I wish it were that simple..mkv worked under 10.4.10 with the same version of VLC. They won't even play in MCE with the appropriate decoders anymore. HOWEVER - if the issue isn't with Handbrake and VLC hasn't updated versions in a while (eliminating both VLC and QT as culprits) I didn't mention that I'm using Leopard and in all seriousness have to hold 10.5.x responsible.
Ok - so the Handbrake team should clarify this, acknowledging it or dismissing it with facts to the contrary. But if you read the forums there I think its been shown that QT and VLC are likely not the issue. And they don't work in MPlayer under OS X either.
No biggie -.mkv hasn't exactly caught on yet. Right now its the only container that will allow H.264 Mpeg4 to play nice with AC-3 audio.
We see and Winboi's can be just as bad - or worse. Its just that on Slashdot we like to jump to the most negative conclusion based on absolutely no evidence and take up space with 500 entry threads until someone posts a follow-up story that clarifies the issue. And no one in said 500 entry thread will have gotten it right in the first place - you and I included.
We use VLC. Now if the Handbrake folks would get a clue and realize that 0.9.1 fuxxors (I haven't got to use that one for a while).mkv files and stop blaming it on QT or VLC we'd be happier.
Mac - best damn video editing platform in the world.
Seriously - Apple in my experience pulls posts when their veracity can't be verified. Lord knows they keep plenty of very negative postings on their forums when the bug or whatever issue it is, is a known issue.
I'd stay tuned on this one - Apple has no reason to screw up 3rd party video editors and I certainly wouldn't build a conspiracy theory that its to boost their Video Rentals.
I bet this one is fixed pretty soon. I'll ante $0.25 on the bet.
First, after having waited years I finally purchased by 1st Mac - Macbook, 2.16ghz, 2G Ram, 120G HD. GMA950 graphics (stock), Superdrive.
I bought Leopard on the day it came out and did an archive/install. My impression is very favorable except for one annoying problem that many of us are experiencing with GMA 950 or NVidia graphics: Choppy/sluggish animations (genie, cover flow) with the 3D dock enabled. Running the 2D dock hack improves things immensely but still does produce the silky smooth animations inherent to Tiger.
I must say that I don't experience the issue quite as bad on the laptop display itself, but with the 20" WS (HP w2007) with the Mac in sleep mode, lid closed.
There have been many guesses as to what is causing the issue and Core Animation and display drivers in the 10.5.0 release are likely candidates.
Otherwise, rock solid. The FFMepgX author is promising a fix to the Applescript errors (only affects the bit rate calculator) in the next few days; Handbrake's MKV files fail to produce files readable by the Perian plug-in for Quicktime but otherwise still play in VLC. No other software incompatibility to report.
Not that I should honor your remark by replying but WTF? I see you got fed on bullshit growing up. Hope you liked the taste.
1. I'm a Jew 2. I've moved away from downloading via torrent and/or emule to buying from the iTunes Store. I love the service and appreciate the fact that I can move my music in between 5 authorized machines. I have no feeling that I don't "own" my music and vids purchased there. 3. I'm finally going to be a proud Mac Owner as soon as my Apple Store card comes this week. Macbook, here I come! (non-sequiter but thought I'd throw it in). 4. I'm active in the local Jewish Community. Funny, I've never been invited to one of those meetings where we supposedly plot to overthrow the world or ruin some other country's economy. You should visit Israel sometime. The streets there are rather decidely NOT paved with gold. 5. On the other hand you run into assholes everywhere. Some of them are at Synagogue - some of 'em here on Slashdot. In fact, I seem to be addressing one right now. 6. So...if you have 10 dishonest used car salesmen and 9 of 'em are WASPs and one is a Jew, I take it your attitude is, "9 of 'em screwed ya, one of 'em Jew-ed ya", yes? 7. Fuck you.
How can DRM "run in the background" and if such a thing were possible - What the hell would it do? Gates has already said the one thing that Jobs won't: "If you don't like DRM, buy the CD and convert the music" (paraphrase).
I wasn't aware that DRM was a process running in the background. Really.
Thanks for the reply. I'll google the iTunes issue.
No - it hasn't crashed on the AMD box at all. I did see a lot of BSODs on the GX620 and I always assumed it was driver issues on a proprietary box not intended at all to run Vista. It rocks on the AMD 4200+ and I've not experienced any of the slow file copy issues.
I do have new found respect for WMP 11 though. I just wish someone would come up with a free plugin that does what dosisp does. As far as purchasing music online - I think you're out of luck as it won't play or load anything purchased from the iTunes store.
Yeah - I get tired of the DRM comments ("Bill will infect your media with DRM") as much as I get tired of hearing how iTunes will convert all of your Mp3s to AAC without your knowledge, etc.
Uhm...explain however the slow file copy though. I'm not experiencing it on my current machine but I did on the last Intel P4 w/ hyperthreading (it was a Dell GX 620). File copying speed to my network drives was terrible - is there a setting I was missing or was this just my imagination?
Oh - I have another question that's probably better for a different thread. How come iTunes 7.2 and 7.3 couldn't play about half my music library that I originally created (that is, tagged and inventoried) under older versions of iTunes? Its one of the reasons I had to look for alternative sync software for my Nano.
WMP 11 has a great tag editor by the way, and a sweet interface. Why in the f**k they didn't utilize it for the Zune is just beyond me...
I'm running a Dual-Core AMD x64 4200+ with the onboard x1250 ATI card (all my good cards are AGP - I just haven't broke down yet and bought a decent Nvidia).
I've had good luck with Vista overall, the x1250 isn't great and only gives the machine an overall 2.8 rating. Otherwise - I'm not noticing the speed issues I did on my older machines running better graphics cards. Aero runs just fine. I'm not seeing any "2D tearing issues" and xVid, DivX, x264 encodes and DVDs run very smoothly. I use Haali Media Splitter and FFDShow to decode the x264 stuff I create with the Windows port of Handbrake.
IE7 SUCKS, end of story. I use Firefox with the IEtab if I absolutely must run an IE window - useful for getting into our company's webmail. IE7 is nothing more than a miserable hack trying to emulate Firefox and MS should be embarrassed for ever releasing this piece of crap.
Oh yeah...I ditched the Zune when I realized that high humidity was creating a cloud inside the polycarbonate screen cover that would take a week or more to escape. I never had the problem with my iPods...so I'm back to a 4Gig Nano for now. I liked the Zune except for this and one other issue: You can't see the f**kin' screen in daylight, bright or overcast. The iPod is very readable even in bright sunlight.
So, with my dandy new iPod I was finally able to check out the latest MGTEK dosisp WMP 11 plugin. It works as advertised so I was able to ditch iTunes. I was able to format and sync the Nano through WMP 11 with no issues. I haven't fired up Winamp yet in Vista so I can't speak for its iPod support.
Yes - you all can all ding me for my previous Zune comments - but what it did, it did really well. But I'm lovin' the Nano - but would have been happier with the 8G model.
Oh yeah - the MGTEK dosisp plugin is payware. I'm sure there'll be free solutions before too long. WMP 11 does such a nice job that I can't figure out why MS had to re-hack WMP10 into the "Zune Player". It really was crap.
Damn you sir! I didn't know anything about Rockbox until I read your post and now I'm reading every thing I can get my hands on. And if I don't see it for Zune soon (we should if it runs on the Gigabeat) you can be damn sure I'll be getting another iPod to run it on!!
If anyone knows what the Gigabeat is, its the Toshiba MP3 player running Windows Media Center Mobile, of which the Zune is a hack.
Works on the Gigabeat so only a matter of time before it runs on Zune. I have to admit I'd never heard of Rockbox. I really like the screenshots. Hope it doesn't screw up the video.
Cute. Well, I used to post under a couple of different names back in the day when I was a big Linux fan.
I like Macs too and I still read/. from time to time. I just thought singling out yet another MP3 player and slamming it for no good reason just 'cause its a MS product to be over the line so I responded.
Sue me.
Excellent post. I'm surprised it wasn't modded down to troll level as this comment might very well be.
What is a Zune? Uhm...its an MP3 player folks. What it does, it does reasonably well. If you're a big album art fan you'll probably like it. If you like mobile video, you'll probably like it. If you like a wide variety of cool wallpaper with white on dark scrolling text, you'll probably like it.
If you want to connect it to a Mac you probably WON'T like it.
If you like making your hand hurt trying to play solitare with a scroll wheel thingie, you probably WON'T like it.
If your MP3 player MUST have a clock - you probably WON'T like it.
Ok, enough of that - ZuneInsider has a decent listing of other links.
So - I'm a Zune owner. What's the deal? Why'd I buy one?
Nearly all the links above have a section or Blog with hacks. The Hard Drive hack and the Wi-Fi hack work as noted. I have a circle of friends at work who have Zunes and we can share non-DRM'd music, files, pics, etc., etc. Works very well.
I'm NOT a huge fan of WMV format. I'm a video junkie and your best bet in converting XVid/DivX, DVD, what have you, is to use of the available converters and create a standard iPod-compatible Mpeg4 and let the extremely trite and crappy Zune software convert it.wmv. If you convert directly to.wmv your audio is going to sound like crap.
That said - Video is sweet on the Zune once its converted.
Zune gets BIG points in my book for Audio. Its on par with the 3rd Gen iPod. Not sure what Apple was thinking for its 4th and 5th gen iPods but I never liked the sound quality that well.
By the way - you'll get my 3rd gen iPod when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands. Get on Ebay and buy one - I can nearly guarantee you that they'll be version number to collect.
DRM? Most of you know what Tunebite is and it works on anything from the Apple and Zune stores. Bye bye DRM. And of course you can load all your existing non-DRM'd music on the Zune as well.
Album Art - not as slick as the upcoming 6th gen iPod but full screen.
Navigation - not as bad as you think. Another point in its favor, honestly and I prefer it over the iPod.
FM Radio - onboard FM is better than any of the solutions I borrowed or bought for the iPod. It uses RDS and a very, very cool display. I'm a HAM, SWL'r, AM and FM BCB DX'r and this is a nice little radio for its antenna limitations.
CASE: Worst aspect of the iPod is how easy it gets scratched, be it the metal bezel or the front cover. The Zune case is a nice feeling rubber product that I've yet to scratch or fail to clean with a soft cloth. The screen is polycarbonite like the iPod and should you scratch it, it cleans up very well with the numerous iPod scratch repair kits out on the market.
I could go on but I'm not trying to convince you to buy one. Just letting you know that there is definitely a Zune fan base out there and we are extremely happy people. We understand the Zune's (many) limitations and lack of software but its few good points are really, really good points.
I imagine the Zune will get more popular when you can connect one to Ubuntu or a Mac.
Yawn...one of the most idiotic discussions I've seen so far on Slashdot. DRM is DRM is DRM and it all stinks. What - you think you *own* the crap you buy from Apple? BWHAHAHAHAHAHA. Of course you don't. The Marketplace is a piece of shit, I'll grant you. But who's fooling who here? I used my 14 day free pass, downloaded everything I wanted and then used Tunebite to convert everything to.mp3 with no DRM (yeah thats right - like none of you Apple Fanboys have never heard of Tunebite). Add to that, my entire collection of music I had my 30G 5G iPod that I HAPPILY sold to pay for the Zune.
OMIFGOD, you say! That's right - I SHIT-CANNED the iPod for this beauty. We already have a sweet, elite "social" (yeah, sucky fucking name) community where I work and we send each other shit all the time, including movies.
Wi-Fi broken? The FUCK you say! Go get an education at Zunescene or the other dozen or so Zune Forum sites. The sharing problem was CRACKED a long time ago - so CATCH UP TO REALITY friends. I can send anything I want via Zune's Wi-Fi anytime I want - movies, music, docs, software, you name it.
Now I'm not a fan of the Marketplace business concept of having to pay a monthly fee to keep your tunes "alive". But, since I like DRM even less, I simply do away with it. Oh yeah - and that INCLUDES the 3-day limit on Wi-Fi transfers, also easily by-passed.
Now boys and girls, go and type-in "ipod vs zune" or similar into Google and look at the tech comparisons. Zune audio is superior to 4th and 5th Gen iPods, period, end of story, not that I still don't covet the 3rd Gen iPod which was a masterpiece of both technical excellence and beauty. I don't miss the click-wheel though. Dialing up a song in the car is a pain in the ass and you know it, unless you have something like "iPod Car" or similar which transfers the control to your steering wheel controls or other dashboard function.
The Zune interface is a dream come true. Yeah, its a modification of Media Center Mobile but its gorgeous and extremely functional. Once you experience navigation in Zune, you'll never want to go back to the iPod model. Yeah, yeah..."no clock, calendar, no contacts - not a single luxury"! That shit's coming soon, plus games. Like the XBox, the Zune is exceptionally hackable and infinitely upgradeable.
Video? YEAH, BABY!!! I'm a video junkie and the Zune's Video gives me a stiffie while I was always disappointed in the iPod due to size and format. I was a big fan of Cucusoft's video converter for the iPod but their Zune converter leaves a lot to be desired. IMToo does a great job.
The trick of course, is NOT converting directly from DVD. You'll get beautiful video even on the iPod by converting your DVDs to the Mpeg4 flavor of your choice, then using a video converter such as described. OR, try out Handbrake (originally designed for Mac). The Win32 GUI isn't worth a crap but its rocks on the command line. My method is DVD Decrypter, then AutoGK in which the resulting XVid goes to my Media Center and then gets converted to my Zune.
I'm not a great fan of.wmv but if you buy a Zune and have vids you already converted for use on the iPod, the Zune software will convert them for you as is. IMToo has a nice tool set for conversion and you can get excellent quality vids with high quality stereo audio.
Let's talk about the case. Take a look at every other contender to the iPod. What are they? Clones. Nothing original to see here folks, move along. No thanks, I don't want yet ANOTHER Scratch-Pod. The Zune case is functional, aesthetically pleasing and is NOT a grease and scratch magnet. No need for a protective case other than I went ahead and invested $2.00 in a screen protector (I was a big fan of the McCally protectors for the iPod - best $5.00 you'll ever spend). The Zune is UNIQUE in this aspect.
Yawn...one of the most idiotic discussions I've seen so far on Slashdot. DRM is DRM is DRM and it all stinks. What - you think you *own* the crap you buy from Apple? BWHAHAHAHAHAHA. Of course you don't. The Marketplace is a piece of shit, I'll grant you. But who's fooling who here? I used my 14 day free pass, downloaded everything I wanted and then used Tunebite to convert everything to.mp3 with no DRM (yeah thats right - like none of you Apple Fanboys have never heard of Tunebite). Add to that, my entire collection of music I had my 30G 5G iPod that I HAPPILY sold to pay for the Zune.
OMIFGOD, you say! That's right - I SHIT-CANNED the iPod for this beauty. We already have a sweet, elite "social" (yeah, sucky fucking name) community where I work and we send each other shit all the time, including movies.
Wi-Fi broken? The FUCK you say! Go get an education at Zunescene or the other dozen or so Zune Forum sites. The sharing problem was CRACKED a long time ago - so CATCH UP TO REALITY friends. I can send anything I want via Zune's Wi-Fi anytime I want - movies, music, docs, software, you name it.
Now I'm not a fan of the Marketplace business concept of having to pay a monthly fee to keep your tunes "alive". But, since I like DRM even less, I simply do away with it. Oh yeah - and that INCLUDES the 3-day limit on Wi-Fi transfers, also easily by-passed.
Now boys and girls, go and type-in "ipod vs zune" or similar into Google and look at the tech comparisons. Zune audio is superior to 4th and 5th Gen iPods, period, end of story, not that I still don't covet the 3rd Gen iPod which was a masterpiece of both technical excellence and beauty. I don't miss the click-wheel though. Dialing up a song in the car is a pain in the ass and you know it, unless you have something like "iPod Car" or similar which transfers the control to your steering wheel controls or other dashboard function.
The Zune interface is a dream come true. Yeah, its a modification of Media Center Mobile but its gorgeous and extremely functional. Once you experience navigation in Zune, you'll never want to go back to the iPod model. Yeah, yeah..."no clock, calendar, no contacts - not a single luxury"! That shit's coming soon, plus games. Like the XBox, the Zune is exceptionally hackable and infinitely upgradeable.
Video? YEAH, BABY!!! I'm a video junkie and the Zune's Video gives me a stiffie while I was always disappointed in the iPod due to size and format. I was a big fan of Cucusoft's video converter for the iPod but their Zune converter leaves a lot to be desired. IMToo does a great job.
The trick of course, is NOT converting directly from DVD. You'll get beautiful video even on the iPod by converting your DVDs to the Mpeg4 flavor of your choice, then using a video converter such as described. OR, try out Handbrake (originally designed for Mac). The Win32 GUI isn't worth a crap but its rocks on the command line. My method is DVD Decrypter, then AutoGK in which the resulting XVid goes to my Media Center and then gets converted to my Zune.
I'm not a great fan of.wmv but if you buy a Zune and have vids you already converted for use on the iPod, the Zune software will convert them for you as is. IMToo has a nice tool set for conversion and you can get excellent quality vids with high quality stereo audio.
Let's talk about the case. Take a look at every other contender to the iPod. What are they? Clones. Nothing original to see here folks, move along. No thanks, I don't want yet ANOTHER Scratch-Pod. The Zune case is functional, aesthetically pleasing and is NOT a grease and scratch magnet. No need for a protective case other than I went ahead and invested $2.00 in a screen protector (I was a big fan of the McCally protectors for the iPod - best $5.00 you'll ever spend). The Zune is UNIQUE in this aspe
Slashdot Mirror
This should mod up to a "5". Most intelligently written post on the subject so far.
;)
Except mine, of course.
I wish it were that simple. .mkv worked under 10.4.10 with the same version of VLC. They won't even play in MCE with the appropriate decoders anymore. HOWEVER - if the issue isn't with Handbrake and VLC hasn't updated versions in a while (eliminating both VLC and QT as culprits) I didn't mention that I'm using Leopard and in all seriousness have to hold 10.5.x responsible.
.mkv hasn't exactly caught on yet. Right now its the only container that will allow H.264 Mpeg4 to play nice with AC-3 audio.
Ok - so the Handbrake team should clarify this, acknowledging it or dismissing it with facts to the contrary. But if you read the forums there I think its been shown that QT and VLC are likely not the issue. And they don't work in MPlayer under OS X either.
No biggie -
We see and Winboi's can be just as bad - or worse. Its just that on Slashdot we like to jump to the most negative conclusion based on absolutely no evidence and take up space with 500 entry threads until someone posts a follow-up story that clarifies the issue. And no one in said 500 entry thread will have gotten it right in the first place - you and I included.
We use VLC. Now if the Handbrake folks would get a clue and realize that 0.9.1 fuxxors (I haven't got to use that one for a while) .mkv files and stop blaming it on QT or VLC we'd be happier.
Mac - best damn video editing platform in the world.
Seriously - Apple in my experience pulls posts when their veracity can't be verified. Lord knows they keep plenty of very negative postings on their forums when the bug or whatever issue it is, is a known issue.
I'd stay tuned on this one - Apple has no reason to screw up 3rd party video editors and I certainly wouldn't build a conspiracy theory that its to boost their Video Rentals.
I bet this one is fixed pretty soon. I'll ante $0.25 on the bet.
First, after having waited years I finally purchased by 1st Mac - Macbook, 2.16ghz, 2G Ram, 120G HD. GMA950 graphics (stock), Superdrive.
I bought Leopard on the day it came out and did an archive/install. My impression is very favorable except for one annoying problem that many of us are experiencing with GMA 950 or NVidia graphics: Choppy/sluggish animations (genie, cover flow) with the 3D dock enabled. Running the 2D dock hack improves things immensely but still does produce the silky smooth animations inherent to Tiger.
I must say that I don't experience the issue quite as bad on the laptop display itself, but with the 20" WS (HP w2007) with the Mac in sleep mode, lid closed.
There have been many guesses as to what is causing the issue and Core Animation and display drivers in the 10.5.0 release are likely candidates.
Otherwise, rock solid. The FFMepgX author is promising a fix to the Applescript errors (only affects the bit rate calculator) in the next few days; Handbrake's MKV files fail to produce files readable by the Perian plug-in for Quicktime but otherwise still play in VLC. No other software incompatibility to report.
Happy with 10.5.0 and happily awaiting 10.5.1.
See ya's!
Not that I should honor your remark by replying but WTF? I see you got fed on bullshit growing up. Hope you liked the taste.
1. I'm a Jew
2. I've moved away from downloading via torrent and/or emule to buying from the iTunes Store. I love the service and appreciate the fact that I can move my music in between 5 authorized machines. I have no feeling that I don't "own" my music and vids purchased there.
3. I'm finally going to be a proud Mac Owner as soon as my Apple Store card comes this week. Macbook, here I come! (non-sequiter but thought I'd throw it in).
4. I'm active in the local Jewish Community. Funny, I've never been invited to one of those meetings where we supposedly plot to overthrow the world or ruin some other country's economy. You should visit Israel sometime. The streets there are rather decidely NOT paved with gold.
5. On the other hand you run into assholes everywhere. Some of them are at Synagogue - some of 'em here on Slashdot. In fact, I seem to be addressing one right now.
6. So...if you have 10 dishonest used car salesmen and 9 of 'em are WASPs and one is a Jew, I take it your attitude is, "9 of 'em screwed ya, one of 'em Jew-ed ya", yes?
7. Fuck you.
How can DRM "run in the background" and if such a thing were possible - What the hell would it do? Gates has already said the one thing that Jobs won't: "If you don't like DRM, buy the CD and convert the music" (paraphrase).
I wasn't aware that DRM was a process running in the background. Really.
Thanks for the reply. I'll google the iTunes issue.
No - it hasn't crashed on the AMD box at all. I did see a lot of BSODs on the GX620 and I always assumed it was driver issues on a proprietary box not intended at all to run Vista. It rocks on the AMD 4200+ and I've not experienced any of the slow file copy issues.
I do have new found respect for WMP 11 though. I just wish someone would come up with a free plugin that does what dosisp does. As far as purchasing music online - I think you're out of luck as it won't play or load anything purchased from the iTunes store.
Yeah - I get tired of the DRM comments ("Bill will infect your media with DRM") as much as I get tired of hearing how iTunes will convert all of your Mp3s to AAC without your knowledge, etc.
Uhm...explain however the slow file copy though. I'm not experiencing it on my current machine but I did on the last Intel P4 w/ hyperthreading (it was a Dell GX 620). File copying speed to my network drives was terrible - is there a setting I was missing or was this just my imagination?
Oh - I have another question that's probably better for a different thread. How come iTunes 7.2 and 7.3 couldn't play about half my music library that I originally created (that is, tagged and inventoried) under older versions of iTunes? Its one of the reasons I had to look for alternative sync software for my Nano.
WMP 11 has a great tag editor by the way, and a sweet interface. Why in the f**k they didn't utilize it for the Zune is just beyond me...
I'm running a Dual-Core AMD x64 4200+ with the onboard x1250 ATI card (all my good cards are AGP - I just haven't broke down yet and bought a decent Nvidia).
I've had good luck with Vista overall, the x1250 isn't great and only gives the machine an overall 2.8 rating. Otherwise - I'm not noticing the speed issues I did on my older machines running better graphics cards. Aero runs just fine. I'm not seeing any "2D tearing issues" and xVid, DivX, x264 encodes and DVDs run very smoothly. I use Haali Media Splitter and FFDShow to decode the x264 stuff I create with the Windows port of Handbrake.
IE7 SUCKS, end of story. I use Firefox with the IEtab if I absolutely must run an IE window - useful for getting into our company's webmail. IE7 is nothing more than a miserable hack trying to emulate Firefox and MS should be embarrassed for ever releasing this piece of crap.
Oh yeah...I ditched the Zune when I realized that high humidity was creating a cloud inside the polycarbonate screen cover that would take a week or more to escape. I never had the problem with my iPods...so I'm back to a 4Gig Nano for now. I liked the Zune except for this and one other issue: You can't see the f**kin' screen in daylight, bright or overcast. The iPod is very readable even in bright sunlight.
So, with my dandy new iPod I was finally able to check out the latest MGTEK dosisp WMP 11 plugin. It works as advertised so I was able to ditch iTunes. I was able to format and sync the Nano through WMP 11 with no issues. I haven't fired up Winamp yet in Vista so I can't speak for its iPod support.
Yes - you all can all ding me for my previous Zune comments - but what it did, it did really well. But I'm lovin' the Nano - but would have been happier with the 8G model.
Oh yeah - the MGTEK dosisp plugin is payware. I'm sure there'll be free solutions before too long. WMP 11 does such a nice job that I can't figure out why MS had to re-hack WMP10 into the "Zune Player". It really was crap.
What DRM??? I don't get it - are you saying the stuff you buy from iTunes isn't DRM'd?
I transferred my entire library to the Zune - it wasn't DRM'd before and it sure as hell wasn't DRM'd afterward.
I used my 14 day coupon for the Marketplace and downloaded everything I wanted, ran it all through Tunebite and voila, it wasn't DRM'd anymore either.
WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT???
Damn you sir! I didn't know anything about Rockbox until I read your post and now I'm reading every thing I can get my hands on. And if I don't see it for Zune soon (we should if it runs on the Gigabeat) you can be damn sure I'll be getting another iPod to run it on!!
Coming soon to a Zune near you:
- coming-soon/
http://crunchgear.com/2006/11/29/rockbox-for-zune
If anyone knows what the Gigabeat is, its the Toshiba MP3 player running Windows Media Center Mobile, of which the Zune is a hack.
Works on the Gigabeat so only a matter of time before it runs on Zune. I have to admit I'd never heard of Rockbox. I really like the screenshots. Hope it doesn't screw up the video.
Works fine for me. Maybe it was getting, I don't know...SLASHDOTTED???
Actually, one of the better Zune sites, too...
Cute. Well, I used to post under a couple of different names back in the day when I was a big Linux fan. I like Macs too and I still read /. from time to time. I just thought singling out yet another MP3 player and slamming it for no good reason just 'cause its a MS product to be over the line so I responded.
Sue me.
Excellent post. I'm surprised it wasn't modded down to troll level as this comment might very well be. What is a Zune? Uhm...its an MP3 player folks. What it does, it does reasonably well. If you're a big album art fan you'll probably like it. If you like mobile video, you'll probably like it. If you like a wide variety of cool wallpaper with white on dark scrolling text, you'll probably like it. If you want to connect it to a Mac you probably WON'T like it. If you like making your hand hurt trying to play solitare with a scroll wheel thingie, you probably WON'T like it. If your MP3 player MUST have a clock - you probably WON'T like it.
Since we have no real way to verify the 1M figure, I at least would like to post as a Zune owner and put in my 2 cents.
.wmv. If you convert directly to .wmv your audio is going to sound like crap.
And please turn off the automatic troll sensor - this isn't a troll.
First - a few websites dedicated to the Zune - use your own judgement as to their veracity as indicators of whatever popularity the Zune may have:
ZuneInsider http://zuneinsider.com/Default.aspx/
ZuneCorps http://zunecorps.com/
ZuneSphere http://www.zunesphere.com/
Wired Zune http://wiredzune.com/
Zunerama http://zunerama.com/
Zuney http://www.zuney.net/cmps_index.php/
Ok, enough of that - ZuneInsider has a decent listing of other links.
So - I'm a Zune owner. What's the deal? Why'd I buy one?
Nearly all the links above have a section or Blog with hacks. The Hard Drive hack and the Wi-Fi hack work as noted. I have a circle of friends at work who have Zunes and we can share non-DRM'd music, files, pics, etc., etc. Works very well.
I'm NOT a huge fan of WMV format. I'm a video junkie and your best bet in converting XVid/DivX, DVD, what have you, is to use of the available converters and create a standard iPod-compatible Mpeg4 and let the extremely trite and crappy Zune software convert it
That said - Video is sweet on the Zune once its converted.
Zune gets BIG points in my book for Audio. Its on par with the 3rd Gen iPod. Not sure what Apple was thinking for its 4th and 5th gen iPods but I never liked the sound quality that well.
By the way - you'll get my 3rd gen iPod when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands. Get on Ebay and buy one - I can nearly guarantee you that they'll be version number to collect.
DRM? Most of you know what Tunebite is and it works on anything from the Apple and Zune stores. Bye bye DRM. And of course you can load all your existing non-DRM'd music on the Zune as well.
Album Art - not as slick as the upcoming 6th gen iPod but full screen.
Navigation - not as bad as you think. Another point in its favor, honestly and I prefer it over the iPod.
FM Radio - onboard FM is better than any of the solutions I borrowed or bought for the iPod. It uses RDS and a very, very cool display. I'm a HAM, SWL'r, AM and FM BCB DX'r and this is a nice little radio for its antenna limitations.
CASE: Worst aspect of the iPod is how easy it gets scratched, be it the metal bezel or the front cover. The Zune case is a nice feeling rubber product that I've yet to scratch or fail to clean with a soft cloth. The screen is polycarbonite like the iPod and should you scratch it, it cleans up very well with the numerous iPod scratch repair kits out on the market.
I could go on but I'm not trying to convince you to buy one. Just letting you know that there is definitely a Zune fan base out there and we are extremely happy people. We understand the Zune's (many) limitations and lack of software but its few good points are really, really good points.
I imagine the Zune will get more popular when you can connect one to Ubuntu or a Mac.
See ya's,
DXMikey
HD Radio is a big fat LIE
Yawn...one of the most idiotic discussions I've seen so far on Slashdot. DRM is DRM is DRM and it all stinks. What - you think you *own* the crap you buy from Apple? BWHAHAHAHAHAHA. Of course you don't. The Marketplace is a piece of shit, I'll grant you. But who's fooling who here? I used my 14 day free pass, downloaded everything I wanted and then used Tunebite to convert everything to .mp3 with no DRM (yeah thats right - like none of you Apple Fanboys have never heard of Tunebite). Add to that, my entire collection of music I had my 30G 5G iPod that I HAPPILY sold to pay for the Zune.
.wmv but if you buy a Zune and have vids you already converted for use on the iPod, the Zune software will convert them for you as is. IMToo has a nice tool set for conversion and you can get excellent quality vids with high quality stereo audio.
OMIFGOD, you say! That's right - I SHIT-CANNED the iPod for this beauty. We already have a sweet, elite "social" (yeah, sucky fucking name) community where I work and we send each other shit all the time, including movies.
Wi-Fi broken? The FUCK you say! Go get an education at Zunescene or the other dozen or so Zune Forum sites. The sharing problem was CRACKED a long time ago - so CATCH UP TO REALITY friends. I can send anything I want via Zune's Wi-Fi anytime I want - movies, music, docs, software, you name it.
Now I'm not a fan of the Marketplace business concept of having to pay a monthly fee to keep your tunes "alive". But, since I like DRM even less, I simply do away with it. Oh yeah - and that INCLUDES the 3-day limit on Wi-Fi transfers, also easily by-passed.
Now boys and girls, go and type-in "ipod vs zune" or similar into Google and look at the tech comparisons. Zune audio is superior to 4th and 5th Gen iPods, period, end of story, not that I still don't covet the 3rd Gen iPod which was a masterpiece of both technical excellence and beauty. I don't miss the click-wheel though. Dialing up a song in the car is a pain in the ass and you know it, unless you have something like "iPod Car" or similar which transfers the control to your steering wheel controls or other dashboard function.
The Zune interface is a dream come true. Yeah, its a modification of Media Center Mobile but its gorgeous and extremely functional. Once you experience navigation in Zune, you'll never want to go back to the iPod model. Yeah, yeah..."no clock, calendar, no contacts - not a single luxury"! That shit's coming soon, plus games. Like the XBox, the Zune is exceptionally hackable and infinitely upgradeable.
http://www.zunescene.com/forums/ [zunescene.com]
Go check out the "Hacks" section.
Video? YEAH, BABY!!! I'm a video junkie and the Zune's Video gives me a stiffie while I was always disappointed in the iPod due to size and format. I was a big fan of Cucusoft's video converter for the iPod but their Zune converter leaves a lot to be desired. IMToo does a great job.
The trick of course, is NOT converting directly from DVD. You'll get beautiful video even on the iPod by converting your DVDs to the Mpeg4 flavor of your choice, then using a video converter such as described. OR, try out Handbrake (originally designed for Mac). The Win32 GUI isn't worth a crap but its rocks on the command line. My method is DVD Decrypter, then AutoGK in which the resulting XVid goes to my Media Center and then gets converted to my Zune.
I'm not a great fan of
Let's talk about the case. Take a look at every other contender to the iPod. What are they? Clones. Nothing original to see here folks, move along. No thanks, I don't want yet ANOTHER Scratch-Pod. The Zune case is functional, aesthetically pleasing and is NOT a grease and scratch magnet. No need for a protective case other than I went ahead and invested $2.00 in a screen protector (I was a big fan of the McCally protectors for the iPod - best $5.00 you'll ever spend). The Zune is UNIQUE in this aspect.
Y'know what I
Yawn...one of the most idiotic discussions I've seen so far on Slashdot. DRM is DRM is DRM and it all stinks. What - you think you *own* the crap you buy from Apple? BWHAHAHAHAHAHA. Of course you don't. The Marketplace is a piece of shit, I'll grant you. But who's fooling who here? I used my 14 day free pass, downloaded everything I wanted and then used Tunebite to convert everything to .mp3 with no DRM (yeah thats right - like none of you Apple Fanboys have never heard of Tunebite). Add to that, my entire collection of music I had my 30G 5G iPod that I HAPPILY sold to pay for the Zune.
.wmv but if you buy a Zune and have vids you already converted for use on the iPod, the Zune software will convert them for you as is. IMToo has a nice tool set for conversion and you can get excellent quality vids with high quality stereo audio.
OMIFGOD, you say! That's right - I SHIT-CANNED the iPod for this beauty. We already have a sweet, elite "social" (yeah, sucky fucking name) community where I work and we send each other shit all the time, including movies.
Wi-Fi broken? The FUCK you say! Go get an education at Zunescene or the other dozen or so Zune Forum sites. The sharing problem was CRACKED a long time ago - so CATCH UP TO REALITY friends. I can send anything I want via Zune's Wi-Fi anytime I want - movies, music, docs, software, you name it.
Now I'm not a fan of the Marketplace business concept of having to pay a monthly fee to keep your tunes "alive". But, since I like DRM even less, I simply do away with it. Oh yeah - and that INCLUDES the 3-day limit on Wi-Fi transfers, also easily by-passed.
Now boys and girls, go and type-in "ipod vs zune" or similar into Google and look at the tech comparisons. Zune audio is superior to 4th and 5th Gen iPods, period, end of story, not that I still don't covet the 3rd Gen iPod which was a masterpiece of both technical excellence and beauty. I don't miss the click-wheel though. Dialing up a song in the car is a pain in the ass and you know it, unless you have something like "iPod Car" or similar which transfers the control to your steering wheel controls or other dashboard function.
The Zune interface is a dream come true. Yeah, its a modification of Media Center Mobile but its gorgeous and extremely functional. Once you experience navigation in Zune, you'll never want to go back to the iPod model. Yeah, yeah..."no clock, calendar, no contacts - not a single luxury"! That shit's coming soon, plus games. Like the XBox, the Zune is exceptionally hackable and infinitely upgradeable.
http://www.zunescene.com/forums/
Go check out the "Hacks" section.
Video? YEAH, BABY!!! I'm a video junkie and the Zune's Video gives me a stiffie while I was always disappointed in the iPod due to size and format. I was a big fan of Cucusoft's video converter for the iPod but their Zune converter leaves a lot to be desired. IMToo does a great job.
The trick of course, is NOT converting directly from DVD. You'll get beautiful video even on the iPod by converting your DVDs to the Mpeg4 flavor of your choice, then using a video converter such as described. OR, try out Handbrake (originally designed for Mac). The Win32 GUI isn't worth a crap but its rocks on the command line. My method is DVD Decrypter, then AutoGK in which the resulting XVid goes to my Media Center and then gets converted to my Zune.
I'm not a great fan of
Let's talk about the case. Take a look at every other contender to the iPod. What are they? Clones. Nothing original to see here folks, move along. No thanks, I don't want yet ANOTHER Scratch-Pod. The Zune case is functional, aesthetically pleasing and is NOT a grease and scratch magnet. No need for a protective case other than I went ahead and invested $2.00 in a screen protector (I was a big fan of the McCally protectors for the iPod - best $5.00 you'll ever spend). The Zune is UNIQUE in this aspe