Surprises about the Zune HD
We've known the specs for the Zune HD since May, and I've even gotten a couple brief hands-on demonstrations, but I discovered a few more surprises in the run-up to the retail release Tuesday.
(Credit:
Microsoft)
My favorite surprise on the device was a new feature called Quickplay. It solves one of the greatest problems with an MP3 player: as you add more music, it gets harder to find and immediately start playing the songs you're most excited about. Quickplay basically adds an alternate menu on the Zune home screen--it appears as collection of small album covers, offset slightly to the left of the main start menu--which automatically displays songs you've most recently played, as well as songs you've most recently added. You can also manually "pin" songs and albums to the menu. I also liked the way images (such as artist photos) drawn from the Zune Marketplace and cached to your device gradually scroll across the screen as you play a particular song, giving you more to look at than a static album cover.
Within the Zune PC software, my favorite surprise was the Smart DJ feature, which sets up an endlessly rotating playlist based on a particular song or artist. Like a lot of other Zune features, it works best if you've got a Zune Pass (which costs $14.99 a month)--in this case, it'll rotate not only through songs in your collection but also through the millions of songs in the Zune Marketplace, delivering the same kinds of surprises that Pandora fans have grown to love. If you don't have the Zune Pass, it simply draws songs from your collection, similar to how iTunes Genius works (in this case, Marketplace songs are greyed out but clickable if you want to buy them).
Zune's Smart DJ feature put together this playlist based on The Pixies. Here, it's playing a song from the Zune Marketplace--a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "Stone Free" by the group Belly.
There were also a couple of mild unfortunate surprises. First, Microsoft has removed the "squirting" feature, which let you send songs directly from one Zune to another. This feature was supposed to be a big selling point of the first Zune but was crippled by unreasonable rights restrictions that let you play songs only three times or within three days (whichever came first). Microsoft and content owners gradually loosened those restrictions, but the feature never made much difference--mainly because there were so few Zune users out there to exchange songs with. (The "first man with a telephone" problem.) Now it's gone. You can still share songs with your friends through the Zune's social-networking features--if you have a Zune Pass, then any song in any of your Zune contacts' library will be immediately playable on your machine--but that requires an active wireless connection and isn't quite as spontaneous as the Zune-to-Zune sharing. That said, I only used it a handful of times in the three years since I've had a Zune.
The other disappointment is the complete lack of a competitor to Apple's App Store for the iPhone and iPod Touch. There will be applications, including games, but Microsoft will release them directly to users through the Zune Marketplace or within software updates. There are no public APIs for developers, no distribution model, and more surprisingly, no immediate plans to connect to the Windows Marketplace for Mobile, Microsoft's app store for Windows Mobile phones, which launches on October 6. Why? Because Microsoft wants to build only one app store, and it can't be sure that apps built for Windows Mobile will work on the Zune HD.
There's plenty of other great stuff about the Zune HD, including a built-in HD Radio, bright touch screen, high-definition video output, and all the great wireless and social-networking features introduced in previous versions. It's the best Microsoft MP3 player yet and the first to pose a credible competitor to the iPod Touch, although it's still focused on digital audio and video, while the Touch (and iPhone) is more of a portable computer.
Be sure to check back later this week for the full updated review from CNET's Donald Bell, and we'll both be posting more personal impressions of the new device as we live and work with it throughout the coming weeks.
Matt Rosoff is an analyst with Directions on Microsoft, where he covers Microsoft's consumer products and corporate news. He's written about the technology industry since 1995, and reviewed the first Rio MP3 player for CNET.com in 1998. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network. Disclosure. You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattrosoff. 
For virtually the same price (32GB on both) you get a smaller screen (3.3" vs 3.5"), lower resolution (480x272 vs 480x320) than the iPod touch, no App Store, no 80,000 apps, no iPod ecosystem with 4,000 docks, cases, hifi systems, car integration etc, a smaller library of music, movies and TV shows in the online music store, no Google Maps, no access to 30,000 games, etc etc
if you're happy with 8Gbs of storage the iPod touch is also available at the lower price point of $199.
I really wonder how many people are so keen on getting 720p video out of a handheld that can't even play that res on it's internal screen that they would forgoe all these features that the iPods give? I guess there may be some people who hate Apple that much that they would make such a dubious choice?
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Your statements are onesided and are not in perspective. Easy to compare a product to something that has been going a few years. Sure the Zune itself is not a new product. However, the Zune HD is a whole new animal.
Smaller screen size sure, but by .2 inches! Thats not make or break on anything. The resolution is relative to the screen size. Also, watching most video material on the iTouch/iPhone, those .2 inches is all black bars. So with regards to video play back that argument doesnt mean that much. Not to me at least.
No App Store. You must have forgot that there was almost no App Store to speak of for the iPod at its launch. 80,000 apps or whatever number it may actually be. Even you have to admit there are alot of worthless apps in there. Besides, its already been said apps will come, but they are not the main feature of this device.
iPod ecosystem. That will come eventually, maybe not that large. A arguement could be made that the Zune HD dock is designed to make a perfect system to connect it to your home theater system. You can use it a a streaming device from your Xbox and your computer. Not to mention it will playback and stream at 720p. Im willing to bet a bigger named manufacturer such as Pionee will make their version of the dock soon enough. Cases and such dont come till after the launch of the device. Again, how long has the iTouch/iPhone been out?
Smaller library of music, movies and tv shows available you say. Well music wise that is not accurate. Zunepass has access to millions of songs that you can own or have the Zunepass to rent and keep 10 songs each month. If the Zunepass does not have what you need you can purchase as song through any of the current online sources. Just like the iPods. Movies and TV shows may have a smaller library now, but the Netflix deal with microsoft will fix that soon enough. More and more content is available each day.
Goggle maps is also on the web. The Zune HD has a full web browser and wifi connection. So it has that also. Does not work as a gps, but you can easily pull up the maps.
30,000 games same arguement as the apps. Not that many at launch of the iPods and such. How many are really worth having? Games will come, just like apps. Xbox live integration is key here. It has a huge library of games that could be converted to work with the zune.
720p on a screen that small? First off, on a screen as small as the Zune HD and iPod Touch/Phone, you couldnt tell. Even if it was. You need a much larger screen to see that type of resolution. Hence the 720p output. Something the iPods do not offer.
Choice is nice, regardless if you like a product or not.
BTW, "smaller library of music, movies and TV shows"? You think iTunes has all there is to offer and is the only place to get content? Amazon FTW, it's more open and more extensive than both iTunes and Zune MP, concerning music. I also hope their WMVs will play on the Zune, although I don't know since they have their own brand of DRM for downloaded videos. But then there's always *cough* downloading and transcoding videos yourself. *cough*. iTunes is NOT the be all and end all for content, far from it!
Choice is good if the choice is good, but I'm afraid the Zune HD in its current form is just not a good choice. :-)
Your reply contained a large amount of wishful thinking - unfortunately past history is not your ally in this regard. The Zune platform has been available for 3 years now and yet still there are not thousands of peripherals available for the Zune - in fact there aren't even dozens!
What makes you think the Zune HD will change this particularly since it is lacking so many more features compared to the iPod than when the first Zune appeared?
The Apple App Store has been in existence for a year - the iPod Touch for 2 years and the iPhone for 3 years and yet the Zune HD is still stuck back in the days of media player-only - and for the same price!
As far as the quality of apps is concerned, even if at worst only 10% were good quality, that is still 8,000 more apps than are available for the Zune. At launch there were 300 apps, 2 months later 3,000 for the iPod Touch/iPhone. Microsoft has had a year to learn from the App Store, 3 years to learn from the iPhone OS and yet they have delivered nothing competitive.
The average consumer is going to buy based on what is currently available - not on future promises (that have all too often proved to be vaporware from Microsoft anyway). As I say, in its current form, the Zune HD is stillborn - even worse than the original Zune. I can't understand how you can argue otherwise?
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Choice is a matter of personal preferance. Which is why we all have different tastes. So your comment on Zune HD being a bad choice is a matter of your personal opinon.
My post contains wishful thinking? While you point out the Zune has been out for years. You cannot deny the fact that the Zune HD is a different animal.
Lack of peripheals for the past Zunes is your arguement? This basically this device is a new product. It will have cases and such made available for it. How many? Only time will tell, but again when the iTouch launched there very few cases and other peripherals made available.
I have no idea where the Zune HD is going to be in a year. Frankly none of us do. However, the excellent hardware and very intriguing software integration of Xbox Live and Netflix. Gives it a unique feature that no other pmd can offer. The Zune HD just went on sale today, and the software just went live this morning. I am willing to give it the wait and see approach.
You say lacking in features. What features? You bring up the app store over and over again. Great feature, if thats what your looking for. Which apps are coming, how many? how soon? Nobody knows, but its not the main feature of this device. Other than that, iPod Touch has no advantage over the new Zune HD. However, the Zune HD has features that the iPodTouch does not. HD radio, which really is quite nice. Again, its a feature and may not appeal to everyone. HD 720p output via the dock. Thats a great a feature for me, which is why I am getting a Zune HD. I have alot of content on my computer and laptop, and I plan on using my Zune HD as a easy interface to grab and play this content.
Apps are mearly software. Anyone can write it. I am not sure how a "ported" app from Apple will work on the Zune HD, but I bet it can be done. Or just like on the Apple app store, you will find a similar app made by another software company. Once again, this is not the main feature of this device. Microsoft said they are focusing on music, video and then apps (including gaming), but it is not their focus. There are already apps in development such as Twitter and facebook. So they are coming, but are not here yet.
If the average consumer is going to buy based on what is currently available and not on future promises. Then video tapes (VCR), DVD and Bluray would never have taken off. Gaming consoles would have never got past pong. The Zune HD cannot be worse than the original Zune. It is a Zune! It has all of the features the orginal Zune had and more. Better software and better hardware. How can you even say its worse?
I have last year's Zune and it really is the best MP3 player I have ever used, especially for podcasts. I haven't tried the Touch, but previous iPods fall by the wayside with the Zune's ability to manage podcasts individually; keep all episodes of this one but only sync the first unplayed episode, keep 6 of this one and sync all of them, unplayed or played, keep 4 of this one but don't sync any, keep the 10 most recent of this one syncing the unplayed episodes, etc. Add in the radio and being able to buy a song on the fly, the crispness of the screen when watching TV episodes and video podcasts, and I don't think I will ever buy a non-Zune media player again.
On the other hand, the Zune is the steak knife of the PMP world. It does one thing (audio/video playback) and it does it extremely well. Frankly, I don't want my music player to do a billion and one things. I want it to play back my music and my videos (heck, not even my videos--that's what my iPhone is for) well. All those games and other apps just cut into battery time, and with the way I listen to music, I need as much battery time as I can get. And that's another way Zune customers tend to differ from iPod Touch customers--we're in it for the music first, thus our devices are likely to stay in a pocket so who cares about apps?
Moreover, the Zune, coupled wiht the Social and the Marketplace, is a music discovery engine like no other. Besides Mixview and Zune Picks, there is a feature I've never seen in any review--Zune Cards. Your Zune card contains the last three songs you listened to, your top 3 favorite songs, and your top 3 favorite artists. You can download your friends' Zune Cards to your device and get a sample of what they're listening to. I've discovered several awesome artists through my friends in the Social.
So, in closing, it's not that one device is better than the other, it's that it's better for SOME PEOPLE than the other.
And, yeah, in terms of usability and aesthetics, the Zune software is way, way ahead of iTunes.
The only thing going in favor or iPod is 64GB storage space. Apart from that there is nothing that interests me in iPod Touch 3G. It is not just matter of device it is also how well company treats its customers, in case of iPod it has been either my way or highway kind of philosophy adapted by Steve Job which will not work in long run. To Apple's credit they have stirred up market and hence others are taking note of it and trying to bring better products to market but with regards to iPod's ecosystem it is too closed and shows Steve's serious issues with control.
MS should have built on what they had done good with, PC openness (anyone can write apps) and Xbox fun. Zune HD could have been a crossover PSP & iTouch - yet MS decided people don't need games or random apps on the go so the Zune HD aims for fewer features...
Just strange MS logic that their desktops are better than Macs due to gaming and billions of apps yet their handheld is better than Apple's due to MS focus on sidelining games and apps??? I suppose Apple just can't win against such solid logic.
There is absolutely wrong with wanting a handheld computer that does lots of different things, like the iTouch. I do, which is why I have a WinMo phone -- it's a worse media player than an iPhone, an iPod Touch, or a Zune, but it's more powerful than the iPhone, and has better apps -- at least for what *I* want to do. I live with the so-so media features because I don't want to carry an extra device.
If the iPod touch hits the sweet spot for you, cool. It's a good device. So is the iPhone.
The Zune hits a different target: it's a media player first and foremost. If what you want is a great media player that can also run an app or two and maybe a game or two, the Zune is worth considering. Of course, if you're a Mac user, you're outside the US, or you simply really like iTunes, a Zune probably won't be a good solution for you even as a media player. Or you may simply *prefer* the Touch -- viva la difference.
Anyone who's not a raving fanboy will admit that Apple makes good devices. But not everyone likes Apple's devices (just as not everyone likes the Zune, Windows, or pretty much anything else), so the Zune HD is a great release for people who happen to be looking for a device like this, and for the people who just don't like iPods and iPhones. And some people simply love the fact that Apple isn't the *only* option in this part of the marketplace, even if they end up buying a Touch anyway.
-Mart
PS- Some people read through the comments for VIABLE information, not some fanboy being a complete sh**head.
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It primarily depends on what you're looking for. The primary advantage of the HD is the Zune Pass. The library is smaller, it's true, but that doesn't help you if you have to pay to listen to everything. To put it hypothetically, if you drop $10,000 into your iTunes collection, and I have a Zune Pass, you have a library of 10,000 songs and I have millions. The Smart DJ vs Genius illustrates this point rather well.
Beyond that, it's primarily aesthetic. Do you like one interface or the other? Or form factor? The screen may be smaller, but so is the entire device. Those can be seen as either advantages or disadvantages. Both look to be fun to use, but they are certainly different.
Most of the advantages you cite are analogous to those of Windows over Mac, larger ecosystem of accessories and apps, etc. That's certainly a valid reason to prefer Windows, but that doesn't mean that the only reason to prefer Mac is because you hate Microsoft. If your Mac does the things that you want, and in a way you like, what does it matter if Windows also does other things that you don't need?
I'm not saying I agree nor disagree with you. There are lots of advantages I can see over the Zune pass to the iTunes music store and would be very interested to see how Apple would approach such a model.
More on topic, however, I'm also a little less enthused about the actual Zune HD hardware _and_ software. The only compelling feature I can see is a 720p-output mode that I'll never use.
An encouraging stab at the top of the market? You bet, but I still know which I would pick. The quality and quantity of games (and other software, of course) available at the AppStore is vital to my mental integrity during daily commutes.
Re: the Zune Pass,
And yet you can now get the Rhapsody app for the iPod Touch/iPhone which also gives you access to unlimited streaming for $15 per month if you really like renting your music. Then of course you also have the Spotify app, Pandora, LastFM, etc etc none of which are available for the Zune.
Also, the Mac vs Windows comparison doesn't quite work as the Mac has 12,000+ apps available for it vs the larger number of Windows apps whereas the Zune has zero third party apps vs the 80,000 for the iPod Touch/iPhone.
Likewise in hardware, most Windows peripherals work on the Mac while the Zune won't work on any of the thousands of iPod dock connector compatible peripherals.
In terms of physical size, the iPod Touch is actually thinner than the Zune HD though it is indeed fractionally longer and wider to accommodate the larger screen.
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From the pass, you get to keep 10 songs a month for free, it costs in itunes to buy 10 songs @ $1.29 each for $12.9 while you get 10 songs plus access to "renting" the other songs for as long as you have the pass for $15 so pretty much around the same price with unlimited songs. And I have never had problem with finding any of my songs on the marketplace. You spent $1000, as you said, on itunes, thats over 5.5 years worth of subscriptions on the zunepass or about 66.66 months which you get theoretically turns into over 650 songs that you now already own while in that many years, if you ever do have trouble finding songs, i bet they will be there within that many years
However, Spotify is 160Kbps and then there are Pandora, LastFM and heaps of other online radio stations etc.
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but of course as soon as you go out of wifi range, all those web-based music services die.
In contrast being an app as well as a subscription service, Spotify allows you to store up to 3,333 tracks locally on your iPod Touch. And that is just one of the many apps out there for the iPhone that are not available for the Zune
-Mart
I know most people hate MSFT on this site but folks should really get their head out of the sand and try out the software - it is very good. From a player perspective the implimentation of UI in the Zune HD provides a hands down better experience with the ability to chop and screw your listening styles like no POD can.
Back to ZunePass there is no better experience in music PERIOD. Microsoft has built a better music trap. I for one am addicted.
I agree and would hate it if Apple was the only game in town, but why are the other choices so poor? If the Zune HD was significantly cheaper or had enough other compelling features that would be one thing, but the disadvantages seem overwhelming in the current comparison.
The poorer hardware specs and lack of the killer feature - the App Store and 80,000 apps - for the same price points would surely be a deal breaker for most people?
Then of course there is the US-only availability. It really seems that MS is just not trying - similar to Windows Mobile.
-Mart
Oh wait, neither the touch or the iphone have those.....
Of course the Touch and iPhone both have wireless capability, so you can surf the web - or download a song or app.
However I agree that US-only availability is really stupid.
Perhaps the Zune HD is trying to be a media player first and MSFT didn't feel the need to include those. A speaker would have been nice, but not a deal breaker.
The 16GB for only about $20 more than the 8GB Touch is a great deal. I don't know why Apple didn't make the 16GB the base model, 8GB is played out. Not to mention the big letdown of them excludng the camera from the 3rd gen Touch, big yawner this year for the Touch.
Poorer hardware specs on the Zune HD compared to the iPod Touch:
- smaller screen (15% less screen area)
- lower resolution (85% the number of pixels)
- no microphone
- no speaker
- no Nike Plus receiver
- half the storage (32GB vs 64GB)
- No cheaper 8GB option
Even the much-vaunted Nvidia Tegra processor in the Zune HD is based on the old ARM 11 architecture whereas the iPod Touch uses the newer Cortex A8 architecture combined with the PowerSGX graphics processor.
Does the slightly brighter OLED screen and FM radio make up for the lack of apps and all the other disadvantages? I'd hazard a guess the answer is no for most people.
-Mart
Let me go over your proposed "Poorer hardware specs" for the Zune HD.
- smaller screen (15% less screen area)
- lower resolution (85% the number of pixels)
Smaller screen size sure, but by .2 inches! Thats not make or break on anything. The resolution is relative to the screen size. Also, watching most video material on the iTouch/iPhone, those .2 inches is all black bars. So with regards to video play back that argument doesnt mean that much. Not to me at least.
- no microphone
No arguement here. Doesnt have one.
- no speaker
Nope does not have one. However, internal speakers in devices this small are all terrible. You get better sound out some really cheap ear buds than a speaker that small.
- no Nike Plus receiver
Nope does not have one. However, this could come in the future. It also is something that was not available from the start for the iPods also.
- half the storage (32GB vs 64GB)
The reason the Zune HD is only available in 16 and 32gb is because of cost. It uses faster more expensive flash memory than the iPod. The original Zune had a option for 120gb. I have no doubt that you will see a larger storage Zune HD in the future, possibly even for this holiday season.
- No cheaper 8GB option
Nope does not have one. I also doubt there ever will be one. There are many lower capacity devices out there including ones from apple, that people can get.
Not going to get into tech war over the Nvidia Tegra processor. The Zune HD uses the Tegra processor because it has both power and lower power consumption. Something all pmp devices really need. It also has the ability to handle resolutions up to 1080p (only 720p on the Zune HD). Something the iPods newer processor core fails to do.
OLED screen is really nice. Bright colors, and lower power consumption. A great feature for any pmd.
Agruments over features is always going to be a matter of opinon and personal preferences. What one needs or wants is not always shared by others.
Actually, the lack of a microphone and speaker are in fact big hardware limitations. It means that even if you could get apps for the Zune, you'd face this:
- No Skype or other voice over IP apps
- No trash-talking opponents in multi-player games
- No voice recording lectures or interviews or music riffs (our staff use their iPhones for recording their own lectures)
- No wind-blown musical instrument programs like Ocarina
- No wind speed meter apps (I use it all the time when windsurfing)
- No Shazam or Midomi for recognising music from someone humming a tune
- No playing a funny clip or slideshow to friends without losing the moment by having to pull out headphones
- No game playing on the spur of the moment because you forgot your headphones
etc
Likewise, the smaller screen means much smaller multi-touch targets for controlling apps as well the more obvious vision issues. I have a bunch of music apps including keyboards that need as big a screen as possible to fit all my fingers onscreen when playing chords and of course the importance of screen size and resolution is obvious in games.
@Ray180
I enjoy a good debate like many people and in this regard I am trying to figure out why many of you seem to think the Zune HD is a reasonable choice since I have a bit of time to spare. I'm hoping you are real people who have valid reasons for your choice and not astro-turfers paid to boost Microsoft. Of course, if the latter then I probably shouldn't bother, but it is fun at the moment. :-)
However, I do like reasoned discussion as opposed to baseless allegations. For example, could you please point out which of my facts are unsubstantiated? Is it the difference in size of screen? Is it the lack of 80,000 apps? Is it the lack of microphone or speaker? Or the 50% less storage space? or perhaps the lack of thousands of compatible peripherals for the original Zune which points to the likelihood of the Zune HD being in the same boat? or the more expensive base model Zune HD?
-Mart
Power Stearing - How could you not have this?
Zoned Air Conditioning - comfort levels for each listener.
Beer Dispenser - Sure you could get one of those silly hats instead, but why?
Laser Pointer - A must for those business presentations.
Paper Shredder - helps keep your identity safe.
Toothpick holder - even the swiss army knife has this one!
...
I could go on and on with all the important features you both don't even bother to aknowledge. Why? Because you both know that hyping the few features you have is the only way to make it look cool. Give it up. Both your products are cr@p.
I actually already have an iPhone, I just want to try out the Zune HD since I had a Zune before and the sound quality is way better than Nano or iPhone. Also being able to load WMV is a bonus IMO since many videos still come in that format.
Never having to install iTunes again. You know you have reached the galactic center of suck when the Microsoft equivalent of your application is less bloated and more stable. Microsoft may be annoying in a lot of ways but nothing has EVER hosed my PC like iTunes "upgrades" routinely do.
iTunes runs great on my Mac, but I will NEVER install it on Windows again.
So when cNet calls the Zune vs. iPod prizefight a draw (http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-11399_7-324-102.html?tag=mid_container;pf_left_nav) because iPods are 'more compatible' because iTunes can be used on Mac and PC, I cry foul! Just because they make a version for PC doesn't mean you should use it!
As I sit drooling over the Zune HD it occurred to me why - even though I have an iPhone 3GS, I would love a Zune HD. I love my iPhone - but I hate iTunes. It just sucks, plain and simple. Slow, bloated, cluttered, and big-brother-like. I don't know what the experience is like on a Mac, and I don't care, but on a PC it sucks - even on my brand new near-top of the line notebook. I DREAD synching my iPhone because I DREAD even opening iTunes. My son and one of my best friends have 30gb Zunes. The Zune software is fast and clean, even on my son's hand me down PC.
Last thing - the Zune interface is much more pleasing to use than my iPhone's iPod interface. I can't explain it other than it just feels so "clean". I don't know how the older Zune interface compares to the ZuneHD, but I can only imagine it got better. I'll find out tonight when the aforementioned friend shows off his ZuneHD.
iTunes sucks - seriously.
I just love the smell of astroturf. But here's a bit of advice: tone down the pitch a bit. It's a little too obvious.
Please be aware that I have never said the ipod in its various forms, is a bad product. I think it is a great product, for what it does. Please do not confuse a employee of said product with just another tech junkie.
XNA Game Studio 3.1 allows developers to create applications and games for the Zune.
Also, you enjoy touting that the Touch has a lower entry price with the $200 8gb model. What you fail to mention is that 8gb model is actually a 2nd generation Touch without any of the new improvements announced last week for the larger capacity models. Also, the entry level Zune HD costs a mere $20 more and has double the capacity at 16gb.
You also liken the Zune Pass to iPod apps such as Rhapsody, Pandora and LastFM. What you fail to mention is those iPod apps require a Wi-Fi connection to work whereas the Zune Pass allows users to download their songs to the player itself and use them anywhere, anytime, without annoying ads or skip limitations.
One more point I'd like to make is that Zune users have never been charged for a firmware update. IPod Touch users, however, are charged as much as $10 for each firmware update (interestingly, a fee iPhone users don't have to pay).
Like someone said earlier, it seems the only real advantage the Touch has over the Zune HD is the app store, which I guess is why you harp on it so often. We'll have to disagree on the importance of a mic and speaker -- who needs VOIP when they have a cell phone? The Zune HD, however, has the advantages of HD radio, HD video output, an OLED screen and is noticeably smaller (.4" shorter and .3" narrower while being only .1" thicker and lighter).
I'm glad you replied. You obviously weren't listening to Mr Jobs very well as he also said that Apple is approving 8,300 apps and updates a week so we'd be getting close to 80,000 total by now. I'd like to know how you can claim such a low level of quality when there are so many top-tier games like Sim City, Sims 3, Need for Speed, Real Racing, Assasin's Creed etc not to mention the number of amazing apps in other categories like QuickOffice, Band, Remote, White Noise, Stanza etc. Also, the 1.8 billion downloads would tend to disprove your argument pretty comprehensively.
You conveniently ignore my mention of Spotify which does allow you to download up to 3,333 tracks and doesn't require wifi to play them. I mentioned the others as well to illustrate the vast richness of music app options unavailable for the Zune.
The token update charges for iPod Touch firmware updates were due to Sorbanes Oxley legislation which has just recently changed so that will be a thing of the past shortly. iPhone users haven't had to pay it because Apple uses subscription accounting for the iPhone not the iPod Touch which has been a real pain for them as it has hidden the real scale of iphone income from investors.
The App Store of course is the Killer App which turns a mere media player into a complete pocket computer with thousands of other uses and you want to ignore it? I guess that is the strongest argument yet that most of you aren't interested in facts after all and perhaps is a sign you really are an astro-turfer.
I think all those millions of people who don't want to pay enormous fees for a cellphone contract (or whose parents won't allow it!) would disagree rather vehemently with your poo-pooing Voice over IP. *shakes head*
-Mart
BTW noprobs, I saw the Zune HD down at Best Buy. Just as I thought, it's mainly a PMP, NOT a PDA type player like the Touch. I don't mind the difference. Since it's not as large and is more pocketable, it's better for working out or other activities where the iPhone or Touch is too big.
Mart - Taking a game that has built up a reputation of being a good game on a given platform (say, Need for Speed on Xbox) and porting over to a completely different platform (like the Touch) does not mean it will still be a good game. But like I said, the quality of these titles is really up to each individual person to decide for themselves. All I know is I've heard from many sources complaining of the lack of quality apps in the app store. I know there are some, but how many duds (and dollars) do you have to go through to find them? Personally, I prefer quality over quantity.
BTW, Apple IS still charging iPod Touch users to update their firmware, although they did apparently reduce the price from $10 to $5... YEAH, maybe that should have been their big "one more thing" announcement last week.
Also, I don't know any specifics of MS plans since I don't work for them (sorry to burst your bubble Mart), but I believe they intend to roll out the Zune HD beyond the US eventually, much like they did with the original Zune.
Shows how accurate Wikipedia can be.
From the Spotify Mobile page: "Offline playlists: Play music even without a connection, for example when riding the underground or on a plane."
T3 Magazine: "One of the key features for users who download the application from the App Store or Android Marketplace is the ability to keep 3,333 songs from Spofity's 4 million-plus back catalogue to play when out of 3G or Wi-Fi signal range." A bit better than ZunePass's 10 tracks per month eh?
The change to accounting rules has only just happened so didn't affect the current 3.1 update.
Stop flogging the poor app quality horse. 1.8 billion downloads say you're wrong as does every analyst in the industry.
Much good shipping Zune v1 to the rest of the world did. Sunk like a lead balloon.
-Mart
Although with the RIAA lurking at every corner wanting money from everyone every single time, Spotify may never some here!
Did Apple have 70+ thousand APPS when the store started? Did they have all those games when it started?
The only advantage the iPod has over the Zune HD is the APP store...for now.
Considering the Apps are SOFTWARE and made mostly by outside parties, that's not really a big advantage when these apps can be made for any PMP.
Blu-ray hasn't taken off.
- unlimited access to songs
- stream them to the Zune
- Stream them to any web browser
- load them locally on your laptop
- load them locally on your Zune
- 10 free unprotected 320 MP3s per month
- Mix view
- Smart DJ
- Social
- Channels
- Playlists
Simply put, for a music lover, Zune is uncomparable. People just can't seem to grasp how much fun music becomes again with such unfettered access to explore and listen.
I also think the legions of people who get iPods just because that is what you are supposed to get don't know what they are missing. The Zune Pass is the best deal economically (with the 10 included songs per month), the best access (with the unlimited selection access), the best social and exploration (again due to the unlimited selection access), and finally the best looking destop software in town.
Oh and my son just got a iTouch to play games and I love it for what it is - a much cooler Nintendo DS!
The classic I like because I can carry nearly all my iTunes library where ever I go.
The iPhone for me is a small, portable Internet device. Oh yeah, I hear you can make phone calls with it too.
My Zune, hmmm, I just like it. I have an 8g one. I also have an 8g iPod Nano too. I don't necessarily find either better than the other. But, I do like the Zune better.
The biggest selling point for the Zune to me is the Marketplace and Zune Pass. I like a subscription service that lets you own a few songs each month. I really like the try before you buy concept,but hate the you only get to play while you pay plan of the other subscription plans.
I am interested in finding out if I can download HD video Podcasts to the new Zune HD. I don't care about movies and TV shows, I have a DVR and NetFlix for that crap. I watch a lot of HD video podcasts on my Apple TV that cannot be played on my iPhone. To me that would be a balls to the walls reason for a Zune HD.
Just my thoughts.
Fact: the awesome new Zune software will be found on a multitude of devices...including the iPhone/touch , phones from other manufacturers , and tightly integrated with XBOX/Windows.
Apple aint seen nothing yet. Let the anti-trust lawsuits begin for Apple !
-Mart
- by Herendo September 15, 2009 9:45 PM PDT
- Yeah, why would you ever buy something that didn't have 80,000 apps.
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