ZuneAccording to Whiz Byte, a second generation of Zune has been confirmed and will be released “later this year prior to the holiday season”.

So says the folks over at Microsoft (Press), as reported by Whiz Byte:

”We have seen the rumors floating around, but we haven’t announced specific dates or details for the next generation of the Zune devices or service. That said, Zune follows the cycle of the consumer electronics cycle so you can expect an update later this year prior to the holiday season.”

Exact details are elusive though achieving parity towards the iPod by building in additional features is mentioned, with additional support for things such as video and podcasting. Also, attention will be given to key differentiators such as the presence of wireless feature(s) and other extras such as FM tuner capabilities.

Additional effort will also be given to expand the international footprint of Zune over time.

Well, my iPod Mini is like years out of date, so perhaps folks with more up-to-date (music players) could share with more on this. What features would you like to see in Zune 2?

Of course, you can always insist on sending me some new players to review.