3 New Zune models (2 Flash based), plus updated Zune Marketplace store with 1 million unprotected MP3 songs and updated Zune software:

http://www.news.com/Microsoft-unveils-new-...ml?tag=nefd.top

Your thoughts?

my thoughts? boring, ugly. Zune is dead, and it shows that no matter how much money you have, good design is difficult to get.

The Zune will get little love on this forum due to the rampant following of Ipod users who will poo-poo anything in relation to Microsoft or most anything that is not an Ipod. Even big bad Apple were swayed by the bigger screen concept (see Ipod Touch and Phone) that Archos, Meizu and Microsoft have pushed onto the market.


I for one like the new branch.

- Sharing Video, Pictures, Audio, also they will be giving this new firmware to the older Zune by firmware update in November.
- Wireless Syncing
- Take Recorded TV from Windows Media Center

All in all, it is an improvement upon the Zune's starting base. Though as always I am iffy on touch controls due to their sensitivity. Of course, if I grab one it will be the Harddrive one as the only flash player I will get will be the Meizu miniplayer 6 SL (cheap, multiple codecs, and good).

Though, we have to wait until November...seems they didn't make that Oct. 16 deadline they wanted. Probably due to manufacturing the thing on their own as opposed to having Toshiba rebrand a Gigabeat with some upgrades.

Just time to wait and see now.

http://www.zune.net/
They also updated the website with them.

I think you're right about the Zune getting little love on this forum. I doubt these new Zunes will be able to play the protected tracks and videos/movies I have already purchased on iTunes (MPEG 4 Video/H.264/AVC).

I see Microsoft is supporting both both .m4a (MPEG 4 AAC audio) and .m4v (H.264 MPEG 4 video) (unprotected media only) Apple formats. This is good news as it will help H.264 video become even more popular.

You can hardly fault Microsoft for that - it's Apple that doesn't allow other companies to license its Fairplay DRM that the iTunes store uses. Maybe the EU antitrust case will force them to open it up, but so far no non-Apple hardware will play iTunes music/video.

Apple shouldn't license it's DRM. Keeping it closed is forcing companies to release in MP3 instead of drm'ed formats. If it weren't for Apple all you'd get is DRM wma. This is a good thing.

I agree that Apple has done much for promoting new audio and video open standards (other than MP3 and WMV). I hope Apple has something "up its sleeve" to put more distance between itself and the new Zunes though... Native support for FLAC would be nice... (at least FLAC import in iTunes with tag preservation).

The shape of the main button looks obscene. Seriously, I don't know why.

This article agrees with you and calls the main button a squarish circle or "squircle". It's a tough article ripping the new Zunes:

http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/15080/

Warning: Zune and Microsoft fans will probably not like the tone of the above article. Be forewarned.

Truth is the Zune gets little love on any forum. I wounder why....

Yes, I'm also totally clueless why that would happen all the time.

I personally don't have a great love for Microsoft (not for monopolies in general). But if a product is better, even if from MS, i use it. For example, i used for about 1 or 2 year IE, after the Netscape fiasco. But i must confess that as soon as something equally, or in this case better (Mozilla/Firefox) appeared i switched again.

So, in the case of the Zune:

1) It is UGLY.
2) It is Windows centric.
3) It offers no advantage over an iPod.
4) I don't want MS to win any other market (the OS market is too much already).
5) did i said it is UGLY?

It is on Mac Daily News it would do everything but offer the least amount of anything that would seem like anything but hate for the device. What can you expect from Mac Daily News in regards to anything Microsoft?



Probably due to the rabid Ipod fans displaying it all over the place...seriously why so much hate directed at a device that is nowhere near to taking over the market totally. Apple dominates this market and will continue to do so due to this rabid following of people who can't even consider the possibility of alternatives and force this no alternatives mentality on new users to the market. It hurts Sansa, Microsoft, Meizu, Cowon, et cetera who have to not only deal with the Advertising of Apple but this rabid fan mentality.

No alternatives my arse there are always alternatives even in Operating Systems.



Still looks better than that Ipod Classic and its dwarf cousin Ipod Nano...so ugly they could be considered fugly. Why did Apple go that route with the design? Continues on the Toshiba design with some slight changes.


By the by, this is a case in point for my answer to spockep...

Although, I didn't know Ipod came standard with wireless syncing? Sharing video, audio, pictures with friends?

I don't see the PMP market being hurt. I see more and more competition, that is trying to take apples market share. In fact, a friend of mine bought a SANSA per my recommendation.


Right. Way better. (It does not, but it is obvious a personal thing).


I don't care the least about that features. And people tend to agree. And please, don't talk about the crippled "friend sharing". Welcome to the social.

Until the Zune support gapless playback of MP3, and unicode, I won't bother with it.

From the initial comments that would seem otherwise.


Ouch! I guess I should put sarcasm in brackets (i.e. [sarcasm][/sarcasm]) but I digress the new Zune design is not ugly although that green color was a bad choice. Seriously how can anyone consider any digital player ugly is beyond me...its just a simple design with a new touchpad and a slightly bigger screen. Nothing ugly about it or any of the new generation of DAPs (Apple included). Though the constant repetition of the world ugly does come as vitriolic. Does it not? Maybe we are compensating for something here...I don't know...

Apple will still be selling Ipods tomorrow don't worry and Microsoft will not control the market but will push it in a new direction not to mention that Apple instead of stagnating technologically with the Ipods will continue to develop, although they are falling behind in the Flash Player world when stacked against the Sansa, Meizu, etc.



Some of the News reports are stating that thing will be discontinued (i.e. no more 3 play). Don't know for sure yet. It did hurt the Zune a little bit but when my friends and I used it was mostly just exploring new songs.

The problem is more RIAA than Microsoft on this one though and we all know that is the case. Seriously, RIAA considers all DAP users pirates first until proven otherwise. All one has to do is to look at the tag or warning that comes on almost all DAPs to see this is the case. Do you think Microsoft can just do anything it wants when up against the RIAA and MPAA? Does Apple? Does Sansa?

Plus what feature is the Zune lacking that the Ipod has? Protected AAC and Protected Mpeg4 Video playback? Do you seriously think Apple would allow Microsoft to play their protected stuff on a competitive DAP?

It may lack lossless playback but that is not definite in stone yet due to the new firmware that comes with the new Zunes and upgrade for old Zunes in November, which is adding Mpeg4 Video support and possibly support for more audio codecs.

Don't even state the calender and clock as SUPERIOR features of the Ipod because that is tend to be feature people could care less about but some do care about changing the backgrounds.

Also, the new Zune firmware comes with podcasts so that cuts out another difference between the two. What is left? Gapless playback...maybe, we don't know because not all the details are out on the new Zunes.

In the end, what is this "killer" feature that brings forth such vitriol from a single person?

Well honestly (as a 5G iPod owner) I'm a little impressed by the new Zune, and a little unimpressed by the new iPods. If I want a decent video playing portable with 60+ GB of storage (and I do) then Apple has completely let me down this generation. The touch should have a hard drive, IMO.

The Zune's glass screen is also an awsome addition.

But I don't like losing gapless MP3 playback, and the screen isn't iPhone-awsome, so ultimately I think i'm waiting a gen, or until the iPhone has 30+ gigs of capacity. Until then, the 5G i have is good enough. But I can see the appeal of the Zune vs the new iPods.

Is FLAC a supported format on the new Zune?