the signature magnets that keep the Zune’s current earbuds together is unknown, though the new buds are said to sound "much better" than those bundled with current iPod models. Whether the earbuds will be shipped with the "Scorpio" 80GB Zune, the flash-based "Draco," or both is also uncertain. The information nonetheless appears to confirm the impending release of at least one of the new players before the end of the year.
