Remember the brown brick? This week on pplpod, we travel back to 2006 to unpack the history of the Microsoft Zune, the device launched to challenge Apple’s dominance but which ended up as a "high-profile underdog". We discuss the Zune's unique "social" features that let users wirelessly share songs and the evolution of its hardware, from the original directional pad to the second generation's "squircle" touch-pad.

We also cover:

• The Launch: How Microsoft aimed to beat the iPod with a focus on community and a viral "Welcome to the social" marketing campaign.

• The Glitches: The infamous "leap year bug" of 2008 that caused thousands of Zune 30s to freeze simultaneously.

• The High Note: The critical success of the Zune HD, which featured an OLED touchscree ...