Microsoft unviels ZUNE - Official

[DigitalE]

I definitely prefer this over the iPod.

[hotdog666al]

Wow. The UI Effects look very meaty.

The case looks a bit ****ty though.

[Crazysah]

I like this alot actually. Looks nice. Will be a great competition for the iPod!

[oootle]

Microsoft have missed the main market with this IMO. The ipod nano is more popular than the big ipod because of its size, price, bright colours (now), Zune would make more of an impact if it entered the mp3 player market with something more nano like to establish its brand and then expand its range to larger. or expensive products. Many people will be put off buying an expensive mp3 player from a virtually unknown brand.

Thats just my 2 cents.

[houlty]

the player looks nice, the one thing that stands out to me though is the packaging, as it reminds me a lot of a microsoft internal video showing how they get it so wrong with packaging generally (i.e. too much info, compatibility, specs etc on it)...

Seems someone took this on board though...

... this is the video i was on about :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36...=microsoft+ipod

[Cyranthus]

looks pretty cool, but i dont think i would buy one.

[Kev1n]

The design cant hold a candle against the iPod. No where near. And brown looks like sh*t (pun intended).

[+StevoFC MVC]

I actually like it a lot. I've been holding off on getting a new ipod and i think i will wait even longer to see how this turns out.

[Andre]

I would take brown one. Looks retro. :D

[Luis.A]

the player looks nice, the one thing that stands out to me though is the packaging, as it reminds me a lot of a microsoft internal video showing how they get it so wrong with packaging generally (i.e. too much info, compatibility, specs etc on it)...

Seems someone took this on board though...

... this is the video i was on about :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=36...=microsoft+ipod

I don't know what you mean about the packaging. But i for one think it looks sleek, stylish very defining of the product that lies inside.

On a side note that 30gb hd turns out being how large when plugged into a PC?

[fascist]

Ya the new packagine in my opinion is so much nicer than the ipods.

[Toology]

Microsoft have missed the main market with this IMO. The ipod nano is more popular than the big ipod because of its size, price, bright colours (now), Zune would make more of an impact if it entered the mp3 player market with something more nano like to establish its brand and then expand its range to larger. or expensive products. Many people will be put off buying an expensive mp3 player from a virtually unknown brand.

Thats just my 2 cents.

I believe a flash based Zune player is scheduled for 2007.

[fascist]

I believe a flash based Zune player is scheduled for 2007.

What about a thinner version. Maybe one that scraps the wifi capability for a thinner model.

[Luis.A]

Zune Battery Life: 12 Hours Music, 3.5 Hours Video

Posted September 17, 2006 * Comments(0)

Apple iPod Battery Status

Yeah, it?s a somewhat minor-seeming detail, but no one seemed to know how much damned battery life the Zune was going to have at launch. They were pretty tight lipped about it, but our new pal Matt Rosoff, a Microsoft analyst, let us know that according to his contacts, with wireless off we can expect a 12 hours of music playback at 128Kbps, 3.5 hours for video playback, and 4.5 hours when running a slide show. Compare that to the 30GB iPod?s 14/4 hours and the 80GB iPod?s 20/6 hours, and it?s a little difficult to fully envision the payoff for that added thickness and height. Still, remember: bigger screen, wireless, bigger screen, wireless. Ah well, we?ll just hope upon hope that?ll be something the fix before release in a couple months.

Courtesy: engadget.com

Taken from www.zuneuser.com

Lucky thing your iPod plays audio for up to 20 hours.(2) Or, if you?d rather watch, you can feast your eyes on movies and TV shows for up to six-and-a-half hours.(3)

Taken from mac.com

***The battery life on the iPod refers to the 80gb model.

Compare and discuss.

[Randolph]

Taken from www.zuneuser.com

Taken from mac.com

***The battery life on the iPod refers to the 80gb model.

Compare and discuss.

https://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?show...amp;p=587890438

heh

We should have these 2 threads merged or something. :huh: Because it seems kinda pointless talking about the battery in 2 threads.

[Luis.A]

Sorry I had no idea. I've been looking at the threads for hours now but have not seen anything about battery life, anyways do you guys think this will be a detterent for consumers to purchase the Zune?

[Ben Davis]

So does this mean that WMP will be compatible with AAC files now, since the Zune is..? Also does anyone know if it's true about MS buying all your iTunes purchased tracks to go on your zune?

[Virtunate]

Dumb Dumb Dumb. Unless they tone down the DRM a bit, and get a decent interface for the sync features, I'm sticking with Apple.

[KeR]

EDIT

Edited October 6, 2006 by KeR

[dagamer34]

The only way any MP3 player can beat the iPod would be to have the ability to output DVD quality video (720x480), include the A/V cable in the base package, and sell it for less than $349. It would need to have at LEAST 40GB (with more being better), and come with tools designed to convert videos into a portable format for playback.

The only company that would able to take on the MPAA and RIAA is Microsoft and it has failed by my standards.

Of course, the REAL problem here is that even IF Microsoft wanted to integrate it's services into Windows and make them better, the EU would call foul so fast, it's not even worth the time.

[Danrarbc]

The only way any MP3 player can beat the iPod would be to have the ability to output DVD quality video (720x480), include the A/V cable in the base package, and sell it for less than $349. It would need to have at LEAST 40GB (with more being better), and come with tools designed to convert videos into a portable format for playback.

The Zen Vision:M qualifies for two of those criteria, the video output quality and it coming with conversion tools. Then of course there's the new 60 gig version. The main thing is it doesn't come with the cable.

[Sheppard]

Dumb Dumb Dumb. Unless they tone down the DRM a bit, and get a decent interface for the sync features, I'm sticking with Apple.

Haha i find that hilarious, you talk about DRM and syncing features and then you say youll stick with Apple, they are the worst, their DRM ties you into itunes and ipod, you cant play the music on any other player and syncing you are stuck with itunes or the 3rd party crap tools.

[rajputwarrior]

i am sorry, but those are so ugly, it's disgusting

[wicker_man]

The black looks just like a more pooey version of brown really...were they out of colour to make it more saturated or what? White looks nice, but brown should've been 'brownier' as well.

I like the big screen and orientation change feature, very nice. I wonder of there will be some homebrew to make use of wireless and so on...

[Peter McGrath]

the brown one looks horrible IMHO, but I think the white and black ones are good.

Seems Microsoft are trying to redefine "black" as well.

All the photo's/video's I have seem on the "black" zune actually are dark grey - definately not "black"

The black looks just like a more pooey version of brown really

yes - certainly I wouldn't call it black!

I like the big screen and orientation change feature, very nice. I wonder of there will be some homebrew to make use of wireless and so on...

I can see the linux fanbois clammering over themselves to see who can install linux on it first :)