Microsoft has announced that the Zune will be going down in price to $199 tomorrow, which happens to be the same day that the iPod line is due to be refreshed.

Still $250 more than I would spend for something that looks like a brick, but still a nice move none the less.

Of course, the week I take off is a week full of juicy bits of Apple goodness, but that’s how it goes.  How’s about some recapping?

• Everyone got all excited when Apple announced that they’d be having a special media event on September 5th, focusing on iPods.  Touchscreen video iPods?  Count me in.
• NBC announced that they and Apple will be parting ways in regard to the iTunes Store when their contract ends in December; Apple responded by saying that the formerly-top-station wanted to start charging $4.99 per episode for shows and stricter DRM, and that iTunes won’t have new episodes of NBC shows starting this season, since the contract will end halfway through the season.  NBC threw out a quick response, saying that they really wanted “flexible pricing”… which, you know, means “we wanna charge you more!  Nyah!”  Oh, and NBC was all pissed that Apple was more concerned about making money for itself than making money for content makers, which comes as a shock to me; a company more concerned about making money for itself than others?  Can’t be!
• First, there was the Macintosh.  Then, there was the iPod.  After that, the iPhone.  Now?  The iCar.  Well, at least it’s rumored to be coming from VW (or Jaguar, depending on who you listen to).  My concern is if Apple will insist that the battery be sealed into the car, and you’ll need to wait six weeks for your mechanic to get the car back from Cupertino or something.  (Sorry, I don’t know crap about cars, and it was the only snarky comment I could come up with.)

Anyway, happy Labor Day, all, and I’ll be back later with more inane commentary about something or other.