Zune

Shizelbs
Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
edited April 2007 in Electronics
Microsoft Zune was officially announced today. I'll be waiting a generation or two before I pull the trigger on one, but it looks neat. Nice big 3 inch screen on them.
Post edited by Shizelbs on

Comments

  • millerman 3732
    millerman 3732 Posts: 1,488
    edited September 2006
    what is it?
    Casey
    H/T: Epson 6500ub
    Sony UBP-X800
    Toshiba HD-XA2 (HD-DVD, CD)
    Onkyo 805 (pre-amp)
    Outlaw 7125
    Polk RTi 10 (bi-amped)
    Polk CSi5 (bi-amped)
    Polk RTi6
    SVS PB 12 plus/2
    Velodyne SMS-1

    TV Rig: Samsung 50'' 4k display
    Polk Signa-1 Surround bar
  • mutelight
    mutelight Posts: 1,054
    edited September 2006
    iPod killer
    // Panasonic AE8000 // Pioneer SC-57 // Polk Audio RTi A9 // Polk Audio CSiA6 //
    // Polk Audio FXi A6 // SVS PB12-NSD Subwoofer // Logitech Harmony Ultimate // Pro-Ject Debut III //
    // Oppo BDP-103 // Microsoft Xbox One Day One Edition // Sony Playstation 4 1TB SSHD // Nintendo Wii U //
    Photo Gallery
    Movie and Game Collection
  • ledhed
    ledhed Posts: 1,088
    edited September 2006
    what is it?
    Not Apple :D
    God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8
  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited December 2006
    I finally got my hands on a Zune this week. It was very nice. Hardy and sturdy. Bigger than the ipod, but IMO, not enough to warrant much consideration. The navigation is obviously not the same as the ipod, but it is intuitive and simple. The main plus side to the Zune is the screen size. Its huge compared to the ipod. I've felt for a while that the screen size on the ipod video was just too small for anything worthy of extended watching. The Zune is more on par with the screen size of a nice PDA. Much better. I can easily see myself watching a movie on a flight with one.
  • bknauss
    bknauss Posts: 1,441
    edited December 2006
    I think its interesting that the biggest touted feature is the WiFi, but its basically limited to sharing songs with other Zunes. Lame if you ask me.

    I've had my Cowon X5 for a while now and it has exactly what I need:
    1. Its not Apple
    2. Long battery life (lasts me on a roundtrip of plane rides for my Asia trips)
    3. Lots of format options
    4. Hard buttons instead of touch sensitive buttons
    5. Great sound quality for what it is.
    Brian Knauss
    ex-Electrical Engineer for Polk
  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited December 2006
    Both from a business point and a user's point, I like the wifi option. I think its smart.
  • seo
    seo Posts: 305
    edited December 2006
    bknauss wrote:
    I think its interesting that the biggest touted feature is the WiFi, but its basically limited to sharing songs with other Zunes. Lame if you ask me.

    I've had my Cowon X5 for a while now and it has exactly what I need:
    1. Its not Apple
    2. Long battery life (lasts me on a roundtrip of plane rides for my Asia trips)
    3. Lots of format options
    4. Hard buttons instead of touch sensitive buttons
    5. Great sound quality for what it is.

    I agree. I have an X5 as well. I use FLAC files exclusively. I haven't used an Ipod, but the X5 has been great.
    Signature goes here
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2006
    The Zune does look pretty cool, but I don't imagine I'd ever watch a movie on a unit like that anyways, so the larger screen size only (possibly) means shorter battery life to me.

    I would love to have an FM tuner on my player as well as the ability to play back a variety of file types. Playing FLAC files? That'd be awesome! I'll have to look at the X5 sometime.

    However, when I decide to delve into the digital audio player realm, I'll be buying an iPod because its primary function will be to play music in the car, hooked up to my HU. If another player had great integration like that, I'd definitely take a look at it, but I'm not aware of any others.
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB

    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii

    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
  • Refefer
    Refefer Posts: 1,280
    edited December 2006
    audiobliss wrote:
    However, when I decide to delve into the digital audio player realm, I'll be buying an iPod because its primary function will be to play music in the car, hooked up to my HU. If another player had great integration like that, I'd definitely take a look at it, but I'm not aware of any others.

    Why not just get a HU with a line-in jack? That way you're not forced to use an iPOD unless you want to and, more importantly, you can go the subscription music route to keep your tracks fresh or get a player that supports FLAC and assorted codecs.

    I use my iRiver Clix with a great amount of happiness in the car using the above method. Certain nicer than being locked into a technology, and I get the option of upgrading if I ever wanted to, to something nicer.
    Lovin that music year after year.

    Main 2 Channel System

    Polk SDA-1B,
    Promitheus Audio TVC SE,
    Rotel RB-980BX,
    OPPO DV-970HD,
    Lite Audio DAC AH,
    IXOS XHA305 Interconnects


    Computer Rig

    Polk SDA CRS+,
    Creek Audio 5350 SE,
    Morrow Audio MA1 Interconnect,
    HRT Music Streamer II
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2006
    Well, I really like the idea of 1) my player being charged while in the car and 2) being able to control it through the HU. Now, admittedly, I'm not sure how much I like that last point as I've not played with an iPod hooked up to an HU. However, I plan to do so, and anticipate liking it better than having to choose my songs through the player.

    But, maybe controlling the iPod through the HU isn't all that great. I don't know.
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB

    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii

    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited December 2006
    I don't like the Zune or any other MP3 player I have used. iPod is king, and it's going to take a lot to top it. They keep bettering an already superior product. I was a naysayer long ago saying that they weren't worth the money until I bought one after trying it out. I listen to it for at least an hour every day.
  • 2+2
    2+2 Posts: 546
    edited December 2006
    I was looking at the Zune but I wanted a bigger drive. I bought the 80 gig Ipod this weekend from Costco so I can return it any time if it gives me issues. I dont like expensive portable electronics since they are too easy to drop and damage...this is an exception but I will probably use it more at home with a docking unit.

    Is there any protable MP3 type players that has a digital out?
    Also, what is HU?
    System 1: Martin Logan Vantage, Rotel RC 1070, B&K Reference 200.2, Music Hall DAC 15.2, Yamaha 2300

    System 2: LSi15 w/db840, Marantz SR8400, Rotel 1080, RM6800 (C&S), Sony X2020ES

    System 3: LSi7, Yamaha SW215, Music Hall Maven, Music Hall MMF CD25 w/627opamps

    System 4: RTi100, Harman Kardon AVR 230, Panasonic DVD
  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2006
    HU stands for head unit, which is the in-dash CD player in a car.
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
    PS3, Yamaha CDR-HD1300, Plex, Amazon Fire TV Gen 2
    Pioneer Elite VSX-52, Parasound HCA-1000A
    Klipsch RF-82ii, RC-62ii, RS-42ii, RW-10d
    Epson 8700UB

    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
    Pro-Ject Phono Box MKII, Parasound P/HP-850, ASL Wave 20 monoblocks
    Klipsch RF-35, RB-51ii

    [Car Audio]
    Pioneer Premier DEH-P860MP, Memphis 16-MCA3004, Boston Acoustic RC520
  • Fireman32
    Fireman32 Posts: 4,845
    edited December 2006
    I just picked up the 30gb video ipod and i love it. From what I have heard about the zune it does not support all formats so anything that you have downloaded might not work on the zune. I had a ipod before and I will stick with apple.
  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited December 2006
    From what I've read in reviews this thing started out with a good idea and just turned out to be a big dissapointment. When you share a song with someone they're limited to only play it three times before they're bugged to buy it. I think something like the archos 604 with wi-fi for a little more money would be a way better option. I'm tempted to get one but too afraid of dropping it and frying the hard drive. I've dropped my pda a couple times and got freaked out and then realized there's nothing that can really break aside from cracking the screen. No moving parts is a beautiful thing.
  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited April 2007
    I have it on good authority that the time period from conception of the idea of the Zune to store shelfs was 300 days. I realize that Apple and iPod as well as a host of other MP3 players preceded the Zune, but 300 days is pretty impressive.

    Also on good authority, MS really doesn't care about this generation of Zune and more or less the group acknowledges that it sucks. They just wanted to get their foot in the door.
  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited April 2007
    Anyone actually get one of these yet? Curious to get a review of one besides the usual insiders that get ahold of them early. Pics are welcome too :D
  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited April 2007
    Audiobliss shares my strategy with a future mp3 player. I just installed a Pioneer HU that can control an ipod through the jack in the back, but I didn't buy it for that function. I bought it because it has an Auxillary jack in the front (I think Sony was the first to do this, and now many manufacturers are doing it).

    In my research and hands-on usage at various stores, and knowing what my usage needs were, I narrowed the field to three choices: ipod 30gb (currently 249.99), zune 30gb (229.99) and creative zen vision M 30gb (199.99).

    I detest ipods requirements of AAC and iTunes, however it has the most accesories on the market. Further, because I plan on using it at night in a car, I would like backlit or easy controls.
    Zune has a larger screen: don't need it. The interface was perhaps the most intuitive, and that it works great with Windows Media Player is a great boon (its what I will use given the opportunity). However, the deal killer was the placement of the controls at the very bottom of the device. This makes it impossible to use one-handed.
    The Zen has the least number of accessories available, and that hurts. But I found it overall the easiest to operate and had a fully customizable EQ (the Zune and iPod do not).

    Reliability was a wash across the board - everyone had great stories and horror stories, so word of mouth didn't help.

    In the end, I decided on the Zen, and plan on ordering mine tonight.

    Now my only concern is the sound quality through my headunit jack: how much of a drop off will it be from a CD?
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited April 2007
    What on Earth gave you the idea that iPod or iTunes required AAC?

    I don't have a single AAC file on my computer, I have more than 30GB of MP3s, all of which are DRM free, and all of which play on my iPod.

    The iTunes MUSIC STORE (iTMS), is a different story. But for your own stuff that you rip from CD, no AAC necessary.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited April 2007
    Thanks for the clarification, Bobman.

    In a related note, I dropped by Circuit City to play with the three players. I noticed in the accessory section Belkin sold an iPod cable for $21.95. I couldn't believe my eyes – it was a standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (4 ft.?) - the same cable I bought at Radio Shack for $5 bucks.

    This cable advertised that it was specifically designed for iPods.

    Thats downright predatory; Belkin and Circuit City should be ashamed of themselves.
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
  • phipiper10
    phipiper10 Posts: 955
    edited April 2007
    Yeah but downloading music with DRM in some proprietary format sucks. Sure your CDs are free of this but most sites are either provide downloads in the Apple or Microsoft formats of AAC or wma. There are some other sites like emusic that don't have the hassle of DRM and have better quality tracks mp3s anyway but the selection is limited.

    What the above means is you won't be able to play tracks bought from walmart online on your ipod since walmart sells wma files and you can't buy tracks from Itunes and play them on a creative labs player since those files are in AAC. IF an artist you want isn't sold in the format you used then buying music isn't really an option. They are limiting choice of where you could buy music really.

    OF course you can buy a CD if you wanted it but the above problem just outlines a major hurdle for buying online music. "You can't always get what you want.....but if you try some times you just might find.." a tool to strip away the drm...so you can convert all files to one neutral format called MP3(my apologies)

    At least the DRM part is changing -- FREE THE MUSIC!!!:) better.http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/109711/microsoft-set-to-follow-apple-with-drmfree-downloads.html


    bobman1235 wrote: »

    The iTunes MUSIC STORE (iTMS), is a different story. But for your own stuff that you rip from CD, no AAC necessary.
    Analog Source: Rega P3-24 Exact 2 w/GT delrin platter & Neo TT-PSU Digital Source: Lumin T2 w/Roon (NUC) DAC: Denafrips Pontus II Phono Preamp: Rega Aria MK3 Preamp: Rogue RP-7 Amp: Pass X150.8 Speakers: Joseph Audio Perspective 2, Audio Physic Tempo Plus Cables: Morrow M4 ICs & Audio Art SC-5 ePlus, Shunyata PCs Misc: Shunyata Hydra Delta D6, VTI rack, GIK acoustic panels
  • Cursed1
    Cursed1 Posts: 66
    edited April 2007
    I will stick with my iPod
  • G-2
    G-2 Posts: 533
    edited April 2007
    Cursed1 wrote: »
    I will stick with my iPod

    Typical Microsoft, a day late and a dollar short. We'll be sticking with our iPod as well...
    Home Theater
    Chane
    A3rx-c's, A2rc-c, A1rx-c's|Miller & Kreisel V-125's|Sony XBR65X810C 65" 4K LED TV|
    Earthquake Cinenova Grande-5|Pioneer Elite - VSX-84TXSi-AVR|TRIPPLITE LCR2400|
    Ultrasonic Amp Stand|Blue Jeans,Audioquest,Monster Cables|

    2 - Channel
    Polk
    RTA 12c's w/RDO194 TWEETS, clarity ESA caps mills resistors (full mod)|Turntable|
    Anthem MCA 2|Acurus Act 3 Pre Pro|Parasound P/Ph 100|Pioneer Elite N-30|Adcom GDA600|
    Premier Rack|Blue Jeans,Audioquest,Monster Cables|
  • krabby5
    krabby5 Posts: 923
    edited April 2007
    As a side note, iTunes will start selling it's songs at double the bitrate (256) and will be DRM free starting in May....

    They will also sell for $1.29 instead of $.99

    I think you can also upgrade for $.30 /song if you have the older downloads with the DRM and lower bitrate..

    that could add up though
    Pioneer Elite VSX-53, Polk RT800i fronts, Polk CS400i center, FX500i surround, Velodyne sub
  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited April 2007
    That's only partly true, they're only selling songs that are labeled with EMI last I heard. Other record companies have not agreed to have their songs go out DRM-free.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited April 2007
    Thanks for the clarification, Bobman.

    In a related note, I dropped by Circuit City to play with the three players. I noticed in the accessory section Belkin sold an iPod cable for $21.95. I couldn't believe my eyes – it was a standard 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable (4 ft.?) - the same cable I bought at Radio Shack for $5 bucks.

    This cable advertised that it was specifically designed for iPods.

    Thats downright predatory; Belkin and Circuit City should be ashamed of themselves.


    Why? A product is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. If people weren't buying them for $21.95, they wouldn't be $21.95.
  • bobman1235
    bobman1235 Posts: 10,822
    edited April 2007
    Mmm, let the suckers buy their overpriced accessories, and just sit back in smug satisfaction knowing you got the same thing for 5 bucks.
    If you will it, dude, it is no dream.
  • krabby5
    krabby5 Posts: 923
    edited April 2007
    bobman1235 wrote: »
    That's only partly true, they're only selling songs that are labeled with EMI last I heard. Other record companies have not agreed to have their songs go out DRM-free.

    really...

    I like the direction they're heading though
    Pioneer Elite VSX-53, Polk RT800i fronts, Polk CS400i center, FX500i surround, Velodyne sub
  • krabby5
    krabby5 Posts: 923
    edited April 2007
    bobman1235 wrote: »
    Mmm, let the suckers buy their overpriced accessories, and just sit back in smug satisfaction knowing you got the same thing for 5 bucks.

    the marketing must be working...

    i always hear the salesman at CC and BB telling people who just bought a HD tv that they better get the $140 Monster HDMI cable..most people don't know any better and figure that as long as they plunked down $2500 for a tv, they can plunk down $140 more for a "high" quality cable..
    Pioneer Elite VSX-53, Polk RT800i fronts, Polk CS400i center, FX500i surround, Velodyne sub
  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited April 2007
    The $21 dollar 3.5mm plug is synonymous with the High Definition antennae needed to receive over-the-air HD with an internal (or external) decoder, or the Monster HDMI cable krabby is refering to. Its not that people are willing to pay $21 for the plug, its that they don't know better. They think that this plug at Circuit City that goes for $21 is required to operate correctly.

    They say ignorance is bliss; I can assure you that ignorance is costly.

    I don't know why it irked me - snake oil usually doesn't bother me - but this example just seemed different. Snake oil customers have discretionary income and knowingly and willing pay more for an equivelant product. In this case, I doubt the average customer even knows there are options.

    But I speculate what the average customer knows as well...so I guess I should put this topic to bed.

    Can't wait for my Zen. I would post a review about it, but I don't think its really necessary. The mp3 players are so close in functionality and performance that I would have to split hairs to make some form of comparison.
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused: