Zune reviews
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Paul Watson wrote:
The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes.
And have you seen the DRM restrictions on the songs you send to other people - they (the songs, not the people :-)) get deleted after three plays or three days, whichever occurs first.
I don't mind the three-day/three-play expiry thing but I do mind that you can't send on a song that has been sent to you. That kills the social aspect. They should let it be sent on.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
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Paul Watson wrote:
You can't use WMP with your Zune.
And the its doesn't support, Podcasts and Plays for Sure ... I wonder what MS are hoping to achieve, who they are hoping to market this to. This definitely is not another XBox in the making.
Regards Ray "Je Suis Mort De Rire" Blogging @ Keratoconus Watch
Ray Kinsella wrote:
I wonder what MS are hoping to achieve
Simple, disrupt the specific market as much as possible. They've done this countless times before, PenWindows/Windows CE, Development Tools, IE, etc. They may choose to stick with it, they may not. Personally I wish they would just focus on what they already have on their plate instead of continually adding crap to it.
¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Techno Silliness
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Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
shorter MS: anything Apple can do, we can do later !
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Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Don't worry some nut will hack it, load it with Linux and play some other format just to prove it can be done.
Blog Have I http:\\www.frankkerrigan.com
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Paul Watson wrote:
Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
How to shoot yourself in the foot. I can't even start to understand how someone would even think of designing a system like that.
Paul Watson wrote:
# Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
What is this ? Zune does not support mp3 as a native format ? or WAV ? it will convert to what ? :confused: anyway, for me, it's too little too late, my iPod works flawlessly.
Maximilien Lincourt Your Head A Splode - Strong Bad
Maximilien wrote:
Paul Watson wrote: Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing. How to shoot yourself in the foot. I can't even start to understand how someone would even think of designing a system like that.
That is roughly equiv to the UK exchange rate in pounds and pence. Jolly nice of MS if you ask me to support the sterling exchange rate.
Blog Have I http:\\www.frankkerrigan.com
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Don't worry some nut will hack it, load it with Linux and play some other format just to prove it can be done.
Blog Have I http:\\www.frankkerrigan.com
i'd like to see someone put the iPod OS on one.
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Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Well, you have to remember, this is version 1, remember the first IE Microsoft put out when they figured they were about to miss the Internet boat? Microsoft tries a quick start and enhances over time.
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: ASP.NET HttpException - Cannot use leading "..".. Latest Tech Blog Post: Replacing Vista System HD & New things learned!
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Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Thanks. I was looking into a Zune player but wasn't quite sure. I think I'll stick with my Zen.
only two letters away from being an asset
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Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
-
Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Bah, pretty much like any other MS product, it will become good around version 3.0.
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Bah, pretty much like any other MS product, it will become good around version 3.0.
by that time, iPods will have video cameras, word-processors and vibrators built-in.
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Just been reading two reviews of Microsoft's Zune player and while it isn't terrible it isn't going to convert any iPod users or be an iPod killer in the stores. The NYT review[^] is a bit biased IMO (I own an iPod too but jeez author, get a life) but it brings up some frankly weird points about the Zune:
- The Zune has WiFi, fantastic. Except you can only use it to send songs to other Zunes. You can't connect to a PC, network or any other WiFi device. WTF?
- You can't use it as an external HD. Sorry folks, no USB drive in Explorer for the Zune. WTF?
- The screen is bigger. Except it has the same resolution as an iPod.
- Real world testing shows poorer battery life than an equivalent iPod (two hours less.) And yet the Zune is bigger and heavier.
- No podcast support from what I can tell. Crikey.
- Songs are $0.99 but you have to buy credit bundles of $5 or more.
- Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing.
- The software media player is seemingly a stripped down Windows Media Player. You can't use WMP with your Zune.
- Getting all your existing music onto a Zune is a long conversion process if it works at all.
The other review[^]. It seems OK but nothing to rush out for.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Although I suppose having a dedicated player is kinda sorta maybe neat, I've never really understood what the big deal is about iPod, Zune, or any other such limited creatures. I have a Dell Axim PDA running the MS Pocket PC operating system. Admittedly, the memory card is only 4 gig instead of 30, but it's a rare week that my road trip listening would require more. I see it as the Vette's 12 CD changer on steroids. It also has standard 802.11 wireless, allowing me to control any of the Audiotron music players in my home stereo system via the web among other things. And of course, I can view pictures, play movies, etc. In addition to all of these features, it is of course a PDA, meaning calendar, file system, web browsing, other apps, etc. And what kind of music can I play? Anything you can play on a PC. My library is ripped to wma, but it could just as easily have been mp3. DRM constraints? My personal code of honor. So, maybe I'm just not hip & cool, but I really don't get it. Why on earth would I want to give up all this functionality, embrace the hassle of clumsy and incompatible DRM implmentations and gain little in return for the sacrifices other than the ability to use the iTunes store (with it's proprietary DRM'd files)? Zune? Who cares? But then, that's also what I said about the iPod. P.T. Barnum lives.
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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Although I suppose having a dedicated player is kinda sorta maybe neat, I've never really understood what the big deal is about iPod, Zune, or any other such limited creatures. I have a Dell Axim PDA running the MS Pocket PC operating system. Admittedly, the memory card is only 4 gig instead of 30, but it's a rare week that my road trip listening would require more. I see it as the Vette's 12 CD changer on steroids. It also has standard 802.11 wireless, allowing me to control any of the Audiotron music players in my home stereo system via the web among other things. And of course, I can view pictures, play movies, etc. In addition to all of these features, it is of course a PDA, meaning calendar, file system, web browsing, other apps, etc. And what kind of music can I play? Anything you can play on a PC. My library is ripped to wma, but it could just as easily have been mp3. DRM constraints? My personal code of honor. So, maybe I'm just not hip & cool, but I really don't get it. Why on earth would I want to give up all this functionality, embrace the hassle of clumsy and incompatible DRM implmentations and gain little in return for the sacrifices other than the ability to use the iTunes store (with it's proprietary DRM'd files)? Zune? Who cares? But then, that's also what I said about the iPod. P.T. Barnum lives.
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
Christopher Duncan wrote:
Why on earth would I want to give up all this functionality, embrace the hassle of clumsy and incompatible DRM implmentations and gain little in return for the sacrifices other than the ability to use the iTunes store (with it's proprietary DRM'd files)?
i listen to music non-stop while i'm working - always have. i used to pick 8 or 9 different CDs every morning and bring them to and from work. that got to be a drag. now, i just bring my iPod, and the 300 or so albums it holds are there whenever i want them. but, i typically just set it on Shuffle and let it pick songs at random all day long; it's like having my own personal radio station - and that was totally impossible before. it's really changed the way i listen to music, in ways i would never have anticipated.
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Christopher Duncan wrote:
Why on earth would I want to give up all this functionality, embrace the hassle of clumsy and incompatible DRM implmentations and gain little in return for the sacrifices other than the ability to use the iTunes store (with it's proprietary DRM'd files)?
i listen to music non-stop while i'm working - always have. i used to pick 8 or 9 different CDs every morning and bring them to and from work. that got to be a drag. now, i just bring my iPod, and the 300 or so albums it holds are there whenever i want them. but, i typically just set it on Shuffle and let it pick songs at random all day long; it's like having my own personal radio station - and that was totally impossible before. it's really changed the way i listen to music, in ways i would never have anticipated.
I can put around 120 albums on mine, so it wouldn't hold your 300. However, I have extremely diverse taste in music, and there is no mood that I've encountered where I'd want to hear a cross section of all those styles on any given day. Since having over 100 albums is sufficient for me, it's not worth the loss of other functionality or tying myself to clumsy DRM systems & proprietary music stores. Dedicated players do have greater capacity, but the way these iPods are hyped, you'd think that they represented something fundamentally new and more useful. It's just a bigger hard drive. Not exactly revolutionary.
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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by that time, iPods will have video cameras, word-processors and vibrators built-in.
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Well, you have to remember, this is version 1, remember the first IE Microsoft put out when they figured they were about to miss the Internet boat? Microsoft tries a quick start and enhances over time.
Rocky <>< Latest Code Blog Post: ASP.NET HttpException - Cannot use leading "..".. Latest Tech Blog Post: Replacing Vista System HD & New things learned!
Is that the right approach for hardware though? With all the marketing, hype and ad-spend on the Zune is a second or third round even going to be viable? Apple got it right the first time with the iPod.
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
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Although I suppose having a dedicated player is kinda sorta maybe neat, I've never really understood what the big deal is about iPod, Zune, or any other such limited creatures. I have a Dell Axim PDA running the MS Pocket PC operating system. Admittedly, the memory card is only 4 gig instead of 30, but it's a rare week that my road trip listening would require more. I see it as the Vette's 12 CD changer on steroids. It also has standard 802.11 wireless, allowing me to control any of the Audiotron music players in my home stereo system via the web among other things. And of course, I can view pictures, play movies, etc. In addition to all of these features, it is of course a PDA, meaning calendar, file system, web browsing, other apps, etc. And what kind of music can I play? Anything you can play on a PC. My library is ripped to wma, but it could just as easily have been mp3. DRM constraints? My personal code of honor. So, maybe I'm just not hip & cool, but I really don't get it. Why on earth would I want to give up all this functionality, embrace the hassle of clumsy and incompatible DRM implmentations and gain little in return for the sacrifices other than the ability to use the iTunes store (with it's proprietary DRM'd files)? Zune? Who cares? But then, that's also what I said about the iPod. P.T. Barnum lives.
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
It is an interface issue. With an iPod I can grab it and stop it playing music or start it or select a song to play in 3 clicks. With a PDA audio is not the primary function and it takes switching to the right app before I can start interacting with the music. Focused devices work well IMO. It is why I like simple mobile-phones, they do a few things well and don't try to be PDAs, video & audio players or anything else. I actually don't need PDA functionality in my life. So why buy a bulky device that does all of that and does audio playing but less efficiently than an iPod or Zune? It is cool we have both types of devices to suit different people. (I also know of no PDA as small as an iPod nano with as good battery life and plug-in-and-synch software.)
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
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Maximilien wrote:
Paul Watson wrote: Songs are listed as costing 79 "points" which sounds cool except 79 points will cost you $0.99. Now that is marketing. How to shoot yourself in the foot. I can't even start to understand how someone would even think of designing a system like that.
That is roughly equiv to the UK exchange rate in pounds and pence. Jolly nice of MS if you ask me to support the sterling exchange rate.
Blog Have I http:\\www.frankkerrigan.com
Frank Kerrigan wrote:
That is roughly equiv to the UK exchange rate in pounds and pence. Jolly nice of MS if you ask me to support the sterling exchange rate.
Oh you can be sure they will charge £0.99 and not the pound equivalent of $0.99 for songs when it comes to the UK. :)
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
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It is an interface issue. With an iPod I can grab it and stop it playing music or start it or select a song to play in 3 clicks. With a PDA audio is not the primary function and it takes switching to the right app before I can start interacting with the music. Focused devices work well IMO. It is why I like simple mobile-phones, they do a few things well and don't try to be PDAs, video & audio players or anything else. I actually don't need PDA functionality in my life. So why buy a bulky device that does all of that and does audio playing but less efficiently than an iPod or Zune? It is cool we have both types of devices to suit different people. (I also know of no PDA as small as an iPod nano with as good battery life and plug-in-and-synch software.)
regards, Paul Watson Ireland FeedHenry needs you
eh, stop bugging me about it, give it a couple of days, see what happens.
Paul Watson wrote:
Focused devices work well IMO. It is why I like simple mobile-phones, they do a few things well and don't try to be PDAs, video & audio players or anything else.
Agreed. I had to update my intentionally primative Nokia recently because I wanted a wireless headset. The Nokia had great battery life, no web browser, no camera, no nothing. It was a telephone. The new Motorola is okay I suppose, but comparatively is a PITA to use and the battery life is less than impressive.
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/23/ipod_accessory/[^] *cough* OK then...
Kicking squealing Gucci little piggy.
:laugh: