Zune interface details revealed

Somebody or other has been spending some time with Microsoft's Zune, and have spilled the deets to iLounge. It sounds like the general target in most aspects was iPod design and functionality, but there are plenty of departures, some hotter than others. The basic menu navigation is the standard heirarchal method popularized by the iPod, but with white text on black and fewer design elements. There are a few flashy elements, however, like a gradient highlight bar that fades in and out, and the option for user-customizable wallpaper. Scrolling is enhanced by a WM5-style overlay (pictured) that lets you know what letter you're at on the list, but that wheel is only for looks: it's a mere four-way button which allows you to push up and down to scroll. With that notable blow to any hopes of ripping off the iPod wholesale, the Zune goes on to outsize the 30GB iPod, and its all plastic casing doesn't sound as glam either. Some plusses are a snazzy FM interface and sizable album art, but of course the Zune's killer app is WiFi. iLounge says that you'll be allowed to "loan" songs to other users for a day, which they can proceed to buy from the Zune music store, and you'll also be able to stream music to a WiFi-enabled Xbox 360, but we're not sure if a hard drive will be required to pull it off. At a purported $300 pricetag, we can't tell if the Zune will have what it takes to challenge the iPod -- iLounge, naturally, has their doubts -- but from the writeup it does seem like the Zune will have at least one heavily bandied feature: video.

[Ben @ Aug 17th 2006 3:47PM]

Looks like it has a WMP11-esque interface, which is a nice touch.

[js @ Aug 17th 2006 3:58PM]

Applebots to your battle stations!!!

[spil @ Aug 17th 2006 4:03PM]

Ever since I saw the first pictures of the zune, I thought that little wheel looked too low quality plasticy fake, and I didn't know it was actually supposed to be a scroll wheel. Is the middle part still a select button?

[joe @ Aug 17th 2006 4:04PM]

LOL! Applebots...I thought it was Stevebots...

[CSD @ Aug 17th 2006 4:12PM]

looks like Microsofts "iPod Killer" actually has a chance of this

i like the loan music concept, very interesting

[john @ Aug 17th 2006 4:17PM]

I'd like to have the letter overlay when scrolling on my iPod. Apple has something like that in iPhoto for dates. The loan a song thing is kind of cool, but it all depends on the implementation. Does the wireless stay on all the time? Do both people have to activate 'loan a song mode' for it to work?

[Apple kills another small project @ Aug 17th 2006 4:21PM]

the fact it has an fm transmitter built in is just WICKED>.. whats more interesting is the fact it has a transmitter and reciever... hehe a group of zunes 1 playing via fm and all the others listening thats wicked!

[Patrick @ Aug 17th 2006 4:21PM]

Finally, a solution! Seriously, the concept of loaning a song is a great idea. The problem, which everyone is aware of, is how do you allow users to share songs and create goodwill, while still prevent wholesale copying and dilution of your product. While DRM is sucky, it's beenthe best option so far. But loaning is a great idea: allow copying, but it disables after a set time period. More stores/devices should implement this.

-p-

[john @ Aug 17th 2006 4:30PM]

also, what limitations are in place as concessions to the RIAA. For example: How many songs can you loan a friend? Your entire library? Can you loan songs that you didn't purchase through a MS store? What kind of protections will be in place to keep a hacker from using a computer to receive 'loaned' songs and removing the self-destruct sequence?

Overall it's sounds interesting, but they're going to have to do a lot to overcome the lack of a scroll wheel. That, in my mind, is what makes the iPod so easy to use. The ability to continuously scroll through long lists at variable speed without lifting your finger off the device. It seems like the letter overlay is their answer to this problem, but will it be a comparable solution?

[Blax @ Aug 17th 2006 4:41PM]

The UI sounds exactly like on my Gigabeat S series, minus the whole colour background part (perhaps just a firmware upgrade?). I'm digging the built in FM transmitter, but something is telling me this won't be the smallest device on the market if they are planning all of these features.

I'm glad that the wheel isn't actually a wheel though, that's one of the reasons I went with the Gigabeat over an iPod.

For now I'm just hoping that some of these features make it into a future Gigabeat firmware upgrade (like the colour backgrounds, FM transmitter wouldn't be possible). I'm sort of angry that this is coming out right after Microsoft promised to support the Gigabeat though. Darn.

[JinKazama @ Aug 17th 2006 4:44PM]

Hey sounds pretty nice MS, Alright Apple time to step your game up.

[Aaron Rodriguez @ Aug 17th 2006 4:50PM]

looks like they are borrowing some elements from pmc (larger albumart, the superimpose lettering thing [which is insanely cool]) but nothing they have shown makes me want to drop my toshiba gigabeat S (which has the media center look which is actually very nice).

[dave95 @ Aug 17th 2006 4:52PM]

Bah!

Seriously what’s the big deal here? Loan songs to other users? Yeah that's after you sign-up for their subscription membership (more $), I don't see them allowing this without a subscription.

About the (patented) scroll wheel. Have you ever been to say a Wall-Mart and find dozens of look-alike to a popular product? They never feel quit the same and would always be viewed in your mind as a knockoff. Someone buying this Zune will get frustrated it does not scroll like the iPod does, eventhough it looks like a scroll wheel.

[Apple kills another small project @ Aug 17th 2006 4:56PM]

i agree i rather buttons over the clickwheel... i like tactile touches so if its in my pocket i know whats going on when i push a button....

they are supporting the gigabeat but that doesnt mean they cant release their own products as well as helping with frameworks for other companys...

Also this is NOT THE SMALLEST ZUNE... this is the large entry zune... they already have plans for a nano competitor and a gaming device. So this zune player is just the tip of the iceberg

[Apple kills another small project @ Aug 17th 2006 4:57PM]

LOL borrowing some things from PMC? considering PMC is their software i would imagine so ;)

[LukeA @ Aug 17th 2006 4:59PM]

Alright. White on Black! That won't be hard to read at all!

[Apple kills another small project @ Aug 17th 2006 4:59PM]

also stop being a moron the loaning isnt via subscription its peer2peer loaning...

[Aaron Rodriguez @ Aug 17th 2006 5:03PM]

but its microsoft... when do they do something that actually makes sense. and i much prefer the toshiba gigabeat s interface to the ipods so this has the potential to be better as well but its a direct port of pmc so they could still much things up.

You can see from the picures that they moved to the b/w thing vs pmc which has the blueish theme to it (but the zune will have the ability to add wallpapers). It will be interesting to see how this all plays out but as it looks now there is no compelling reason to drop the gigabeat S for this.

[emceepeepants @ Aug 17th 2006 5:10PM]

itunes and the coolness factor are what made tha ipod a success and the zune will have neither of these...there have been many players to offer the same thing or a little more than the ipod but have not "killed" it...you have to remember that the average tech blog readers/commenters aren't the ones who determine if a product is successful, its basically everyone else, and i just don't see this havig the "it factor" to overtake the ipod

[dave95 @ Aug 17th 2006 5:10PM]

"loaning isnt via subscription its peer2peer"

This is Microsoft and the RIAA we are talking about, no? Do you have inside scoop?

[rainking187 @ Aug 17th 2006 5:17PM]

"About the (patented) scroll wheel. Have you ever been to say a Wall-Mart and find dozens of look-alike to a popular product? They never feel quit the same and would always be viewed in your mind as a knockoff. Someone buying this Zune will get frustrated it does not scroll like the iPod does, eventhough it looks like a scroll wheel."

Good, I've always hated the scroll wheel. I've never once got it to go directly to where I want it to, I always have to scroll back and forth before I finally reach my goal.

[matt @ Aug 17th 2006 5:20PM]

I read through the review at iLounge, but I can't find any reference to this having an FM transmitter, as mentioned in a few posts here... only an FM receiver...

[donut @ Aug 17th 2006 5:21PM]

"i agree i rather buttons over the clickwheel... i like tactile touches so if its in my pocket i know whats going on when i push a button...."

the iPod also uses tactile buttons built into the clickwheel. You don't just touch the wheel to activate it. You actually have to physically press the portion of the wheel in order to for example pause the song or switch to the next song on the playlist. A physical button for navigating a large library however will not cut it. Apple pretty much perfected the navigation interface, and Microsoft's solution won't even come close to it.

[Jeff Foster @ Aug 17th 2006 5:25PM]

meh. we'll see what it's all about when it's finally released. (the anticipation definitely is NOT killing me. get it out already, you're not really building a rumbling, MS, as much as you are letting the excitement simmer dead.)

Speaking of release dates, Zune is scheduled for when now? October 2009? maybe it'll coincide with the Vista release.

:P

[Demon1416 @ Aug 17th 2006 5:25PM]

So does can the user that owns a Zune acually put there own songs on it or do they have to buy all the songs, because thats all im hearing about.

[Aaron Rodriguez @ Aug 17th 2006 5:26PM]

I actually prefer the 4 way cross navigation interface to the gigabeat S to the clich wheel. if the click wheel was perfect you wouldnt have to keep running your thumb in a cricle to scroll though tons of songs (with the gigabeat you just hold the down button and it starts scrolling). I also like the adition of the "green button" to the player. a dedicated button to go back to the root menu no matter where i am (and i know the ipod mimicks it bu holding the up scrollwheel for 3 or 4 seconds or whatever it is but having a dedicated button do it instantly is better).

[Jeff Foster @ Aug 17th 2006 5:28PM]

"I read through the review at iLounge, but I can't find any reference to this having an FM transmitter, as mentioned in a few posts here... only an FM receiver..."

FM receiver, huh? fancy. Isn't the point of an MP3 player that we never have to listen to the shit FM stations again? Who the hell wants a FM receiver? is there actually a market for 'em?!? i sure as hell dont. ...now a built-in Transmitter, maybe you have something there... but FM transmitters sound like crap anyway: i'll keep my direct-in digital alpine interface, thank you.

[T-Will @ Aug 17th 2006 5:38PM]

*Yawn*

I'm guessing this will follow MS's rule of getting it right on the 3rd generation...this being only the 1st.

[Whiplash @ Aug 17th 2006 5:44PM]

This can't be right. A black and white interface on a player that comes in "brown" and "cotton". Are they going for the whole 70's retro, Atari 2600 look with this thing?

I think these "leaks" are smoke screens.

[ERIC @ Aug 17th 2006 5:44PM]

UHH...THIS LOOKS LIKE AN IPOD...WHERE IS THE KILLER PART...

[C Kizer @ Aug 17th 2006 6:01PM]

How does Microsoft plan to put video content on the Zune? Below is a small list of EXCLUSIVE Apple partners who aren't/won't be partnering with anyone but Apple. Most Already are on the Apple Store:

A&E
ABC
ABC FAMILY
Adult Swim
Animal Planet
Biography Channel
Cartoon Network
CBS
CNN
Comedy Central
CSTV/CBS Sports
Discovery Channel
Histoy Channel
Discovery Health
Discovery Kids
E!
ESPN/ABC Sports
FOX
Fuel TV
FX
Jetix
Logo
MTV (non exclusive)
NBA TV
NBC
NBC News
Nick at Nite
Nickelodeon
Sci Fi
Showtime
Sleuth
SOAPnet
SPEED
Spike
The N
TLC
Travel Channels
TV Land
USA
Warn Bros
Liongate Studios
Disney Studios
Paramount Studio

What video content is there going to be for the zune?

Basically as of now Universal is the only un-decided studio

[tupper @ Aug 17th 2006 6:03PM]

How often does a new product break a company?

Between the Zune bombing and Balmer taking the wheel, I dare say it is time to sell some stocks.

[Owen @ Aug 17th 2006 6:07PM]

I agree with Willyjsimmons. I'm pretty sure one menu leading you to another is too similar to nesting folders for the claim to be made:

"the standard heirarchal method popularized by the iPod"

I think it was popularized by Windows, which is made by which company again???

[oly va ha @ Aug 17th 2006 6:10PM]

so that whole loan a song for a day thing is total BS....

someone better make a crack for that so i can share my songs for good...

[Owen @ Aug 17th 2006 6:21PM]

C Kizer

who says Zune wont play video bought from iTunes?

[Jason @ Aug 17th 2006 6:29PM]

They have to sell music on LIVE that would be absolutly killer. Drop the zune into an adapter plugged into the 360 HD slot. Purchase a few CDs, move a few game saves and demos, and head to a friends house. Share it wirelessly or plug it up and go.

The key would be selling the music through XBOX Live. I could then drop Itunes for good.

Why not put an HD radio reciever in the unit??

[T-Will @ Aug 17th 2006 6:40PM]

A killer feature would be the ability to stream clips and be able to purchase and download songs/albums via the Zune wirelessly. Then to be able to go to your PC, open WMP, and the song/album automagically shows up in your Library.

Personally, I'll never by music online since there is a limit to where I can use it and the number of devices I can use it on.

Long live CD's!!! :-)

[David @ Aug 17th 2006 6:52PM]

"Good, I've always hated the scroll wheel. I've never once got it to go directly to where I want it to, I always have to scroll back and forth before I finally reach my goal.

Posted at 5:17PM on Aug 17th 2006 by rainking187"

You, my friend, must have the motor skills of a drunken autistic kid with elephantitis of the hands.

"C Kizer

who says Zune wont play video bought from iTunes?

Posted at 6:21PM on Aug 17th 2006 by Owen"

Uhhh....Apple maybe?

[x23 @ Aug 17th 2006 7:22PM]

"I read through the review at iLounge, but I can't find any reference to this having an FM transmitter, as mentioned in a few posts here... only an FM receiver...

Posted at 5:20PM on Aug 17th 2006 by matt"


- - -

yeah... same here. i read both the engadget writeup and the ilounge writeup twice each... and i saw ZERO reference to an FM transmitter... yet i saw several people commenting on what an awesome feature it was to have.

seriously? where is the reference to having an FM transmitter? anyone?

either you are liars or have bad reading comprehension skills... i'm just curious which it is. or maybe you have a link to some other site that has this info? googling "zune fm transmitter" gets nothing relating to a built-in feature.

[Tim @ Aug 17th 2006 7:25PM]

i think it's lame apple was able to patent a jog dial. it's a friggin jog dial, except on a portable mp3 player... wait, isn't sandisk using a similar interface (albeit with a non-touchpad style wheel?)

bah. i'm getting an ipod, and putting linux on it. thank you, here i come vorbis!

[N @ Aug 17th 2006 7:29PM]

The Creative Zen Vision:M IS the iPod killer, ignorant people buy based on marketing hype and not quality or functionality.

Also, Microsoft will likely be slapped with a lawsuit.

Creative Technology, LTD. owns the patent to the heirarchal navigation system.

[Matt @ Aug 17th 2006 7:50PM]

Where did you get that list, C Kizer? Your ass, I'm assuming? As it's wrong.
Stuff from that list on AOL video (which is probably compatible with the Zune):
A&E
The Biography Channel
Comedy Central
MTV
Nickelodeon
Spike

I also know CBS sells on Google. What makes you think anyone but Disney/Pixar would remain exclusive to Apple?

[javaflash @ Aug 17th 2006 8:10PM]

I think Microsoft is hedging way too much on the success of Xbox 360. To make it worse, their bets come with too many baggages, too few bangs. I worry for the company.

[apoc @ Aug 17th 2006 8:38PM]

"The basic menu navigation is the standard heirarchal method popularized by the iPod, but with white text on black and fewer design elements."

humm, looks more like a black and white version of media center.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3428996358728158914&q=toshiba+media+center

[dave95 @ Aug 17th 2006 8:44PM]

Matt

The long list C Kizer posted is all there in iTunes "TV Shows" Section. Watch for movies soon!

[DELL SUCKS @ Aug 17th 2006 9:07PM]

YUK!

[Rasesh @ Aug 17th 2006 9:11PM]

You can't write it off, it can do well... BUT it has got to have video, otherwise i just don't see people buying it!

[Michael Moll @ Aug 17th 2006 9:35PM]

The Zune's built in FM Transmitter is definately a greta feature that other compeitors don't have. I hope that Zune is Mac compatible... why not, Apple did the PC with the iPod, and if they really want to compete. I love Apple but lack of innovation has left me bored of the ipod.

[Andrew Huygen @ Aug 17th 2006 9:47PM]

Quoted from an article on the Zune today from Gizmodo:

"FM support is fairly complete, with both an FM tuner and an FM transmitter so you can beam the music to your car. The FM transmitter also feeds up Song and Artist information so you can see what's playing from your car stereo (if it supports that feature, like in GM cars). Pretty neat."

[_man1c_ @ Aug 17th 2006 9:54PM]

lol at the sharing music part, and saying who you gonna share it with cause no one you know will have a Zune lol. anyways although i havent really used a mp3 player before ive always found the Creative Zens wickedsick, and if i ever was to get one those would be a great choice. this is becoming also a great choice for me to consider. but at that price im not sure yet. gotta pay off some things first n formost, but im interested.