Microsoft Zune

[Haruhi]

Is anybody else going to buy one? I'm pretty interested in it.

www.zune.net

[GreatNekoKoneko]

... i just recently traded in my old iPod mini for a regular 30 gig one. do i really need to get this? maybe if i dont like my iPod. i mean, everybody else has one. i need to check out the Zune's features though...

[Animematt55]

Haruhi, if you werent a mod, that would be a very Spam like post
But. i am not into the fancy MP3 players...so i wont get one.

[Fort Major]

Spam. Naw

I'm curious to see how it will be integerated with the other Microsoft products I have or am gonna get. (360, Vista, etc.)

[Haruhi]

Haruhi, if you werent a mod, that would be a very Spam like post
But. i am not into the fancy MP3 players...so i wont get one.

Uhm, no. I'm not advertising this thing. I'm simply curious, especially since I'm in the market for a new MP3 player.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...i like the wireless feature though. at least that could be good.

[Jon]

What features does the Zune contain other than audio/video playback? What justifies the $250 price tag? Honestly I feel anyone who shells out $200-300 for a portable music player is wasting their money.

[GreatNekoKoneko]

...go for it Haruhi. then tell us all about it.

[Leader Desslock]

Zune? Never heard of it.

<looks at ad>

No.

[HSaabedra]

It is made of DRM and AIDS, Do not want or get. a Toshiba Gigabeat would like a word with you.

[Sendo Takeshi]

It's a shame the website doesn't let you really see the Zune up close other than a bunch of retarded kids partying and having theirs lying around on the floor.

It looks nice though.

[Jae Hoon]

The download station is nice with the wifi connection it has. You can just turn it on and go to the station and start dling songs. It has an easier interface as well, 250 is alot for me though.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

I have something better, it's called winamp!

[Haruhi]

The download station is nice with the wifi connection it has. You can just turn it on and go to the station and start dling songs. It has an easier interface as well, 250 is alot for me though.

Yaeh, I really like the wifi connection, too. Plus the interface and overall style looks really nice, even better than the I-pod.

I'm looking at this, the new I-pod or I-river.

I have something better, it's called winamp!

But I can't go to the gym or jog w/a winamp. =p

[The Million Dollar Prons]

Anime fans going to the gym and jogging? Nice try.

[Haruhi]

Anime fans going to the gym and jogging? Nice try.

Pfft. I jog 3 miles every day!

[superplough]

what the crap?
no. microsoft is the devil, im wanting an iPod.

[The Million Dollar Prons]

I do an impossible Sudoku puzzle every morning, wanna FIGHT?!

MORTAL KOMBAT~!!

[superplough]

i suck at sudoku's, you win by default
EDIT: you werent talking to me, nevermnind

[Haro!]

I don't like the way it looks so I won't be getting it. Oh and it won't work on Mac. (which means squat to most people).

[CrossboneGundam]

I don't have "the monies," as the adolescents might say.

Not to mention I don't have "the boardbands," either.

[{NG}Fidel]

Ive been wanting one since hearing about i over a year ago.
Aparently MS is going to give anyone who has a large Itunes colllection the songs they dled on itunes but in the MS DRM form so the songs are useable on the Zune.
I like the large screen and the materials its made of plus support for many formats and WMA (Ive allot of WMA stuff thanks to people that dont know jack about formats). Does it have OGG or Flac support, anyone know?
I love the white one.

Check the site.

Zune Site (http://www.zune.net/en-US/default.htm)

[Chousho]

what the crap?
no. microsoft is the devil, im wanting an iPod.
If Microsoft is the devil, then Apple is Saddam.

Am I the only person who doesn't have an MP3 player and uses a Walkman?
I do an impossible Sudoku puzzle every morning, wanna FIGHT?!

MORTAL KOMBAT~!!
and I can't help but laugh.

[Pickie]

Any mp3 player out there is better than the piece of **** known as the ipod. I'll probably look into it, but if it doesn't have ogg or flac support, I'll probably go with iAudio X5L.

[Fobb]

I've heard much about it. If I had cash, I would look into buying it, but...alas...I have no cash...

[Mort]

I read a review a couple of days agos, It looks nice and I like the interface a lot but 250 for a mp3 player is still a lot of money to shell out. I may get a first gen cheap after they release a gen 2.

[Lord Dagoth]

I'm really intrigued about this. I'll probably buy one over the summer to replace my aging iPod.

[superplough]

If Microsoft is the devil, then Apple is Saddam.
all the better to have one :lol:

[{NG}Fidel]

The iPod is meh.
I like the Zune because of the following reasons.
It supports WMA without converting (I have about 500 songs in WMA I am not changing all those songs formats)
I like the larger screen.
I dont like Itunes.
The Ipod Scratches so easily and I cant stand that.
I would much rather have a diffrent MP3 player, and hopefully the battery life is better than the trivial battery life of the ipod

[Lord Dagoth]

Plus it has wireless capabilities

[Ikari Warrior]

The iPod is meh.
I like the Zune because of the following reasons.
It supports WMA without converting (I have about 500 songs in WMA I am not changing all those songs formats)
I like the larger screen.
I dont like Itunes.
The Ipod Scratches so easily and I cant stand that.
I would much rather have a diffrent MP3 player, and hopefully the battery life is better than the trivial battery life of the ipod

My SanDisk Sansa plays WMA and MP3, and can run 7-10 hours on a single AAA. It's a monochrome screen (LCD w/ blue backlight), but it's relatively inexpensive for what you sound like you're looking for.

Also, Sony has a bean-shaped MP3 player that plays WMA, MP3, and .WAV. Granted: .Wav format is low-compression, and often horrid quality, but if you wanted to, that capacity is there.

[HSaabedra]

My SanDisk Sansa plays WMA and MP3, and can run 7-10 hours on a single AAA. It's a monochrome screen (LCD w/ blue backlight), but it's relatively inexpensive for what you sound like you're looking for.

Also, Sony has a bean-shaped MP3 player that plays WMA, MP3, and .WAV. Granted: .Wav format is low-compression, and often horrid quality, but if you wanted to, that capacity is there.

WAV is Pulse Code Modulation, uncompressed audio from a digital source like digital audio tape, CD, DVD, etc. Highest quality available in digital form. you fail.

[Ikari Warrior]

WAV is Pulse Code Modulation, uncompressed audio from a digital source like digital audio tape, CD, DVD, etc. Highest quality available in digital form. you fail.
exqueeze me slightly-different-avatar-copier.

Every wav I've heard has had really shoddy audio quality. Furthermore, .wavs can also be recorded from an analog source like a microphone (hello windows sound recorder), and therefore your definition doesn't hold entirely true.

YOU fail as well :P

[HSaabedra]

exqueeze me slightly-different-avatar-copier.

Every wav I've heard has had really shoddy audio quality. Furthermore, .wavs can also be recorded from an analog source like a microphone (hello windows sound recorder), and therefore your definition doesn't hold entirely true.

YOU fail as well :P
Go look up the definition then we'll see who's right.

[Ikari Warrior]

eh, whatever, I maintain my stance. You're better off listening to an MP3 than a wav. Sure, an MP3 is compressed with potentially less sound quality, but the sacrifice in quality is well worth the sacrifice in size. You said so yourself: .wavs are uncompressed, therefore they take up way too much space.

But whatever, I'm not about to split hairs. Back to the topic at hand: I'm never going to get an ipod or a zune because they cost too much and do the same thing as a less expensive MP3 player.

[HSaabedra]

eh, whatever, I maintain my stance. You're better off listening to an MP3 than a wav. Sure, an MP3 is compressed with potentially less sound quality, but the sacrifice in quality is well worth the sacrifice in size. You said so yourself: .wavs are uncompressed, therefore they take up way too much space.

But whatever, I'm not about to split hairs. Back to the topic at hand: I'm never going to get an ipod or a zune because they cost too much and do the same thing as a less expensive MP3 player.

There's a reason you cant make music with mp3 samples. on topic, my phone makes a damn good media player, I've no real need for a dedicated device.

[Lord Dagoth]

at first glance I thought Shadow had made 6 posts in a row @_@

[Sendo Takeshi]

If you look at Shadowcast's Rockman avatar, it would seem that his Rockman is Puerto Rican due to the tan and Axl X's avatar is the whitey version. :lol:

The only gripe I have with the iPod is the fact that they have a tendency to die quicker. I'm on my second and *so* far it works fine. I still give it another 9 months before it dies and I quit the MP3 player business.

[{NG}Fidel]

True enough shadowcast but I dont like Sonys sonic stage.
Atop of that I always use Windows Media player.
I never said WMA accepting devices didnt exist.
I just have not found one that fits the bill for me.

[Ikari Warrior]

I never said WMA accepting devices didnt exist.
I just have not one that fits the bill for me.

Gotcha, just thought I'd make a recommendation :thumbsup:

If you look at Shadowcast's Rockman avatar, it would seem that his Rockman is Puerto Rican due to the tan and Axl X's avatar is the whitey version. :lol:

That's actually an optical illusion. Axl's Rockman looks lighter because he's holding the black guitar :lol:

[kenshinbebop]

Nah, my iPod vid is more than enough....

[Hara!]

Does it play .AVI files?

[Gray]

Does it play .AVI files?

If it dosent in two months someone will figure out how to run XP on it :/
Well, okay thats over exxagration, but being a Windows device i would be amazed if Developers like the iPodLinux team will probably make something for this.


As for the actual device, i've had 3 iPods and they all broke. Now, that is mainly my fault due to the fact i use it everyday at work, but still it breaks too easily for me. And i really hope this is cheaper :/ Apple has a way of overpricing less that meidocre equpiment. Say what you want about Windows but i'll put my trust in a Win box or device anyday over a Mac.

[HSaabedra]

If it dosent in two months someone will figure out how to run XP on it :/
Well, okay thats over exxagration, but being a Windows device i would be amazed if Developers like the iPodLinux team will probably make something for this.


As for the actual device, i've had 3 iPods and they all broke. Now, that is mainly my fault due to the fact i use it everyday at work, but still it breaks too easily for me. And i really hope this is cheaper :/ Apple has a way of overpricing less that meidocre equpiment. Say what you want about Windows but i'll put my trust in a Win box or device anyday over a Mac.

The only way I'll ever trust Windows is if I use nlite or BartPE to make my own installs. Windows by default installs too many vulnerabilities to be considered "trustworthy" Now, Windows Mobile would be a better choice for the Zune.
Mach>NT kernel.

[Old Ape Face]

That's actually an optical illusion. Axl's Rockman looks lighter because he's holding the black guitar :lol:

Actualy frame by frame I see no similarity in the color of his face from yours Axl's face is lighter.


lol Apple might be cheap in the Portable Media Devices but they sure have a high quality graphics department, Adobe for the win.

My brother put Doom on his ipod, and it's not even a video ipod, he used unix to over right the system and was able to play doom on it like you play tetris.

[HSaabedra]

Actualy frame by frame I see no similarity in the color of his face from yours Axl's face is lighter.


lol Apple might be cheap in the Portable Media Devices but they sure have a high quality graphics department, Adobe for the win.

My brother put Doom on his ipod, and it's not even a video ipod, he used unix to over right the system and was able to play doom on it like you play tetris.

Apple no longer has the marketshare they used to in the desktop publishing and graphic design market. You'll never find a CAD/CAM program on a Mac.

[Old Ape Face]

i'm talking about Computer Graphics wise, Adobe is owned by apple, and aparently bought out Macromedia. which is makeing my computer graphics instructor very happy, becuase he loves Adobe, and hates Macromedia

Apple is all a great website creator tool.

I've use a PC for computer graphics, and there is certainly a big difference between the quality in the screan and the smoothness of the tools.

[Chikyuu Senshi]

Looks pretty spiffy, but I'm already in love with my Zen.

[HSaabedra]

i'm talking about Computer Graphics wise, Adobe is owned by apple, and aparently bought out Macromedia. which is makeing my computer graphics instructor very happy, becuase he loves Adobe, and hates Macromedia

Apple is all a great website creator tool.

I've use a PC for computer graphics, and there is certainly a big difference between the quality in the screan and the smoothness of the tools.

First off Adobe is not owned by Apple, and Adobe purchased Macromedia simply because they were up for sale. What you percieve as a clarity advantage on one platform is simply due to differences in available hardware and software between both systems. Macs were routinely bashed for their rendering performance compared to PC's until Apple changed both OS and processor architecture, but I digress. As far as the Zune goes, it just doesn't offer anything I would be looking for, and it's touted wireless advantage cannot be used for purchasing songs over the air and you can't share full length songs either, only clips.

[{NG}Fidel]

The Pc Has many options for computer graphics.
In terms of website creation I dont think its a major concern which OS you use.
Adobe is not owned by Apple. Why would Adobe even buy out another company if its owned by a larger group.
Ok Axl got their first.
And yeah with the hardware options on the PC being much better atm Apple isnt bad but PCs are better.

[Depression]

+ for Style Points.

[Old Ape Face]

I'd like to say i'm not a Apple fan, i'm only saying what i've used, and from what i've used the G5 power macs are very powerfull machines, the onse at my school, hold every graphic design program from Lightwave to Adobe Illustrator, and they run so beautifully well. <_< except when the students cram a lot of stuff on them makeing the hardware run slower then it should. But all computers do that. But i have nothing bad to say about the Macs versous PCs.

The only reason Macs are doing so badly is becuase they're not a very good as Home or Office computers, they're more expencive then a PC, it's mostly common to see Macs in Graphic Design Studios and places that are geared for Printing, rather then in office spaces.

[{NG}Fidel]

Its more of a misconception really.
Entertainment has Apple Cameos in movies but the majority of work is done by PCs.
Apples are perfect for homes with non tech savy famalies.
I tried to influence my mom into getting an Apple so I wouldnt have to deal with her own screw ups. This is coming from someone who likes Windows more than OSX. And Price wise their are cheap PCs and Cheap Apples with the introduction of x86 and Intel Apple has been able to cheapen their line up a little bit.

[HSaabedra]

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/press/zune-user-interface-runs-like-butter-213348.php

Something to chew on

[{NG}Fidel]

Thanks Axl thats a nice video allthough the Ipod is not slow either. Allthough I have experienced lock ups with it once or twice. The main thing for me is battery life.

[Gray]

Photoshop CS 2 on Win XP for the win.

[Hybrid Shock]

great. another DRM-restricted media player in the market. let's go woo

Now excuse me whilst i puke...

No thanks. It's nothing the ipod isn't so you might as well become i-sheep... Not that i recomend that in the first place.

The only media player i'm waiting for is the one i have. The Sony Ericsson K800i. It means i have to only carry 1 thing (as opposed to a phone, mp3 player and camera) and has a better battery life than even the solid state ipods....

And none of these hard drive Mp3 players can hold my MP3 collection... my 200GB Seagate drive (dedicated to only music) is struggling....

exqueeze me slightly-different-avatar-copier.

Every wav I've heard has had really shoddy audio quality. Furthermore, .wavs can also be recorded from an analog source like a microphone (hello windows sound recorder), and therefore your definition doesn't hold entirely true.

YOU fail as well :P

NO U!

source in, source out. If the audio quality is crap, the audio quality is crap. just because all you've heard is crap WAVs, doesn't make WAVs crap. The same audio source would mean that the MP3s of the same file are crap as well.

MP3s can be recorded from an analog source as well. Earlier editions of TWIT were done on solid state recorders that recorded to MP3.

WAV is the digital manifestation of real audio waves. whatever crap WAV you've heard, it's still a more pure sound than hearing the same thing in MP3 because MP3 uses psychoacoustics to simulate audio information that it's ditched due to compression. Whether that's noticable is purely up to the individual and how well the target MP3 is encoded. Could give samples if requested...

Either way, uncompressed audio (WAV) > lossless compressed (FLAC) > lossy compressed (MP3)

[Neo0tak0n]

I want Penguin Player, the new portable OGG player from Linux.

[VSh]

... uncompressed audio (WAV) > lossless compressed (FLAC) > lossy compressed (MP3)

Actually, uncompressed audio and lossless compressed audio are the same by definition.

Regarding Zune: Microsoft's Zune scam (http://p2pnet.net/story/10412). Probably, Zune is not so bad as a device, but, as a business model, it is an old new sh** from M$.

[Mort]

Well i don't think that it is a scam. If you don't want tp pay there prices go by the song from i tunes and put it on there. So you don't ahve to use the marketplace at all. So I fail to see what the big deal is.


http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/zune-software-plays-nicely-with-itunes-214532.php

[HSaabedra]

great. another DRM-restricted media player in the market. let's go woo

Now excuse me whilst i puke...

No thanks. It's nothing the ipod isn't so you might as well become i-sheep... Not that i recomend that in the first place.

The only media player i'm waiting for is the one i have. The Sony Ericsson K800i. It means i have to only carry 1 thing (as opposed to a phone, mp3 player and camera) and has a better battery life than even the solid state ipods....

And none of these hard drive Mp3 players can hold my MP3 collection... my 200GB Seagate drive (dedicated to only music) is struggling....



NO U!

source in, source out. If the audio quality is crap, the audio quality is crap. just because all you've heard is crap WAVs, doesn't make WAVs crap. The same audio source would mean that the MP3s of the same file are crap as well.

MP3s can be recorded from an analog source as well. Earlier editions of TWIT were done on solid state recorders that recorded to MP3.

WAV is the digital manifestation of real audio waves. whatever crap WAV you've heard, it's still a more pure sound than hearing the same thing in MP3 because MP3 uses psychoacoustics to simulate audio information that it's ditched due to compression. Whether that's noticable is purely up to the individual and how well the target MP3 is encoded. Could give samples if requested...

Either way, uncompressed audio (WAV) > lossless compressed (FLAC) > lossy compressed (MP3)

Thanks for the backup Hybrid. We could start a topic on how the media players everyone wants are already here, but consumers don't want to pay attention.

[Haro!]

The only media player i'm waiting for is the one i have. The Sony Ericsson K800i. It means i have to only carry 1 thing (as opposed to a phone, mp3 player and camera) and has a better battery life than even the solid state ipods....
I was thinking of getting that phone (or that sony ericsson smart phone) how is it? I mean is it comfortable to use in your hand (I hate hands-free) and just use in general?

[Hybrid Shock]

Thanks for the backup Hybrid. We could start a topic on how the media players everyone wants are already here, but consumers don't want to pay attention.

What i'd be happier with is a Reverse Ipod to Bluetooth A2DP+AVRCP adaptor. So i can use my existing K800's A2DP with all those ipod adaptors in cars...

Yeah, there's a transmitter that fits onto fastport, but having AVRCP means that the same controls that would have been used to control the ipod could be used to control the Music Player

Actually, uncompressed audio and lossless compressed audio are the same by definition.

No. they just give the same end result. The encoding techniques mean that no data is lost. It is still a different file than an uncompressed version

An image in Lossless PNG and TIFF give you the same image, but they're fundamentally different files and file structures. Same with raw ADPCM WAVE and something liek FLAC. Sure, it's not as big a difference compared with, say, JPG or MP3 (the lossy ones) but there is a difference

It's not just the result, it's also what leads to the result that is the difference between uncompressed and lossless compressed.

I was thinking of getting that phone (or that sony ericsson smart phone) how is it? I mean is it comfortable to use in your hand (I hate hands-free) and just use in general?

Delightful. Easy to use (no fancy Symbian S60 crap), long battery life, it's just wonderful.

Even these tiny little speakers (http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?cc=au&lc=en&ver=4000&template=pp4_1_1&zone=pp&lm=pp4_1&pid=10379) freaking rock! they're so small and so loud. The omly limitation is that i wish these had MS Pro duos for that 4GB goodness

[{NG}Fidel]

DRM infested on the media player yes.
But its hardly a limitation.
All I want is a device that carries my music on the go.
The Zune is doing that right now without a flaw.
DRM isnt going anywhere anytime soon guys so you can quit complaining about it. The main issue I have with Apple MS and all the other MP3 player making companies is the propprietary (God my spelling is terrible) technology they use for the USB connectors and what not. I understand its so they can charge companies for making stereo docks and the like but its getting old to me. Now I dont buy music on itunes or the Zune Market place but for the average person I dont see how either device is that terrible.

[HSaabedra]

DRM infested on the media player yes.
But its hardly a limitation.
All I want is a device that carries my music on the go.
The Zune is doing that right now without a flaw.
DRM isnt going anywhere anytime soon guys so you can quit complaining about it. The main issue I have with Apple MS and all the other MP3 player making companies is the propprietary (God my spelling is terrible) technology they use for the USB connectors and what not. I understand its so they can charge companies for making stereo docks and the like but its getting old to me. Now I dont buy music on itunes or the Zune Market place but for the average person I dont see how either device is that terrible.

If I pay money for music in any format, I should have the right to take it and play it on any device without issue without paying for it over and over again. This is the argument against DRM.

[Haro!]

I don't mind the fact I can't use it on other players, I just stay with what ever player can play it (this of course coming from an early ipod adopter). I do have issue with the sub-par audio quality. I mean you might as well just get the CD and rip it if that's the case. I will however say its good for getting just that one song you like.

[Lord Dagoth]

Anyone have one yet?

[Haruhi]

I got one from a friend who works at MS. It works well, and the interface, though not as good as the I-pods, is pretty good.

[Chousho]

I got one from a friend who works at MS. It works well, and the interface, though not as good as the I-pods, is pretty good.

What part isn't as good as an I-pod?

I'm just wondering as I'd like something _like_ an i-pod, but I'm poor, haha.

[{NG}Fidel]

I have both a 5th Gen 30Gig Ipod Video and the Zune and I must say they both have ups and downs.
At the moment I like the Itunes style of moving audio onto the device but I like the Zune GUI more. IMO either one is a good buy.

If I pay money for music in any format, I should have the right to take it and play it on any device without issue without paying for it over and over again. This is the argument against DRM.

DOnt complain about the device complain about the services.
The only real issue is Itunes and the Zune MArket place.
The Devices supported by both respective companies are good.

[HSaabedra]

I have both a 5th Gen 30Gig Ipod Video and the Zune and I must say they both have ups and downs.
At the moment I like the Itunes style of moving audio onto the device but I like the Zune GUI more. IMO either one is a good buy.



DOnt complain about the device complain about the services.
The only real issue is Itunes and the Zune MArket place.
The Devices supported by both respective companies are good.

The devices are the catalyst for the service, one cannot work without the other.

[Jatz]

iPod vs. Zune (consumer posts)
http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-11294_7-6664887-1.html?tag=cnetfd.mt

Zune review
http://reviews.cnet.com/Zune_30GB_black/4505-6490_7-32068976.html?autoplay=true

[Haro!]

The only thing I'm gonna hate on so far is the fact that they copied the ipod packaging.

[{NG}Fidel]

The devices are the catalyst for the service, one cannot work without the other.
The real issue is if you dont want DRM music dont buy songs from Itunes or the Zune Market Place.
No one is forcing you as they still sell CDs. And its been proven that one cannot work without the other as far as the actual MP3 player goes.
I doubt the service would sell well without a device though.

[Perperikon010]

I'm pretty happy with my 40gb Toshiba Gigabeat. It's cheper than the iPod and Zune and I can get most of my music on it. Plus it's not heavy and has a great display. One of the better purchases in my life.

[Pickie]

Saw it at Gamestop on display today. Jesus Christ that thing is huge.

I'll just buy another Rio Karma.

[{NG}Fidel]

Its actually not the big.
Its a tad longer than the Ipod and a bit thicker but putting it next to my 5hth Gen 30gig it wasnt a huge diffrence.
I can say that I do enjoy having the Ipod in my pocket more for size but neither one is big enough to be a concern.
And both are way bigger than my Sony NW-HD1.

[Haro!]

And both are way bigger than my Sony NW-HD1.
Oh man I thought I was the only one that had one of those! It was like the perfect size and nice styling but I disliked SonicStage.

[{NG}Fidel]

I agree Sonic Stage was terrible.
The Zune Media Player isnt bad at all.
And after turning the Sync Feature off so I can drag and drop only what I want on their its perfect. Just a weird version of WMP11.