I am an unabashed iPod fan. I have been very critical of Microsoft’s Zune for quite sometime but lately something has been really bothering me. Really bothering me.

Apple released revamped iPods including the new iPod touch and the iPhone both of which feature touch screens. In fact, the iPod touch commercial featuring CSS’s “Music is My Hot, Hot Sex” highlights the touch feature over all the other features (I want you to touch!”).

Now Microsoft has retooled the Zune lineup just in time for the holiday season. While the new Zune players are a step forward (better design, less clunky) Microsoft seems to be competing with last season’s iPods. The new Zunes do not allow you to surf the internet and they are only controlled by the scroll/click wheel.

Despite what the ads lead you to believe Zunes DO NOT have a touch screen.

The two latest Zune ads both have the main actor/actress touching the screens of their Zune. Below is the first ad I saw:

In this video you are led to believe that the woman touches the screen twice. The first time she “enters into” the Zune and the second she touches the screen in order to “exit.” Upon closer inspection she never actually touches the screen but the implication is blatant and misleading. I have been unable to find the other commercial but it features a man riding the bus listening to the shins. He does touch the screen as he falls into the Zune. He pushes the screen open like a door. Again, blatant and misleading.

Shame on you Microsoft. You talk a big game about how superior your device is but when it comes right down to it you can only mimic and mislead. Instead of “highlighting” a feature that you don’t have show everyone what features your player does have.

You know, features like… um… or… yeah.