Microsoft Zune

[BigBucksT]

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_vi...ml?id=2009395n

Sorry about the browser resize guys.

Anyway, I am very impressed with this thing. It actually looks good. Apple will have some serious competition.

[Cybergypsy]

Nope, Apple will never have competion......and its ugly....

[martinez_josh]

Originally Posted by Cybergypsy

Nope, Apple will never have competion......and its ugly....

^^^Word

[atomicEXcoupe]

and who would want a MP3 player that comes in Sh!t brown anyhow??

[JeShUa]

Originally Posted by Cybergypsy

Nope, Apple will never have competion......and its ugly....

apple already has competition.. toshiba gigabeat S
Zune has potential.. much better than an ipod

[Cybergypsy]

Originally Posted by JeShUa

apple already has competition.. toshiba gigabeat S
Zune has potential.. much better than an ipod

since this is the first time i am hearing about, think i stick to my apple....

[scraggles]

I've got an Ipod, and I hate it.

Ever since day one, it acts up. At times it completely freezes up. Other times I start it up, and it gives me the error screen showing me the little ipod and I can actually 'feel' a clicking coming from inside it. So, naturally I attempted to return it, but they said I dropped it. When I had returned it, it was less than 6 hours later.

I've been waiting for something good to come out and this definitely looks good. Who cares about brown you tards. it comes in black, brown, and white.

How about the size of the screen? for the same price as the ipod, you get more features, a bigger screen... Why you guys care about if it is ugly... it's going to sit in your pockets. Jesus... I'm amazed at the lack of intelligence on the web. So many people bash it because it's microsoft, or 'brown' or whatever. It looks good, great features. Christ, I'm getting it.

[Cybergypsy]

You'd think that a music player with a larger screen, wireless access, and built-in FM tuner and transmitter launching in about five weeks would be a threat to Apple's dominance.

While everyone has their sights trained on next year's desktop OS war, it seems that Microsoft is itching to get on the battlefield, gathering troops ahead of Vista's release and taking aim at Apple's digital music dominance.

In case you've been living in some far off land, it's called Operation: Zune, and it's set to launch on Nov. 14. The strategy is quite simple, and on paper, it looks as though they might have a chance:

Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a bright, 3-inch screen that allows users to not only show off music, pictures and video, but also to customize the experience with personal pictures or themes to truly make the device their own. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white.

And at $249, it's priced right, too (although they really didn't have much of a choice). And the Zune device takes enough cues from the iPod to guarantee some sales.

So, as futile as many have called the effort, I'm sure Apple is paying close attention, especially since its own line of iPods are, for the most part, underwhelming (no matter how cool the new nano commercial is).

Even analysts are approaching Apple's holiday quarter with a bit of caution — if you can call estimates of nearly 19 million iPods cautious — and have filled their latest reports with tales of doom and gloom. Just yesterday, AAPL shed $2.12 after Citigroup downgraded its rating on Apple shares from "Buy" to "Hold" based on "little potential for upside to consensus revenue estimates."

In other words, Microsoft picked a good time to strike. And despite the choice of colors (would anyone ever buy a brown music player?), the Zune player stacks up well against the iPod spec-wise and even includes a few additional features — most notably a bigger screen, along with a built-in FM tuner and transmitter.

But the real "killer" feature is wireless 802.11g connectivity. Or at least it should have been.

Wireless access is one of the most sought-after features for the iPod. For years, users have dreamed of purchasing their favorite songs while walking to work or lounging on the beach, and it looks like Zune will beat Apple to the punch (unless a new iPod is released before Nov. 12).

But Microsoft's strategy isn't quite what we all expected. Instead of buying songs and surfing the net, Zune's wireless acts much like iTunes sharing: You can find friends and swap songs (which can't be saved and are deleted after only a few listens) and photos. I mean, you can't even sync wirelessly with your computer when you're ready to update your Zune library.

But the idea of swapping songs — think of it as wireless podjacking — is kind of nifty, especially if users were able to browse each other's libraries and grab the songs they wanted without asking permission.

Of course, finding another Zune user might prove difficult. And when your player locks up while downloading your neighbor's remix of "Smack That," things could get ugly.

But it does have an extra half-inch over the iPod's display — just imagine how nice the Blue Screen of Death will look.

[BigBucksT]

There is no doubt Microsoft has the people and money to make the Zune work. I have an Ipod also and it is a piece of shit. Apple are the communists in the music industry. They have no competition so they slack off. I pray to god MSFT gets this right and grabs a 20% marketshare this year. Then do the formula that worked with the XBOX. Keep Bill Gates away from it and let J Allard handle it.

The Zune is an attractive device btw. My fav is the white.

[Cybergypsy]

Originally Posted by BigBucksT

There is no doubt Microsoft has the people and money to make the Zune work. I have an Ipod also and it is a piece of shit. Apple are the communists in the music industry. They have no competition so they slack off. I pray to god MSFT gets this right and grabs a 20% marketshare this year. Then do the formula that worked with the XBOX. Keep Bill Gates away from it and let J Allard handle it.

The Zune is an attractive device btw. My fav is the white.

MSFT gets this right....LOL

[BigBucksT]

Originally Posted by Cybergypsy

MSFT gets this right....LOL

???????????

[martinez_josh]

I don't think that this microsoft device will be going anywhere. I have 2 ipods and I'm pretty sure that if this device shows any significant sales, apple will just come out with a new ipod (which I love/hate the fact that they are always updating)with whatever features this or any other players have that the ipod doesn't.

[JeShUa]

Originally Posted by martinez_josh

I don't think that this microsoft device will be going anywhere. I have 2 ipods and I'm pretty sure that if this device shows any significant sales, apple will just come out with a new ipod (which I love/hate the fact that they are always updating)with whatever features this or any other players have that the ipod doesn't.

I hate when they improove things.. Why cant we just use 30mghz comps.. My first comp was a 384? it was terrible.. wow.. why did they have to outdate it?? :],, my current cell phone has like a better processor hahaha,, new one will deff have a better processor.. samsung 400mghz processor ftw

[xenfacta]

im not a massive fan of the ipods but there isnt the support for in car control for the other players. with the iod i can tuck it away and play and control it thru my stereo... convenience is the key.. and the wheel is still a shiteload easier to use