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+1 When I used to work retail everyone asked to see the "iPods" thinking it was what an mp3 player was called.

Same with people asking for a kleenex for their nose, or clorox for laundry

Or Coke for all carbonated soft drinks. Though in Michigan we don't have this phenomenon it is common in the South.
 
First of all how ergonomic do you consider an iPhone/iPod touch. That slight curve on the back is hardly something to consider ergonomic, and when I hold it my grip rests on the edges of the device. That aside I think it looks pretty cool. Its something different and refreshing. I am getting bored with Apple's design decisions.

It lacks design to you, the interface could be ok, we don't know yet, and this could really have some amazing connectivity with the xbox. Sure my iPod can sync with my mac, but beyond that I don't really connect it to anything. iTunes is huge, yes, but the XBLM does quite well. And if the Zune HD opens it up to be more diverse, this device could sell for a lot better reasons other than its not an apple product.

1) The Touch fits in most hands perfectly that I've seen & w/o any contorted or awkward angles. That is the essence of ergonomics. If it was difficult to handle it wouldn't be as popular as it is. Consumers don't make poorly designed products sales hits.

2) The Zune interface has shown its hand in the PR pic. Part of the menu is even cut off at the bottom. How is that good interface design? Also it could be much more user efficient w/ smaller text and adding icons, allowing more activities on a single screen w/o having to scroll down. The Zune PR pic looks like the interface is designed for people with sight problems.

3) There are many "remote" apps in the App store, many free. They can control and sync w/ Macs, control iTunes, Powerpoint, Keynote, Boxee, and, oh yeah, the XBox. That's just for starters. So I'm not sure how you can say the Touch is weak on connectivity. Also the Touch works w/ Macs and Windows. The Zune is Windows only, so I'd say, yes the Zune is weak.
 
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the Zune HD. It actually looks quite snappy - and, I noticed, with a few identifying Zune marks conspicuously missing.

There's no ugly colours. This one looks like the Versace Gold model. I kind of expected to see the Swaravski logo somewhere. People who have grown to love the Zune for it's 'outsider' look are now up the creek.

It's got little lug nuts on the back. This means the Versace/Swaravski look gives way to Luxury Hummer...

Oh yeah, the biggest drawback is it still runs Zune software. It looks snappy, in a gaudy kind of way, but takes a running jump off previous designs. Kind of like Redmond can't figure which way to turn to make more money.
 
Mac Rumors should really just stop reporting on MS news as none of the threads can have a coherent and non-biased conversation.


Its a shame cause I like MacRumors updates on Apple stuff (tho I don't own anything now, i'm a tech geek and love to hear whats going on) but when a story like this comes out, it gets 22 pages most of which are nonsense bashing for no reason.


Sad really.
 
My point was simply that calling something Zune HD, when it can't physically display HD content and can't practically source it, is silly.

Uhhhh. This will output HD to a TV. If you mean it doesn't physically display it on the screen, well, 780p, let alone 1080p, on a screen that small would have as much practical use as a jet engine on a lawnmower.

And what do you mean "can't practically source it"? The current Zune already handles several formats that can store HD-quality content. The software can transcode things not direcly supported by the device.
 
I remember when the original Zune came out and the MS rep told the store I used to work at (Ccity a few years ago) "Zune is gonna be the iPod killer blah blah" then the rep opened the zune box and we saw some HIDEOUS colors come out of the boxes (brown? seriosuly MS BROWN!?!?!?) Well, needless to say we sold ONE in three months...


I dont think apple has anything to worry about.

That's because the original Zune was crap. This might be a turning point though, I mean it's the first non-Apple MP3 player in about 8 years that I made me think "that doesn't look or sound half bad", minus the screws.

Also: wonder if this will be released outside of the US for once? How bloody stupid they didn't do that with other Zune models.
 
I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised by the Zune HD. It actually looks quite snappy - and, I noticed, with a few identifying Zune marks conspicuously missing.

There's no ugly colours. This one looks like the Versace Gold model. I kind of expected to see the Swaravski logo somewhere. People who have grown to love the Zune for it's 'outsider' look are now up the creek.

It's got little lug nuts on the back. This means the Versace/Swaravski look gives way to Luxury Hummer...

Oh yeah, the biggest drawback is it still runs Zune software. It looks snappy, in a gaudy kind of way, but takes a running jump off previous designs. Kind of like Redmond can't figure which way to turn to make more money.

I also don't understand the beef people have with the Zune software. The interface on the zune itself I honestly think works better than the iPods. The software on the PC I think is more visually engaging than iTunes while keeping the same functionality.

From the Mixview screen:
zune7.jpg


Or the Now playing Artist pages:
mariah.jpg

zune2.jpg



But, thats not taking anything away from the iPod or iTunes....I think tho, if Microsoft decided to step into the foray earlier, it would be a more interesting competition. Bottom line is until Apple makes a big misstep I don't really see many people thinking of going elsewhere than the default "iPod" mentality.

And lets be honest, the average consumer doesn't know about all new features and what not for iPods.....their old iPod either gets lost and breaks and they just default to buying another iPod cause Apple was smart enough to recognize the market and take over it.
 
That's because the original Zune was crap. This might be a turning point though, I mean it's the first non-Apple MP3 player in about 8 years that I made me think "that doesn't look or sound half bad", minus the screws.
For me, the fact that they didn't take the time to figure out how to get the "marketplace" label to fit on the screen, makes it look "half bad". :)
 
For me, the fact that they didn't take the time to figure out how to get the "marketplace" label to fit on the screen, makes it look "half bad". :)

I think it looks like that on the Zune "nano's" currently...don't know if it scrolls or not. Zune 80 it fits fine.

But I have a feeling those images are not the final product...but i agree, silly to show it that way.
 
Do you need a zune to run the pc software?

I started using iTunes a few years ago because I have about 50 days of music and it makes it easy to categorise, import sort and export my library.

So when i got an iphone - it was plug and play in a programme i had been using for ages.

I still use a pc at home as a back up machine, what alternatives to itunes are there and which are improvements on itunes?
 
IE 8, sure great! About 27 times slower in java than safari, and in all around Independently Verified Tests THE slowest by far from either safari, opera, and firefox. BY FAR SLOWER, and that has been assessed.

As a co-worker who had it put on their computer earlier today said: Ugh, it's slow, back to Firefox. This isn't a technical user either.

Anyway, WinMo 6.5 is getting IE6, not IE8.
 
Anyway, WinMo 6.5 is getting IE6, not IE8.

It's just called "IE6", I think to match up with "6.5" for marketing ("6 on 6", it's called).

Internally, I believe the rendering engine is from desktop IE7. The Javascript engine is Jscript v5.7 from desktop IE8. It also includes Adobe Flash Lite 3.1 support.

But WinCE is usually a few steps beyond what WinMo has.
 
Maybe the millennium bug did something terrible in Redmond and they still think they are designing products for 1999?

Either that or they have developed a time machine and are getting ready to go back and smash the apple mp3 monoply before it starts! :D
 
What part of Europe is it failing in? It's very popular in the UK and I love the idea of it - if it weren't so darn expensive.

One problem is that getting cheap standalone receivers is a pain: practically every DAB radio is trying to be a cute standalone unit with a mono-speaker and everything. Some of these are getting quite cheap now however.

At least the DAB radio people don't lie that the quality is HD - due to cramming in so many radio stations, the quality is measurably worse than FM! Too late to upgrade to DAB+ with so many DAB users, but in the rest of Europe where DAB failed they have that opportunity still.
 
I don't understand why so many people have rated this negative. Surely the fact that another company is creating more competition is a good thing. It means that Apple will be pushed to improve their own products.

Don't get me wrong, i don't particularly like it, and wouldn't like to switch to a Microsoft device purely because i know it wouldn't integrate as well with my other Apple products. But i fail to see how increased competition can be a negative?
 
I don't understand why so many people have rated this negative. Surely the fact that another company is creating more competition is a good thing. It means that Apple will be pushed to improve their own products.

Don't get me wrong, i don't particularly like it, and wouldn't like to switch to a Microsoft device purely because i know it wouldn't integrate as well with my other Apple products. But i fail to see how increased competition can be a negative?

totally agree...
 
I don't understand why so many people have rated this negative.

I think they are rating the product - not the story.

And as for negative product feedback - its the best feedback there is.

Maybe when it is launched the software will actually be designed to work with the hardware and not crop off headings?
 
1) The Touch fits in most hands perfectly that I've seen & w/o any contorted or awkward angles. That is the essence of ergonomics. If it was difficult to handle it wouldn't be as popular as it is. Consumers don't make poorly designed products sales hits.

2) The Zune interface has shown its hand in the PR pic. Part of the menu is even cut off at the bottom. How is that good interface design? Also it could be much more user efficient w/ smaller text and adding icons, allowing more activities on a single screen w/o having to scroll down. The Zune PR pic looks like the interface is designed for people with sight problems.

3) There are many "remote" apps in the App store, many free. They can control and sync w/ Macs, control iTunes, Powerpoint, Keynote, Boxee, and, oh yeah, the XBox. That's just for starters. So I'm not sure how you can say the Touch is weak on connectivity. Also the Touch works w/ Macs and Windows. The Zune is Windows only, so I'd say, yes the Zune is weak.

Holding my touch right now, I wouldn't call this a perfect ergonomic fit. In fact the back of the device doesn't even touch me palm, everyone I see using one just holds the thing by the sides, the Zune will hold practically the exact same. The "ergonomics" in these handheld devices is pretty minimal.

Its a picture. And the product isn't even out. Nor is there any real important information about the device out yet. Even so that's not a big deal to me. What interests me most is the integration with the XBLM. Yeah my iPod can control my computer, awesome, but when I am using my computer I am at my computer. Not to mention I bet the Zune will get apps like that if they don't already have them. I'm not big into the Zune thing since they old ones aren't interesting. Did they officially say the Zune only works with Windows yet...probably who knows I got both OS's. I won't be giving up my iPod touch anytime soon but I am more than interested in seeing what MS has planned for this device. And they got the 360/XBLM behind it which also has me interested. Though this device looks like it will lack the ability to play XBLA games which would dominate over the current App store game offerings.

We shall see. Though my guess is there will be more exciting things at E3. MW2 for one. And we got the Pre launch in June too. I haven't seen any exciting iPhone rumors yet, maybe Apple will do something amazing, but I'm not seeing it.

Oh and if you could kindly point out what app controls an xbox360. I'd love to know, but as far as my research goes no such thing exists.
 
I give M$ credit for trying. But they can never design a pretty product. This better not cost more than an iPod though.

Its a start somewhere in the basement.

Hmm most at engaget that have iPod, 50%+ are getting one, most like. Quite a few here that hv iPhone like me or touch will get. Black did it for me. I would say this could mean huge sales as we here are die hards. Tv recorder at 720p, dvr like, fm for me baseball MLB subscription, satelite radio too I bet. Deal with netflix. Flash player= hulu, movie trakier, streaming hd online MLB package, most streaming site, movie trailers, and more.
See, flash doesn't exist on phone same as dvr nit on apple tv simply due to greed in that apple wants you to pay to see what should be free. This one device could kill apples over priced non dvr apple tv which hardly sell anyway.
 
Those sharp edges and visible screw holes don't make that look very appealing.

However, it might be interesting to see how they integrate the Zune with the Xbox. Possibility in a similar manner how other console makers have tried to tie their hand-held devices (PSP, AGB, DS) to their console (PS3, Wii, GC).

I'm surprised that Apple never has put in a radio tuner into an iPod. Would it interfere with the device having radio, or do they feel that radio is a dying medium?
 
Are you really that dense? HD video out nobody cares, fm tuner we bought this cause the radio sucks, xbox integration oh whoopee we can hope that it's only half as useless as that last xbox live update.

You mean the update that allows me to load games onto my HD to improve all-around performance? The one that allows me to stream Netflix movies in HD to my home theater? That useless update?

I swear. You people.
 
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