Zune HD Hands on Demo and Impressions

[ozyr]

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 have yet to criticize it. Frankly, I find the usual 'what can use expect from a apple forum' site hilarious. Well, duh! Go to a Windows forum site, and see how much they love the Zune. It just goes with the territory.

As for what I saw of the Zune UI, the guy had to tap multiple times to bet many things to work. Other than that, it looked decent, but it is hard to tell from a small video. I'd rather see it in real life before I make any final decisions on the thing.

 

[Theaser]

But the visible screws on the back? Really, Bill Gates, really?

Maybe I'm conditioned to find the iPhone/iPod more slick. I sure like it over what I saw in the video.

Just so you know, Bill Gates got thrown out of Microsoft leadership. Mr. Crazy Ballmer is in charge with his fanatic ideas on how to lead a well-known respected software company into a factory manufacturing crappy pieces of hardware devices and buggy Operating Systems.

Ballmer even swore an oath to kill Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Crazy, someone please remove him from Microsoft, I've had enough.

 

[ozyr]

Thanks for the fix Treq! Love it!

 

[SandynJosh]

Well, I'm impressed. And I'm still on track to dump my iPod at the end of the year and pick up a Zune.....

And for all the people on the flame-waggon. The thing is still being worked on. I love the "11%" statistic about Windows Fanboys. These forums are too predictable. First couple pages are the same people bashing the same products based upon the same arguments. It's always fun to stick my nose in and shake up the barrel. Here's to you Microsoft. You've done well....

here you are jizzing in your pants over an unreleased product that you are comparing to Apple's year old product. One of the reasons Palm and MS are releasing this **** now is that for a heartbeat they can look like a serious competition to Apple's old products.

All the OLED fans see a blurry photo of the MS device and think they have seen Jesus. OLED may be a good choice, but does the downside outweigh the pluses? Why get excited that you may be able to change the battery in a device that may lose it's screen brightness faster then the batter can age out?

And of course it's small, it has less screen pixels. Isn't screen size more of a feature for this type of device than, say, OLED or FM radio?

I think, in the long run, Apple's going to give the user more bang for the buck. If OLED is a net plus, it will happen, if not, then don't expect to see Apple go there. I don't expect Apple to ape the near-sighted posters to this thread and run like chickens from one device to another because of the preceived value of what Apple has not included.

Show some maturity. Just because the market followers are trying to fool you into comparing their unreleased **** to Apple's year old specs, you don't have to act so gullible.

 

[DougB541]

Just so you know, Bill Gates got thrown out of Microsoft leadership. Mr. Crazy Ballmer is in charge with his fanatic ideas on how to lead a well-known respected software company into a factory manufacturing crappy pieces of hardware devices and buggy Operating Systems.

Ballmer even swore an oath to kill Google CEO Eric Schmidt. Crazy, someone please remove him from Microsoft, I've had enough.

Where do you get your information from?

 

[Treq]

I have yet to criticize it. Frankly, I find the usual 'what can use expect from a apple forum' site hilarious. Well, duh! Go to a Windows forum site, and see how much they love the Zune. It just goes with the territory.

As for what I saw of the Zune UI, the guy had to tap multiple times to bet many things to work. Other than that, it looked decent, but it is hard to tell from a small video. I'd rather see it in real life before I make any final decisions on the thing.

really? I've seen more undeserved praise here than anything else. The video shows nothing special or new. The thing could be great (doubt it) but from this video, meh...

Thanks for the fix Treq! Love it!

No problem.;

 

[DougB541]

here you are jizzing in your pants over an unreleased product that you are comparing to Apple's year old product. One of the reasons Palm and MS are releasing this **** now is that for a heartbeat they can look like a serious competition to Apple's old products.

All the OLED fans see a blurry photo of the MS device and think they have seen Jesus. OLED may be a good choice, but does the downside outweigh the pluses? Why get excited that you may be able to change the battery in a device that may lose it's screen brightness faster then the batter can age out?

And of course it's small, it has less screen pixels. Isn't screen size more of a feature for this type of device than, say, OLED or FM radio?

I think, in the long run, Apple's going to give the user more bang for the buck. If OLED is a net plus, it will happen, if not, then don't expect to see Apple go there. I don't expect Apple to ape the near-sighted posters to this thread and run like chickens from one device to another because of the preceived value of what Apple has not included.

Show some maturity. Just because the market followers are trying to fool you into comparing their unreleased **** to Apple's year old specs, you don't have to act so gullible.

 

[Theaser]

Where do you get your information from?

I read this, and I'm surprised he still hasn't left Microsoft. Threw chairs across the boardroom? This guy has anger issues, just like when he threw a fit when Bill Gates stormed out of a boardroom meeting because of a fight between them.

Ballmer allegedly said, "F---ing Eric Schmidt is a f---ing *****. I'm going to f---ing bury that guy, I have done it before, and I will do it again. I'm going to f---ing kill Google."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/microsoft-ceo-im-going-to-fing-kill-google/2005/09/03/1125302772214.html

Back to the Zune HD,

I hardly think it will do any good unless if Microsoft launches an App Store like in iTunes and then we may have a competitor.

 

[peterdevries]

here you are jizzing in your pants over an unreleased product that you are comparing to Apple's year old product. One of the reasons Palm and MS are releasing this **** now is that for a heartbeat they can look like a serious competition to Apple's old products.

Have you not paid attention at any of the recent product updates of iPods, iPhones etc. at the big Apple Conferences? There just haven't been any revolutionary changes to already existing products (safe for the App Store maybe), so don't expect any big surprises this time.

The gap between Apple and the rest is closing and that's good for us, because it will mean that Apple will have to run harder to stay at the top.

 

[DonSqueak]

Although this is an obviously partisan forum membership, can people give Microsoft a little bit of credit? It will take years before we see OLED tech on an iphone or ipod touch...

If MS prices this along with the touch, it will take a lot of of sales away, and the OLED screen itself might push it past the ipod touch.

Does that mean you'll claim Apple copied MS when they get OLED screens for the iphone/touch????

Could someone please explain what is so special about OLED?

 

[Treq]

Could someone please explain what is so special about OLED?

From wiki:
A significant benefit of OLED displays over traditional liquid crystal displays (LCDs) is that OLEDs do not require a backlight to function. Thus they draw far less power and, when powered from a battery, can operate longer on the same charge. Because there is no need for a backlight, an OLED display can be much thinner than an LCD panel. Degradation of OLED materials has limited their use so far.

 

[cdover]

Wow!

I have a feeling this will be slightly more expensive than the iPod Touch (or the same price but with less memory). But, if it's cheaper I'd definitely get it.

 

[three]

I like the little zooming effects, and flipping effects the interface has.

 

[ebrunn]

That screen is gorgeous. Apple better come though with a OLED screen of their own

 

[Treq]

That screen is gorgeous. Apple better come though with a OLED screen of their own

How can you tell? Have you seen one somewhere other than this video?

 

[illitrate23]

the big text based menu is very artistic and looks flash and even a bit cool
but it'll be totally impractial for daily use
especially when you've got 40 apps downloaded on there

we've been using GUIs for the last 25+ years for a reason, but M$ are trying to take us back to the days of MSDOS with the ZuneHD

 

[Snowy_River]

You know, I've only skimmed this thread, but it is remarkable. There are some very well thought out responses, but the majority, on both sides, are just so much drivel.

This is a new device that is still in development. It has a significantly different look than the iPod Touch which will appeal to some and not to others. It has some technical advantages over the iPod Touch. It also has some technical disadvantages compared to the iPod Touch.

Fully acknowledging that I have not seen one of these in person, have not played with the OS, and have only seen the video demonstrating the OS in action, I am not very impressed. It certainly seems capable of doing the basics: Photos, Music, Videos, Radio, etc.

But that's not what has made the iPod Touch a success. The iPT has been a success because of the fact that you can get other software for it: "There's an app for that."

While the Zune might get it's own App Store, and it might (eventually) have a comparable array of applications that can be purchased and installed, for that to be a viable option that OS interface will have to see an extensive face lift. Scrolling through lists of options would never be a winner with a user. The iPT screens show you 20 different apps, including the 4 in the dock at the bottom. This compares to less than 6 on the Zune in this list display?

This is the one area where I will agree with many posters. The OS, as demonstrated in the video, is a far cry from being a competitor with the iPT. That being said, I wish them the best of luck, because, though I have no great love for MS, I do believe that competition is a good thing.

 

[peterdevries]

From wiki:
Degradation of OLED materials has limited their use so far.

WWDC Q&A following the Keynote...

Reporter: why didn't you introduce an OLED screen on the iPod Touch and the iPhone?
Cook: we feel that the technology is not yet mature, and the fact that people tend to use our products for years makes the degradation of the OLED materials a showstopper for the time being. We will keep monitoring developments in this field and will reconsider once the technology has improved. For now we stay with LCD, which is a proven technology with non of those problems.

 

[Treq]

You know, I've only skimmed this thread, but it is remarkable. There are some very well thought out responses, but the majority, on both sides, are just so much drivel.

This is a new device that is still in development. It has a significantly different look than the iPod Touch which will appeal to some and not to others. It has some technical advantages over the iPod Touch. It also has some technical disadvantages compared to the iPod Touch.

Fully acknowledging that I have not seen one of these in person, have not played with the OS, and have only seen the video demonstrating the OS in action, I am not very impressed. It certainly seems capable of doing the basics: Photos, Music, Videos, Radio, etc.

But that's not what has made the iPod Touch a success. The iPT has been a success because of the fact that you can get other software for it: "There's an app for that."

While the Zune might get it's own App Store, and it might (eventually) have a comparable array of applications that can be purchased and installed, for that to be a viable option that OS interface will have to see an extensive face lift. Scrolling through lists of options would never be a winner with a user. The iPT screens show you 20 different apps, including the 4 in the dock at the bottom. This compares to less than 6 on the Zune in this list display?

This is the one area where I will agree with many posters. The OS, as demonstrated in the video, is a far cry from being a competitor with the iPT. That being said, I wish them the best of luck, because, though I have no great love for MS, I do believe that competition is a good thing.

Thank you. I just don't get all the praise this thing is getting. One out of focus video of what looks like a copy of an iPod touch? Really? This thing could be better than the ipod (doubt it) but you wouldn't know it from the video.

 

[sockdoggy]

BTW (as noted by others) I love the "you can really see the high-def", since it's pretty well documented it's only HD when it's hooked to an HD television (and that's all Microsoft claims about it anyway). That's not a slam on Microsoft - it's just a slam on the reviewer.

How he has any credibility (esp. here) after saying something like that blows my mind.

Not impressed with the product. It seems fine. Amazing for MS even. But show me something I haven't seen before... (accelerometer and flicking aren't exciting anymore). I'll give them credit, they use a lot of text. Haven't seen this before! Well, not since the iPod classics.

 

[DougB541]

Thank you. I just don't get all the praise this thing is getting. One out of focus video of what looks like a copy of an iPod touch? Really? This thing could be better than the ipod (doubt it) but you wouldn't know it from the video.

So we should all just say "its crap" instead?

Wth do you want from a tech website? The video and pictures looked good. People will respond to that.

Hell, look how many rumored apple products come across this forum and look at the ridiculous excitement even when its some blurry possibly photoshopped picture....

How he has any credibility (esp. here) after saying something like that blows my mind.

Not impressed with the product. It seems fine. Amazing for MS even. But show me something I haven't seen before... (accelerometer and flicking aren't exciting anymore). I'll give them credit, they use a lot of text. Haven't seen this before! Well, not since the iPod classics.

Where is all this text comments coming from?

The main page, which continues the Zune interface has text....ok.


Song list has Album art and text.....ok.

Where in the ipod function of the ipod touch is there an bundance of icons vs. text aside from cover flow (uesless feature to many people who don't even have album art....the big ass music note usually takes front stage instead of the album art...anytime I spy an iPhone or an iPod touch.

 

[MDMac]

That UI looks great! It's seems to flow very nicely.

 

[Treq]

So we should all just say "its crap" instead?

Wth do you want from a tech website? The video and pictures looked good. People will respond to that.

Hell, look how many rumored apple products come across this forum and look at the ridiculous excitement even when its some blurry possibly photoshopped picture....

Dude, you don't get my point. There are people on this thread writing "The screen looks amazing" Really? How would you know? That's my point. There are way too many MS fan-boys on here hyping this new zune. That is my point. How does this look any better than what's currently on the market? From this video, you can't tell.
Also, they never played video, so no people won't respond to that. And the photos? All you can tell is the interface is very similar to an iPod touch.

 

[allbrokeup]

- (IBAction)rantid)sender {

I might just have to get my hands on one of these. Possibly hack it, smash it or whatever. I may even use it. People ARE correct however, Microsoft are not innovating, they are just copying what Apple have already done and souping it up to make it look better. The new Zune is based on Windows CE, if they really wanted it to go "BANG", base it on Windows 7 but call it simply Zune. The touch seemed pretty fluid (compared to my stupid Omnia, Pre and Ultratouch) but it was nothing on iPhone/iPod Touch. The UI was OK, but too much like Surface. M$ shouldn't have done that, have you seen any Apple products other than the iPhone/iPod Touch run iPhone OS? No? Thought So! Whereas M$ have Surface running an expansion of the Zune HD's OS, get creative!!!!!!!!! Jeez!!!!!!!!!!!

On other notes, my Accelerometer is actually that fast on my iPod Touch, I hacked it to be one hell of a lot more sensitive than it is by default, its simple preference. Microsoft probably did that to say something childish to Apple like "There, Mine's better than yours...Yeah-t-isssss! Ner Ner"

}

- (IBAction)onOtherNotesid)sender {
I frankly don't give a damn about Microsoft apart from my little rants about their plain stupidity and lowball attempts to steal Apple's limelight. They can probably be compared to Channel Nine here in Australia copying everything the clearly better and more stylish Channel Seven puts out for viewing.
}

- (IBAction)meAgreesWitheverybody else)who-said {
I agree with everybody else when they said "how many times did he have to re-tap the screen to get it to respond?" "It's crap" But did you notice another thing? THEY EVEN COPIED THE iPHONE's SCROLL BARS!!!!!! Take a look at the video again!
}

@end rant

As you all can see, i'm an Apple supporter. Not a fan-boy as others may call me, but I am not a Microsoft Loud-Mouth either. I am building a PC (its running OS X and Windows, just like my four Mac's. I just get all steamed up like this when M$ do something really stupid.

Thanks for reading, even though most won't or will read it and won't agree with me and flame me for absolutely no reason,

AB

 

[irnchriz]

Well, I think it looks pretty cool. OK, it doesn't have the App store of last years iPod Touch or iPhone but it looks pretty slick for an MP3 player, quite similar in size to the Sony player with OLED. Of course this is a pre-production model so potentially much of the design could change before release.

If this does support the Live anywhere feature then I would imagine that it will sell quite well to the Xbox owners out there (me included).

Also, how about selling it worldwide this time. Considering how well Microsoft does in the UK I am surprised that they didn't bring the Zune out here.