Just in time for the holiday season, Microsoft has rolled out a bunch of Zune accessories, including a home AV pack, a car pack, cases, and premium headphones.
Microsoft wants Zune customers—and, of course, the multitude of potential Zune customers—that the ecosystem for accessories and peripheral products to enhance and augment the experience of Microsoft’s Zune is alive and well. To that end, Microsoft is not only blowing the horns of of partners who’ve made accessories that work with Zune portable media players, but it’s seeding the market with its own collection of accessories, which are now available at retail.
"Zune is committed to providing customers with choice," said Zune senior director of product development Scott Erickson, in a statement. "By working only with licensed partners, we ensure that consumers have everything they need to enjoy a seamless, end-to-end Zune experience—Microsoft is one of the few companies that can offer this depth of support."
Zune accessories now available from Microsoft under the Zune brand are:
* The Zune Home A/V Pack ($99.99), which can connect a Zune to a home stereo. The system offers a wireless remote, faceplates for handling different Zune models, and composite audio-video output.
* The Zune Dock Pack ($49.99) provides an extra Zune dock for a computer or other location.
* The Zune Car Pack ($79.99) lets users listen to their Zunes in the car via an FM radio transmitter. The car pack also charges the Zune, and comes with a wired remote.
* The Zune Cable Pack ($39.99) connects a Zune to a stereo or TV using a sync cable, composite AV output cable, and audio cable.
Microsoft is also offering Zune Premium Headphones ($39.99; the same ones that ship with the 80 GB Zune), Zune Leather Cases ($49.99, for the flash-based Zune, 30 GB Zune, and 80 GB Zune), plus extra sync cables and AC adapters.
Microsoft’s Zune accessories should all be available at retailers in early November; some are available now.
