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Gizmodo has posted a detailed review of Microsoft's iPod touch alternative.
"The Zune HD is the best touchscreen PMP on the market. It's got the most unique vision, the most impressive hardware and the most stylish software. It's priced fairly at $220 for 16GB and $290 for 32GB, though I'd call the $90 dock a required accessory.
But I'm not sure that's enough. PMPs like the Zune HD and Sony X-Series try to advance the genre with new and impressive media playback features, but the success of the iPod Touch shows that that media playback alone isn't necessarily enough anymore. People seem to want pocketable computers, either in smartphone or near-smartphone form, or simpler, smaller devices like the iPod Nano and SanDisk's Sansa line. So it's not going to steal sales from the iPod Touch, but it should make some Samsung and Sony executives pretty jealous."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/17/2009 12:02:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Engadget was lucky enough to spend some time with the new Zune HD and make a hands on Video. It's very impressive (can't believe I said that about a Microsoft product). If the Palm Pre is the 1st real competitor to the iPhone. The Zune HD is the first real competitor to the iPod touch.
Labels: zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/11/2009 10:09:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
CNET spent some time with the upcoming Zune HD, and they were very impressed.
"Here we have the Zune HD's mobile Web browser, which we're told was engineered by Microsoft's Internet Explorer team. The browser displays Web pages in a similar fashion as Apple's iPhone and iPod Touch, using pinching and flipping gestures to zoom and scroll through content. Pages also reorient themselves based on the position of the device, flipping from landscape to portrait view depending on the tilt of the screen."
The Zune HD is expected to launch on September 8th in two sizes. The 16GB will cost $200, and the 32GB will cost $290.
Labels: zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 8/10/2009 10:10:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/27/2009 12:33:00 AM 0 comments
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"Microsoft on Tuesday confirmed its plans to take on the iPod Touch with a new, touch-screen Zune that will be able to surf the Web, play high-definition movies, and tune in to digital radio.
The Zune HD, which will be available in the U.S. only starting this fall, features an HD Radio tuner as well as an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) touch screen, Microsoft said. It is based on Windows CE and will use a version of Internet Explorer customized for its touch screen, Microsoft said.
The software maker did not announce pricing or capacity, though it said the device will use flash memory and attempt to take on Apple's high-end iPod models.
"This device is created to go head to head with the iPod Touch," Chris Stephenson, general manager of global marketing for Microsoft Zune, said in a telephone interview on Tuesday. Zune buyers will also be able to play HD content on their TVs via a dock, Microsoft said."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/27/2009 12:19:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Take this Poll with a grain of salt. According to Electric Pig (UK's fastest growing tech news site) , the numbers from their poll of which of the 3 devices people are looking forward to this summer are in. As you can see from their poll and pie chart the Pre wins in a landslide.
***Note*** "The New iPhone" and "Zune HD" have not been announced.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 5/13/2009 09:49:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
"During a lengthy interview, Steve Balmer was asked to justify developing the Zune media player.
CIO: Why has Microsoft developed Zune?
Ballmer: At the end of the day, one of the big trends is that all content is going digital. And if we don’t have the software and services that are useful, helpful and valuable for the consumption of music and video, we are sort of not really a player.
Now, we built the Zune hardware with the Zune software - and what you’ll see more and more over time is that the Zune software will also be ported to and be more important not just with the hardware but on the PC, on Windows Mobile devices, etc." Via WMPoweruser .
Labels: windows mobile, zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/02/2008 03:01:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
That said, there's been an increasing amount of evidence to suggest that 16GB models remain unavailable simply because Apple's original plans for the fourth-generation iPod nano leading up to last Tuesday's event called for only 4GB and 8GB configurations.
As such, it's likely manufacturing ramp of the 16GB models didn't begin until just recently because Foxconn, Apple's iPod manufacturing partner in the East, was busy pumping out 4GB and 8GB models instead. Though unannounced last Tuesday, those 4GB models mysteriously began cropping up at European retailers earlier this week.
The official response from Apple was on the matter was that it decided to produce a "limited number of 4GB iPod nanos for some international markets." The statement suggests the 4GB models were the afterthought as opposed to the 16GB model, but doesn't explain a motive, why availability of the 4GB models will soon cease, or why they're priced relatively close to the 8GB model.
Separately, AppleInsider has learned that some Apple retail stores actually received marketing material last week for the fourth-generation nanos listing only 4GB and 8GB models, which they were then asked to return. Those materials were said to have priced the players in line with the third-generation nanos -- $149 for a 4GB model and $199 for the 8GB.
This has led some industry watchers to question whether it was Microsoft, for once, who caught its longtime rival to south off-guard and possibly pressed its margins in the process. On Monday September 8th, just one day before Apple chief executive Steve Jobs announced the fourth-generation iPod nano, reports surfaced on Microsoft's plans to introduce an 8GB Zune at $149 and a 16GB Zune at $200 around the same time." Via AppleInsider .
Labels: apple, microsoft, nano, zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/18/2008 09:31:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Microsoft has released Zune 3.0 sofware for the hundreds of people with Zunes ;).
Zune, Microsoft Corp.’s end-to-end music and entertainment service, again revolutionizes how customers discover and connect to the music they love, where and how they want it. Starting next week, every Zune portable media player will let consumers wirelessly download or stream millions of songs on the go from thousands of wireless hot spots around the country. Free, powerful software and firmware updates will give Zune owners the ability to discover, tag and purchase songs directly from the built-in FM radio, wirelessly access the Zune Marketplace store on the go, and tap into interactive, personalized music recommendations that add even more value to the Zune Pass subscription. Zune is also expanding its device lineup with new 16GB and 120GB capacities as well as shiny new blue-on-silver and sleek all-black color schemes. The new features will begin rolling out on Sept. 16, 2008.
“Digital music services really come alive when they help people find not only the music they know they like, but the music they didn’t know they would love,” said Chris Stephenson, general manager of Global Marketing for Zune at Microsoft. “With the combination of subscription, wireless access to millions of tracks, and powerful discovery features like personal recommendations and the ability to buy music from FM radio, Zune is taking the digital music experience to the next level.”
Wireless Connections
More than 61 percent of people say they discover new music by listening to the radio.1 With that in mind, Zune is taking advantage of the wireless connection and the built-in FM tuner to deliver a new feature called Buy from FM, which lets customers tag and purchase songs they hear on FM radio stations2 directly from the Zune device. When the customer is in a Wi-Fi hot spot, the song can be immediately downloaded to the Zune device. If Wi-Fi is not available, the device will have a queue of songs ready to download when connected to a home computer or in a hot spot. Buy from FM uses Radio Data System and RT+ data feeds within the FM broadcast frequencies that identify song and artist data and enable the Zune service to identify and deliver the track to the customer.
In addition, users can now access the Zune Marketplace music store directly from their device when they are in a recognized Wi-Fi hot spot, or through a home wireless network. To make it easy to discover music on the go, customers can browse lists of featured new releases and top songs and albums sorted by genre, or use the on-screen keypad to type in the song of their choice. Once they have picked a track or album, they can either download it or stream it directly to the Zune device. Zune customers have a choice in how they acquire music: They can pay per track or choose a Zune Pass subscription. Zune Pass subscribers can download or stream music to the device or their computer interchangeably, all for a flat rate of $14.99 per month. So whether a device has 4 GB or 120 GB of storage, Zune Pass customers can access and stream millions of songs directly to their Zune.
More Ways to Discover Music: Channels and Picks
The new Zune software update taps expert sources, recommendations from the Zune service and online music community, and the user’s own play data to create a dynamic, digital music experience where discovering music is easy and seamless.
• Channels. Channels are an exciting new tool for music discovery. Customers can explore channels programmed by experts from the music industry such as the Billboard Top 100, The FADER magazine and KEXP radio, in addition to workout-themed channels tailored for high, medium and low impact, and top chart channels from all genres and subgenres. The powerful Zune software will even create custom channels for each user, based on favorite artists and genres. Channels are included with a monthly Zune Pass subscription and can be synced to the device for playback on the go. For non-Zune Pass subscribers, the Channels are available for a la carte purchase.
• Personal Picks. Now the Zune software learns what kind of music users like and makes personal recommendations. When users log onto Zune Marketplace, they’ll find a new area called Picks where the Zune recommendation algorithm will suggest artists, albums and tracks based on the music they have been listening to, as well as channels they might like and listeners like them in the Zune Social.
• The Zune Social online music community. Customers can connect with millions of like-minded fans and share music via the Zune Card, a real-time playlist of each user’s favorite and recently played tracks that can be accessed on the Web or within the Zune software, or synced to the Zune device. Zune Pass subscribers can play full tracks from Zune Cards synced to their device while on the go, and now the playlists will even automatically update with the most recently played tracks when Zune connects to a wireless hot spot. It’s like subscribing to a free feed of music from the sources people trust most — their friends.
Powerful Software
The Zune PC software is a free download at http://www.zune.net that provides rich discovery and media management capabilities to help consumers make the most of their existing music collections, in addition to providing access to the Zune Social and Zune Marketplace so they can add to it.
• Mixview. Customers can select an artist, album or Zune Card to activate a dynamic, visual mosaic of related music and listeners. With each click users can take the view in a new direction, creating a fun, graphical way to discover new music. Mixview works with users’ current collection of music, in addition to tracks and albums from across the Zune Marketplace.
• Now Playing. The improved Now Playing view is more interactive and cinematic. Users can sit back and enjoy the combination of great artist imagery, colorful effects, bio information and data from the Zune online music community, all combined in a full-screen view. They can also click to dive deeper into the music behind the picture, providing another great way to interact with their collection. A new firmware update will also improve the experience on the Zune device. In addition to the new wireless functionality, Zune will bring new features customers have been asking for:
• Games on the go. Two free games, “Hexic” and “Texas Hold ’Em,” will keep users entertained on the go.
• Audiobooks. All Zune devices will feature support for audiobooks this fall from industry leaders in the digital distribution of audiobook content.
– Audible. Customers can visit audible.com to download and sync favorite books from the 50,000 titles available from over 600 publishers and content providers.
Labels: zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 9/16/2008 08:00:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Labels: zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 2/20/2008 03:41:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Despite Microsoft's rating of the Zune 80 for 30 hours of audio playback with the Wi-Fi feature turned off, "lab testing revealed that the Zune 80 is realistically capable of 22 hours of audio playback with the Wi-Fi feature turned off, or 18.5 hours with the Wi-Fi feature enabled," Bell reports.
"While 22 hours is certainly better than the 13 hours we got from the first-generation Zune, it's nowhere close to the 45 hours we were able to get from the competing 80GB iPod classic," Bell reports."
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/28/2007 12:00:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
In case you're a die hard Zune lover and want the latest and greatest, today's your day. You can now purchase the freshest Zunes @ Zune.net . Pricing is $149.99 for a 4GB, $199.99 8GB, 30GB $199.99, 80GB $249.99.
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 11/13/2007 11:38:00 AM 0 comments links to this post
Engadget has gotten the official word on the new Zunes.
The hard drive based Zune will be called the Zune 80 (80GB), cost $250. The flash Zunes will go by Zune 8 (8GB) cost $200, and Zune 4 (4GB) cost $150. Pretty clever names if you ask me;)
Additional details:
* New Zunes ship in November, date not yet announced.
* All Zunes (including the Zune 30) will have a new, redesigned interface and feature parity. In other words, early Zune 30 adopters will have all the same software features as new Zune 80, 8, and 4 users.
* Additional native video codecs for h.264 and MPEG-4 -- users no longer need transcode those file types to WMV.
* WiFi sync to host computer!
* Podcast support! (Sorry, no over the air downloads -- sync only.) Podcasts can also be shared via WiFi.
* The 3x3 song sharing DRM has had its three day restriction removed, but users can still only play files three times.
* There is still NO wireless music store.
* The Zune software is all new and rewritten, and is supposed to actually be more than a rebadge of WMP10 now.
* The Zune music store is going DRM-free, with over 1m MP3 tracks being made available for download. Other details (like which labels, whether there is a DRM-free upgrade path is for users who've bought music with DRM, price differences, etc.) are not yet revealed.
Labels: zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/02/2007 11:02:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Zunescene has "leaked" version 2.0 of Microsoft's "iPod killer" the Zune. Microsoft is expected to officially announce the Zune 2 on Wednesday. Get ready for an 80GB black hard drive based Zune 2, and pink and brown (why brown??) flash based Zunes (4GB and 8GB expected).
Labels: zune
¶ posted by Jimmie Geddes, Editor @ 10/01/2007 09:05:00 PM 0 comments links to this post
Contact Jimmie Geddes here: gadgetsonthego at gmail dot com.
