Accessorize your Zune!
By Evan Blass 
posted Sep 14th 2006 12:19PM
posted Sep 14th 2006 12:19PM
There's really no point in launching a major new portable audio device without a ton of accessories, so Microsoft's got you Zuneheads covered with a trio of packs to maximize your listening experience at home, in the car, or when you're getting your travel on. The Zune Home A/V Pack is centered around a dock (obviously), which you connect to your home theater gear through the bundled AV cable, and control with the included wireless remote; this pack also includes a sync cable and AC adapter. When you're rocking the Zune in your ride, the Car Pack will deliver power from your DC socket and transmit songs with the obligatory FM transmitter. Finally, for jamming to tunes while holed up in a sleazy motel, you can enhance the experience somewhat with the Zune Travel Pack, which includes premium earbuds (hopefully magnetic -- fingers crossed), a so-called dual connect remote, snazzy gear bag, and the same sync cable and AC adapter found in the home kit. Also noteworthy are the number of third-party manufacturers on-board to help you pimp out your Zune, including Altec Lansing, DLO, Griffin, Klipsch, Logitech, Harman Kardan, and several more -- basically the same folks who have been accessorizing your iPod for all these years. Okay, enough with the peripherals -- go read about the hardware and software, 'cause like, that's what's actually influencing your purchasing decision, no?
Yea um, like I'm really not impressed that much. I agree w/ everyone else. Wifi is really not going to make people switch, the screen is nice but looks like @pples, and overall it's just not grabbing my attention.
Yea ok, so @pple controls 75% of the market and M$ said, "Well to hell with this, we can't let them take all the glory, let's make one ourselves".
@M$ - listen... what you need to do is get some focus groups (like us engadgeters) to tell you what the hell needs to be done: We want something different than the "rectangle look", we want a UI that amazes us, and we wanna do some shit that people have never done before. That's how you'll get our money.
Yea um, like I'm really not impressed that much. I agree w/ everyone else. Wifi is really not going to make people switch, the screen is nice but looks like @pples, and overall it's just not grabbing my attention.
Yea ok, so @pple controls 75% of the market and M$ said, "Well to hell with this, we can't let them take all the glory, let's make one ourselves".
@M$ - listen... what you need to do is get some focus groups (like us engadgeters) to tell you what the hell needs to be done: We want something different than the "rectangle look", we want a UI that amazes us, and we wanna do some shit that people have never done before. That's how you'll get our money.
id get this over a fu*king ipod for the sheer fact its got a bigger screen....
and the fact no one i know has an ipod that hasnt broken 1-2 times and been replaced atleast once.
I like microsoft HARDWARE simple as that they make good dependable hardware i also like the look of the device alot ... and the layout seems solid
oh and pertaining to this post... i drastically feel a strong third party accessory crowd is another of the reasons that ipods are so successful they have this huge "made for ipod" devotion that makes it big... now with made for zune coming i can only hope we see a change of the winds.
@2
People have been bitching about the Zune's chunky shell since the first photos were released, but shit, if it means the thing isn't going to break everytime I breath on it wrong, then I'm fine with that.
I really like this. All I can wish for is they will have lots of accessories for this player is that I wish they'd do an external GPS thingy and ohh maybe an external mic with the headphones so that they can do VoIP with the WiFi (well ok maybe that's not practical... but still brainstorming at the moment.) The only thing I do hope is that they don't change too much like the iPods that you have to keep buying new models every year(hell, maybe even every season). I love Apple, I love Microsoft, I just love gadgets in general.
they wifi is what is going to DESTROY the Zune, it was already bad, but with the wifi its worse. surly people will figure out how to hack ur zune and destroy. also you maxium battery life will be like 30 minutes when watching video and having wifi on, 2 hours with out video its going to BOMB and itll be off the market with in 2 years, probably 1
"id get this over a fu*king ipod for the sheer fact its got a bigger screen...."
Sounds like a good reason, except the ipod and zune screen are the exact same resolution, the zune just flipped it on its side and stretched the pixles out more. You're not getting any more info in the screen.
To all fanboys, I understand your pain. However competition is a good thing and the consumer gets the best out.
Apple products agreed are better designed but they are too expensive for me. So is a Porche it is definitely better than my honda civic, it is just what I can afford & I am happy with it.
Okay we may not like it now but 5 years down the line trust me we will, take the XBOX it didn't start off well and now see the XBOX 360...you get the message.
Microsoft doesn't make hardware.... how many times do I have to say it! They buy the hardware from other companies, toshiba, sony etc.
I agree with Kris. Microsoft is so inept at this whole hardware thing. Just look at the whole XBox and XBox360 fiasco. Why. Almost nobody will buy them. I mean what with strong market leaders like Atari and Coleco. What!? XBox is the new market leader, and Atari and Coleco don't exist anymore? Wait, surely Sega will kick their butts. No! Now about Nintendo and Sony? Again... not so much. Ok. Maybe kris z just doesn't know what he is talking about and Microsoft will keeping spending until they get it right. I hear they might have a couple dollars in the bank just for emergencies like this.
The only thing that will unseat Apple/iTunes/iPod throne is a device and store with CD or higher quality and no DRM. Until the labels go for that, they will belong to Apple's nall and chain.
X-Box is the current next gen leader. But only because it's the only next gen console out. Is X-Box the overall console leader? No way in hell. The DS is definitely outselling the 360, and I've heard rumors the PS2 is as well. In Japan the 360 is even being beaten by the PSP and the Game Boy Micro. So no, the 360 is not doing as well as you think it is. And yes, Atari and Coleco still exist.
Kiazen:
"@M$ - listen... what you need to do is get some focus groups (like us engadgeters) to tell you what the hell needs to be done: ...people have never done before. That's how you'll get our money."
I doubt microsoft is too interested in our money, the money is to be made where the unwashed masses are, in a cheap(enought not to have to sell body parts), non threatening, brainless UI'd player.
Disclaimer: this comes from a current 5g ipod owner.