When did Apple say there wouldn't be a new iPod this year? They've actually said nothing one way or the other, just like they always do. Even if there isn't a new iPod I honestly don't see the Zune being serious competition, it's realistically only going to be competing with all the other players. Microsoft might be able to artificially improve sales by spending millions and millions on advertising but unless it's cheaper I don't see a lot of potential ipod buying members of the public saying to themselves that they're gonna buy this instead. I might be wrong but the look of it is hardly very inspiring, there are other non-iPod players that look far better than this thing does.