Microsoft Zune

Dr. Nick

A poster on a different board recently recommended a Zune good option for an MP3 player. They're available from this week in the US, but nothing happening in Europe for at least a year.

- Has anyone pre-ordered one?
- Has anyone seen one?
- If I buy from the US, are there any format issues to worry about?

Anti

#Never heard of one or seen one, But you wont have any problem with the format, a mp3 here is a mp3 all over the world. If you do buy it from the us, Dont forgot about the import tax, it wont be huge, but it will be something.

Dr. Nick

Thanks anti.

You WILL hear about it, they (Microsoft) are tagging it the ipod killer.....

Dr. Nick

www.zunescene.com

The Black Oil

Stumbled across some comments, reviews today via Google news, didn't seem very positive...

youcancallmeal

Its a microsoft product

8T8

The only major good thing going for it over say an iPod is that it handles video better with a larger screen and landscape mode.

Someone got hold of one a little early - un-intentional funny background photo on the failed install in the Zune software.

Other than video it doesn't really have anything else major going for it, DRM is encrusted on the wireless music sharing feature but not on photos funny those fall under copyright too but MS is pandering to the music industry with the DRM. The wireless doesn't do anything else bar that which is pretty lame.

The only other point of consideration is that you can play videos on the Zune through the Xbox 360 but given the limited codec support of the Xbox 360 I imagine the Zune will be doing the decoding so you are bound by the limitations of what the unit can play & if they don't allow higher resolutions like the iPod/TV res then it's another feature wasted.

hopeful

I'm assuming it won't play OGG or FLAC files? No way I'm re-encoding my whole collection...gonna stick with my X5L

8T8

OGG or FLAC I'd imagine not the only formats it supports are AAC/MP3/WMA.

Capt'n Midnight

The Zune don't support Microsoft's "Plays for Sure" media.

CBA looking it up but I'm fairly sure "Pays for sure" don't work on ipods either.

You pays your money and you takes your chance. And pays for all your music a second time if the DRM format you choose gets dropped in a few years time, or you want a different player.

This has already happened http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DIVX

http://www.boingboing.net/2006/09/15/microsoft_zune_wont_.html

Microsoft Zune won't play purchased Microsoft media files
Microsoft's "iPod-killing" Zune player won't play music that's locked up with Microsoft's own anti-copying software. Music and movies sold through Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink and Cinemanow won't play on the Zune, even though these services are marketed in conjunction with Microsoft's "Plays for Sure" (AKA Plays for ****) program.

hopeful

Deffo sticking to my X5L....no DRM issues at all

Its bizarre that MS releases its flagship media player that in not compatible with its own music service. Unless I'm missing something here (likely I know) it would seem MS are expecting people to pay them AGAIN for music they may already have paid them for.

I guess fair play to them if they can put it past people :rolleyes:

Peteee

If you dont want DRM don't use it. Just sick mp3's on the thing :rolleyes:

I really doubt anyone has much if any music that comes for a plays for sure device. It's not as if it's as widespread a problem as the people who buy stuff off iTunes.

Looks like a nice player. Nothing special (But then the iPod is nothing special either)

They really missed out on transferring music wirelessly. That would of been cool

swingking

This is the zune

From what I am reading in this web page, the new microsoft zune, which is released tomorrow, looks really good.

Wifi
Video (loads of supported video files)
mp3
fm-tuner

This looks like the Ipod killer,:) *licks lips*

kaimera

bestbuy.com selling for $250.

Seems a pretty solid little gizmo

uncle_sam_ie

Peteee wrote:

If you dont want DRM don't use it. Just sick mp3's on the thing :rolleyes:

From what I'm hearing you wont have that choice. It will add DRM to everthing you put into the zune, even music you've made yourself.

8T8

uncle_sam_ie wrote:

From what I'm hearing you wont have that choice. It will add DRM to everthing you put into the zune, even music you've made yourself.

That is incorrect DRM will not be applied to any files except those you purchase from the Zune store & music files you send via wireless to friends (the original on your Zune will remain DRM free). They will time out after something like 3 plays or 3 days so in effect the wireless sharing is like a "demo" feature.

Why on earth Microsoft thinks the Zune project was a good idea is beyond me {although there is an interesting take on it at this link}. Frankly I hope it fails at least Apple has leaned more towards the consumer then the media companies who Microsoft will roll over & play fetch with.

uncle_sam_ie

8T8 wrote:

That is incorrect DRM will not be applied to any files except those you purchase from the Zune store & music files you send via wireless to friends (the original on your Zune will remain DRM free). They will time out after something like 3 plays or 3 days so in effect the wireless sharing is like a "demo" feature.

Why on earth Microsoft thinks the Zune project was a good idea is beyond me {although there is an interesting take on it at this link}. Frankly I hope it fails at least Apple has leaned more towards the consumer then the media companies who Microsoft will roll over & play fetch with.

Sorry, your right I miss read it . It will put DRM on every song you want to share wirelessly with another zune ,even music you've made yourself. http://www.medialoper.com/hot-topics/music/zunes-big-innovation-viral-drm/

Orion

MS enforce DRM now? *shock*

Satan is getting pi$sed off

Orion

uncle_sam_ie wrote:

http://www.medialoper.com/hot-topics/music/zunes-big-innovation-viral-drm/

If Microsoft’s claims are to be believed, this on-the-fly DRM will be seamless and automatic - which must be some kind of first for Microsoft.

Classic )

silvine

kaimera wrote:

bestbuy.com selling for $250.

Seems a pretty solid little gizmo

That's a bargain, it's just a shame they don't ship to Ireland. Do you know of any alternatives? Would it even work over here yet anyway? I'd say the Zune music stores wouldn't.:(

Blaster99

It hasn't gotten particularly good reviews and even Microsoft is fairly realistic about its immediate prospects. Sounds like it's clonky in a Creative sort of way and maybe that's what it will compete with initially.

OctavarIan

Doesn't look like anything special to me. Plus, it's Microsoft. I'll stick to my iRiver H320.

Obelisk29

After reading this, don't think I'll be rushing out for one.

Isn't compatible with Windows Media Player, can't connect wirelessly to your pc, can't even be used as an external hard drive.

Like most tihngs MS, wait for version 3.

kaisersose77

its just an upgraded toshiba gigabeat or something as someone mentioned before

http://www.google.ie/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-GB%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=zune+gigabeat&meta=&btnG=Google+Search

Pity its not a completely new mp3 player with software that hackers could hack to bits and let u play xvids etc and stream from samba shares

irlrobins

Moving to PMP forum

CtrlSource

Generally, MS products get a tougher time from reviewers than other company, mostly for good historical reasons.

This DRM and compatability stuff is getting ridiculous, but not just with MS.

Regarding Zune, I'm amazed that it wont interface with Media Player. Makes a total laugh of this, from a few years back: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2003/nov03/11-16gates-comdex.mspx

TCP/IP

I will have mine on Monday morning, does it matter that it will not work with media player, sure all I do is just copy my existing MP3's to it and I am happy. I will post my thoughts on monday if that helps

Capt'n Midnight

CtrlSource wrote:

Regarding Zune, I'm amazed that it wont interface with Media Player.

Or Windows VISTA !!!
www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/16/zune_vista_incompatible