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Microsoft Releases Zune Details

840quadra said:
I like many of the fetures on the Zune, I think Apple is moving to slowly on the iPod in many ways.

One that sticks out in my mind
The Zune lets you place any picture in your photo library for backgorunds in menus, and also allows for color themes on the user interface. Apple has had an iPod with color screen capability for years now, Still no customized menu backgrounds, or color themes. Their OS allows this on the Macintosh, why not on the iPod ?

Also, the Zune has what appear to be 3D menus, with special effects when selecting items in the menu. Apple has a little Dual processor setup in the iPod, why not put some OS X Special effects (like the ones the Zune copied) in the iPod to breath new life into the interface? The Sliding menu's are quite dated, and could easily be upgraded to something else!

Will I buy one

Perhaps, however if there is no support for MacOS, then I will definitely not even consider it.

Am I going to wait for the "Next step" from Apple?

Definitely, and I have higher hopes for Apple's creativity as opposed to Microsoft, however only time will tell what will come of this new competition from Microsoft. Hopefully it will force Apple to innovate again, and not just upgrade!

Apple currently is the market leader in this segment, hopefully they can do what Microsoft has been able to do in the operating system , productivity segment.
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Indeed, some GUI goodies would be nice, especially now that syncing your iPod has become a much more enjoyable thing. (GUI wise) Not to mention the technology is already there: front row, coverflow,...

But if the price Wal Mart leaked is correct, and some people get nasty experiences with their Zune, it will fail.

I do hope some big step for the 6G iPod, and I think that the update to 5.5 was a good sign to think 6G will be a big leap forward leaving Zune behind before it even came close
 
I'm not sure that all those customizable screens are in fact a great thing. Sure it's cool to put one photo of your girl/guy, dog, kids, etc. on your cell phone screen, but try to do that with every screen of the iPod. It's quite a few photos. Add to that the clarity that will be lost with crappy photos that are too dark or too light or whatever. I think Apple has kept it simple for a reason.

Also, most people don't care about such features, and adding the option to do it would complicate it for them. Just ask around- almost anyone 3-90 years old can use an iPod. But such is not the case with cell phones- heck, most people don't even know how to work 90% of the features of their phones.

The iPod is an easy to use consumer product, like iMovie. Adding a bunch of features for the geeks makes it a complex product like Final Cut Pro. Apple knows this. Microsoft, Creative, Samsung, Toshiba, Dell, etc., do not and continue to release products with a crapload of features that don't translate in any way to a better experience.

I'm very technically inclined, but I love the simplicity of the iPod. Since 2001 only some features have been really worthwhile in my book: better battery life, color screens, photos, movies, games, and that new thing where the letters show up big as you scroll. That's it. Calendars, clocks, contacts, album art, and on the go playlists for example, I think are fluff and really add little to no value to the iPod. So adding even more fluff may end up alienating some folks.

This is just my opinion. I believe Apple really investigates actual user needs and weighs that against having bullet points in a brochure.
 
Zune Kicks Ipods Ass

the zune looks so much better
but they should have had a red or blue color instead of brown......dumbasses
 
they stole the load screen for the pic download from apple and if you look close in the first part you can see him push ctrl-alt-delete a few times, he was just so used to it it came natural. no but seriously it seemed to be laggier than the current 5g ipods. but the ability to actualy do something with someone else is good but well see how it plays.
 
FSPx said:
the zune looks so much better
but they should have had a red or blue color instead of brown......dumbasses
Click to expand...

I thought Apple guys are Metrosexual. Brown is the new Black.
 
FSPx said:
the zune looks so much better
but they should have had a red or blue color instead of brown......dumbasses
Click to expand...

I have no issue with brown, if they made it matt instead of shiny and a darker hue of brown I might even buy it.
 
I'll give them this, the GUI is very nice, I really really like it. Its very fluid and alive feeling, something Apple needs to expand upon in later editions of the iPod system GUI. But it is a clunker, battery life isn't nearly as good, the screen while larger displays at the same res, and it won't work on my Mac. No good!
 
neonart said:
I'm not sure that all those customizable screens are in fact a great thing. Sure it's cool to put one photo of your girl/guy, dog, kids, etc. on your cell phone screen, but try to do that with every screen of the iPod. It's quite a few photos. Add to that the clarity that will be lost with crappy photos that are too dark or too light or whatever. I think Apple has kept it simple for a reason.

Also, most people don't care about such features, and adding the option to do it would complicate it for them. Just ask around- almost anyone 3-90 years old can use an iPod. But such is not the case with cell phones- heck, most people don't even know how to work 90% of the features of their phones.

The iPod is an easy to use consumer product, like iMovie. Adding a bunch of features for the geeks makes it a complex product like Final Cut Pro. Apple knows this. Microsoft, Creative, Samsung, Toshiba, Dell, etc., do not and continue to release products with a crapload of features that don't translate in any way to a better experience.

I'm very technically inclined, but I love the simplicity of the iPod. Since 2001 only some features have been really worthwhile in my book: better battery life, color screens, photos, movies, games, and that new thing where the letters show up big as you scroll. That's it. Calendars, clocks, contacts, album art, and on the go playlists for example, I think are fluff and really add little to no value to the iPod. So adding even more fluff may end up alienating some folks.

This is just my opinion. I believe Apple really investigates actual user needs and weighs that against having bullet points in a brochure.
Click to expand...

All I can say is that there is nothing wrong with options. It just seems that Apple is taking the easier, lazier option, assuming that people don't care.
 
irmongoose said:
But Apple knew this - Steve himself said that Microsoft will have to get into the market because everyone else has no idea what to do. Then where is the iPod-killer-killer?

Oh and I'll buy Brown just to piss you all off. Hah.



irmongoose
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That's the funniest comment I've read all day. Thanks for a good laugh.

I think the Zune's headed in the right direction, and love the new UI. It's good for the iPod. Will surely make the iPods improve faster than before.
 
...humm, i was hoping something cheaper not as visual attractive as an ipod, and i was considering to buy it, but this thing is $249, too expensive for me , i just want something to play audio, store data and maximum, read pdf but too much crap is loaded in it, making it unaffordable
now ill buy a cheap chinese brand flash mp3...
 
-::ubermann::- said:
...humm, i was hoping something cheaper not as visual attractive as an ipod, and i was considering to buy it, but this thing is $249, too expensive for me , i just want something to play audio, store data and maximum, read pdf but too much crap is loaded in it, making it unaffordable
now ill buy a cheap chinese brand flash mp3...
Click to expand...


Why not get an Apple refurb 2GB nano for $99 instead? Or a refurb 30GB iPod video for $179?

You'll enjoy it way more than a "cheap chinese brand flash mp3".

Just a thought.
 
neonart said:
Why not get an Apple refurb 2GB nano for $99 instead? Or a refurb 30GB iPod video for $179?

You'll enjoy it way more than a "cheap chinese brand flash mp3".

Just a thought.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I picked up the $180 refurbed 30GB. Pretty sweet, probably one of the best purchases I've ever made. Replaced a 10GB 2nd gen I bought for $400 back in the day.
 
I work with some Industrial Designers and to a man (and a women) they consider the apple stuff and ipods to be the pinnicle, a design icon-The same goes for the latest ipods. They hate the Zune though saying it looks like a reverse engineering job, is derivitave, looks clumsy.

Not for me either, I'll wait for this phone
 
Don't know if its been said yet or not... but i love the back-grounds on the zune with the guy and girl running around, and falling all over each other. Looks alot like the picture on the installation window of itunes or quicktime, with the guy and girl sharing the earbuds. Just like what steve said...just walk over there and sit next to her! :D


another note of my own, the girl in the installation window is smokin'!
 
Macnoviz said:
Brown can be very stylish, but it's delicate and the Zune in brown is just fugly
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Agreed. I actually don't mind the other colors or the design in general (although it's a bit thick) but that brown is just disgusting...
 
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