http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 3:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Remember how revolutionary the UMPC was supposed to be? Then it came out all bulky, with a crappy battery life and a ridiculous pricepoint.

Apple needs a major refresh for the iPod line, no doubt, but with all the Vista delays, I wouldn't trust Microsoft to tie their own shoes anymore.]]>Jul 16th 2006 3:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 3:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
If anything, I wouldn't hop the bandwagon for Apple nor trust Microsoft. I'd enter the camps that offer more functionality (at this moment) and sound quality that could please audiophiles. They being Creative or iriver, although I question iriver. Their latest offering have been rather weak.]]>Jul 16th 2006 3:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 3:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 3:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
So the Zune isn't a product leak like UMPC? Where's the press release or definate pictures?]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 4:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/

Borders? GB crossed that line and has his own helmet at this point.

As for the player.
sat radio...meh.
wireless...meh
gaming....double meh.

The wireless is a good idea. In concept. Try going to an airport or a cafe at some point. You pretty much have to pay to play at this point in many locations.

Unless this thing comes with a web browser, a way to enter data, accept the redirected page that almost always comes up when you go on even a free access point, and supports WEP its going to be pretty much pointless. Again good idea...in theory.

PS- WOO HOO 8th post.....retard.]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 4:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
You mean like on the back? And Sherlock this is a freaking mock up.
God the 'tards are just coming out of the woodworks for this thread.]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Why?

A: Microsoft is already partnered with XM, there are tie-ins all over the place - like right in Windows Media Player for example. Though it's plausable Sirius could once again ignore profitability and somehow give MS a wad of cash from it's magical money-pot. But does MS need it?

B: XM is still quite aways ahead of Sirius technologically in terms of reciever size, heat-generation, power-consumtion, etc. They showed a prototype months ago of the entire reciever in a package about the size of two stacked quarters.

"I'd enter the camps that offer more functionality (at this moment) and sound quality that could please audiophiles. They being Creative or iriver, although I question iriver. Their latest offering have been rather weak."

I've been quite happy with Archos products. They are clearing out their current-gen hardware via Dish Network and PocketDish to make way for their new models. $150 for an 3G iPod-sized 20Gig unit with USB -hosting (dump photos, dock and share with other USB MP3 players) and DVD-res video-playback (w/TV-out built-in) isn't bad at all. If half of what has been leaked makes it in to the new ones (Removable battery, WiFi, High-Def Divx, MPEG2, H.264, possibly even touch-screens and Internet/email on some models) one of the new Archos models will be mine as well. ]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Id get a Zune and ditch my ipod if Zune offered Howard 100 and 101.]]>Dec 25th 2006 4:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Bill - have you tried WMP on WM5!?! It is fine that you want to make MP3 players but get your s@#! together with WM5 before you waste any effort on a somewhat similar product. There is a reason people download alternate players for WM5!!]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Others have created wifi *and* gaming featured mp3 players. Take archos pma420 for example.

There is absolutely nothing new in the speculated features, just the typical boring old microsoft jumping into markets others have created.

I don't understand why this is worth so many articles here. ]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/If anything, I wouldn't hop the bandwagon for Apple nor trust Microsoft. I'd enter the camps that offer more functionality (at this moment) and sound quality that could please audiophiles. They being Creative or iriver, although I question iriver. Their latest offering have been rather weak.

There have been many things said against the iPod (lack of features, no optical out (or line out for that matter, scratches like nothing else, no user replaceable battery), but signal quality is not one of them. I don't know which "audiophiles you're speaking of, but amoung groups such as head-fi, the iPod is a very well received player. Some argue that older players like the rio kharma or iriver ihp 1xx/3xx series are still better, but the general consensus is that there is little deviation in sq between most major dap makers. In fact, those going for the best portable source send their iPods of to red wine audio. As, such I have a hard time understading how the iPod sounds worse than the offerings from other companies (especially with rockbox). ]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
That'd be a technique known as advertising. And it seems to have done well in the past. Look at all the people that walk around advertising for Abercrombie.

I'm excited to see what MS comes up with. I've been looking for a replacement for my Archos Jukebox FM Recorder 20GB for a while now.]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
]]>Jul 16th 2006 4:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 5:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
WiFi is good, but without a large base to use it for, it will fail. And honestly, what way will wifi play into the audio experience? buying off Urge for this thing? Last I checked, people buy music online from the computer. Is it that hard to plug your DAP into the USB port for 2 damn seconds? If WiFi isnt used in any revolutionary way, it isnt going to be worth buying. The only thing I can see it working with is some sort of On-the-go service where a major computer terminal is not needed by the end-user, some sort of hotspot service at cafes and such for buying. But even that can be redundant if you think about it.

The Sirus integration is a cool idea, and the only really feasable add-on on the Zune's list I see working on a large-scale basis. I would be curious to see how many people, all other features aside, would use the Sirius functionality on a large basis, at least outside the car.

As far as gaming....how the hell is one going to play games on this thing? Maybe Pong, Space invaders, and crap like that.....wait, which audio player has that sort of thing already? I forget.....oh yeah, the iPod.

Microsoft either needs to get their **** in order or face the facts that Apple truely beat them. And I am not saying this as an Apple fanboy/someone that hates microsoft. I am saying this from a logical perspective that Apple has a virtual stronghold on the market, with well rounded players and a great service....if anyone is going to challenge that, they need to do something just as well rounded and even better, not steaming piles of rumor-mished crap like this.

Just my 2 cents, flame it if you like. But dont give me that crap about my comments being one that comes from a "retard fanboy". Its pure logic and understanding of marketing. More functions does not mean better quality, and could end up dragging the whole product down , and the price up.


P.S. - Microsoft's service duping purchased iTunes tracks? Yeah right, and pigs fly out of my ass. I could be wrong, but I dont think they can do that legally, or at least Apple is going to pitch a fit. A bigger point however is that, ok fine, say they do end up doing that. I honestly think people are going to want a beter incentive to switch music stores. But that is just me. ]]>Jul 16th 2006 5:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Microsoft are being silly on this one. They should have bought out something that rivalled the ipod in terms of size and sleekness and and offered it at a lower price. No radio, no wifi. Nothing that the ipod hasn't got. As a previous poster said there are other players with these features. If consumers wanted them on mass they would have already brought one and deserted Apple.

As it is all they will do is attract the geek market which Creative, irivier et al already own. Jobs must be rubbing his hands in glee.

As for me I'll stick with the ipod. I don't want to have to rummage around in incomprehensible menus among features I don't want or need just to play music.]]>Jul 16th 2006 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 5:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
(And while we're at it... "Zune"? Was this thing named by Nintendo's PR firm or something? Does it have a ridiculous Wii-like mission statement to go along with the silly name?)]]>Jul 16th 2006 5:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Naturally, I'm not saying that everyone in the market for a DAP has already bought one and you shouldn't release one for another 2 years, just that it does appear a hell of a lot of people have their DAPs, and I rarely here anyone saying they desperately want one.

I feel to topple the iPod, it would be advisable to either wait until the average iPod (don't ask me about the maths involved in averaging iPods :-/) is dying and/or do some serious innovating, none of this half-arsed crap. ]]>Jul 16th 2006 5:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 6:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Fred: "rummage around in incomprehensible menus among features I don't want or need" You know, it's fascinating how that's the centerpoint of OS X, and yet Apple went in the opposite direction for the iPod, fascinating.

Furtim: And what the hell kind of name is iPod? A lower case letter i followed by "Pod" It's not a god damned Pod in the least, and the i at this point in Apple's existence brinks on annoying. No player names sound Good, it's just an attempt by PR to get people's attention.

I don't really care! Most people don't really care, I'm not going to care later, I didn't care before, and I don't care now, why are you still people still posting these articles?]]>Jul 16th 2006 6:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/i totaly agree!... with ur first point.
the rest is drivel.
1. the iPod is the most easy to use DAP ever made in my, (and MOST other electronics buyers) opinion. and it DOESN'T have too many features crammed in, unlike some other DAPs. I started off hating iPods due to their price, popularity and lack of 'cool' features. but after using mates a couple of times, i now think they are great. so easy to use, and what more do u want? i dont actually own one though, but thats beside the point.

2. iPod, makes sense. it IS a pod, (deffinition: # A streamlined external housing that encloses engines, machine guns, or fuel.(in an automotive sense). its a case that contains....something like an engine...sort of. and the i could stand for many things like interactive or ....impala. but whatever, it does mean SOMETHING.

3. and the age old phrase is goin to come up. "if you dont want to read these articles, THEN DONT!" and especially dont post crap like that.

good day to you sir.

on the topic of the zune...i really dont think we can judge this thing at all untill we see its battery life and is interface. those are the 2 MAIN things i think.]]>Jul 16th 2006 9:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Nah.
]]>Jul 16th 2006 9:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 10:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 10:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 16th 2006 10:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Seriously though, this is sounding more and more like typical over-priced, bloated, complicated garbage that Microsoft has been great at turning out recently. If they can keep this thing from blue-screening every ten minutes then maybe they might sell a couple to their most loyal fan-boys, but everyone else will stick with the iPod.]]>Jul 16th 2006 11:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 17th 2006 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 17th 2006 1:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 17th 2006 2:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
First of all, digital music sales are just a small percentage of total sales. So there is still a lot of room for market growth.

And second, if any company should give up, its Apple with its laughable 5% market share. Even after the so called iPod "halo effect".

Pathetic. ]]>Jul 17th 2006 3:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Microsoft is very good at vaporware. Let's see what they deliver!]]>Jul 17th 2006 3:50AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
]]>Jul 17th 2006 4:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Anyways back to this Microsoft Zune thingy...must say the size of the screen is admirable. They must have got a new design team in since the first generation original xbox days...first impression isn't too shabby for me.]]>Jul 17th 2006 5:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
Nope. Not laughable at all. But its also not so high that companies should just give up and stop competing. As is suggested a lot by Mac zealots. Read for yourself, even in this thread.

People act as if Apple is some unstoppable force because they have 60 percent of a young market. And Microsoft should just give up and admit defeat. But I think this whole DAP war is just getting started. And the pod could end up like the apple OS. At a pathetic 5%. ]]>Jul 17th 2006 6:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
And I wouldn't count out Microsoft at all, which isn't a first mover--the company is about excelling at dominating markets that others pioneer and develop.]]>Jul 17th 2006 8:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
"Gaming??? It has 1 direction pad and two buttons! How can that play a game???"

Think of what the NES's gamepad looked like. ;)]]>Jul 17th 2006 8:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 17th 2006 9:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 17th 2006 9:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/Jul 17th 2006 10:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/http://www.engadget.com/2006/07/16/think-secret-dishes-on-zune-future-ipods/
The look of that, is very tempting, nicely sized screen as well. I think Microsoft will probably go for a 2SKU option with one 'core' player that is basically the same as the iPod and another 'Premium' player that has all the bells and whistles.

Competition is always good for the market as you can see in the games market. I wish Microsoft the best in this and hope that it makes all players better thanks to the new compotition maybe then $teve Job$ will get off his ass and innovate some.

And I only did the Steve Jobs thing to show the apple fan boys how stupid it makes them look ;)]]>Jul 17th 2006 10:26AM