ZOMG New Zunes 358
BarlowBrad writes "From PC World: "Microsoft announced a new slate of Wi-Fi-equipped Zune players today, including $150 4GB and $200 8GB flash-based players, and a $250 80GB model that's slimmer than the original Zune. All of the new models feature touch-sensitive controls and wireless syncing with your PC, a much-demanded feature that Microsoft will also make available on the original 30GB Zune when the new models debut in mid November."
Wireless. More space than a Nomad. But draw your own conclusions."
But... (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
You know, the way stuff is going, Microsoft might have better luck selling ponies than selling Zunes.
Re:But... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:But... (Score:5, Funny)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Being an idiot is cool if you're doing it ironically.
Draw your own conclusions... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Draw your own conclusions... (Score:4, Informative)
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
That would require people to own Zunes, and therefore care.
But more seriously, remember that Steve Jobs talked about the iPhone running OS X. Most people, quite reasonably, interpret that as meaning that the iPhone is more than just a phone, or a smartphone, it's a sm
Re: (Score:2)
Re:Draw your own conclusions... (Score:5, Interesting)
I know that it is popular for ipod users to badmouth the competition, but the other players aren't bad, they just aren't as popular with thieves. From what I gather, the original zune wasn't a bad player, the woman I know that ones one was happy with it.
Not being compatible with walmart isn't a bad thing, as they pretty much insist on destroying any groundbreaking non pop music they can find, but not being easily used at other stores is probably a bigger problem. And not necessarily the ITMS, although that is rapidly changing, most ipod users apparently don't use the apple store much, so it shouldn't represent a problem for most people.
Re: (Score:3, Funny)
Does that mean iPods truly are, after all is said and done, little more than repositories for stolen music like the RIAA says?
Still gimped "Squirt"... (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Still gimped "Squirt"... (Score:5, Funny)
That's okay... no other player* allows sharing . (Score:2)
* I'm sure there's some, somewhere.
Partly wrong (Score:2)
Being able to buy songs right on your device is a more powerful form of sharing, since it works regardless of which device either person has.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
"Being able to buy songs right on your device is a more powerful form of sharing,"
sounds like spin out of the MS PR department: "Paying a license fee to see our source is more powerful form of open source because you know what you're getting is supported code"
Just admit its a better feature than the iPhone/Pod and move on with it. You'll still get into Apple Heaven when you die, and be greeted by a hundred user-friendly black turtlenecked angels blowing their iTrumpe
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
1). 0 plays on an iPod is rediculous. I can't even hear the song once!
2). Both of you need an ipod!
Of course, if iPod did have this feature I'm sure they'd do it in a better way, but DRM doesn't seem to be one of those things that's up to Apple (see iTunes and pricing schemes for DRM free music). I don't own a Zune or an iPod, but I'd probably go
Re: (Score:2)
disclaimer: I don't own a Zune, Ipod, or even a Rio.
3 play limitation kills feature, MS doesn't get it (Score:3, Insightful)
Firstly, how are the 3 plays counted? What if I start listening to the song while working, but then I take the headphones off while a coworker asks a question? If I forget to hit pause, the song will finish playing, but I won't hear it. What if I'm scanning through songs on shuffl
Congratulations Microsoft... (Score:5, Insightful)
"Microsoft releases iPod killer. However, the new Zune was designed to kill the last generation of iPods - not the currently released iPods."
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
So, basically, it's just like any other Microsoft product compared to an equivalent Apple product.
Re: (Score:2, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The 3rd gen Zune will only accept music from their pay service, and delete the songs after 10 plays making you pay for them again.
You think I am kidding?
Re:Congratulations Microsoft... (Score:4, Interesting)
Wow, and I thought *I* was a Apple fanboy. C'mon, I run multiple Macs at home, and I own an iPhone, and even I like the new Zunes.
Same price, same storage, but wireless sync? On that itself I'm sold. But now add a DRM-less online store with an optional subscription model? Score. Larger screen than the iPod classic? Score too. If the battery life can live up to iPod, this thing is a clear winner for the time being.
The "Zune Nano" is a bit of a disappointment. The specs are nice, but in the end the design leaves much to be desired. The black border around the screen screams "We couldn't put a larger screen in here so we'll just pretend"... Either give us a bigger screen or a smaller device, or at least find an aesthetically improved way to get around the problem. IMHO these things need to have a storage edge over the iPod nano if they expect to win.
The big-boy Zune though... that's going to give iPod a run for its money on the Windows side.
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/zune/firstgen-zune-getting-all-the-new-features-this-is-how-you-treat-your-customers-306422.php [gizmodo.com]
Re: (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
"Microsoft releases iPod killer. However, the new Zune was designed to kill the last generation of iPods - not the currently released iPods."
The term "iPod killer" is generally used for MP3 players that have some supposedly cool feature that the iPod doesn't have and that nobody wants, and "iPod killers" tend to disappear quite quickly. Microsoft is a different case; it won't disappear until Microsoft's losses on Zune exceed Apple's profit on the iPod.
I have never heard that SanDisk is making any "iPod killer", and yet somehow they managed to become number two in the market, where Microsoft is maybe a distant number four.
Refresh my memory... (Score:5, Funny)
Thanks!
Re:Refresh my memory... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
What planet do you live on, and how do I get there?
More seriously, it seems to me that "Overrated" has become a synonym for "What you say may be true, but I don't like it (or you), so I am going to mod it down."
Re:Refresh my memory... (Score:5, Insightful)
You can rip your CD's, or get Mp3's or whatever from elsewhere that don't have DRM built into them, and it'll never question where your music came from. It's had a nice form factor and disk space for the price. Had a nice looking screen, and built in FM.
A DRM-gimped wireless music sharing feature that no other device really has anyways? OK, so don't use it.
Re:Refresh my memory... (Score:5, Insightful)
By the way, given the headline, shouldn't Zonk have posted this story?
Re:Refresh my memory... (Score:5, Interesting)
No. It is hated because it's an inferior product. Maybe it has nice capabilities, but these are then crippled by obsession over "content protection". The Zune is made to placate the RIAA, from it's DRM laden squirt "feature" to the pirate protection cost built into the price. It totally ignores even MSFT initiatives like playsForSure, which is just sloppy in my opinion. In fact, that's why I hate it the most. Not because of the DRM (because I don't care about that since I won't buy one) but because of the sloppy you'll-take-what-we-give you attitude from MSFT. They didn't even have the foresight to make it play well with their own stuff.
So, to sum up: hated, yes. Irrationally, no. There is no newsletter to read here, just read about the product.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
The only reason I am replying to this post is that it made me laugh. That has to count for something, even if you said I was backpedaling. As if!
I feel about the same way about the Zune as I do when I see a colossal trainwreck [hvysl.org] of a web site (since I am a web developer). No, there is no personal vendetta, it just irritates that someone could be *that* inattentive to details...well, no, details is the wrong word here. I should say inattentive to things that *aren't* minor details, like, oh, backward
Re: (Score:2)
Well, then I would hope your hate for the iPod is several times that of this new Zune. Even from an Apple fanboy like myself I have to admit that the Zune is much more open than the iPod. DMR-less store? Sharing of files (albeit in a limited way)? It's not the freest device it could possibly be, but it's certainly better than anything else on the market. And unless they leave out mass storage, you can at least pull files off it (unlike a pod-like device out there).
From my first impressions it looks like M
Re:Refresh my memory... (Score:5, Insightful)
What defines inferior. WiFi sync, WMV support and FM are useful features to me, and the fact i don't need to run the hideous iTunes Win port is yet another great feature.
The second generation of Zunes looks quite promising (the first didn't quite) both as form factor, weight, battery life, features, capacity and price. And the 80 GB model has real earbuds, not the garbage shipped with iPod which you throw away and buy 3rd party ones.
I don't have too much love for Zune, but it's a nice product in its second generation. Don't forget Microsoft always hits a homerun on attempt 3
Last question: Do you always hate inferior equipment? Why on Earth *hate* it? Ignore it, dismiss it, not buy it, tell your friends it's not a good buy sure. But hate it? Someone has issues.
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Even if it's total bullshit!!!
Even if it disses things that this does better than the comparable Apple product!!!
But don't diss the Apple product or you'll be modded into oblivion ZOMG!!!!
Sorry, but someone has to say this, what a pile of fucking crap.
There is absolutely NOTHING mentioned that isn't the same or WORSE with the iPod, and yet that is gold plated and shit-stain-proof isn't it?
'sloppy you'll-take-what-we-give yo
Re: (Score:2)
So far I'm pretty happy with it and the only things I'd change are that it's difficult to put videos on it, the battery life is shorter than the nano, an
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
Truly, AC, we shall swim in a sea of moderation points and live on brownies alone. Well, forget that last part. That was a bit much on my part. I apologize.
what about the DRM "feature"? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:what about the DRM "feature"? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:what about the DRM "feature"? (Score:5, Insightful)
I think part of it is a feeling of MS being dishonest. It feels like they are trying to "cheat" the users, to cheat me. "Here is what you want, but not really, so why don't you buy our crippled product."
It ALSO feels like it carries a certain mental baggage. By accepting that someone else can only play it 3 times, I am buying into a system that thinks DRM is a good thing in a very obvious way. With the iTunes/iPod connection, DRM is still there but it is not nearly as blatant. Basically, Apple doesn't get the same grief because the are better at seduction then MS. Apple is the smooth talker that just says, "hey baby, marriage just is not for my thing. Maybe it will be someday." While MS says, "I could give you what you want but I am not going to. Deal."
It is a strange situation. We geeks often hate MS and love Apple. Both are not giving us what we clearly want, but one is more upfront and honest about it. You could also say blunt even. Which, if either, is better? Personal choice I think. Some of us prefer the pleasant lie, some prefer to take whatever we can get right now.
DRM is DRM (Score:2)
plus with the wifi, u probably be breaking the new law in Japan when u fly with it:
http://games.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/10/03/1620259 [slashdot.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Microsostrich (Score:5, Insightful)
Also, it's not the player - I still can't believe people are missing this. It's the synergy of the player, the music, the store, the industrial design, the marketing and the ubiquity. MS have just changed maybe 2 of these (the design looks to be better). That's not sufficient.
If you saw any of the zune V1 adverts, I think you'll agree they were just plain weird - Apple's promotion of (ahem) a *music* player was to show people enjoying their music. Microsoft's approach should be a case-study in how not to market stuff -
Let's see if they do better this time around. I think they will, marginally. I still don't think they have a world-changer on their hands, and that's what they need - in the same way as Apple need a world-changer to upset the MS hegemony in the PC sphere; even with steadily increasing monthly saled percentages (far better than the zune is doing), a Mac is still very much a second-tier choice.
So - nice try MS. Must do better.
Simon
The iPhone/touch is new, remember... (Score:2)
Re:The iPhone/touch is new, remember... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
What country are you in? I've never heard that usage before and a web search didn't turn up anything.
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
I used to think this is why the iPod was so great. However, the greatness of the iPod is diminishing imo.
iTunes was great at managing music. Then apple went and added movies, tv and video. The interface for managing that video was crap however. I was shocked that apple would realease a "video player" that could not play full screen. In addition the video files were useless unless you had a video iPo
Re:Microsostrich (Score:4, Informative)
#1 Apple 4G Nano (silver, latest)
#2 Apple 16G ipod touch
#3 Apple 80G ipod classic (black, latest)
#4 Apple 8G ipod touch
#5 Apple 160G ipod classic (black, latest)
#6 Apple 80G ipod classic (silver, latest)
#7 Apple 8G ipod nano (green, latest)
#8 Apple 8G ipod nano (black, latest)
#9 Apple 8G ipod nano (blue, latest)
#10 Apple 8G ipod nano (silver, latest)
#11 Apple 1G ipod shuffle (purple, latest)
#12 Sandisk 8G (black)
#13 Sandisk 4G +SD
#14 Apple 2G nano (silver)
#15 Zune 30G (white) (this is the V1 player)
#28 Zune 30G (black) (this is the V1 player)
#29 Sandisk 1G express
#30 Zune 4G pink (this is the V2 player)
#31 Zune 8G red (this is the V2 player)
#32 Zune 4G black (this is the V2 player)
#33 Zune 8G pink (this is the V2 player)
#34 Zune 4G red (this is the V2 player)
#35 Zune 80G black (this is the V2 player)
#36 Zune 8G black (this is the V2 player)
#54 Zune 30G brown
I gave up listing apple players after the first 15 or so. The majority of the missing numbers are Apple MP3 players.
What I think is interesting from this list is that all the top 10 (11 actually) players are the latest-generation players from Apple. The zune V2, even on its launch-day, is languishing in the #30's. It's not even beating the zune V1. I don't think that's a good sign...
Simon
The interesting thing (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:The interesting thing (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple has backported a lot of features, but not all are possible to back port due to hardware limitations. It's like asking Sony to backport your cassette based walkman to play CD's.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Apple backports too... (Score:2)
But really the better comparison for Zune updates in the Apple world is between the Touch and the iPhone, since it's a much more similar case - very similar hardware with one released after the other. The Touch shipped with the WiFi music store, and a few weeks later we get that on the iPhone too.
How do I order? (Score:2)
Buhuhuhu. (Score:5, Insightful)
I've never got the point of wireless synching... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:I've never got the point of wireless synching.. (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:I've never got the point of wireless synching. (Score:2)
Not very difficult. But it is a good deal more convenient to sync wirelessly if you just want to add a couple of songs. If you've ever used BlueTooth or 802.11, you have all the pre-requisite knowledge needed to grasp this concept.
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Or you're like me and you have your player in a dock in your car, and you never use the player outside of the car. Right now I rarely add new music to my Zune because it's a pain in the butt to bring it inside. I do have to remember to hook it up to my PC once a month to renew the DRM licenses, at which point I may put some more musi
How dare they (Score:5, Funny)
Frankly I think we are lucky that they did not change the DRM and force everyone to buy new tracks for the new player.
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2, Insightful)
- Scott
Re: (Score:2)
How dare they introduce a better product so soon after the original was released. What about the dozens of early adopters that spent good money on the first generation Zune. I hope MS will give some sort of trade in to compensate those that were conned into buying the original, inferior, zune. It has not even been a year!
Frankly I think we are lucky that they did not change the DRM and force everyone to buy new tracks for the new player.
They are updating the original Zune firmware to support all of the features in the new model.
Interface (Score:4, Funny)
With only seven options on the main menu, you think they could've fit it on to a single screen (settings is below the fold). This is the sort of crap that makes me not take Microsoft seriously. To quote SNL - "Who's the marketing genius who came up with that one?"
Zune. No grapes, no nuts. What's the deal?
Still not clear whether they have fixed Wifi (Score:3, Insightful)
Can I access the store and buy music DIRECTLY ON THE DEVICE?
Can I download free MP3's available on the Web DIRECTLY ON THE DEVICE?
Can I listen to online streams? (including the BBC, so realplayer may be needed)
Does it have a PodCatcher, or can I add one, so that I can download podcasts DIRECTLY ON THE DEVICE?
Can I use it without ever synching anything with a desktop?
These are the features that could set the Zune apart (yes, even from the iPod) It isn't clear that they get it yet.
Unpopular... (Score:5, Interesting)
Disclaimer: I pre-ordered an iPod Touch last week, and am actually expecting it to arrive today via FedEx.
Ars Technica had an overview of the major changes yesterday:
* Wireless syncing with a PC? Check.
* Software now supports podcasts? Check.
* Move TV shows automatically to the Zune? Check.
* Share whole playlists, albums, and podcasts (with no more silly time restrictions)? Check.
* Bring DRM-free music to the Zune Store? Check.
For Windows users, those actually seem like pretty nifty features. The wireless syncing alone is pretty darn cool, and is a feature iPod users like myself have wanted for a while (and my iPod touch STILL will not have). The DRM-free music bit is obviously in response to Apple, but it is a welcome move no matter what the catalyst. Being able to record TV shows using Media Center, and then move those recorded shows to the Zune is nice functionality too.
I also think it was pretty good of Microsoft to extend this firmware update to existing Zune owners, so they get all of this new functionality, and aren't pushed to buy a new Zune.
It's also worth noting that the new Zune's don't come in brown (the 80GB one only comes in black, for example), according to Ars.
I am an iTMS user, so the iPod touch is still my personal preference (and I like the iPhone UI), but for others, the Zune 2.0 finally seems like a more than decent alternative.
With that in mind - flame away.
- Scott
Re: (Score:2)
If those demanding wireless syncing understand this
Re: (Score:2)
This alone guarantees that I will purchase one. Daughter + Car + Zune + Dora. Done.
Re: (Score:2)
Also, it's user interface isn't very good. It has the same MS philosophy that what the computer wants is more important then what the user wants.
Time restrictions gone, play restrictions still in (Score:4, Informative)
Also note the post below about how wireless syncing requires the Zune to be docked!
Re: (Score:2)
For example, one thing that made the iPod great was the firewire bus. Firewire, unlike USB, can charge even if the computer does not mount the device. It was that I always charged the iPod on the computer, and it made s
But (Score:2)
Legal issues (Score:2)
Perhaps If The Zune Had This Capability... (Score:2)
Being able to play Halo 3 on it.
What Microsoft needs (Score:2)
the Zune? (Score:2)
on one hand it's good business. on the other its desperate tactics.
on the gripping hand its still a untrusted (at least by me) DRM infected iPod wannabe with only the merest smidgen of innovati
Double standard (Score:3, Insightful)
When the Zune came out, everybody lambasted it for not having wireless syncing, even though it had WiFi (come on, this is a "duh of course you should have it" feature). Yet the iPhone came out and it didn't have wireless syncing EITHER. But nobody complained, heck nobody even MENTIONED this. AND... the Zune didn't have the capability to be used as a storage device (e.g. usb drive). Guess what? Neither does the iPhone and iPod Touch!
I'm not a Microsoft nor Apple fanboy (heck, I have an iPhone myself!). But I'm curious as to why no one's complaining about the lack of wireless syncing with iTunes with either the iPhone or iPod Touch. Seems like a... "duh of course you should have it" feature.
(I do know that at least one review complained of the lack of use as a disk drive - iLounge's review).
Actually a lot of people complained (Score:3, Informative)
Just search back through any of teh 10k/minute iPhone stories from earlier in the year and you'll see this is not true. There were (and are) a LOT of people asking for wireless sync from the iPhone.
I would personally li
Up your Game (Score:3, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Re: (Score:2)
Ah, you live in Europe too!
Re: (Score:2)
Feel free to change iPod to Wii when talking about the playstation.
Even an iPod hater thinks the Zune is useless (Score:2)
But the Zune? If MS is going to overcome Apple huge lead and cool factor they will have to do much, much better then this. If I had to pick between Zune and iPod I would hold my nose and pick the iPod.
If I could pick anything I wanted I would buy something from one of the many smaller players. One of the ones that supports the subscription services from yahoo, etc. Those services are great,
It's Web 2.0 in your hand! (Score:3, Interesting)
I wasn't sure if those were real screenshots, or what.
Not Mac compatible (Score:4, Insightful)
Seriously - if Microsoft wants people like me (and the other 2 million people in the last 4 months that bought a Mac) to consider their products, step 1 is making it compatible.
This is a singluar reason why iPod is crushing Zune.
They need to castrate their marketing director (Score:3, Insightful)
Music and entertainment, your way. Learn more.
Burger King's slogans:
Have it your way.
Your Way, Right Away
I propose the following for the new 3rd gen Zunes (when they get here):
We do music right.
Finger Lickin' Good
Microsoft Zune. We're Hot and on a Rock 'n Roll.
Zune. Squirt fresh
and... Zune. I'm McLovin it.
Hmmm... Maybe I should trademark those now...
Getting closer... still not there. (Score:2)
As such, my 4 year old Axiom still beats the pants off of either a iPood or the Zune.
-Rick
Re: (Score:2)
It would, if it had a decent interface for playing music. I can't understand why cell phone companies (and MS with windows mobile) didn't realize this years ago, they had the opportunity to make the iPod (and related devices) virtually irrelevant - but they failed to capitalize on it.
ROFLcopter (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
So convert them to a more open format. A perfectly good op