Zune player, store, accessories, and Xbox 360 hands-on

So we just hit up the Zune preview event in Los Angeles (as if we really needed to get more dirt on the thing at this point). We basically saw a ton of Zunes, got a full walkthrough of the software (with a load of pics), got good long look at some of those accessories, and finally snagged some shots of the Zune / Xbox 360 integration. We're not exactly expecting this to be a hugely enlightening experience or anything, but it was finally nice to see some of this stuff.

Outside the event. Nice florescent bulb gradient.

More store.

Stacks of album art organized.

Guest mode allows you to connect to another machine with Zune software and share tunes. This mode isn't as strict as the 3x3 inbox, but it's got its own particulars (like no moving music off the device, for one).

File types associated.

Encoding rate: up to 192kbps.

Select your codec: WMA or MP3.

Difficult to see, but this specifies Zune interaction when connected.

This is the CD burning options, about what you'd expect.

Zune connection performance options.

Here we've got sharing options for the Xbox 360.

And shared folders.

Burn options.

Zune and drive mappings.

Privacy settings.

Security settings.

CD ripping settings (again).

Proxy settings.

General settings. Phew. Ok, take your glasses off now.

Wireless remote

What your Zune looks like while plugged in (with the USB cable, of course)

And docked, with that remote docked as well.

Video accessories that look a bit like those for the Xbox.

Canalphone buds, with the same magnetic locking mechanism up top. Noice.

FM transmitter.

Yep.

Kickstand / battery pack. Necessary for the world traveler who's insistant on a Zune over a device with a longer battery life.

Cases, lots of cases.

... and speakers.

Mag-locked.

And open, with L/R key.

In-line remote.

And here comes the Xbox integration. Whisky is plugged in, and it indexes those tunes right quick.

Browse content quickly.

Drill down to artists.

Then to tracks.

[Prezzie @ Nov 9th 2006 9:51PM]

It looks ok. I'll wait for the ZuNano. *praying it has a 2" screen, fm radio, video playback and PlaysForSure Integration*

Thanks a whole frieken lot MS for ditching PlaysForSure. You have a nice product that I might actually buy if it could sync with my tracks from Yahoo Music. *That's G-G-G-Great MS!*

[DM @ Nov 9th 2006 11:07PM]

I agree. I am not at all impressed by the zune. But here is one article that you may find interesting. http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2006/11/research-says-ipod-users-may-be-zune-switchers.php

Matt, You are by far the biggest and dumbest APPLE FANBOY on the planet, someone could put an apple logo on some dog shit and you'd be the first one to eat it just because it has apple logo on it. You just won the award for APPLE FANBOY of the year, so congratulations, LOSER!

[BrokenDesign @ Nov 10th 2006 12:33PM]

LPXXFAINTXX - talk about the kettle calling the pot black.

[myscrnnm @ Nov 9th 2006 9:12PM]

lol, a typo with "accessories".

[Josiah @ Nov 9th 2006 9:23PM]

The Zune seems like a decent DMP but the xbox intergration doesn't seem that special. It looks like it's treated just like any other portable device that would be connected to it.

[Abe @ Nov 10th 2006 9:59AM]

I think the point is that you can sync files you get off of the Zune music store.

[Sy @ Nov 9th 2006 9:26PM]

Never have I scroll so much for so little new information if any at all.

[LordFarkward @ Nov 9th 2006 9:52PM]

lol! exactly my thought

[360 Saves Me!!! @ Nov 10th 2006 12:58AM]

DITO

[yogi @ Nov 9th 2006 9:30PM]

What's with the Zune love fest at Engadget? I'm still waiting to read a story here about MS paying Universal Music a royalty for every Zune sold.

[cire @ Nov 9th 2006 9:35PM]

I read this about the Zune. Don't look a good as MS is hyping it.

However, there are a few things that I really hate about the Zune:
1. No DivX ability, the most common video format.
2. Doesn’t work with WMP. Requires its brand new DRM algorithm (not even the previously Microsoft endorsed DRM format) and accompanied application. This sucks, because it divides the DRM’ed market even more (there should only be one DRM standard).
3. No EXIF support for images (orientation problems).
4. Doesn’t work with Mac OS X (client application available only for XP/Vista).
5. Its 3x3 rule feels sour (you can be sent via wifi a song that you can play either 3 times or keep for up to 3 days). Unfortunately it does this for all songs and so it breaks the licensing of Creative Commons songs.
6. No Bluetooth audio! It would have been better if they included Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (for file exchanging that would be about 200 KB/sec and it would save battery life) with A2DP/AVRCP support instead of WiFi. But I guess they went with WiFi because they wanted compatibility with the XBox 360. Personally, I feel screwed over this.
7. Battery life is not that great, especially for video (4 hours).
8. No kickstand. Why do companies forget to add this much needed piece of plastic on their video devices?
9. No extras: games, voice recording, calendar, notes, contacts etc.
10. Apparently, no lyrics support. Gapless playback support, a mystery too.

http://eugenia.blogsome.com/2006/11/03/regarding-the-zune/

[Matt @ Nov 9th 2006 9:39PM]

every thing is knocked off the ipod

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Nov 9th 2006 9:44PM]

..and iTunes!

[Dustin @ Nov 9th 2006 9:50PM]

not everything, but I Do agree it is a MAJOR COPY sorta... but hell Gates and Family copied it once why not OWN them again.... Hope the ZUNE kills the IPOD HYPE!!! I have nothing against the IPOD except it's just gotten WAY TO BIG FOR IT'S PANTS so Jobs and Family aren't adding NEW FEATURES quick enough so that's why I HOPE the ZUNE ROCKS it's sox at least for a while anyways to make Jobs and Family get to making the IPOD worth the PRICE!!!

[Chris @ Nov 9th 2006 9:43PM]

Are those hierarchical menus three levels deep? Typical Microsoft...can't build a good user interface.

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Nov 9th 2006 9:43PM]

I don't like it.

[Matt @ Nov 9th 2006 9:47PM]

thats included in the gerneral ipod picture but there are some dumb people on here so thats for clearing that up :]

[IWantTouchScreen @ Nov 9th 2006 9:48PM]

Zune brown? I have a feeling Microsoft is meaning for the Zune to fail.

1. Everyone knows MS products aren't great until the second or third generation, including Microsoft, these things need a lot of work.

Release an ugly device and don't screw the pooch, all the while insist on new technology, new front-end, wireless tech... See Windows Mobile, it was a dog until it grew up with hardware that made good use of it.

Apple's in good shape for now, Zune won't do it any harm in this generation.

[shon Dempsey @ Nov 9th 2006 9:48PM]

cases. wonderful. make your brick even larger.
Accessories look cheap; specifically the inline remote and dock.
xbox integration is visually lame. way to go MS.

oh and did you know that you cant just spend .99 for a track? nope. $5 minimum buy.
and somehow,
79 points = 99 cents.
huh? weaksauce.

[Matt @ Nov 9th 2006 9:53PM]

woahhhh you think the ipod has gotten too big for the pants??? have you seen the zune its twice the size

[brendan Sheehan jnr @ Nov 9th 2006 11:19PM]

Yeah exactly, at least the iPod will fit in our pants!!

[Ben @ Nov 9th 2006 9:52PM]

so, the earbuds might be kind of cool. Less tangle, no more "mug me" white, and a neat case, BUT it says they will only work with the Zune. There is no way this it true, is there?

[Dustin @ Nov 9th 2006 10:00PM]

heck yea the zune is larger, but I'm not even worried about that... The IPOD was HUGE and I mean HUGE when it came out... The ZUNE is a GLORIFIED TOSHIBA GIGABEAT, but all that aside I'm just simply speaking of FEATURES... with time the sizes of EVERYTHING mostly comes down.... I'm saying simply features... I'm a FAN of the IPOD and have been since 2001... Just hope the ZUNE whips it in SHAPE to get with the times and demands of EXTRA FEATURES!!!

[quiksurfer332 @ Nov 9th 2006 10:06PM]

hey ya want to now why its so much bigger. NO, TO BAD IM GONNA TELL YOU ANYWAY!! try to grasp this thought "the zune has a larger screen(thats a plus), a 30 gig hard disk [something the ipod does too], a better battery, wifi capabilities, a/v capabilities, fm tuner, and all that takes space right!!!!!!!!!! well if you think about it if you wanted that for the ipod you would have to pay for the accessories and they would make the ipod just around the size of the zune, the zune costs less than the ipod and when you want accessories for the ipod they cost money too.

[anon @ Nov 9th 2006 10:15PM]

You are a dipsh1t. Do you take everything that literally?

Learn how to think.

[Dustin @ Nov 9th 2006 9:55PM]

also... We have our Display up as of today... I have to say I was like most about the brown one in the since of "WTF!!!", but to be honest it looks awesome brown... I mean the black or white is what I'll end up getting just because, but who knows next Tuesday I may splurge and get the brown... I know I won't regret it...

[quiksurfer332 @ Nov 9th 2006 9:55PM]

since the zune is wifi it would be cool if it could wirelessly transfer media to the xbox 360 without a usb cable, and if you could transfer music from the xbox 360 to the zune if you save music to your 360 hard drive

[Joseph Mama @ Nov 9th 2006 9:58PM]

Why aren't the pics linked to a full size image? They're too small to actually read anything on the screen.

On the pic for encoding options it says up to 192 kb/s... I hope that's only for WMA. Does Zune support MP3s or WMAs encoded higher than 192 from another program? What about WMA Lossless? I would not have bought an iPod if it weren't for Apple Lossless support. 192 is just too low.

Does the Xbox 360 support Zune connection over WiFi or just USB?

I do have to say it looks like MS put some thought into the hardware. I like the magnetic locking earbuds and the fact that the dock has a slot for the remote. I know they are little things, but the attention to detail is nice.

[Matt @ Nov 9th 2006 10:04PM]

when the next ipod comes out it will have all the features everyone is looking for in a "fits in the pocket" package. the zune will not affect the ipod sales at all expessily not for mac users (ipod suports window though) and not even windows users. its ugly brown and looks like a poop i once took. all you can do is hope that it will kill the ipod but it wont.

[DP @ Nov 9th 2006 10:03PM]

Wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole...

[Arno @ Nov 9th 2006 10:03PM]

You mean this one?

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/09/universal-music-get-fee-for-every-zune-sold/

[Matt @ Nov 9th 2006 10:09PM]

yeah about the screen it may be bigger butttt its at the same resolution of the ipod which makes the zune have a worse picture. who wants a brick with a screen? no one exactly

[Nate @ Nov 9th 2006 10:28PM]

I read this about the Zune. Don't look a good as MS is hyping it.

However, there are a few things that I really hate about the Zune:
1. No DivX ability, the most common video format.
2. Doesn�t work with WMP. Requires its brand new DRM algorithm (not even the previously Microsoft endorsed DRM format) and accompanied application. This sucks, because it divides the DRM�ed market even more (there should only be one DRM standard).
3. No EXIF support for images (orientation problems).
4. Doesn�t work with Mac OS X (client application available only for XP/Vista).
5. Its 3x3 rule feels sour (you can be sent via wifi a song that you can play either 3 times or keep for up to 3 days). Unfortunately it does this for all songs and so it breaks the licensing of Creative Commons songs.
6. No Bluetooth audio! It would have been better if they included Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (for file exchanging that would be about 200 KB/sec and it would save battery life) with A2DP/AVRCP support instead of WiFi. But I guess they went with WiFi because they wanted compatibility with the XBox 360. Personally, I feel screwed over this.
7. Battery life is not that great, especially for video (4 hours).
8. No kickstand. Why do companies forget to add this much needed piece of plastic on their video devices?
9. No extras: games, voice recording, calendar, notes, contacts etc.
10. Apparently, no lyrics support. Gapless playback support, a mystery too.



1. Avi is the most common video format. (check google)
2. DRM? didn't Mac launch ther own drm with there wonder toy?
3. It does have EXIF support, however diffrent cameras save the information diffrently which make it hard to distinguish. I still have to oreintate some pics myself sometimes on my pc.
4. Mac OS? pish posh. with only 5.8 market share it doesn't surprise me. plus don't mac owners alreday rock ipods? how many of mac zealiots are gonna wanna grab a zune?
5 3x3 rule? my buddies ipod can't send my ipod a song!
6. I feel screwed that my ipod doesn't have bluetooth or wifi.
7. battery life. well... lets see about that. only time will tell. from my own experience, my own ipod has crappy batery life. but when they release a newer cooler version every 2 months, they probably think you won't hold on to them that long anyway.
8. I for one would tottaly love a kick stand. plane flights would be sooo much easier.
9. Can they add that ability later? kinda like there never ending updates. Or are we just screwed in that aspect?
10. no comment. don't need lyrics support.

some good points some bad points. I think it'll be a niche market with there first Zune. But it is Microsoft... nothing with them stays niche long (they drop it or it makes'em money)

[Brandon @ Nov 9th 2006 10:58PM]

There's a good chance I'd grab a Zune if it worked with my MacBook Pro. I might anyway since BootCamp, but that's not much fun.

[Chir @ Nov 10th 2006 9:35AM]

.avi is a video container, it says nothing about the actual codec used for the video file. DivX and its various derivatives are still the most common codec used to encode video files on the internet. Most DivX-encoded files use the .avi container.

[Tech Diva XXX @ Nov 13th 2006 8:26AM]

Nate, I think what the other poster was trying to say is that MSFT abandonned it's original DRM(Plays for Sure) and it sucks. I agree! Zune alienated Rhapsody, Napster, etc. subscribers.

I also think if Zune wants a true "community", it would support Mac and Linux users.

And the 3x3 rule is just ridiculous! Wireless is uselsss if you have no real control over the music! I'm sick of DRM of all types!

I'd like to try the Zune just to see how it is, but honestly it's like a MSFT version of the iPod! One DRM restricted format to yet another!

[VW Mafia @ Nov 9th 2006 10:39PM]

sweet good to see after those bad reviews

[mct75 @ Nov 9th 2006 10:41PM]

http://zune.ytmnd.com/

[mjf @ Nov 9th 2006 10:41PM]

only 192? ew.

[enzo @ Nov 9th 2006 10:52PM]

No built in FM transmitter? That's wack yo.

[Nate @ Nov 9th 2006 10:57PM]

it actually does have fm.

[mct75 @ Nov 9th 2006 10:59PM]

You would think it would come with a built in coffee maker, cd drive, and inflatable mattress. It sure has the room for it!

[v_dogg @ Nov 9th 2006 11:06PM]

Ok, does anyone know, Does the software get album art for you? cuz my music has none

[mct75 @ Nov 9th 2006 11:12PM]

Try a cddb lookup.

[cire @ Nov 10th 2006 12:19AM]

Man MS knows how to turn gold into crap..lol

[OWNd @ Nov 10th 2006 1:15AM]

YES NEKO CASE

[Blair @ Nov 10th 2006 2:27AM]

Most of you need to chill! The device hasn't even been released and you're all putting it down. Now, all of the people putting it down are Apple fanboys unwilling to even try anything thats not Apple, God forbid. Obviously it was interesting enough to warrant you reading this article!!!

[Mike @ Nov 10th 2006 7:26AM]

(Blair, please allow me to use some of your post structure)

Most of you need to chill! The device hasn't even been released and you're all glorifying it. Now, all of the people glorifying it are Microsoft fanboys unwilling to even try anything thats not Microsoft, God forbid.

[alando @ Nov 10th 2006 2:29AM]

too bad microsoft didn't include the option to use the wireless to listen to pandora internet radio and then buy the songs you like.

[gerbick @ Nov 10th 2006 2:48AM]

I like it. Just waiting to see if the Zune lasts longer than my 5gb, 10gb, 20gb, and 30gb Photo... usually under a year before they crapped out.