• TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
  • Follow
    • Follow
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • google+
    • instagram
    • youtube
Hearst Corporation
  • TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
Forums
  • Register
  • Login
  • Forums
  • Gadgets
  • Tablets and e-Readers
New Microsoft Zune
<<
<
1 of 2
>>
>
Scrolllock
27-05-2009
Just in case anyone might be interested in Microsoft's new Zune.

Apparently it has:

OLED screen
Touch screen
Accelerometer like the Apple iPod touch and iPhone
720P HD video output with possible HDMI port
HD Radio (America's standard for digital radio)
Onscreen keyboard like Apple's
WiFi
Integration with Xbox live
iMac like design and colour from sample in circulating pics
Will be launched at a later time in Canada, the UK and France
16 & 32gigs
IE based browser

http://www.engadget.com/tag/Zune/
Red Arrow
27-05-2009
The article that you linked too doesn't state what size the internal storage is, where did you read it's 16 & 32 gigs? Or did I miss it
aaronon
27-05-2009
The ugliest Zune yet.

Honestly I don't know why they don't just admit it was an epic fail and quit making them.
andybno1
27-05-2009
Originally Posted by Red Arrow:
“The article that you linked too doesn't state what size the internal storage is, where did you read it's 16 & 32 gigs? Or did I miss it ”

yeh I'm with you here I cannot find a webpage that states the hard drive sizes
DotNetWill
27-05-2009
I have a Zune 2 and love it. I may have to order one of these, I just wish they would introduce the Zune Pass here.
aaronon
27-05-2009
Originally Posted by DotNetWill:
“I have a Zune 2 and love it. I may have to order one of these, I just wish they would introduce the Zune Pass here.”

They won't.

People in Europe have a sense of style and would rather not walk around with one of the above products on show. :O

A silver back - original
DotNetWill
27-05-2009
Originally Posted by aaronon:
“They won't.

People in Europe have a sense of style and would rather not walk around with one of the above products on show. :O

A silver back - original ”

I'm talking more about the $15 all you can eat music service where you get to keep 10 tracks a month.

I like the Zune 2 much better than the iPod classic I had before.
aaronon
27-05-2009
Ah you like the store.

I've never used it so I can't pass judgement.

At least you *can* import and use it over here and they haven't totally restricted you (judging from your posts).
{ph[oe]nix}
27-05-2009
For crying out loud, you'd think Apple invented the universe the way people bang on about it. Just FYI, here is a clip of Steve Jobs telling the world that copying is essential: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU

Now - on to the Zune.

MS is onto a good thing here, it sees that people like certain things about MP3 players. It's including support for HD playback on a TV, which for me, is excellent news. I like the idea of watching some shows on the train and then plugging it into a TV at home and finishing the programme on my TV.

The Zune has always had some cool ideas. For example wifi sync and sharing music is a terrific idea. It doesn't work now, because no one has a Zune, but the more people who get them, the better that feature will work.

The design of this new Zune looks terrific. Fanboys can mumble till the cows come home about what a rip-off it all is, but ultimately it's a different device to the iPod touch and will appeal to different people.

Zune Pass is a terrific idea. I like music when I hear it, listen to it 50 times, then never listen to it again. So for me, subscription based music makes a lot of sense. There is nothing like that on the iPod.

iTunes is all well and good on a Mac, but frankly, on a PC it's a truly painful experience. The Zune software couldn't be any worse than that. In fact, I don't even think SonicStage for Sony players was as bad as iTunes is.

I'm thinking this will be my next MP3 player.
hanssolo
28-05-2009
http://radio.about.com/b/2009/05/28/...capability.htm
The main release
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/p...6ZuneHDPR.mspx
Quote:
“Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.”

Just as it seems the Zune is dead, Microsoft will introduce a new HD - IBOC hybrid digital radio and wifi Zune in the US.
Originally Posted by DotNetWill:
“I have a Zune 2 and love it. I may have to order one of these, I just wish they would introduce the Zune Pass here.”

Currently the UK Microsoft MSN music club which used to be run by Nokia is supposed to be relaunching
http://sib1.od2.com/common/framework...?shid=0170002E
Quote:
“Why is this music download store closing and will there be an alternative?
MSN Music Store will no longer be run by Nokia, as it is today. Instead MSN will launch a new Music Store, and Nokia will continue with Nokia Music Store”

Engadget say it will also launch in the UK and France, Maybe Microsoft might be finally getting to launch the Zune in the UK with a new new Music Store?? maybe with DAB/DMB rather than hybrid digital radio?
Ash_735
28-05-2009
Originally Posted by hanssolo:
“maybe with DAB/DMB rather than hybrid digital radio?”

Eww DAB Radio is terrible and I wouldn't want any company to continue wasting money on this dead pointless bitrate lacking service. HD Radio in America is brilliant, sadly in the UK we'd never be able to have American Format Radio but it is good that Microsoft have done this as HD Radio on the go should be popular over there.

Plus think about it, DAB Radio on the go, is that going to impress anyone? No one cares about DAB in this country because it was just done totally wrong.
Scrolllock
28-05-2009
Originally Posted by aaronon:
“The ugliest Zune yet.

Honestly I don't know why they don't just admit it was an epic fail and quit making them.”

I'm an iPod user and an iMac user and I think it is quite attractive. Matches the look of an iMac pretty well. The current models look like toys.
Scrolllock
28-05-2009
Originally Posted by Red Arrow:
“The article that you linked too doesn't state what size the internal storage is, where did you read it's 16 & 32 gigs? Or did I miss it ”

I posted one link but read more than that one.
Scrolllock
28-05-2009
Originally Posted by {ph[oe]nix}:
“For crying out loud, you'd think Apple invented the universe the way people bang on about it. Just FYI, here is a clip of Steve Jobs telling the world that copying is essential: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW0DUg63lqU

Now - on to the Zune.

MS is onto a good thing here, it sees that people like certain things about MP3 players. It's including support for HD playback on a TV, which for me, is excellent news. I like the idea of watching some shows on the train and then plugging it into a TV at home and finishing the programme on my TV.

The Zune has always had some cool ideas. For example wifi sync and sharing music is a terrific idea. It doesn't work now, because no one has a Zune, but the more people who get them, the better that feature will work.

The design of this new Zune looks terrific. Fanboys can mumble till the cows come home about what a rip-off it all is, but ultimately it's a different device to the iPod touch and will appeal to different people.

Zune Pass is a terrific idea. I like music when I hear it, listen to it 50 times, then never listen to it again. So for me, subscription based music makes a lot of sense. There is nothing like that on the iPod.

iTunes is all well and good on a Mac, but frankly, on a PC it's a truly painful experience. The Zune software couldn't be any worse than that. In fact, I don't even think SonicStage for Sony players was as bad as iTunes is.

I'm thinking this will be my next MP3 player.”

I've used iTunes on both systems and the Mac version is just a bit quicker, but that could be merely down to the slightly different hardware of the two computers I used them on. Nothing significantly different at all.
hanssolo
28-05-2009
Originally Posted by Ash_735:
“Eww DAB Radio is terrible and I wouldn't want any company to continue wasting money on this dead pointless bitrate lacking service. HD Radio in America is brilliant, sadly in the UK we'd never be able to have American Format Radio but it is good that Microsoft have done this as HD Radio on the go should be popular over there.

Plus think about it, DAB Radio on the go, is that going to impress anyone? No one cares about DAB in this country because it was just done totally wrong.”

Both DAB and HD radio have problems but HD radio has more problems http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/archi.../t-791168.html
But the DAB problems of coverage and choice will be fixed and there is an announcement with the Digital Britain report next month.
Here in London we get 50+ DAB stations with good to excellent coverage, although there is room to increase power more in the VHF band 3. More of the mono stations like The Hits are starting to go stereo
In the US they can't increase HD radio power without affecting interferance to existing FM stations which share bandwidth in the VHF band 2.
edgexedge
28-05-2009
Originally Posted by aaronon:
“They won't.

People in Europe have a sense of style and would rather not walk around with one of the above products on show. :O

A silver back - original ”

its not a silver back
its a metal back

metals like aluminium & steel are a sort of silvery/grey colour anyway
loads of products have got metal backs


when would it be on show?
dont most people just put a pmp in their pocket or bag?
sancheeez
29-05-2009
Originally Posted by edgexedge:
“when would it be on show?
dont most people just put a pmp in their pocket or bag?”

Agreed.

I completely fail to see why anyone would be especially bothered what an MP3 player looks like when it spends:

80% of it's life in your pocket/bag
12% of it's life on a charger in your house somewhere
7.95% of it's time hooked up to a computer "doing stuff"
0.05% of it's time .... "elsewhere"

(pedants please note - the above figures are guesses on my behalf!)

so why do you care if it has a shiny metal back?

I'd take more interest in it if I found out it helped heat dispersion from the battery or something ....
jammers
29-05-2009
Unfortunately this will be another epic fail for two reasons - it is running Windows CE and Ballmer has confirmed it won't have any apps.

Now look at why people are buying the iPod Touch and how many Apple have sold and you will see that the Zune is still three years behind and is completely missing the market for touch screen players.
moisie
29-05-2009
Originally Posted by {ph[oe]nix}:
“MS is onto a good thing here, it sees that people like certain things about MP3 players. It's including support for HD playback on a TV, which for me, is excellent news. I like the idea of watching some shows on the train and then plugging it into a TV at home and finishing the programme on my TV.”

HD content takes up large amounts of space though, I'd rather stream or carry around content appropriate to the device I'm watching it on then when I want to watch it on TV to get it from my Apple TV or other source.
Originally Posted by {ph[oe]nix}:
“The Zune has always had some cool ideas. For example wifi sync and sharing music is a terrific idea. It doesn't work now, because no one has a Zune, but the more people who get them, the better that feature will work.”

Fair enought, and the new iPhone OS is getting sharing features, not sure about music, but it allows games so it could be a case of whatever app developers can come up with.
Originally Posted by {ph[oe]nix}:
“The design of this new Zune looks terrific. Fanboys can mumble till the cows come home about what a rip-off it all is, but ultimately it's a different device to the iPod touch and will appeal to different people.”

It's hardly massively better though, it's not something I would be willing to forego things like the app store for.

Quote:
“Zune Pass is a terrific idea. I like music when I hear it, listen to it 50 times, then never listen to it again. So for me, subscription based music makes a lot of sense. There is nothing like that on the iPod.”

I think there is a place for subscription, but I can also see the arguments against it, I don't think anyone has come up with a perfect model for how to do subscriptions on a mass basis that both the producers and public will be happy with. Would be nice as an option on Apple stuff though.

Ultimately I just don't see anything here that fundamentally makes it a better overal choice than an iPod or iPhone, especially when you consider that Apple will be launching the next version of the OS with a load of new features and will no doubt upgrade the hardware in the near future. The interface is basically just what Apple is already doing, but with some fancy graphics and menus that are a bit flashy but possibly no better to actually use. At best, I think they've maybe caught up, but Apple will be able to easily eclipse this if they needed to, and probably will anyway.
jbeavon
29-05-2009
Originally Posted by jammers:
“Unfortunately this will be another epic fail for two reasons - it is running Windows CE and Ballmer has confirmed it won't have any apps.

Now look at why people are buying the iPod Touch and how many Apple have sold and you will see that the Zune is still three years behind and is completely missing the market for touch screen players.”

Maybe it will attract people who aren't interested in Apps then? Not everybody has a NEED to have an application on their device. Personally, I have a PMP to allow me to playback Music & Videos. I don't have any pathalogical need or desire to check my e-mails or surf the web whilst out and about, nor do I feel the urge to play games whilst out and about either.

Now, if I do want to check e-mails, or surf the web or even play games whilst not at home, chances are I will have my laptop with me, which is a much more pleasant environment to do such things on. All the latest iPods and other generations of PMP's are trying to do is pander to some peoples inability to leave the internet at home. Infact, I'd even go as far as to suggest that there are a number of people who are becoming totally addicted to e-mail, facebook and twitter, and the companies that produce such devices aren't helping the situation!
edgexedge
29-05-2009
Originally Posted by jammers:
“Unfortunately this will be another epic fail for two reasons - it is running Windows CE and Ballmer has confirmed it won't have any apps.

Now look at why people are buying the iPod Touch and how many Apple have sold and you will see that the Zune is still three years behind and is completely missing the market for touch screen players.”

Windows CE
loads of things run in Windows CE, its an os, not a media player.
by using something they already have, the Zune team can spend all of their time on the actual player & services, & not having to write code to operate the hardware.


its a media player, what does it need apps for?

what apps are on the iPod?
not the iPod Touch or the iPhone, the actual iPod media player.



'market for touch screen players'?
touch screen is only an interface, nothing more
the market for media players is both touchscreen & button.
if the market was touch screen, & button devices are behind, then why are Apple still making the iPod classic & the shuffle?
edgexedge
29-05-2009
more pics of the new Zune:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/e...-for-engadget/


http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/zune-hd-hands-on/
aaronon
29-05-2009
Originally Posted by edgexedge:
“Windows CE
loads of things run in Windows CE, its an os, not a media player.
by using something they already have, the Zune team can spend all of their time on the actual player & services, & not having to write code to operate the hardware.


its a media player, what does it need apps for?

what apps are on the iPod?
not the iPod Touch or the iPhone, the actual iPod media player.



'market for touch screen players'?
touch screen is only an interface, nothing more
the market for media players is both touchscreen & button.
if the market was touch screen, & button devices are behind, then why are Apple still making the iPod classic & the shuffle?”

It's not an iPod though. . .it's more akin to an iPod touch. It'll have the same memory and screen, and price so you can't just compare it to a standard MP3 playing iPod.
jammers
30-05-2009
Originally Posted by edgexedge:
“Windows CE
loads of things run in Windows CE, its an os, not a media player.
by using something they already have, the Zune team can spend all of their time on the actual player & services, & not having to write code to operate the hardware.


its a media player, what does it need apps for?

what apps are on the iPod?
not the iPod Touch or the iPhone, the actual iPod media player.



'market for touch screen players'?
touch screen is only an interface, nothing more
the market for media players is both touchscreen & button.
if the market was touch screen, & button devices are behind, then why are Apple still making the iPod classic & the shuffle?”

Windows CE is possibly the worst piece of software MS have ever written trying to do everything for everyone and not excelling at anything. If the Zune team have spent little time working out Windows CE for it then it will fail horribly - a Windows Phone without the phone or apps.

You miss the point that this is designed to compete with the iPod Touch yet it misses most of the features.
TheSoulBrother
30-05-2009
Originally Posted by edgexedge:
“its a media player, what does it need apps for?

what apps are on the iPod?
not the iPod Touch or the iPhone, the actual iPod media player.



'market for touch screen players'?
touch screen is only an interface, nothing more
the market for media players is both touchscreen & button.
if the market was touch screen, & button devices are behind, then why are Apple still making the iPod classic & the shuffle?”


It's called the iPod Classic for a reason (see Mac Classic). And Touch sales far exceed it. It's only purpose is to satisfy the people who cannot live on 32GB.

Apps are now crucial IMO.

That said, as a pure PMP the Zune HD is a nice device. It's just that the market has moved on from pure PMPs. People are now coming to the idea that these devices (as well as their mobiles) are fully fledged computers.
<<
<
1 of 2
>>
>
VIEW DESKTOP SITE TOP

JOIN US HERE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Hearst Corporation

Hearst Corporation

DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK

© 2015 Hearst Magazines UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Complaints
  • Site Map