Zune HD Hands on Demo and Impressions

[NT1440]

For that matter, what is with the 'i' before Apple products? I'm being serious. My girlfriend asked and I had no idea. I just always equated 'i'=Probably Apple product.

It was meant to mean "internet" in the 90's but ended up becoming synonymous with Apple.

To the poster above: I think this device could sell well, but that doesnt mean it will be a threat to Apple in any way shape or form, it will appeal to the people that were already determined to not buy an ipod anyway (sizeable community).

 

[MickdyMickdyMAC]

I'm not sure if this was already discussed in the past 18pages, but what's up with the bubblegum font?

 

[igenr8]

Impressions

So MS has hired someone to refine what Apple did five years ago. Is Steve Jobs the only guy in the business who can innovate???

 

[NT1440]

So MS has hired someone to refine what Apple did five years ago. Is Steve Jobs the only guy in the business who can innovate???

The ipod touch has only been around for 2 generations, roughly two years.....

 

[redgaz26]

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Leave it to Microsoft to simply expand on something Apple has already been producing for a year. If they were actually innovating, it would be impressive.

Yeah, because there were no MP3 players, laptops, smartphones, desktops before Apple started producing them.

Apple is doing exactly the same. They take a concept and (try to) improve on it. In our eyes MS is just less successful at it.

What was new in the iPod Touch for example that had never been seen in any other MP3 player of the touchscreen type, other than great design and a good UI?

Is that not the point?
a great UI and a great design!!!

 

[jouster]

Not to sound like an Apple fanboy (because I'm not) but I count at least 6 times in that video where he taps something and nothing happens or something happens he doesn't seem to have expected.

I don't think anyone is claiming that the software is finished.

It depends on whether you are talking white, red, blue or green OLEDs. White works for 100,000 hours, red has abt 65,000 hours while green has abt 75,000 hrs. It is the blue OLED that has abt 20,000 hrs lifetime. This is the problem and they are working on it.

Even 20,000 hours is close to 7 years at 8 hours (which is waaay more than most will need) per day.

 

[trekkie604]

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On that note, wtf does iPod mean? It WAS a nonsensical name before it was a hit.

Well when I hear iPod I think of a container (pod) containing my stuff (i). When I hear Zune, I think of a rash you might get after being drunk and hanging out with the hot girl at a party. Thats just me though. Most things that start with the letter Z just don't roll off the tongue nicely.

When you put it that way it sounds like the name should be 'myPod' just like from a certain Simpsons episode.

 

[leandromp]

Hahaha you guys are critizing it so much it's hilarious... but what can you expect on an apple rumours site...

I have a macbook and love apple, but I can't lie, this thing looks amazing! The only thing that the ipod touch has over this is the apps and the internet browser, as I'm assuming Microsoft's won't be as good judging from what I've seen of IE mobile.

The UI looks amazing, I love the animations and images, way better than apples

I agree with you. I love my iPhone and my iPod touch, but i really like the zune hd (never thought i would say that), but yes, it is beautiful, and the interface way better then the iPod touch--which bdw, is incredibly boring!!

I love my apple products--, macbook pro, iphone/iphone 3g, ipod touch, etc, but i think i may be getting one of this, depending on the price, tho.

 

[Journojulz]

... a certain Simpsons episode...

"Wow - a mycube - what can it do for me?

You should ask - what can you do for it?

(to cube) What can I do for you?

Sir, its off at the moment

But the light's on?

Yes sir - that is the light that tells you when its off."

 

[Journojulz]

and the interface way better then the iPod touch--which bdw, is incredibly boring!!

The zune interface on a pc is snazzier than itunes - but it doesn't work as well.

 

[MrPlywood]

Zuneification

As a visual designer I can appreciate what MS tried to do with the GUI design with the large and overly-large cropped text. As a designer I can also appreciate that communication is key, and if the design obscures the info then you've not done your job - style over substance. Nice try though. From a product design perspective, the angled edge design says "80's" to me, kind of like a pocket calculator of that era. From the sound of it though it does have a little "heft" to it. Apple realized this important tactile quality a long time ago. I picked up an early Zune once and it felt like so much plastic - lightweight and cheap. I like the idea of a radio tuner, that would come in handy for sports events and talk radio. There is something to be said for live broadcasts. I haven't tried any radio apps for my Touch, but I'm not always in wifi range either.

As far as Obama and his Zune go, maybe it was a gift from his mother-in-law. You know how that goes. And he did choose an iPod to give to the Queen of England.

 

[Journojulz]

On that note, wtf does iPod mean? It WAS a nonsensical name before it was a hit.

Yes - but deliberatelt so.
With a small i and a cap P, it looked obviously new and unexpected.

And as someone said 'i' is me an pod is somewhere to store cool stuff.

and when you abbreviate it - Yorkshire style - it becomes M'i pod.

Futuristic and exciting, yet personal and promising.

Its supposed to look new and "of itself"

Zune sounds like 1970s prog-rock or pulp sci-fi

When i got my iPhone - i really felt like the gadgets promised me 30 years ago were actually getting closer.

 

[Eidorian]

Yes sir - that is the light that tells you when its off."

I hate these.

 

[Journojulz]

Really? I bet you aren't a cat person.

 

[NT1440]

Yes - but deliberatelt so.
With a small i and a cap P, it looked obviously new and unexpected.

And as someone said 'i' is me an pod is somewhere to store cool stuff.

and when you abbreviate it - Yorkshire style - it becomes M'i pod.

Futuristic and exciting, yet personal and promising.

Its supposed to look new and "of itself"

Zune sounds like 1970s prog-rock or pulp sci-fi

When i got my iPhone - i really felt like the gadgets promised me 30 years ago were actually getting closer.

My only point was that at launch, to the average joe, both names are somewhat silly, but neither is a bad name.

 

[Journojulz]

My only point was that at launch, to the average joe, both names are somewhat silly, but neither is a bad name.

yes - but the misplaced cap looked deliberately futuristic.
Can't remember seeing a lower followed by a cap letter before.

It seemed new.

Zune is a nonsense word too - but looks old.

 

[surferfromuk]

So the worlds richest and largest computer company comes up with a second rate Touch clone two years later.

Quite embarrassing really.

 

[NT1440]

So the worlds richest and largest computer company comes up with a second rate Touch clone two years later.

Quite embarrassing really.

What about this looks second rate (besides their poor choice of browser and questionable interface style (which of course is just an opinion) ?

 

[AidenShaw]

There have actually been 3:

Our marketing group would say "2 logos".

The second logo is paired with two different "taglines". The taglines are not part of the logo.

PS: You can use the "TIMG" tag instead of "IMG" for large images - as I did in the quoted part above. It saves space and bandwidth.

 

[milo]

What about this looks second rate (besides their poor choice of browser and questionable interface style (which of course is just an opinion) ?

That's what I was going to ask. The one thing that jumps out as inferior is the lower screen resolution...besides that, what about this is inferior to the touch?

 

[AidenShaw]

Not to sound like an Apple fanboy (because I'm not) but I count at least 6 times in that video where he taps something and nothing happens or something happens he doesn't seem to have expected.

It's a prototype, of course.

 

[peterdevries]

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Is that not the point?
a great UI and a great design!!!

Definitely that's the point. The point I wanted to make though was that many people here say that MS is copying stuff, but Apple doesn't invent itself any products, but improves existing concepts.

Maybe some people need to familiarize themselves with the difference between inventions and innovations.

The first walkman was an invention, as was the first MP3 player. Each product that is based upon these products is an innovation if it contains new aspects. Apple didn't invent the MP3 player, laptops or desktops.. Apple merely innovates those products very well..

 

[NT1440]

That's what I was going to ask. The one thing that jumps out as inferior is the lower screen resolution...besides that, what about this is inferior to the touch?

HA, your joking right? An OLED screen is going to look GORGEOUS compared to the ipod. Does it actually have a lower resolution tho?

 

[milo]

HA, your joking right? An OLED screen is going to look GORGEOUS compared to the ipod. Does it actually have a lower resolution tho?

Joking about what? And yes, it's reportedly 480 x 272 - they made it widescreen by giving it fewer pixels.

 

[NT1440]

Joking about what? And yes, it's reportedly 480 x 272 - they made it widescreen by giving it fewer pixels.

Oh my mistake, I misread your post. I thought you had written inferior AND lower resolution, my mistake.