Zune Discontinued

Microsoft is discontinuing its Zune media player, which it launched five years ago as a supposed rival to Apple’s iPod.

It managed to grab 10 percent of the market when it was launched in 2006, but enthusiasm for the gizmo faded.

Microsoft hasn’t released a major update to the line in two years, and much of the look and functionality of the Zune has moved to Microsoft’s smartphone software.

The company says that its smartphone products “will be the focus of our mobile music and video strategy.”