I totally agree with crimonsky, up until now, every Zune that Microsoft has made has just been to get themselves up to par with Apple, with small variations that will make some people prefer one over the other. And that's simply not a good business model when the product you're competing against is already well established and has a comparatively huge user base. The software, too, is just mimicking iTunes, if, in my opinion, doing so with a hugely improved UI and speed. The only feature here which has gone above and beyond iTunes is the social aspect, which, as a user in the UK, I've not experienced.
Jason said that the HD radio, Tegra platform and the OLED screen are innovative. To be honest, it's not like there aren't already devices with OLED screens, and I strongly believe that Apple will introduce the same thing in the next version of the iPod and iPhones. The HD radio and Tegra are cool, but I think that all comes down to whether the user will actually be able to tell that those innovations are there. How many people actually use radio? How much better is HD radio than FM? If, in the UK the Zune had DAB I could definitely see myself using the radio more because, frankly, the standard radio stations are crap. I don't know if HD radio is like DAB. If it isn't, I can't see it being that great. Tegra - you guys have already been debating about whether being able to play HD video is useful. If a user doesn't want to play HD videos, what other advantages will Tegra give?
What Apple does is introduce new things that everyone can find a use for. The App store - find me one person on earth who can't find at least one useful thing in that catalogue. Portability and sex appeal - portability is an advantage to everyone, and Apple make their products thinner than anyone else. Sex appeal - gadgets looked awful before iPods. Who doesn't want their device to look good?
Now, things I want to see. OLED screen - good, but 480 x 272? Eugh.. more matching Apple rather than exceeding them. Also the screen is smaller, which in my opinion is more bad news. I have a HTC Touch HD, which has an 800 x 480 3.8 inch (I think) screen. It's the same size as my Zune 80 (including thickness), which means it's definitely portable, and the screen is beautiful. Makes the Touch's screen look like crap. I'm sure OLED will do the same thing.. but imagine the two combined. Now THAT would be amazing. Battery life is also good on the Touch HD, plus it has 2 cameras, bluetooth, FM radio, wifi, all the actual 'phoney' bits, a speaker, microphone and a micro SD slot (up to 16GB). Now why can't Microsoft build a device with those kind of specs, but instead of phone bits put in extra memory, and the better audio + video chips? I don't understand it, but maybe I'm just over simplifying things, being uneducated in such things.
Storage - I can just see them maxing at 32GB. Is there some unwritten rule that touchscreen players can't have hard drives? What about 64GB flash, though perhaps that would be too expensive. I'm not an audiophile by any means, but I love my music, and have at least 50GB. This automatically means that I, and anyone with a similar amount of music to me, can't even consider a touchscreen player, even though I would quite like one if it suited me. If there was some of my music that I didn't mind not having with me, I don't see why I would have that music. Also, that would be asking me to search through 50GB of music to find 18GB that I didn't mind not having with me, which is ridiculous.
I think the Zune HD has potential to be a GREAT entertainment device, but it's not going to be able to compete with the iPod Touch as a PDA until it has a rich app store, and a bunch of new on-device software (contacts, email, etc.)...and who knows when that will be?
Just a thought... if they build in widget and web technology support for applications, simply integrating Live services into the mix could be short cut to provide PIM features.
__________________ Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii
Great first post! Send me a private message and I'll send you a Zune Thoughts microlight. I love see new users come in and really contribute to the community.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FtheK
If a user doesn't want to play HD videos, what other advantages will Tegra give?
Games. But if Microsoft doesn't get an app store out there with awesome games, that hardware is going to go to waste. Also, I'm hoping the user experience on the device will be superb...fast, fluid, etc. I hope they don't only tap into the GPU for video playback, but for the whole UI.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FtheK
Now, things I want to see. OLED screen - good, but 480 x 272? Eugh.. more matching Apple rather than exceeding them. Also the screen is smaller, which in my opinion is more bad news.
I agree that a higher resolution would have been great...I was hoping for VGA resolution if they were sticking with 4:3, but now they're at 16:9 a higher res would have been great. 640 x 360 would have been great. I'm trying not to be too negative on this point until I see the device in person and can judge for myself. Sometimes the hardware experience can transcend the paper specs of a device.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FtheK
Storage - I can just see them maxing at 32GB. Is there some unwritten rule that touchscreen players can't have hard drives? What about 64GB flash, though perhaps that would be too expensive.
Yup, it's all about cost. Here's what I posted on another front page story:
"Still no word on storage capacity, but those people expecting a 64 GB Zune are going to be dissappointed I think - if Apple is charging $399 USD for 32 GB of Flash storage, and we know they get the best Flash storage prices in the world, you've got to figure that a 64 GB Zund HD would cost $499 or higher. There's not a big enough market to justify a device that expensive, so I doubt we'll see a 64 GB Zune. My hope is that the Zune HD will undercut the iPod Touch by at least $50 and still deliver 32 GB of storage. We'll see..."
I'll say this much: the fact that the iPod Touch comes in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities doesn't seem to have hurt sales any, right? So I don't think people are going to turn away from the Zune due to capacity if it tops out at 32 GB.
__________________ Want to contact me personally? Use this. Want to read my personal blog? Check it out. Want to follow me on Twitter? Here you go.
I think the Zune HD has potential to be a GREAT entertainment device, but it's not going to be able to compete with the iPod Touch as a PDA...
That makes me question why Microsoft has opted to include a browser based on the crippled IE. Other than for browser-based authentication, I can't see it being used much between all the media playback and gaming that will ultimately take place on this entertainment-focused device.
I'll reserve final judgement for when I see a Zune HD in the flesh, but right now, the browser just seems like a shoddy implementation and a pointless endeavour. I'd rather Microsoft focus on including features that have purpose and direction, and not just work, but work well.
And, incidentally, international support would be nice, too.
__________________ Want the latest news, views, rants and raves? Visit our portal. Wish to contact me? Send me a private message or e-mail.
Time to get an in-car FM transmitter for the Zune.
Psh. I have a 3.5mm -> tape adapter! See, now I get to laugh at all you people with CD players instead of tape decks! I told you you would rue the day!
I'll say this much: the fact that the iPod Touch comes in 8 GB, 16 GB, and 32 GB capacities doesn't seem to have hurt sales any, right? So I don't think people are going to turn away from the Zune due to capacity if it tops out at 32 GB.
This is true, but remember that one of the strengths you highlight is the ability of the Zune HD to carry HD content on the device and play it on the device's less than HD resolution. The iPod Touch solves this by having you download both HD and SD versions of HD video, with the (smaller sized) SD content copied to the Touch/iPhone without special user intervention. This means that the Touch/iPhone users can have HD content that they play on the PCs without choking the storage on their portable devices.
If you are buying a Zune HD because you want to have HD video on it, you're not going to have too much HD video if storage is not more than the iPods.
I love see new users come in and really contribute to the community.
Linear Mode
