The device feels like a cheap knockoff - even Rev 2 feels clunky and a bit ancient, technologically. Giving a Zune as a gift would be taken as quite an insult, for most people I know.
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Zune HD
- Thread starter gan6660
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The device feels like a cheap knockoff - even Rev 2 feels clunky and a bit ancient, technologically. Giving a Zune as a gift would be taken as quite an insult, for most people I know.
If this device has a HDD im so buying it on launch day! Otherwise I'll just keep rocking my Zune 80 as both MS and apple continue to shun us music freaks that need for than 32 GBs of storage.
Microsoft continues to shun you by not providing more than 32 gigabytes of storage, so you will continue to use the Microsoft device that provides more than 32 gigabytes of storage?
Are you guys a big enough market to warrant the R&D required to fit a micro-drive in something like the iPod touch ?
I know, so does the zune. But the devices in the deck-of-cards form factor from both companies lack an app store, web browser, calender and other iPod touch features. Would it be too difficult for apple to throw a HDD in an ipod toch? I'll get the first device that has all the bells and whistles, is great for widescreen video, and doesn't make me have to rotate my music.
For Macs, yes, but not for PMPs; and other devices such as the TV. (The whole point of moving into these markets is because of the fact that these markets are not niches.)
i have a zune and i love it...if apple comes out with an ipod touch at least 80gb in size then i'll pick one up..and who was the rocket scientist who decided that discontinuing the 160gb classic and keeping the 120 was a good idea..that person needs to be kick in the skull
First it would cost quite a bit more; second, thermal considerations; third, space (putting a HDD in takes up a lot more space than a flash drive).
Ah, got it. It would be nice for the iPod Touch/iPhone to have such a storage capacity, however both devices need to utilize flash/ssd's in order to incorporate WiFi/Bluetooth/etc. into either the iPod Touch/iPhone (iPhone uses more wireless cards than the iPod Touch I believe). As such, a HDD would not be possible with the given FORM FACTOR. Also, Apple seems to be phasing out HDD's from their portable units as flash/ssd's do not have moving parts and are less susceptible to skipping/damage. Flash/SSD's are much more expensive compared to HDD's, so anything over 32 GB's would increase the price ten fold (well, maybe not ten fold but you get the idea).
HD Zune? Please.
Even if the new Zune is a "true" HD device, I predict a few flaws.....
1. With a screen that small, HD wouldn't even be recognizable compared to a 480p signal.
2. HD content would suck a HUGE amount of hard drive space.
3. Where are they going to get HD content from? You can't rip your Blu-ray movies (legally). And most people only have DVD's to rip......which obviously aren't HD.
So it seems to me that they "could" release a true HD media player.......but the player without the content is useless (and that's been Microsoft's biggest downfall for the majority of it's products). It could be great if they could get a massive amount of HD data to the consumer, but I doubt it.
I'm willing to bet that it's not going to be a "true" HD player, but more of a "high-resolution" display compared to their previous models.
Even if the new Zune is a "true" HD device, I predict a few flaws.....
1. With a screen that small, HD wouldn't even be recognizable compared to a 480p signal.
2. HD content would suck a HUGE amount of hard drive space.
3. Where are they going to get HD content from? You can't rip your Blu-ray movies (legally). And most people only have DVD's to rip......which obviously aren't HD.
So it seems to me that they "could" release a true HD media player.......but the player without the content is useless (and that's been Microsoft's biggest downfall for the majority of it's products). It could be great if they could get a massive amount of HD data to the consumer, but I doubt it.
I'm willing to bet that it's not going to be a "true" HD player, but more of a "high-resolution" display compared to their previous models.
The HD label doesn't mean squat anymore, its like throwing "turbo" on the end of a product to differentiate it. I saw an infomercial the other day for "HD" sunglasses
The HD label doesn't mean squat anymore, its like throwing "turbo" on the end of a product to differentiate it. I saw an infomercial the other day for "HD" sunglasses
^^ LOL. Yeah, saw the same commercials. I know the "HD" label doesn't mean squat on other items......but it "should" mean something on electronic devices. Guess not though.......maybe the HD stands for "Hard Drive".
I wouldn't mind if the device was a little more expensive and a little bigger (see cellphone in zoolander...rediculous).
Sorry, not following, why wouldn't a HDD and wifi/bluetooth not be compatible? They co-exist in many devices today already (inclding the zune).
Yeah a touch/zune with enough flash memory to make it past the 100 GB mark would cost a bazillion dollars, thats why I wouldn't mind a HDD instead to keep the price down.
I never stated anything about compatibility. I stated that a HDD would not be able to FIT into the current form factor.
Even if the iPod was somehow aimed at some kind of niche, can you imagine the price point for producing just 2 units ?
Are you ready to pay 17,000$ for your iPod ?
The HD label doesn't mean squat anymore, its like throwing "turbo" on the end of a product to differentiate it. I saw an infomercial the other day for "HD" sunglasses
One retailer of orthopedic lenses around here sell HD lenses... And they do say "see life in high definition". The term is getting thrown around to the point it means nothing anymore.
He didn't say it wasn't compatible, just that your new iPod touch/iPhone with HDD would be much thicker. The iPhone is already thicker than the iPod touch.
From what I've seen, the Zune market is more the niche.
Any Zune user I know is basically anti-Apple. Maybe some snobbish Mac users made them think badly of Apple, or they want to feel different and not part of the crowd.
I'm a PC user and I prefer Windows, but I have an iPod and iPhone, mostly because I really don't care about the Microsoft VS Apple war that's mostly fought by the users over anyone.
I agree that the only hope for Microsoft is some kind of an App store, but that would mean opening up their SDK even more, which I don't think they'll do. Plus you can get a lot of that not just with an iPhone, but Android phones and Blackberries.
Zune isn't going to go anywhere in my book, but it'll never take the market share away from Apple. Not unless they innovate something that goes way beyone the iPhone/iPod Touch. All I see them doing right now is following.
One thing MS could do though is work with Skype or a VOIP service to make the Zune into a free VOIP phone. So you could be on any wireless internet connection and make VOIP calls. That would hurt the competition greatly.
Might even push Apple to allow VOIP when you're on the net with iPhone.
Any Zune user I know is basically anti-Apple. Maybe some snobbish Mac users made them think badly of Apple, or they want to feel different and not part of the crowd.
I'm a PC user and I prefer Windows, but I have an iPod and iPhone, mostly because I really don't care about the Microsoft VS Apple war that's mostly fought by the users over anyone.
I agree that the only hope for Microsoft is some kind of an App store, but that would mean opening up their SDK even more, which I don't think they'll do. Plus you can get a lot of that not just with an iPhone, but Android phones and Blackberries.
Zune isn't going to go anywhere in my book, but it'll never take the market share away from Apple. Not unless they innovate something that goes way beyone the iPhone/iPod Touch. All I see them doing right now is following.
One thing MS could do though is work with Skype or a VOIP service to make the Zune into a free VOIP phone. So you could be on any wireless internet connection and make VOIP calls. That would hurt the competition greatly.
Might even push Apple to allow VOIP when you're on the net with iPhone.
Flash memory almost always comes in these particular increments:
8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1,024...
There will be a 64 GB touch first, followed by a 128.
The 160 GB was huge and thick, so Apple decided to replace it with the slightly smaller capacity 120 GB that is exactly the same thickness as the previous 80 GB. The 80 GB classic was my first iPod, and when I eventually had to replace it with the 120, I could still use the same protective cases I had for my 80 GB.
I believe the person who decided that is the same one pictured in my avatar.
As other people have said, "HD" is just a marketing thing. The device is speculated to maybe be 480 * 800, which on a screen smaller than 4 inches is just as good if not better than HD on a tv. So sources could include:
1) DVDs (480*800 is slightly better than SD)
2) bittorrent
3) Zune marketplace
4) netflix
never know their might even be a youtube app. Basically 480 * 800 is likely to be the next resolution on both the zune and ipod touch.
Figured i'd speak as a Zune owner.
First an introduction.....i've always read apple forums and what not but not owning an Apple product currently felt no need to reply...but this particular topic seems to be getting a lot of view whatever and since i own a zune figured i'd speak on it.
History:
I started with a 20 gig iPod....then eventually, after it crapped out on me (tho it had a long life) i bought a 80 gig iPod classic.
Around this time I had upgraded to Vista on my PC. My experience was iTunes was garbage on Vista....it honestly wasn't too good on XP either. For whatever reason, iTunes runs 10x better on Mac's than PCs. The same can be said for Safari so I chalk it up to just the PC software team not getting the same talent as the OSX team.
Anyway, i had that issue, and then i had an issue with the iPod classic because half of my songs would play in slow motion on the ipod (even after swapping it out at best buy...still doing it) also, the audio quality was significant worse than my 20 gig iPod.
I decided to get a Zune as market share doesn't really matter to me (tho i do miss the ample amount of accessories for iPods).
In my honest opinon, The Zune 80 vs. iPod Classic is Zune all the way (unless you need the aforementioned accessories compatibility). But user interface, screen, video suppot, wifi, etc.....all put it above.
I think even some iPod fans saw this, and often they decided to compare the iPod touch to it instead...which really shouldn't be compared as they aren't the same genre of product.
Anyway, I see a lot of comments about Microsoft just copying Apple with the Zune. I think the only thing they really have in common is they are mp3 players. I was surprised myself the much more different approach Microsoft took with the Zune. One would think they would do exactly what Apple did with the iPod, but instead they base their model around the subscription service and the social aspect (which being an Xbox360 owner, I do appreciate the common login and friends list). I think if anyone things Microsoft was just "following" apple when they released the Zune 2.0 they should really take another look at it.
Anyway, with this news I want to see how they approach a Zune HD (and no it won't be a HD player, it'll be something like 480x800. And people saying you won't see the added resolution please watch this video from the Samsung Omina HD. Its truly breathtaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJy4xM04Q4U
Make sure to hit HQ and go to around 2:30 to see video on it.
But anyway, just thought i'd drop my opinion on the Zune. Yeah, I don't think any product is going to catch up to the Apple install base, but one could say the same for the tiny increases in users OSX gets. Who cares, if MS can make it profitable, keep working on it and make Apple improve some more (like an FM radio for christ sake).
First an introduction.....i've always read apple forums and what not but not owning an Apple product currently felt no need to reply...but this particular topic seems to be getting a lot of view whatever and since i own a zune figured i'd speak on it.
History:
I started with a 20 gig iPod....then eventually, after it crapped out on me (tho it had a long life) i bought a 80 gig iPod classic.
Around this time I had upgraded to Vista on my PC. My experience was iTunes was garbage on Vista....it honestly wasn't too good on XP either. For whatever reason, iTunes runs 10x better on Mac's than PCs. The same can be said for Safari so I chalk it up to just the PC software team not getting the same talent as the OSX team.
Anyway, i had that issue, and then i had an issue with the iPod classic because half of my songs would play in slow motion on the ipod (even after swapping it out at best buy...still doing it) also, the audio quality was significant worse than my 20 gig iPod.
I decided to get a Zune as market share doesn't really matter to me (tho i do miss the ample amount of accessories for iPods).
In my honest opinon, The Zune 80 vs. iPod Classic is Zune all the way (unless you need the aforementioned accessories compatibility). But user interface, screen, video suppot, wifi, etc.....all put it above.
I think even some iPod fans saw this, and often they decided to compare the iPod touch to it instead...which really shouldn't be compared as they aren't the same genre of product.
Anyway, I see a lot of comments about Microsoft just copying Apple with the Zune. I think the only thing they really have in common is they are mp3 players. I was surprised myself the much more different approach Microsoft took with the Zune. One would think they would do exactly what Apple did with the iPod, but instead they base their model around the subscription service and the social aspect (which being an Xbox360 owner, I do appreciate the common login and friends list). I think if anyone things Microsoft was just "following" apple when they released the Zune 2.0 they should really take another look at it.
Anyway, with this news I want to see how they approach a Zune HD (and no it won't be a HD player, it'll be something like 480x800. And people saying you won't see the added resolution please watch this video from the Samsung Omina HD. Its truly breathtaking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJy4xM04Q4U
Make sure to hit HQ and go to around 2:30 to see video on it.
But anyway, just thought i'd drop my opinion on the Zune. Yeah, I don't think any product is going to catch up to the Apple install base, but one could say the same for the tiny increases in users OSX gets. Who cares, if MS can make it profitable, keep working on it and make Apple improve some more (like an FM radio for christ sake).
Microsoft continues to prove how good they are at burning money on failed projects. They need to give it up, the Zune is awful and no one is buying it.
While no one will argue sales haven't been spectacular (I beileve 2 million Zunes in total sold) why should they "give it up?"
And in your experience i'm interested in what you think is "awful" about the Zune.