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Zune HD: Still Not an iPod Touch
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by Truemorist | May 27, 2009 at 09:29 am
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Microsoft is looking to beat the iPod Touch by going HD on its ass... though, characteristically, there is a gap between theory and reality whenever we're talking about the Zune. In this case, the not-quite-an-iPod-Touch obviously can't play HD on its own screen, since it's... portable, but can docked to a big ol' TV so you can play back whatever it is you want to play back. Also, some interactivity is promised between the newly-redesigned Zune and the Xbox 360.
The Zune will also feature an OLED screen, which promises longer battery life... but every other smartphone on Earth will be using the same technology, too.
Zune HD will also be able to stream music over Wi-Fi, which the iPod Touch is not yet able to do out of the box, but can do via various third-party apps.
Ah, third-party apps... therein lies the secret, no? Microsoft insists on locking down the Zune and all its potential juiciness, so you can't quite make it yours.
The Zune needs an upgrade that turns it into an iPhone. Then it'll be in great shape.
Don't get me wrong: I want to like the Zune. I really, really do. So far, though, the suck has always crept in to remove any gadget joy... perhaps this time it'll be different.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (4)
at 10:10 on May 27th, 2009
Your missing the price point diffrence.
You pay 200 dollars for an 80 gig zune or a 8gig iPhone.
Belive it or not, some people want an PMD for...well...portable media playback.
People who live in the midwest 'states (and probally remote canada) have to DRIVE to places...when you are driving, you don't play games on your iTouch, you listen to music on your radio or music player...and guess what, you failed to mention that the new zune has a built in HD radio reciver.
Also, if your a windows user...performance wise Windows Media Player kills iTunes in-terms of large library management. I'm still kicking myself personally for getting locked into iTunes by buying to much crap off the iTunes store....now at 150gigs of music, iTunes takes 4 minutes to load, and is slow as crap....but my Windows Media Player (which databases about 120gigs of my library that isn't itunes related) loads in seconds.
Sorry, im not a huge microsoft fanboi or anything, mac makes some nice toys I have a iPhone and iPod, but you are obviously a applefanboi so i figured i needed to atleast even the scales. you are downing a product that isn't even out yet. Maybe i should start bashing the new iPhone?
at 17:17 on May 27th, 2009
@trolomatic
I have a 257.44 GB iTunes music library on OS X and it loads it in less than 20 seconds, I assume you are using the Windows version?
I find iTunes is the best for managing lots of songs. The interface of WMP is lacking in every aspect IMHO - bloated, if you will.
at 18:03 on May 27th, 2009
I have an iPod Classic and a Zune 16 Gigs, and have to say, the iPod is almost retired at home, also I'm a Mac User at home and a PC user at work.
Basically what I like most about Zune is its PC player, the device's WiFi capability of synchin the songs, the "recognition" of Zune in my Xbox 360, the capability of exchanging music with my friends over WiFi and the Social Networking site around Zune. Those are my favorite things about it.
Was forgetting to say that the capability of litening to regular radion on the Zune is pretty well used on my end, sorry to say the iPod (talking about the classics/nano) have too much to improve.
I'm really excited to see the zune HD, and to be honest if one day skype and messenger runs on the new Zune I don't need to have an iPhone.
at 22:14 on May 27th, 2009
One of the problems is the name.... "Zune". No hard consonants and only one syllable. Hard to say with enthusiasm. "iPod" was a master stroke in naming. Hope they fare well because the iPod could do with a little competition.
Cheers:
Bob