Official Zune HD thread

By jonhapimp
in Hardware Hangout

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Experienced

Business

Posted
Posted

The adjusted keyboard on the current firmware is tons better than the one provided with the launch firmware.

At least now I know they do updates! I just feel the keys aren't spaced out enough so typing is a major pain!

URGENT!

Does anone know hwo to create platlists when the Zune is connected to the software. I don't want to resync my collection but I weant to create playlists based off what's available.

Experienced

Business

Posted
Posted

What I want next for my Zune:

  • Ability to conenct phone and Zune over wi-fi so I can sue HSDPA to browse.
  • Create playlists directly to the device using Zune software. Floola can do this with iPods so I don't see why we can't.
  • Themes or colour changes ...
  • Better video support!

  • 1 month later...
Experienced

Routerbad

Posted
Posted

There isn't any reason (hardware wise) that it wouldn't be able to run a flavor of WP7. Hopefully this is their plan, because then the current version of XNA would work just fine for all of their devices. 3.1 was released without ZuneHD support, it was later added via an extension pack. Methinks they planned on having WP7 released early this year and planned on ZuneHD being a supported device through WP7 in XNA 4.

There are a few things that get on my nerves about the ZuneHD, though I prefer it to my iTouch. Inability to play youtube or even Bing videos (seriously no bing app?), no maps application (bing), no note taking, no office support, no playlists (I can't figure it out, at least, though I'm still very new to it), no OTA application marketplace (though it would be rather pointless without any third party apps to speak of).

Other than that, I love the device. It's responsive, vivid, easy to navigate, and HD radio is awesome (though they could've put an HD AM antenna in there as well. I don't think it would have a problem tuning AM, as long as they added the software tuner in there. I like listening to commentary when I go to baseball games. The Rays only broadcast in AM and HD AM.

Also, I want some of the MLB, NFL, etc score tracking apps that are so prevalent on i* and Android. I love the games they already have for it, and with Flash coming down the pike as well as silverlight already being supported, flash games could be very cool, as well as native XNA games.

I really believe these things are coming with the release of WP7. If APPL can do it with iPhone/iTouch and make the operating system work between the two different platforms (albeit a little more similar than ZuneHD and WP7 Phones will be, regarding dx9 support) than Microsoft surely can.

  • 2 weeks later...
Grand Master

Ayepecks

Posted
Posted

Quick question for you guys: what program do you use to convert your videos (e.g., ripped Blu-ray or DVD, DivX/XviD, MKV, etc) to a Zune HD-friendly format? I've been using RipBot264, and I'm trying Microsoft Expression Encoder right now, but neither give me great image quality for the size videos I'm converting to (1.75 to 3 GB, depending on the length of the movie). I know I'm not going to get stellar video quality by targeting this file size, but it should look better than what I'm getting.

So what programs do you all use?

  • 1 month later...
  • 1 month later...
  • 4 weeks later...
Experienced

oceanmotion

Posted
Posted

Are these still worth buying ?

My sister quite fancies one over an iPod, mainly the space for price is a lot better for what she is going to spend. I said it has a Facebook app which she likes but I'm worried Microsoft is going to stop supporting the Zune HD once Windows Phone 7 comes out and it is going to get left behind. Are Microsoft going to suddenly have massive update to the Zune HD that allows the same stuff as Windows Phone 7 Apps for example ? Do you think it's worth the risk ?

Grand Master

Prince Charming

Posted
Posted

Are these still worth buying ?

My sister quite fancies one over an iPod, mainly the space for price is a lot better for what she is going to spend. I said it has a Facebook app which she likes but I'm worried Microsoft is going to stop supporting the Zune HD once Windows Phone 7 comes out and it is going to get left behind. Are Microsoft going to suddenly have massive update to the Zune HD that allows the same stuff as Windows Phone 7 Apps for example ? Do you think it's worth the risk ?

It's a complicated one, for sure. The Zune HD isn't really the same product as the iPod Touch, even though they're similar form factors and at similar price points. The Zune HD has focused on being a great media player, and it shines in the interface, and the focus on playing music. The iPod Touch is really just an iPhone without the phone. The music is handled via a native app, and in constrast to the Zune HD, it seems like a rather minor feature. If you want apps and stuff like that, the iPod Touch would be a better choice. If you're approaching it from a media perspective, the Zune HD is a stunningly good experience, as well as space vs price being better.

Now, regarding the Zune HD and WP7; no, the two are not compatible. The Zune HD will not run WP7 apps, and honestly, it's quite unlikely the Zune HD will recieve some kind of massive update to make it compatible with WP7 apps. It's possible, as MS have delivered some pretty big updates to the Zune platform before, but if it was going to happen, something would have been heard of it already. With every Windows Phone 7 device also being a Zune player, it's questionable whether the Zune HD will recieve much more attention. It's possible a Zune HD 2 may surface, being the phoneless counterpart to WP7. The Zune HD will continue to be supported, recieve updates and probably a few apps from Microsoft, but nothing major.

All that said, the Zune HD, and the Zune experience in general is absolutely fantastic. If you're looking for a media player, you won't be dissapointed by the Zune HD, and more, the Zune service is launching in plenty of countries for the WP7 launch. If you want apps, go buy an iPod Touch.

Experienced

oceanmotion

Posted
Posted

Yeah, I agree with you there. I think WP7 runs on a different backbone, so I guess that would scupper any cross sharing of apps. I doubt they are going to do much with it but as it stands a great device, people really like it. I just showed her some videos on Youtube and she is sold on it. More bang for your buck with the Zune minus the Apps from the iPod but she doesn't seem bothered about those. If they do keep supporting the Zune HD then great, fingers crossed. I hope they do a Zune HD2 instead of sticking to just WP7. I want one.

  • 3 weeks later...
Veteran

~Johnny

Posted
Posted

What workaround did UK or other international folk do to get apps on their Zune HD ?

For me, I had to set my computers location to US in the "Reigon & Language" settings in control panel - well to unlock the Zune Marketplace in the desktop client anyway. Then you can download apps from there. Though I pretty sure you can download apps directly from the device via it's marketplace regardless.

Experienced

oceanmotion

Posted
Posted

For me, I had to set my computers location to US in the "Reigon & Language" settings in control panel - well to unlock the Zune Marketplace in the desktop client anyway. Then you can download apps from there. Though I pretty sure you can download apps directly from the device via it's marketplace regardless.

It says I need to sign in though.

Grand Master

Prince Charming

Posted
Posted

It says I need to sign in though.

You'll need to associate a Windows Live account. A UK-region'd Live account will not work, and is not the same as a US region Live account. You can create one, just stick in MS's corporate address for the postcode if you need to.

Experienced

oceanmotion

Posted
Posted

You'll need to associate a Windows Live account. A UK-region'd Live account will not work, and is not the same as a US region Live account. You can create one, just stick in MS's corporate address for the postcode if you need to.

I ended up giving it a shot on the UK Zune.net so I won't run into problems later. So, I just clicked sign in at the top right, country was already set to UK, created my Zune ID, loaded up the Zune software, signed in and downloaded the apps no problem from the marketplace. This was after setting my region settings to US when I updated the Zune firmware but I set it back to UK before signing up. Worked a treat. More international than before it seems. All with a UK region live id.

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