It seems that the Zune really is on its last legs after all. The dark satanic rumour mill had manufactured a hell on earth rumour which claimed that Microsoft was about to dust off its Zune HD'  after saying that the service was going the way of the Norwegian Blue.

The rumour was based on the fact that it mysteriously vanished from Microsoft's Zune Web site and then appeared to its two users on the road to Damascus. Such a miracle had not been seen for some time and it was being touted as the resurrection. The philosophy was that the Zune died for the sins of humanity, or at least those of Steve Ballmer and by believing in it, you were magically restored to God.

The use of using religious ideas and techniques in marketing had paid off for Apple, so why shouldn't such an idea work for Microsoft?  Initially the rumour had legs. Microsoft representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment because they were locked in a room waiting for the fire of innovation to hit them.

But it seems that the whole idea was just made up. As reported yesterday, a statement on a Zune support page appears to confirm the demise of the Zune player saying that Windows Phone will be the focus of Microsoft's mobile music and video strategy, and that it will no longer be producing Zune players. So if there is going to be any new Microsoft religion, it is not going to be based on the resurrection of the Zune.

The post points out that Zunes device will continue to work with Zune services just as it does today. And Microsoft will continue to honour the warranties of all devices for both current owners and those who buy the very last devices.

However, questions about Microsoft’s content strategy persist. Over the past few years the outfit failed to come up with any popular music services or players for that matter. The competition has been making headway on all fronts, from Apple’s obscenely popular Church of iTunesology, to Google Music and millions of Android phones blasphemously doubling as media players.

Redmond on the other hand has a fancy Zune-esque user interface on Windows Phone 7 devices, which are selling like bacon in Jerusalem.