Zune 80 passes FCC!

The new Zune 80 has hit and passed the FCC and its rigorous series of emissions tests. Unfortunately you won't see the usual slightly beat up shots in the documents this time: just a series of charts and plenty of data about "radiated emissions." Microsoft made sure to request that the FCC hold back from posting external / internal photos, the user manual, schematics, antenna specification, and well, anything interesting at all. At least any Zune fans out there can sleep safe at night knowing that when they pick up their own Zune 80, it won't burn their hand off in a blast of radiation.

[Philometalist @ Oct 30th 2007 4:30AM]

Yah know it seems the further and further we get into this portable media device race the more it seems like we'll need even more devices in our pocket than ever before. Microsoft, Apple, Sony, Creative.. Everybody has their own device, they're own way of selling you music/media, and their own particularly annoying way of screwing you over if you don't play by their rules.

Why can't we just have a no-nonsense no bullshit all-in-one check my mail while I talk with my friends on Mars portable device with no lockouts, no freaking firmware to crack, and no corporate dogs to get hounded by when you push a button in a way that makes the big boss's ass itch?!

Till then, F*** portable devices.

[Jagannath A @ Oct 30th 2007 4:33AM]

dont feed the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_troll

[Philometalist @ Oct 30th 2007 4:36AM]

Not a Troll, just speaking my mind... any problems- deal.

[Joe @ Oct 30th 2007 4:43AM]

It's still a race?

[Le Master @ Oct 30th 2007 5:11AM]

It looks like you're going to die portable deviceless then.

[andi @ Oct 30th 2007 6:15AM]

there are such devices, they're called smartphones. They do it all, and much much more. And s60 software is pretty fast, widely available and very easy to use... there's also linux and windows available for smartphones, but linux is not that mature yet and windows... is windows. oh, and there's the iphone, which will be nice a few months after the native applications come out, but which is far far far too expensive for what it does... it's almost like you'd pay for everything it CAN't do, as if you'd pay for what it can do...

these smartphones have one major problem: battery life. Once that is fixed, there'll be no need for other 'convergence devices'..

this wasn't the right place to ask about convergence... mostly flaming steve-o-holics here... you'll have to filter through a page of pointless flames until you get some honest advice.

[technocurmudgeon @ Oct 30th 2007 8:05AM]

You know, computers are portable devices - especially in comparison to what existed a few decades ago. You can have some features with one, and other features with the next. They screw us is what they do! Why, I need four laptops to do all the things I need to do! You should have really held true to your convictions & sat down with a pen & paper and wrote Engadget an actual letter, put a stamp on it, walked to a mailbox and mailed it.

Then we would all know, and truly understand just how passionate you are about this.

/sarcasm

BY the way, there is one feature smartphones do NOT have:

Ease of use, and that is what is going to be the winning factor.

Oh, wait a minute, this is a Zune post! Oh well, might as well talk about them now. Another 5 years & they will no longer exist.

[ugg.tryptophan @ Oct 30th 2007 2:42PM]

your only screwed over because you havent heard of 'file sharing'

[Jagannath A @ Oct 30th 2007 4:30AM]

emission tests eh!! this is no autoblog ;)

[Hollywood Ron @ Oct 30th 2007 9:49AM]

This new Zune runs off a Briggs & Stratton 4hp ethanol engine. It's more economical and environmentally sound than batteries.

[V3LOCIP3D3 @ Oct 30th 2007 1:10PM]

4HP Briggs & Stratton? Shit . . that's gonna break the bank. At least it passed the emissions test though, that's quite a powerful motor for an MP3 player.

[Stevie Wonder @ Oct 30th 2007 4:34AM]

OMG, I'm totally getting one!

ZUNE > iPod

[RedBull Runner @ Oct 30th 2007 7:14AM]

Well, until the zune works with OSX and my library of music I have already purchased on iTunes, then iPod > Zune

[Justin @ Oct 30th 2007 8:44AM]

@RedBull

It will work with your music as long as you're willing to take the step of stripping the DRM information from your music files. It will also work with your Mac if it's an Intel one and you slap a copy of Windows on it.

I bet I get rated down for that one. Funny how something people hold up as a strength of the Mac, that it can run Windows, too, suddenly becomes taboo to mention when you remind them that they can do it and therefore can't complain about simple Windows apps not working with their Macs. And yes I'm aware that not all Macs have the capability to run Windows, but as long as people still talk about how Windows blue screens all the time (which is an old generalization that is no longer at all true) then I can counter with a generalization of my own.

[popcultureicon @ Oct 30th 2007 1:14PM]

@ justin
As an Apple user, I shouldn't have to go so far as to slap down $199 on Vista home basic (Does that even support the Zune?) just so I can have the privilege of rebooting my MacBook every time I want to update my Zune. The Zune market place and it's subscription service is a huge advantage over iTunes and it's music store, The Zune could easily steal market share by converting mac users, especially the ones with 360's.

Basically, Microsoft is blowing it.

[Nick @ Oct 30th 2007 4:25PM]

You mean $95 for Vista Home Basic, popcultureicon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116196

Ok, $100 after shipping. You did by a Mac though, so you're used to spending a bit extra than you have to.

[popcultureicon @ Oct 30th 2007 4:48PM]

@nick
Smart-assedness aside, you still fail to explain why I should have to do or pay anything extra to use this product. It's just plain foolish to place an access requirement on a consumer product. Apple learned this pretty quickly with the iPod, you'd think Microsoft would *want* to encourage me to move more of my digital life to their products.

[sorahn @ Oct 31st 2007 2:54AM]

you can also do it with parallels. I currently have a macbook pro and i run parallels with the current zune software. Works great. I'm intrigued to see how the new software runs.

I'd also make the call that maybe the guys at crossover can get it running. That would be sweet.

[william @ Oct 31st 2007 10:50AM]

I saw a Zune in the store the other day. Why anyone would even bother with this ugly thing is beyond me. I saw the ipod sitting next to it. "rollls eyes" there is not a race, every DMP out there is just plain ugly and a pain to use. Apple has made its footstep in history with the ipod, Microsoft can save billions by giving up now.

[Fred @ Oct 30th 2007 4:45AM]

Ah come on, ship this baby to Europe, I want one!

[Homeboy @ Oct 30th 2007 8:19AM]

Ebay and the not so mighty dollar are your friends.

[Ruben @ Oct 30th 2007 9:19AM]

The only problem would be getting warranty service. If a product technically isn't available in a certain region, i doubt they would service it. But don't quote me on that.

[Aaron @ Oct 30th 2007 5:10AM]

What's a Zune? I guess they don't sell them in the UK.

[MacsR4Homos @ Oct 30th 2007 5:16AM]

Can't wait till it's purchasable! I think I might need more space though... like 120 or 160. Anyways, the ZUNE ROCKS!! Any word on FLAC support?

[lar @ Oct 30th 2007 5:25AM]

It doesn't support FLAC, but does support WMA lossless.

[Le Master @ Oct 30th 2007 6:54AM]

Nice username. LMAO.

[I AGREE WITH YOU @ Oct 30th 2007 8:51AM]

your user name ROCKS!! LMAO!

[mister XR @ Oct 30th 2007 11:59AM]

agreed, props on the name.
btw, am I the only one who knows that crapple *currently* sells a music player with twice the storage? I don't understand why these ppl can't just put a *bigger* 2.5" hard drive in these players... is it really so revolutionary that they just slapped a bigger HD in? Why go only 80GB? I see a 250gb drive for $170.... is there a player that you can just drop a bigger HD into, or are they all pre-programmed to only accept certain capacities?

[Trace The Hedgehog @ Oct 30th 2007 6:54PM]

you name made me lol too. +95internets4u

[Joe @ Oct 30th 2007 7:11AM]

WHY don't they have them in Europe yet???????

[nmason @ Oct 30th 2007 8:17AM]

Damn! The only thing keeping me from buying a Zune is the fact that it DOESNT emit radiation. :(

[Aravind @ Oct 30th 2007 9:02AM]

by the way, if anyone is thinking of buying the zune 80, and go to amazon.com... check out the technical details. it says...

Battery life (music): Up to 24 hours (wireless off)

really? 24 hrs??? if that was true, i wouldnt even think twice about buying a zune!!

[Ruben @ Oct 30th 2007 9:17AM]

Yea, they released the battery details awhile ago.

24 hours music. 4 hours video.

[Ruben @ Oct 30th 2007 9:17AM]

Yea, they released the battery details awhile ago.

24 hours music. 4 hours video.

[michas_pi @ Oct 30th 2007 9:28AM]

Hello from Seattle. Assembled in China. < Designed by Apple in California. Assembled in China.

[Mike @ Oct 30th 2007 11:34AM]

Does anyone really care? I mean if anyone is really anti-iPod and wants to buy an alternative, why would anyone buy a Zune. They're still ugly and if they're as buggy as my last PocketPC, I would say either cave in and realize that iPods are the dominating media player for good reason, or if that isn't enough to make you overcome your anti-apple mentality, stick with a Creative or Sony device.

[steve @ Oct 30th 2007 1:10PM]

buggy? I've had mine since release and not encountered a single bug. please, elaborate on these bugs.

[Darkness017 @ Oct 31st 2007 4:43AM]

Ive owned my Zune for almost a year now and haven't had any problems and with these updates to software and hardware will mostly likely get rid of minor problems most of which are in the software. So when you say buggy you must mean ipod lately because we have seen a quite few glitches with the "King" of music players. But its nice to see a true big name battle of devices which will hopefully improve the quality of devices instead of this we add useless feature number 100 instead of adding more useful and wanted features. Right now Microsoft is actually proving this by trying to fix there mistakes from what they learned from the Zune 30 and giving us a better product and giving 1st gen users a free upgrade to the new UI and features and not saying go buy that new gen right now because we don't care about the one you bought a year ago just get the new one instead.

[allaina @ Oct 30th 2007 11:36AM]

well, if they'd only change the design of the player, i might be interested.

[Kevin @ Oct 30th 2007 4:16PM]

that's the stupidest thing i've ever heard

[allaina @ Oct 30th 2007 6:44PM]

saying that i don't like the design of the player is stupid?

ever heard of an opinion?

i think it's too thick, i think it's boring, and i don't like it's interface. get this: i used to OWN one.

for the record, i currently have an ipod, and frankly, i don't really like it's looks or interface, either!

[N30 G30 @ Oct 30th 2007 4:16PM]

80 Gigs of music and movies. If I'm promised this thing never crashes, I wouldn't put music and movies on my PC again.

[MonteVale @ Oct 30th 2007 4:18PM]

To all of the MacBoys...
Lets be honest here
Msft doesn't give a sh*t about zune working on mac because the amount of macs is still very small in the world. (sure it is gorwing ...yada yada yada)
Mac would love to stick it the same way to MSFT... however, the only reason iPod works on windows is because without that exposure they would be limited to their fanclub only.
Neither Mac no Msft are honest here and they will attempt evading everyone about their intentions by mascarading it under the "market demand" "business model" or whatever else the slogan of the week there would be marketed by the pr departments.
Zune is a one ugly device, though it works well and I actually like it better than iPod when it comes to operating and daily use as long as no one can see me with it. iPod is a gorgeous unit that works and looks well enough to make me want to carry it with me instead of the zune.
Sort of the same thing goes with the Mac I love how it looks and do most of my work on a PC. But both of them suck at one thing or another.
So to all of ya fanboys and fangals - get a grip there are no good/bad systems anymore

[Pavan @ Oct 31st 2007 4:00AM]

For anyone who wants it to be 160gb, you can upgrade it the same way that "a friend of mine" upgraded his 30gb Zune to 80gb, assuming there's a bit of free space in the Zune 80 as well

1. Buy a 160 iPod Classic at Wal-Mart
2. Pry open both products and swap hard drives
3. slip a few chewed up pieces of gum into the iPod as filler so the thinner HDD won't rattle
4. Put your pod in the box
5. Have her open the box (the clerk at wal-mart that is, they like to inspect electronics...)
6. Smile in realization that the #1 advantage of wal-mart hiring $9 an hour associates is that the only thing they check for on iPod returns is a matching serial number engraved on the backing and the one on the box.

[william @ Oct 31st 2007 10:51AM]

lmao, buy a 160 BG ipod and then take it apart to place the drive in the zune? even the old Ipods are better looking and easier to use than the zune. That would be like taking a VW bug engine and placing it in a ferrari.

Ipod - beautiful
Zune - ugly

Ipod - sexy
Zune - dog ass ugly

Ipod thin and light
zune big, looks like a brick and feels like one

Ipod deos everything a zune can do
Zune does alost nothing except admire what the ipod is

bla bla.... the only reason anyone would buy that pile of crap is because they support a monolithic shit eating company and do not want to admit that the zune will never be anything more than a novelty. But hey, they do keep my closet door cracked open.

Other Zune uses...
Brick to throw at grandma when she farts
Always nice to have something brown in your life
placed in a sock it becomes a formidable weapon
Great used as a step ladder to get at those hard to reach areas
Not so good as a floatation device
Great coaster

[Pavan @ Nov 1st 2007 9:57AM]

Wouldn't it be more like putting a Ferrari engine in a VW bug? But you're right in comparing crapple to a Ferrari - looks great, usually costs more, and can't compare in quality to a mainstream product. Oh, and they both have fanboys who defend them so they don't feel like morons for "Thinking Different."

[Pavan @ Oct 31st 2007 4:02AM]

Just incase you need some help with that:

http://www.rapidrepair.com/shop/zune-repair-guides.html