Zune Reviewed

Ok, sorry this has taken so long, but between school and work, it’s been hard to do anything. I know there are tons of reviews for the Zune already out there but I just wanted to write one on my own.

First off the software took two or so lifetimes to install and update. When it was done I had my 3rd player (Itunes, WMP, and Zune) but what I liked about this was the interface of the Zune player. It didn’t make copies of my entire library like Itunes did. The library was nice and split up into 3 categories, music movies, and pictures. First thing it did after i told it what music to upload, was to sync that music. The biggest issue I had with this was that if you reformat your comp then your Zune losses the feature of automatic syncing. Unless you want to delete everything on the Zune to change it’s home. I blame RIAA and DMCA for that…
Next videos are good to watch on the Zune. I mean the quality is good, and everything. My issue here is that I haven’t found a decent video converter so my movies or clips have a nice metallic tone to them. other than that The sideways interface it perfect. The whole menu was good, a bit laggy in parts but still good and easy to navigate.
The wireless feature is very cool in my own opinion, my friend has a Zune and we share music and movies. The 3 plays in 2 days thing is horrible, but I can flag it so next time I get on the marketplace I can find and buy the song. Another cool thing is if you close the player you can still charge the Zune and you can listen to your music at the same time. The remote doesn’t seem to work if it’s not dock with the computer though so it was kind of pointless to buy it unless, you have good computer speakers.

Size is a big issue for some people, for me not so much since I make sure my pants have big pockets. But the Zune is considerably larger than the Ipod even though , the screen is a bit bigger.
All in all I’d give the Zune 8.5/10

Wrapup of D day

Engadget was good enough to post an entire wrap up on the nights events here:
This is all from engadget
Live coverage
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates: Historic discussion live from D 2007
Steve Jobs live from D 2007
Steve Ballmer live from D 2007
Palm’s Jeff Hawkins live from D 2007

Apple
iPhone to get third party apps
Apple TV gets 160GB disk… and YouTube too
iTunes Plus and EMI’s DRM-free music hands-on
iTunes Plus DRM-free music now official(er)

Microsoft
Microsoft Surface – surface and gesture based computing lands
Microsoft Surface hands-on

Palm
Palm Foleo hands-on
Palm Foleo gallery
Palm Foleo announced

Etc.
Livescribe shows off Leapfrog Fly-esque pen computer for grown-ups
QiGO announces Internet Content Keys

If there was anything else I’ll add it later on in the day or please feel free to comment on it

LG’s Washing Machine Has an iPod Dock

Ok so this has to be the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen. This is all part of LG’s new “Home appliance with MP3 player” idea. It has a Ipod/Zune doc, for the mp3 device, and has speakers. To their quality I’m sure their decent, but not the best. Also it appears to have a networking adapter and a USB slot.
The only use I could see thi for would be the public washers, since sometimes people stand there. I couldn’t see any practical use for this at home.
A Washing Machine with Mp3 player by LG [Unwiredview]

Rumor: EMI’s DRM-Free Tracks Hitting iTunes This Week

-from Gizomodo

Electronista is reporting that “according to French sources familiar with negotiations for multiple online music stores,” Apple is set to drop EMI’s DRM-free catalog onto iTunes this week. Techs are entering the last stages of encoding and prepping the files to go live.

While previous statements seemed to indicate a gradual release starting this month, the kinda-but-not-really late release is in part due to a desire to dump the whole catalog at once.

Also partly to blame is EMI’s recent wheelings and dealings with Amazon, which may have kept Apple and EMI from finalizing their deal until last week. In sum, keep your eyes open but hopes only moderately skyward on Tuesday. They’ll get there eventually. – Matt Buchanan

DRM-free iTunes set this week? [Electronista]

Zune to get wireless downloads, version 2 hardware, flash player

-from Zune boards

Sometimes you can never know for sure, but we’ve got some pretty convincing material from a Zune source which shows a beta build of firmware v1.4 (shown as 2.1.4, perhaps as an internal designation). Apparently you’ll finally be able to put your WiFi to good use (other than being a part of “the social”) by using open WiFi hotspots (no word on WiFi you have the key for) and Microsoft points for downloading tracks. (Sorry, no word about subscriptions, syncing, and the like. And yes, we know the wireless icon is missing; we were told it was accidentally omitted from the download UI in this build.) Also up to bat in the near future, further confirmation that we can expect Zune v2 and a flash Zune in the next month or so — perhaps just in time to remind people that Apple isn’t the only game in town when the iPhone hype hits its peak. One more picture after the break.

Future Zunes to be Free with Subscription?

Microsoft might be taking a page from the mobile phone playbook, offering cheap or free Zunes for customers willing to sign up for a long-term service contract. Zune marketing director Jason Reindorp stated that they were looking at using the all-you-can-eat Zune Pass subscription like a phone contract.

This is a really interesting idea, and it could be the thing that finally makes the Zune stand out when compared with the iPod (besides the pretty useless “social” WiFi features). The idea of being able to download as much music as you want and getting a free or cheap player out of the deal makes a subscription service seem pretty sweet.

If given the option between spending $250 on a 30GB iPod that you need to fill yourself, or a free Zune that you’re locked into paying what would work out to $360 for over two years (at current rates) that you get a subscription service with, what would you choose? –Adam Frucci

Zune for free with a phone-like plan? [Zune Online]

Zune the next to drop DRM?

-from engadget
After this morning’s big announcement we had to head over to get the other guy’s take on the news. Microsoft was happy to oblige and furnish us with the usual boilerplate PR quote, including a very interesting bit on the future direction of DRM in the Zune.

Microsoft’s response, specifically regarding the Apple / EMI announcement:
“Consumers have indicated [having DRM free music] is important to them so Zune has been working with a variety of partners to head in this direction. [Emphasis ours] This is a time of transition for the music industry and Microsoft is committed to striking a balance between delivering the best consumer experience while still protecting the rights of the content owners.”

Microsoft’s general response with regard to DRM:
“Regardless of the outcome of DRM for music downloads, DRM technologies will still have a key role in enabling businesses involving digital content. Subscription music services are a good example – they use DRM to enable consumers to have unlimited access to literally millions of music tracks. Other areas include the delivery of high quality video content, such as movies. Our role continues to be to deliver flexible DRM technology that provides choice for the content owner in how they distribute their content and choice for the consumer so that they have access to a wide variety of high-quality content and ways to enjoy that content.”

There you have it, ladies and gents. Microsoft is working behind the scenes to shake some of the DRM from the Zune.

Zune firmware update v1.3 is out

-from egadget
It was but a mere eight days ago when we suggested that the number one thing that would currently improve the Zune’s status would be to get firmware v1.3 out to end users, and thankfully, that day has come. Sure, it’s arriving ever-so-slightly behind schedule, but ZuneInsider is reporting that the latest software is finally available for download now, and it sounds like that annoying skipping problem with Zune Marketplace content will be addressed, as well as throwing in “improved device and software reliability” in the “device detection / syncing” departments. Additionally, the FM tuner drain has also been fixed so that it no longer eats away battery life in sleep mode. So while Microsoft still has a ways to go in our estimation in order to seriously compete, here’s to taking the first baby step.

[Thanks, Matt]

All Nike running shoes to be iPod compatible by year’s end

-from http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=2601
By Prince McLean
Published: 10:05 AM EST

Nike Inc. said last week that it plans to make its entire line of running shoes compatible with Apple Inc.’s iPod nano line by the end of this year.

The comment was made Nike president and chief executive Mark Parker on Thursday as the shoe maker released its third-quarter results, saying it had a soft year with some specialty mall retailers.

The segment overall was down, according to Boston.com, with some companies like Foot Locker Inc. and Finish Line Inc. suffering from slumping sales. Nike, however, said it is poised to make major changes in retail this year with the help of leading retail partners that will build strength.

“I won’t get into specific dates or executions, but you can expect to see some of these new Nike concepts at retail this calendar year,” Parker said

Although the exec wouldn’t disclose details, he hinted at changes to Nike’s Shox and apparel lines, including plans to make all its running shoes compatible with its Nike+ technology by the end of the year.

Nike+ allows runners to track their workouts — including distance, time and calories burned — with Apple’s line of iPod nano digital music players.

In September, Apple said that it sold over 450,000 of the Nike+iPod Sport Kits in its first three months of availability. The $30 kit includes a wireless module that fits into the sole of Nike+ running shoes and a receiver that plugs into the base of an iPod nano

The Zune

So after some research I decided to get the Zune over the Ipod. hen I get one I’ll do my own little review on it, but from what I’ve seen it doesn’t seem as bad as people are making it sound. You turn it sideways for the movies, and keep it up for the music. complete with a 30 gig HDD for the same price, at least in Austin, as the 20 gig Ipod video.