Microsoft Launches the Zune

Doug-W writes to mention an Engadget post about Microsoft's launch of the Zune. From the article: "Not a lot of surprises in the specs department, but they've confirmed the basics we've known for a while, like WiFi, 30GB of HDD, built-in FM, a 3-inch screen and the basic music, pictures and video playback. They also finally let slip the screen res -- an unsurprising QVGA -- and some better news on the codec front: the Zune supports h.264, MP3, AAC and WMA. As for ballyhoo, wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing is where the real action is at, and it works pretty much like we've been hearing: you can share a full-length track with a friend, and they've got three times to listen to it over a three day period, after which they can flag the song for purchase on the Zune Marketplace -- unless they're an unlimited 'Zune Pass' subscriber, of course."

Reality of "wireless sharing"

[Cybert4]

Here's a hint on all these ad-hoc wireless networks. We also have another ad-hoc wireless network. We call it air, and it can transmit vibrations from one person to another! Seriously, I've had my DS for awhile, and I've never suddenly found a person to play wireless with. Unless you have bells and whistles going off to indicate another person is around (and I'm not going to sit around at a "looking for" screen), it's a solitary thing.

And slapping on the usual DRM shackles won't change this. Most likely, make it much worse and harder to stick to the general public.

Two things I care about with this

[Space cowboy]

... and neither are mentioned, as far as I can see:

Price & battery-life

Bit of a pity that:

"The Zune-to-Zune sharing feature may not be available for all songs on your device, and works only between Zune devices within wireless range of each other. This feature allows recipients to play full-length sample tracks up to three times in three days. Recipients cannot resend music that they have received via the sharing feature." ... as well...

Simon.

Re:is it enough?

[NineNine]

Although it sounds good, do people hate microsoft so much (thanks to windows) that it will not be a success compared to the more-respected apple?

I think that your assumptions are a bit off. I don't know any non-geeks who could care less about Microsoft. Besides, why would they hate Windows? Windows 2000/XP is cheap, easy to use, and works.

That point aside, I'll be buying one because I don't want to give Apple one red cent, and I've been waiting for a good one to come out.

Now Apple must play catch-up

[socratic method]

I'm an huge fan of Apple's products. I'm typing on a MacBook Pro and I love my 1G Nano. But after Apple's disappointing announcement this week, I have to say that Microsoft is now the technology leader in the portable player market.

Ad-hoc wireless is a huge feature. The widescreen looks great. I have to admit that this Apple fan has, for the first time in years, a little bit of Microsoft envy.

I know, I know. It is yet to be shown that the Zune + Windows delivers a great user experience like the iPod + Mac. iTunes and its store make the whole process seamless. The Airport Express and AirTunes are great features.

But, like I said, while other /.ers put MS down today, I have to congratulate them. Nice design, nice features, great competition. Hopefully this will push Apple that much harder.

VBR is part of the MPEG1/layer 3 spec...

[daniel422]

so all players that support mp3 should also support it.

Re:Available in black, white and... *BROWN*?

[gilbert64]

The color is the best thing slashdotters can come up with when they try to flame MS and everything they due/make? That must mean Zune is REALLY good.

Re:is it enough?

[jmorris42]

> Although it sounds good, do people hate microsoft so much (thanks to windows) that it will not be
> a success compared to the more-respected apple?

I'm still waiting for a portable player that meets my, admittedly demandinging, feature checklist. Doesn't look like Zune is in the running.

1. Must be able to run Rockbox. No vendor, especially Microsoft, is going to release a perfected firmware first try or even tenth try, and will move on to the next product long before the bugs are squashed and certainly before I am ready to buy a new unit. At least with something like Rockbox I could fix a really annoying bug myself if all else failed.

2. Must be able to support a wide range of codecs I am interested in and am able to rip to. MP3 is of course a given, but FLAC is important to me, especially on a HDD based player. OGG would be nice, but wouldn't be a deal breaker. I understand why many don't do it, nobody is doing it in a DSP yet so software only playback eats CPU and battery. AAC and WMA can exist, although I won't be using either of them. Video on a 2-3 inch screen is of zero interest for me, but if it doesn't bloat the physical size or kill battery life I'm neutral on it.

3. Must have a user replacable battery. Period, full stop.

Check out the second picture...

[wandazulu]

...the white model. The happy couple are frollicking in ... the east river of New York City. That's the Manhattan bridge in the background, and they're esentially right below and slightly west of the Brooklyn Bridge.

I have walked/jogged/biked/fled from that area thousands of times and it is *not* anywhere you want to put your feet in the water...the water itself is unbelievably polluted, and unless the pic is doctored, or somebody spent a month cleaning up the area, the dude is walking on broken glass, rusted everything, and stuff that can't be identified, and maybe that's for the best.

I'm not sure what to message to take from the pic: "Take a life threatening chance: buy a Zune!" comes to mind.

3rd party improvements to follow:

[Apocalypse111]

1st will likely be a means of sharing over wireless without the self-destruct "feature".
Probably shortly to follow, either a firmware update that adds more codecs, or a software app that transcodes to whatever Windows format is being used for video on that platform.
Next, a web-browser that can take you to various pages you have saved as favorites.
Finally, complete Linux port.
Any other good ideas?

Re:Competition

[phorest]

The radio reception is usually horrible on anything that relies on using the headphone wires as an antenna. Unless you have an incredibly powerful signal I wouldn't bank on it.

If they can solve the reception issues with a sensitive receiver then the radio aspect should be a winner. Probably won't be much different than my iRiver H340 reception. I wish them luck, they'll need it.

I'm skepticle that even with their big name, big money and improved features they are way too late to the market.

Re:Now Apple must play catch-up

[varmittang]

Not to bust your bubble, but all MS has done is just regurgitated an portable player. The bigger screen is nice but it will also eat up your battery life too. Apple might have only given a little bit better screen with brightness and higher resolution, but at least they gave a much better battery life, both devices have yet to be tested in that area yet but we don't even know what the Zune can do yet.

Ad-hoc wireless sounds nice, but I'm sure its going to have a major bug that everyone is going to exploit to either keep the music or its going to f up and people can't trade the songs. And its Windows only probably. So everyone that hates MS now and is looking to switch to something else are not going to buy this device. Plus its going to be XP or Vista only and cut out everyone that doesn't upgrade.

This device even looks like the iPod large screen photo that came out like a year ago as a fake design, with the addition of the two buttons on either side of the click wheel. No very inventive there, plus the size of 30Gigs is just small, way to small.

Re:what about sharing your own stuff?

[iroll]

I've got $20 that says only protected, purchased WMV's (or w/e they're called) will share. It's just a brazen way to drive people to purchase from the Zune store; they have no interest in sharing everything. Of course, they'll tell you that they only allow that kind of sharing to keep from "confusing" customers with shared files that can't be purchased. Thanks for the assistance, MS.

They've already hinted at it, saying that only "certain" files can be shared.

Clarifying the "Plays For Sure" incompatability

[amichalo]

Engadget recently interviewed an MS Corporate VP regarding the Zune and how Microsoft explains the lack of supporting "Plays For Sure". The resulting statements from this Microsoft Exec are truly worrisome:

Full Article Here" [engadget.com]

E: "PlaysForSure was the thrust of Microsoft's strategy until the announcement of the Zune. How does PlaysForSure fit into Microsoft's strategy going forward?"
MS: "...There's another class of consumers that just want to get digital media, and they just want to be able to go to one store and have it all..."
E: "Wasn't that the point of PlaysForSure?"
MS: "...Zune says there is no choice; you get a Zune device, you hook it up to the Zune service, and it just works."

Yikes! I thought the iPod was evil because Apple didn't give me a choice...now it seems no choice is just what the doctor ordered! How stupid does Microsoft think we are?

Re:Two things I care about with this

[kosmosik]

> ... and neither are mentioned, as far as I can see:
> Price & battery-life

Maybe because what you see are three photos of a *prototype* device that is not even in production and nobody knows when it will be? :) So these (what you look at) are more like *goals*, not the final effect. Effect which will constitute of the look (ok we see it), price (no mention), specs like battery life (no mention), ease of use (no mention - but I expect independent review for that, it has ipodish wheel for sure - but how does it work?), service around it (think ITMS for iPods). Etc.

So these are really just few photos that say nothing.

> Bit of a pity that:
> "The Zune-to-Zune sharing feature may not be available for all
> songs on your device, and works only between Zune devices within
> wireless range of each other. This feature allows recipients to
> play full-length sample tracks up to three times in three days.
> Recipients cannot resend music that they have received via the
> sharing feature." ... as well...

Yeah. Great feature. :))) Share with crippled music...

Also I am suspicious of this wifi stuff. I know wifi is right now quite complicated to use, and it uses lots of battery power (it was not designed especially for low power consumption). Also I wonder about how those devices will autoconfig to work ad-hoc flawlessly.

Re:is it enough?

[amichalo]

Theese people [kleenex.com] knocked the snot out of Kleenax.

Its not widescreen!

[jocknerd]

Dude, read the specs. Its 320x240. The screen is 3" as opposed to the iPod's 2.5".

Re:is it enough?

[saleenS281]

"People" don't hate Microsoft, geek's do. Plenty of geek's hate apple too... I for one can tell you I'm sick of their BS itunes and DRM. And I can also tell you they were an immediate turnoff after the first 3 ipods I purchased all died within 2 weeks (1G ipods).

Contrary to popular belief, most of the working world loves Microsoft. Windows has been stable since 2k was released. Outlook and Office have always gotten the job done except in the most obscure cases. You're definitely viewing the world through rose-colored glasses, most people have no animosity whatsoever towards MS. They just know they make "teh windows".

Re:Two things I care about with this

[joseprio]

... and neither are mentioned, as far as I can see: Price & battery-life

And what about size, specially the thickness? Well, just my opinion, but by the photos looks like they're trying to hide something: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/zune/ default.mspx [microsoft.com]

Instead, check the iPod photos. Apple is always making sure to show how slim it is! http://www.apple.com/ipod/ipod.html [apple.com]

Of course, to power the big screen and the wireless connection long enough, this device needs a big battery, so it highly probable that it will be thick and heavy... about the price, maybe they'll decide to loose money over it, like they did with the first Xbox. They'll wait and see how the people reacts to it, and then decide the pricing strategy.

what about support for .ogg?

[Anonymous Coward]

anyone ever hard of ogg format? it's consumes less diskspace and has better quality sound than mp3, the downside is that no-one has ever heard of ogg and never gave it a try.. such a shame.

Re:is it enough?

[aichpvee]

You do realize that FLAC is lossless and not uncompressed, right? So that maybe people want FLAC support so they can store more music on their portable player? Even a 60GB player will only fit around 12 albums uncompressed. In FLAC that number at least doubles.

Re:Let me be the first to say...

[Anonymous Coward]

Why couldn't they use a USB connector? That's what my Zen Micro uses. There's no reason for the iPod to require a proprietary connector when standards such as USB exist.