Zune users complain of fast-draining battery with latest firmware
By Donald Melanson 
posted November 28th 2007 11:59AM
posted November 28th 2007 11:59AM
We've already had a few reports of some problems with the latest Zunes (and the latest firmware), and it now looks like there's another issue brewing, with a number of users complaining of battery problems with Zune 30s and 80s loaded with the most recent firmware. Apparently, the Zunes have the unfortunate tendency to rapidly drain their batteries, even when the player is not in use. Judging from the discussion on the Zune.net message boards, that particular issue seems to be due to some unknown difficulty the Zune has with entering hibernate mode which it, seemingly, doesn't do at all (at least among those who've reported problems). Those finding themselves plagued by similar battery issues can apparently "fix" the problem by holding back and down on the d-pad to shut the Zune off completely when its not in use, although we're guessing few will be completely satisfied until Microsoft chimes in on the matter.[Thanks, Jeff]
Update: Zune-Online.com has gotten word of another fix that appears to solve the issue, at least on the Zune 30. To get things started, you'll have to first drain the Zune until you get the exclamation point, and then fully charge it again (leaving it overnight, if necessary). After that's done, you then reset the Zune by pressing up and back simultaneously, which should set things back on track . Not a perfect solution, obviously, but it seems to be the best option for now.
I think this is another attempt to bash the zune. I mean honestly, if you run Wifi all the time and and run video's like crazy, yeah, the zune will die quicker.
I use my zune MAINLY for music, occasionally for video podcasts, which I find if used in moderation dosent hurt my battery life.
I also use the full shutdown instead of hibernate and I NEVER have my wifi turned on because its basically useless. Wifi sync is slow and I would rather usb sync and have better battery life.
The zune is a good MUSIC player, I just prefer to not use all the bells and whistles.
I have a Zune 30 w/ the new firmware and am experiencing this issue. The battery lasts longer while music is playing, however the device doesn't hibernate any long when I hold down the play button. It will do this reglardless of wireless being on or off. The solution given (hold back and down) works fine for me. I also have a Zune 4, and do not experiencing this issue with it. Holding down Play successfully hibernates the device.
Ive had small issues. Nothing that realy hurt though.
I might get an hour or two less, but I would take an hour less battery for wireless synch anyday.
Engadget is right in reporting that the Zune no longer enters hibernation mode, with the new update.
Not all Zunes are experiencing the problem. Mine is perfectly fine and I haven't charged it for several days. I'm sorry this is happening to you but Engadget and you shouldn't conclude that this is effecting everyone.
I don't think lack of a touch screen interface is a bad thing. I bought a Zune 8 BECAUSE it didn't have a touch screen. Why would I want to deposit grease from my fingers onto the screen of my device every time I use it? I greatly prefer the touchpad, which has the same sort of inertial navicgation as the iPod touch, doesn't get my screen dirty, and costs $100 less than the iPod touch. When I want to browse the web, I use a device with a much bigger screen.
As a final note: I saw an iPod touch on display at Sam's club over the weekend and the screen was so gunked up with finger grease that it looked like some cheap toy! Apple's mixture of shiny things with touch interfaces is just not practical. My Zune 8 has a matte finish on everything except the glass screen, so it doesn't show fingerprints.
I have a Zune80 and the battery drain has been somewhat inconsistent for me. I don't know if it's an issue of the device incorrectly reporting the remaining battery life or what. In my situation, I had fully charged it, had used it for 6hrs or so at which the battery indicator showed roughly a 70% remaining charge, I then used the pause/play button to put it to sleep. An hour later, my daughter went to use it and the battery was
dead. Even if I had inadvertently woke it up after putting it into sleep mode, it likely was idle and not playing any music so there's no concievable reason that it would drain a nearly full battery in an hours time. I had a second occurrence of this where it went from around a 30% charge to dead in about the same amount of time. There is definitely an issue here.
That's exactly what happens to me :( I have a Zune 30 though.
We have a Zune 80 and a Zune 30... we use them non-stop (thanks to the new Zune marketplace and Podcasts)... we have never run the batteries down before recharging. Even on a recent flight over seas I used mine for so long with video and music.
I'm not sure this article is sending a claer picture of what's really going on. Until v2.0 we never used our Zunes, now we have the 80 and use them all the time. Amazing how one upgrade to the software made such a significant difference and led to a sale.
if you're on the fence on whether or not to get one.. take the jump, goodbye apple.
My zune30 seems to last longer with the new firmware, most night I fall asleep with the radio on listening to news from around the globe ,CBC radio one, and in the morning I have enough power to last for a couple of hours.
As for hibernating, I do what I’ve always done with my old ipood and the older firmware for the zune; shut it down, what’s the point of having a device on when you’re not using it.
Zune owners suffering from this problem are reminded that the replacement will be this:
http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/11/zune-tattoo-guy.html
The old firmware did the same thing, it's MS' stupid way of letting you play back from where you stopped. If you do the hard power down then you can't save progress on a show or song. It's pretty stupid IMO I just hard power down all the time.
LOL what a lemon LOL and the good part is microsoft fanboys are use to getting screw, don't worry microsoft should issue a firmware fix for it in about another 12 months LOL, no wonder there holding back on them. You don't like ipods get a different player but don't get a Zune because microsoft makes it and old bill gates its behind everything LOL. Got news for you his not running anything anymore he got a Dum ass CEO there that don't know the difference between cash cow or a horse really. And have been taking the company that old gates founded to the ground
wow, impressive speech, maybe you should go back to elementary school. That done, a very small minority of people actually have this problem(kinda like the nanos with the tilted screens, but not at all like the HORRIBLY slow performance of the ipod classics for cover flow that happens for everyone). My zune 80 hasn't had any problems whatsoever. Also, in case you haven't heard, the new zunes have been selling a lot more than the old ones and have been generating a ton of glowing reviews and popularity so ya... just about nothing you said was valid... at all.
at least the Nano has cover flow the new zune UI its not even close to as good as the Nano and still has a lag,. And apple does not take a year to update a firmware ether, Maybe you should check Amazon.com before talking dude and see for yourself where the Lemon Zune stands dum ass its not even on the top 20 LOL
My battery (Zune 30) doesn't last but maybe 4 hours tops. I hate the Zune and will be getting an iPod Touch very soon.
I like the hardware but I HATE the software.
Good choice. I can say firsthand that you won't be disappointed with the iPod touch's silky interface and sharper screen.
to elaborate on what MacVicta said: or its minimum $200-$300 higher pricetag or it's roughly 25-50% lower storage capacity
I had this happen the other day.. I went to grab my Zune 80.. and it was completely dead.. Had to charge for 30 minutes before it would sync. I just figured I left it on.. not really a big deal though as the battery life is amazing.. I charged it on saturday and listen to it off and on normally only an hour at a time and I still basically full.. I am sure it will be fixed with a software update..
I talked with everyone here who has a generation 1 Zune 30 with the new firmware and we've all seen dramatic improvements in battery life with the new firmware. I went from being able to play 4 hours of movies to about 5 1/2 hours of movies on my zune without recharging. I haven't recharged it in 2 weeks just playing music.
Microsoft dominates the browser biz because people like me are forced to use it at work, where I spend most of my time surfing the net. (haha)
Well, at least it's just a formware issue.
Whaa..? I thought only iPods suck and suffer from crap like this, while Zune is Teh UberDAP! Oh the humanity!
Does the company have plans to launch a new generation after the holiday season?
Must be something akin to premature ejaculation. Zune users exclaim that it shoots it's power wad a little too early. The problem will most likely be fixed in a firmware update.
It really doesn't matter since nobody can get them, anyway. And even if people did get their hands on them, they'd be too few people to matter.
Whats a "Zune"
I mean, really
Teber i told u not to go out of the bomb shelter... its only been 64 years after the war! off you go....
Look up the word 'Facetious'
My Zune 80 works great, My battery life is better. What I did notice is that sometimes I forgot to put the lock key on in my pocket and the battery died easily. But that is user error.
I installed the 2.2 firmware to my 1st Gen Zune and have the battery issue. I lose battery power even when I shut my Zune completely off (back down buttons). Before the firmware upgrade my Zune was fine, now I get the explanation point display all the time, it sucks. I was going to get a 2nd Gen Zune or iPod Touch, but with all these Zune issues I think I'm going over to the Apple side.
It's funny how the Zune fanboys claim the 80 can't be compared to the iPod touch when so many consumers are cross-shopping them.
In this case, and in most other cases, hes going to a different class of DAP. Cross-shopping can involve small daps, large daps, pmp's, etc. They all play music, its just the form you are going for. But what the Zune base states is that the Zune isnt going after the Touch, and it isnt. The Zune 2g is going after the Nano and Classic. The problem with most reviews is that they go through every single Apple player when comparing it to the Zune, sighting all of Apples best features spread through all their DAP's as a reason why the Zune is bad. "Doesnt have web browser, Doesnt download from store, Doesnt have a 160 gig option, Isnt as thin as nano, Doesnt have as large a screen as Touch, isnt touch sensitive, Doesnt have bluetooth, etc. etc." In that case, of course it looks like shit, but to get all those advantages, you would have to own all of Apples products. But believe what you want.
You cant deny that the Touch has a massive short-coming: Not being able to hold you collection. If it carried a larger size and a 80gig hard drive, then it would be an impressive DAP (assuming it carried the same price structure).
The main downfall is that it is virtually unworkable in your pocket, which is terrible (and the sound quality, which ive heard personally and was deeply unimpressed) as well as the above mentioned size constraint.
If you dont want your whole collection of music, and a great number of videos with you all the time, then get the Touch if you have money to burn. If you want a decent media player thats cheap and holds alot and carries a large screen in a small form factor, the Zune 80 is an excellent option, and workable in your pocket when listening to casts and music.
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It is because wireless is on default in the new firmware. All they need to do is turn off wireless when not in use.
Simple.. So Simple.
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You are an idiot. Its not because of the wifi being turned on. So think of something else and quit thinking that you get such an easy solution. I am one of those with the original gen 1 and have battery issues.
Man, this post has alot of Zune lovers, is it mandatory for Microsoft employees to support there product by making positive posts on the Zune while dogging the iPods?
Just face the facts. Zune sales are up over 200%. Really
Wait, doesn't Apple do that?
if you think Zunes Sales are up by that much i guess you have not seen Amozon, Best buy and circuit City Top Selling MP3s list, most people think the New Zune 80GB got sold out everywhere and the facts are different, Microsoft put a hold on them Because of Hardware Issues. but theres tons of them on ebay just that no one is dum enough to get them, then send them back for repairs when it starts act up
I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft fixes this in a simple firmware upgrade. Wasn't the update supposed to extended battery life? Anyway, good job with the new firmware upgrade Microsoft.
cause there's never any rabid apple supporters on apple related articles? Please, your logic is so tired
More anti-Zune propaganda...Pffffft!
lolz and they make it sound like they are providing the cure (with a catch) to get away with the sales butchering by exploiting some small isolated case of zune imperfection.
Just chiming in to say that I'm having the battery issue was well. I have a brownie 30 with the 2.2 firmware. I think I usually get a good 4-6 hours before I have to charge again. I usually leave it in it's hibernation mode, I had no idea you could actually turn it off.
Hehe This is funny I tipped off another blogg that I was getting alot better battery life and they ignored it. I was running with the volume almost maxed screen on medium brightness with 15sec on and wireless on and the life if kickin ass over before the update. Now I turned the brightness down and disabled the wireless so I'm waiting to see how long it lasts now*before was a series of 6 hour runs and I skip songs alot battery meter was down like a quarter each time I did that*
I currently upgrade the software & I notice when I scroll through my collection of music, the battery indicator shows battery level going down fast. After I've found what I want to listen to, I later click the wheel & it shows the battery at a higher level than it shown before. I love this thing. The wi-fi part works great too.
well I've got an old Zune with the firmware update, but I'm not seeing my battery dieing any faster.
I even have my screens brightness turned to high and I'm still getting the same amount of hours out of one charge, only difference is that on the older firmware, I had my brightness on medium.
I am one of those who have the battery issue and at this point i am not a happy camper. It is obviously an issue and just because many who have not experienced the problem are posting i can tell you first hand that it is. I had no problems with my battery prior to the upgrade. Yes I love the new interface etc but having to charge the battery all the time is a drag. I called the Zune CS and after speaking with someone they finally decided to take the Zune and repair it. I am hesitant to send it in because it’s not a battery issue its the firmware. Ill keep you posted as tot he outcome and i am going to try the suggestion to let it drain then resetting it.
Obviously you people didn’t read the article. It is affecting the old gen 1 zunes mine included. It didn’t say all it said some. Read folks because its bad enough listening to a company who wants to ignore a growing problem.
I've had the Zune 8 for a few days and my battery crashed! I charged it once and drained it to see how much time I could get out of it (about 15-20 hours on my side) and then charged it for two hours. I used it for about 30 minutes then had it hibernate. When I tried to turn it on an hour later, it wasn't working.
I'll try actually shutting it down now, but having battery issues on its third day of use has definitely got me worried - I might return it.