Microsoft's Zune service to be switched off

Zune was launched - both devices and the digital service - in 2006 as a direct competitor to Apple's market-hogging iPod and iTunes, but as with HMV and online shopping, it appears that their venture was too little, too late. Hardware was surreptitiously discontinued back in 2011.

Although they never broke serious ground in the market, many loyal fans emerged, and some still subscribe to the streaming service. They will be "migrated" to Microsoft's project, Groove.

If you still rely on a trusty Zune player, have no fear, they'll still work as an MP3 player - but they won't be able to stream anymore.

The switch off date has been confirmed as 15 November, nine years and one day after it first launched.