One of my buddies has lent me a Zune to play with. Here are some details about the player that I've had trouble finding around the web and should be of interest to HA members:

Even though the specs do not mention it, the player does support wma pro files. I successfully loaded these types of files onto the player:

Windows Media Audio 10 Professional
VBR Quality 98, 44 kHz, 2 channel 24 bit 1-pass

Windows Media Audio 10 Professional
128 kbps, 44 kHz, 2 channel 24 bit 2-pass VBR

However, wma pro lossless files are not supported. If you try to load such a file, it will transcode it on the fly, resulting in a very slow load time.

The player is not gapless with any of the supported formats (mp3, wma, aac). The gap with aac files is particularly noticeable. As with Windows Media Player, the software is gapless only for wma files.

There is no ReplayGain/SoundCheck-type feature either on the software or hardware.

That's actually a very cool feature I wish iTunes/iPod supported. With a 300+ GB hard drive, one could maintain their entire collection in Apple Lossless with auto transcoding to 128 AAC (or whichever setting you prefer) when syncing to the iPod. Yes, the 1st sync might take 5 hours, but after that - 15 minutes assuming only a few new songs are added/removed with each synch.

How about WMA Voice and WMV Advance Profile?
Or I have to wait for some firmwares....

It does. Just check convert higher bitrate to aac 128, on the iPod options on iTunes. This option is avaiable at least for the shuffle and the mini, but I am not shure about the other versions. It will even convert mp3 or higher bitrate aac to aac 128.

That feature is only available on iPod Shuffles. I am surprised it hasn't been offered for the other iPod's yet.

So is it gapless or not for wma files?

Sorry, that wasn't written very well. The Zune hardware is not gapless for wma files, but the Zune software is.

Is there a special software for it or what? I thought it works with WMP.

Yes, it needs zune software that looks very much like the WMP.

Nice, WMAPRO support, the only reason I would consider this player.

That's a good, excellent, new! Thank you very much for the test.

Now I wonder what format Zune MarketPlace (is it the correct name?) is selling. Microsoft is using a completely new DRM format dedicated their new DAP. Wouldn't it make sense to use a different audio format since the new DRM scheme already makes the files unreadable on any other player?

They could, you're right. But why? They have this all-singing all-dancing WMA format they just have to encapsulate in a slightly different DRM scheme.

If they were to choose a new format it would very likely be a form of AAC, perhaps implemented in a proprietary way. Doing this they'd throw away all costs made on research for WMA and suddenly have to pay license fees for AAC to a third party (which is not a lot, but still).

Somehow I believe that they haven't redone their drm stuff. They are likely to use standard WM drm but block other software except Zune from working with the player.

FYI: Zune Marketplace content works fine outside of the Zune application. It is seen as normal PlaysForSure-like WMA DRM. It will play in WMP 11, Winamp, etc. Yes, Windows Media Center, too. However, doing some of this is "unsupported" from Microsoft's point of view. I guess there could be some scenarios where it wouldn't work... if it doesn't work, you're on your own.

I thought with Apple supporting gapless playback on the iPods, other manufactures will jump into the gapless bandwagon. I guess not.

Perhaps others jumping on the gapless bandwagon will be a delayed effect. Apple surprised us all when they came out with gapless support in the middle of Sept. It was probably too late in the Zune development cycle to go back and add it.

Apple has certainly set the bar in this regard - especially since they went the extra mile and support gapless LAME mp3. I hope others follow. It is 90% of the reason that I bought an iPod.

Since this thread seems to be about general information, I'll add a bit that isn't readily apparent from the MS Product info stuff.

The Zune is supposed to revieve an update that will allow direct streaming to an XBox 360 enabled with wireless. This feature is pretty sweet if you ask me. Now my laptop, DAP, and stereo (via XBox) will speak to each other from anywhere in the house. Still no announced plans for DivX/XviD though .