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ZOMG New Zunes
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."
"Do we hate this irrationally still?"
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.
blah blah blah
I know this opinion will be like an STD here, but the new Zunes actually seem alright.
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
The nomads were good solid players. They just sucked in the way that most Asian made hardware does, a lack of interest in developing drivers, firmware or support software. The hardware, was for the most part reliable, as long as you just used the base unit, and treated the headphone jacks with some degree of caution. Never had an issue with it myself.
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.