http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/ Engadget Comments for New Zunes get unboxed, reviewed, and Microsoft firms up plans http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2010 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Better than "Music is my girlfriend!!!" that's for sure.]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/a collage student made that iPod touch commercial
as if MS would air something made not by them
]]>Nov 12th 2007 3:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 5:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
http://zuneinsider.com/archive/2007/11/05/css-who-flipped-it-better.aspx]]>Nov 13th 2007 12:17AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
cant wait... ^_^]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
C'mon MS, just a hint that it's coming over here would be nice.]]>Nov 12th 2007 2:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 2:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 6:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/microsofts-zune-originals-customizations-free-starting-tomorr/#comments]]>Nov 12th 2007 7:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Here's a video detailing the upgrading process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEKUVebnxH4]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:38AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 11:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 12:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
I find the iPod Touch commercial to be good. I think it would be better if they slowed the video down a bit - it moves pretty quickly.]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:46AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 3:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 5:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 11:04AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 11:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
I wish they put some druillet and moebius for Europe..! it would be a hit!]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:42AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Man! Why is it always Zune Zune Zune with Engadget??? I mean come on! Isn't there anything else to talk about? You guys are such Microsoft fanboys. I really think you should make a separate site for "Zune Only" content. You didn't cover the iPhone from slApple anywhere near as much as the Zune! What a joke. If there wasn't a guy holding a gun to my head right now, I would turn away in disgust!! GAH!!!

**End of fake, sarcastic rant** ]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
**End of sarcasm free comment**]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
For example:

BEST.

RANT.

EVER.]]>Nov 12th 2007 11:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 9:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
I like the little 'blob-wheel' thingy.]]>Nov 12th 2007 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
http://img232.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zune2crazypricenv4.jpg


http://shopper.cnet.com/mp3-players/zune-second-generation-80gb/4014-6490_9-32638989.html?tag=api&subj=sh&tag=cntv

]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:56AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 11:00AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 11:49AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
I have a question. There are a lot of iPod compatible systems out there that, with the proper link cable will allow you to control the iPod. My audio system supports the iPod in this way. If I get the Zune and a compatible cord, will these devices will also be able to control a Zune?

- Roger]]>Nov 12th 2007 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Some folks are apparently working on an iPod -> Zune protocol converter cable so that you can use iPod accessories with Zunes (it's a bit more complex than getting the cables to fit, there's going to have to be a chip in there doing some conversion too). Until then, you'll have to use your fingers. AFAIK there's no documentation for the Zune protocol and definitely no audio systems with specific support for the Zune.]]>Nov 12th 2007 11:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
These interfaces are usually designed specifically for the iPod.

Unless it is a simple auxiliary audio interface, I think you will be stuck with the iPod.

I have a Zune 30 and am very pleased with the hardware and glad we arent being overlooked when it comes the new firmware.

Whatever people wanna say about Microsoft, they certainly look after their customers.]]>Nov 12th 2007 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 10:57AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 11:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Apple put such little innovation into their latest HD player that even they had to call it "Classic". These reviews are clearly downplaying Zune's ostensible superiority.]]>Nov 12th 2007 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/Nov 12th 2007 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
- portable HD
- games
- calendar
- contacts
- clock
- Audible books

Of course, if you use your music player primarly for, um, music, the advantages you mention seem to be more significant (IMO of course). ]]>Nov 12th 2007 1:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
I guess you've never heard of the iPod Touch.

Zune 80 has a smaller screen. It does not have a wi-fi music store. No Mac support. No DRM-less downloads from the Zune store. And can you even use a Zune as a portable hard drive these days? You at least used to not be able to.

You listed a bunch of stuff the Zune has that the market has shown repeatedly that it doesn't care about. Lots of players have offered radios for years; nobody buys them. Wireless sharing is crippled, as we all know, and is not a selling point as implemented. Subscription-based services are all losing subscribers right now; that market has dried up as people have tried them and moved on.

The things the iPod has that the Zune doesn't are the reasons why people buy iPods. Some will tell you the iPod is successful strictly because of marketing, then in another post will tell you that the iPod ads suck. It can't be both. We iPod owners are not idiots; we bought them for specific reasons. I bought mine because I wanted both a portable music player and a portable hard drive, and I wanted software to go with it that would manage my library well, without crashing or otherwise acting up - at the time, that meant iTunes. Nowadays, people probably buy iPods for different reasons - the touch screen, or the tough casing (they're all metal, you know), or the wi-fi, or the ease of converting video files in iTunes, I don't know. But people have legitimate reasons, and nothing about the new Zune is going to change that.

I will say that the new Zune is at least on track design-wise, although functionally it is still a generation behind the iPod, as is the Zune store a generation behind iTMS.]]>Nov 12th 2007 3:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/"but after running a veritable laundry list of things the Zune has but iPod doesn't, they don't detail anything about the iPod that puts it in the Zune's league. Zune 80 has a bigger screen (64% to be exact, and a much better use of it IMHO), wireless syncing, wireless sharing, a radio and (most importantly) support for subscription music services. iPod has a billion accessories and Mac support."

I guess you've never heard of the iPod Touch.

Zune 80 has a smaller screen. It does not have a wi-fi music store. No Mac support. No DRM-less downloads from the Zune store. And can you even use a Zune as a portable hard drive these days? You at least used to not be able to.

You listed a bunch of stuff the Zune has that the market has shown repeatedly that it doesn't care about. Lots of players have offered radios for years; nobody buys them. Wireless sharing is crippled, as we all know, and is not a selling point as implemented. Subscription-based services are all losing subscribers right now; that market has dried up as people have tried them and moved on.

The things the iPod has that the Zune doesn't are the reasons why people buy iPods. Some will tell you the iPod is successful strictly because of marketing, then in another post will tell you that the iPod ads suck. It can't be both. We iPod owners are not idiots; we bought them for specific reasons. I bought mine because I wanted both a portable music player and a portable hard drive, and I wanted software to go with it that would manage my library well, without crashing or otherwise acting up - at the time, that meant iTunes. Nowadays, people probably buy iPods for different reasons - the touch screen, or the tough casing (they're all metal, you know), or the wi-fi, or the ease of converting video files in iTunes, I don't know. But people have legitimate reasons, and nothing about the new Zune is going to change that.

I will say that the new Zune is at least on track design-wise, although functionally it is still a generation behind the iPod, as is the Zune store a generation behind iTMS.]]>Nov 12th 2007 3:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
First, you're completely wrong, the new Zune store DOES in fact have DRM-less downloads. Aside from that, the zune 80 also has 5-10x the storage capacity and costs 50-100 dollars more, plus the zune 80 has wifi sync which is simply awesome. Mac support: 10% of computers are macs so no biggy. Wi-fi music store is much less cool than the wifi sharing if they actually sell enough to make it worth anything this time. Sorry, I'd rather be able to share music with anyone I see that has a zune or get music from them and get to try the music out for free than run over to starbucks, hope the connection actually works, and pay $1 for a song I might decide I never wanted. So ya, If you only have 8 or 16 GB worth of movies and music and don't want to be able to sync songs without having your player connected to your computer and want to pay more then go for the ipod touch.]]>Nov 12th 2007 4:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Sadly M$ did that terrible job on software side - they should have integrated with WMP. But as usually they "did it again:" rewrote all sync standards for their own new toy. Note that previous standard - MTP - was also co-developed by them. They single-sidedly replace standards like... nvm. For time being I'll stick with iTunes.]]>Nov 12th 2007 11:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/12/new-zunes-get-unboxed-reviewed-and-microsoft-firms-up-plans/
Im currently using the pre-release version, and it is REALLY REALLY better than the old crappy Zune Software]]>Nov 12th 2007 12:04PM