Zune HD Coming this Fall

Awesome.

Can’t wait for E3,

Microsoft is about to wow us all,

and I already have a Zune HD on my wish list. 

Awesome.

Can’t wait for E3,

Microsoft is about to wow us all,

and I already have a Zune HD on my wish list. 

Honestly, I'm quite disappointed.  Visually I love the design, but technically it's a me2 device.
They really need to think outside the box if they want to make any traction against the competition.
I wonder how much of this device is what the designers really wanted versus the management.

Honestly, I'm quite disappointed.  Visually I love the design, but technically it's a me2 device.
They really need to think outside the box if they want to make any traction against the competition.
I wonder how much of this device is what the designers really wanted versus the management.

I love the design, this will be my third zune. i want a brown one like my zune 30 in 2006.

I love the design, this will be my third zune. i want a brown one like my zune 30 in 2006.

Let me clarify my prior statements.  I normally don't like to write a book as my comments, but I guess I'll have to explain myself.

My issue with MS begins with 2 things that I think they do wrong. 

1) I think they make great software (Windows is a much better OS than OS X) and yet they don't put the marketing budget behind letting customers know about it.  Apple does a really good job of letting people know why their products are so great.

2) They enter a new market, be it with the XBOX or in this case the ZUNE and they try to compete against the deeply entrenched competition by creating an almost indistinguishable product.  They have some differences sure.  XBOX had the dedicated broadband connection and ZUNE has the Social (aka sharing), but they don't put a whole lot of support or functionality behind those features.

Now with the 360, Microsoft has managed to properly extend their LIVE services and take advantage of that Broadband connection they introduced in rev1 of the device. The thing that made them unique in the first place.  I honestly think they were lucky that time around, but we're not talking about the XBOX so, I'll get back on topic.

The Zune (I don't feel) hasn't really pushed the idea of the Social.  Sure we'll hear about more stuff as we get closer to launch, but we should be hearing about those things now! Remember, that's what's unique about the Zune over the competition.  The ability to use your mp3 player as a social device, instead of the solitary hardware that it's commonly known as.  I'd love to see DLNA features implemented. 

a) I'd love to play my music or video directly from my ZuneHD to my PS3 or 360, or DLNA television, or PC over Wifi.
b) I hope multiplayer gaming will be announced as part of the Zune/360 integration.  Think about playing an IKARUGA style shooter on multiple ZuneHDs on a long flight overseas.

The ideas are endless. I wasn't even really thinking outside the box btw.  These features should have been there already.

Finally, my biggest gripe and this is with all the players, not just Microsoft's.  For a player that's supposed to be for video, the hardware specs sure don't echo that.  Why are we relegated to 32GB for a video player?  Did they make that big screen for music?  I don't think so.  We should not expect anything less than 80GB for a video player.  Ok, I'll settle for 64GB, but still.

For those that say that it would be expensive to do 64GB of flash.  Why not a HDD?  People buy the IPOD Classic at 160GB and the Zune 120.  Both for less than the IPOD Touch (32GB version).  Unfortunately, those mp3 players have tiny screens and aren't worth watching much longer than a short film or tv show.  We really need to have a proper option for video playback.  I won't complain about the 480x272 resolution as 720p and higher really isn't something you'd notice on such a small screen.  We need higher storage that reflects the actual use of the device.

Sorry, is this enough of a clarification for you?  My point is that the ZuneHD for all it's glossy looks.  It's a device that's not living up to its potential.

Let me clarify my prior statements.  I normally don't like to write a book as my comments, but I guess I'll have to explain myself.

My issue with MS begins with 2 things that I think they do wrong. 

1) I think they make great software (Windows is a much better OS than OS X) and yet they don't put the marketing budget behind letting customers know about it.  Apple does a really good job of letting people know why their products are so great.

2) They enter a new market, be it with the XBOX or in this case the ZUNE and they try to compete against the deeply entrenched competition by creating an almost indistinguishable product.  They have some differences sure.  XBOX had the dedicated broadband connection and ZUNE has the Social (aka sharing), but they don't put a whole lot of support or functionality behind those features.

Now with the 360, Microsoft has managed to properly extend their LIVE services and take advantage of that Broadband connection they introduced in rev1 of the device. The thing that made them unique in the first place.  I honestly think they were lucky that time around, but we're not talking about the XBOX so, I'll get back on topic.

The Zune (I don't feel) hasn't really pushed the idea of the Social.  Sure we'll hear about more stuff as we get closer to launch, but we should be hearing about those things now! Remember, that's what's unique about the Zune over the competition.  The ability to use your mp3 player as a social device, instead of the solitary hardware that it's commonly known as.  I'd love to see DLNA features implemented. 

a) I'd love to play my music or video directly from my ZuneHD to my PS3 or 360, or DLNA television, or PC over Wifi.
b) I hope multiplayer gaming will be announced as part of the Zune/360 integration.  Think about playing an IKARUGA style shooter on multiple ZuneHDs on a long flight overseas.

The ideas are endless. I wasn't even really thinking outside the box btw.  These features should have been there already.

Finally, my biggest gripe and this is with all the players, not just Microsoft's.  For a player that's supposed to be for video, the hardware specs sure don't echo that.  Why are we relegated to 32GB for a video player?  Did they make that big screen for music?  I don't think so.  We should not expect anything less than 80GB for a video player.  Ok, I'll settle for 64GB, but still.

For those that say that it would be expensive to do 64GB of flash.  Why not a HDD?  People buy the IPOD Classic at 160GB and the Zune 120.  Both for less than the IPOD Touch (32GB version).  Unfortunately, those mp3 players have tiny screens and aren't worth watching much longer than a short film or tv show.  We really need to have a proper option for video playback.  I won't complain about the 480x272 resolution as 720p and higher really isn't something you'd notice on such a small screen.  We need higher storage that reflects the actual use of the device.

Sorry, is this enough of a clarification for you?  My point is that the ZuneHD for all it's glossy looks.  It's a device that's not living up to its potential.

Yeah that is probably enough , I actually found your book a very nice read, and I do agree with you on your points to. 

I didn’t mean to insult anyone or start any fires. The thing that bothered me was the first comment just kind of sounded like it was coming from some guy that probably didn’t even know what DLNA is, its too bad that happens so much online now, I guess I’ve just read way to many posts like that in the past few weeks, its usually just the same kind of comment. 

“I'm disappointed in them, they’re doing it all wrong, its just another rip off, the other guys invented the touch screen and computers” or something like that lol. 

So I agree with you and I apologize if you were insulted at all and I can assure you and everyone here you are no idiot, you know what your talking about and you know far more then I do. I’d certainly come to you for advice on any topic, unless it’s about film then I might know a little more, maybe lol. 

So I guess all we can do know is to hope the Zune HD can live up to its potential. Lets send positive thoughts to them, cause just negative thoughts sure don’t help something succeed or make your day any better.

Again nice job Spydaweb.

Yeah that is probably enough , I actually found your book a very nice read, and I do agree with you on your points to. 

I didn’t mean to insult anyone or start any fires. The thing that bothered me was the first comment just kind of sounded like it was coming from some guy that probably didn’t even know what DLNA is, its too bad that happens so much online now, I guess I’ve just read way to many posts like that in the past few weeks, its usually just the same kind of comment. 

“I'm disappointed in them, they’re doing it all wrong, its just another rip off, the other guys invented the touch screen and computers” or something like that lol. 

So I agree with you and I apologize if you were insulted at all and I can assure you and everyone here you are no idiot, you know what your talking about and you know far more then I do. I’d certainly come to you for advice on any topic, unless it’s about film then I might know a little more, maybe lol. 

So I guess all we can do know is to hope the Zune HD can live up to its potential. Lets send positive thoughts to them, cause just negative thoughts sure don’t help something succeed or make your day any better.

Again nice job Spydaweb.

I was not offended JeffreyByron, you have every right to your own opinion and I can either respond or shut up.  Simple as that.  No need to apologize.

and Nick.  I'm not one of those that's hoping for a Zune phone.  I actually hate it when companies try to do too much with their devices instead of concentrating on refining the more important functionality.  The Zune is primarily a media player.  Microsoft, as I've said, has not fully explored what's possible in that arena.  I'm not against the current plan to integrate some of the software platform into mobile phones, but it would be nice if they stuck to the essentials with the Zune.  I like that they did that (mostly) with the 360.

I was not offended JeffreyByron, you have every right to your own opinion and I can either respond or shut up.  Simple as that.  No need to apologize.

and Nick.  I'm not one of those that's hoping for a Zune phone.  I actually hate it when companies try to do too much with their devices instead of concentrating on refining the more important functionality.  The Zune is primarily a media player.  Microsoft, as I've said, has not fully explored what's possible in that arena.  I'm not against the current plan to integrate some of the software platform into mobile phones, but it would be nice if they stuck to the essentials with the Zune.  I like that they did that (mostly) with the 360.

ok cool, ya I also think its better that they leave the phone part to the other project "Pink" that their working on, mostly cause if the Zune HD had a phone in it that would add another what $300+ for it hahaha. I need and have a cell phone that makes calls and takes pics I don't need to play games surf the web or melt my credit card when I purchase it lol. 

I'll leave that to the Zune HD

ok cool, ya I also think its better that they leave the phone part to the other project "Pink" that their working on, mostly cause if the Zune HD had a phone in it that would add another what $300+ for it hahaha. I need and have a cell phone that makes calls and takes pics I don't need to play games surf the web or melt my credit card when I purchase it lol. 

I'll leave that to the Zune HD