http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/ Engadget Comments for Zune updates, more than just capacity? http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:10AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/23/zune-guy-fed-up-with-zune-seeks-to-cover-up-tattoos/
http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/26/zune-guy-calls-microsoft-liars-says-zune-situation-is-f-in/
So as you can see he got his panties in a twist, because a free ZUNE and other swag was not enough.
And it appears that Apple has not done anything special for the ex-Zune lover.]]>Sep 2nd 2008 11:58AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 10:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 12:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:14AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/

]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 9:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
How about improving their smart playlists? They are only smart on the desktop. If you create a playlist of recent music and you decide to add music to your player from another machine (or from the same machine) and the playlist isn't synced up, it won't show up.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Zune (I own 5; don't ask why) but their software still leaves quite a bit to be desired especially when one part of Microsoft (Zune Team) goes a different direction than an already established idea (Vista). This reminds me of the WHS team decided to write their own copy sharing routines rather than using the well established ones used in Windows. We know how that turned out (corruption bugs!)]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:52AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
How about improving their smart playlists? They are only smart on the desktop. If you create a playlist of recent music and you decide to add music to your player from another machine (or from the same machine) and the playlist isn't synced up, it won't show up.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Zune (I own 5; don't ask why) but their software still leaves quite a bit to be desired especially when one part of Microsoft (Zune Team) goes a different direction than an already established idea (Vista). This reminds me of the WHS team decided to write their own copy sharing routines rather than using the well established ones used in Windows. We know how that turned out (corruption bugs!)]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
How about improving their smart playlists? They are only smart on the desktop. If you create a playlist of recent music and you decide to add music to your player from another machine (or from the same machine) and the playlist isn't synced up, it won't show up.

Don't get me wrong, I like the Zune (I own 5; don't ask why) but their software still leaves quite a bit to be desired especially when one part of Microsoft (Zune Team) goes a different direction than an already established idea (Vista). This reminds me of the WHS team decided to write their own copy sharing routines rather than using the well established ones used in Windows. We know how that turned out (corruption bugs!)]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
Engadget's comment system sucks]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 1:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 1:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
but I guess in the end if people have Jobs "no pun intended", and the company only makes a shiny new penny when the Zune plays the song of a sinking ship, thats the only thing that matters...]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 9:18AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
You've hit the nail right on the head!]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 9:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
but I guess in the end if people have Gates "no pun intended", and the company only makes a shiny new penny when the Mac plays the song of a sinking ship, thats the only thing that matters...

See what I did there? Wanna do some more useless "Madlibs - Fanboy Edition"?]]>Sep 2nd 2008 3:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
Haha, I see what you did there! Thanks for the laugh, lol.

]]>Sep 2nd 2008 5:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
No problem! What people forget is that using a PC is really a lifestyle choice. ...like being American. So, when they attack people using PC's...they're really attacking Americans. It's a little like being a terrorist. Yup. ...like being a terrorist.]]>Sep 3rd 2008 11:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
We need a software update for the zune...]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 3rd 2008 6:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
No, just taking backwards steps. I cannot believe the horrible new Nano design. Glad I haven't committed myself to the iPod/iTunes universe, because Apple just seems to be getting further and further behind the competition (if you can call it competition, as it unfortunately remains a virtual Apple monopoly) in features, quality, and price.

iPod sound quality: poor
iPod battery life: mediocre
iPod format support: limited
iPod build quality: unreliable
iPod ease of use: good
iTunes software: only good insofar as it provides access to the iTunes store
iTunes store: good
iPod interface: sweet
iPod physical design: as of the 4G Nano, really bad!]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:25AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
What, exploding isn't a desirable quality in an MP3 player?]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:47AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
Next time you bring your "i'm an elitist" BS to the table though, I'll unleash the cyber-hounds with bees in their mouths, so that when they bark they shoot bees at you.]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:09AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 10:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 10:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
If you really were an audio quality elitist then, you'd know that no MP3 player on the market has sufficient DAC's or power/power filtering to provide truly high quality sound. On the run, I use an MP3 player to carry all of my music with me from point A to point B. At home, I use my Cary SLA-70MKII tube amp, Kimber Kable, Audio Physic Steps SLE.

Anything above 192kbps is really hard to tell the difference on an MP3 player. Actually, I'm pretty sure that the circuits MP3 players can't output anything over 256kbps (I could be wrong though). It's not that there's a ton background noise or anything poor quality about it. An MP3 player just can't get a strong enough, pure signal to power an exact replica of the original recording. This is really important in a near-field listening arrangement. Most headphones use tricks like sound isolation, etc. to try and get a better sound. It's like comparing a laptop to a hardcore gaming desktop.

The Zune 80gb does sound better than the iPods that I've owned though...]]>Sep 2nd 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 5:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
Having two brothers with iPods, and having iTunes installed on my computer.]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
Oh, and having done my research, reading lots of reviews and the like. :p]]>Sep 2nd 2008 9:14PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
You should check out Audiogon. I actually got my setup for dirt cheap on eBay. Most audiophile types give the white glove treatment to their stuff. The used VTL, VAC, Dk Design, Cary stuff is all awesome. They all make great integrated amps. The nice thing about an integrated amp is that you could always connect some speakers down the line. I run a Yamaha receiver between my tube amp and PC and it sounds just as good as my Pioneer Elite DVD player. You can bypass the DSP's in most decent receivers and with a lossless format, it sounds dead on!

If you're in the market for a MP3 player. You should give the new Zunes a fair try though (unless you're running Mac's OSX or Linux). I think that they're more catered to audiophile types. One of the nicest features that is included in the software is that you can encode your music in Lossless format (or whatever else that you choose) and it'll convert your music down to 256kps when it loads on the Zune. So, you've got the high quality stuff on your computer for home use because you've got a ton of space. ...but, the Zune maximizes space and only contains what it can benefit most from.

If you're on a PC, if you right click on the speaker (in the lower right) for Sound Properties, go to Playback Devices...you'll actually notice a difference when you max the format to the highest quality "studio" setting. The default is a much lower CD quality; it resets to default everytime you upgrade the driver. When you boost it, you'll notice your sound stage focus a lot more and instrument reproduction be a LOT more accurate.

Anyway...hope that helps! ]]>Sep 3rd 2008 11:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
I can see it now. A really novel idea. An online application store where you can purchase/download for free apps for the Zune.

What do you think? Think it will fly?]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/catalog/cataloghome.aspx

]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:54AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 3:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/
But in terms of the software itself, 'proper' game support where the machine doesn't reset itself when you exit an app will hopefully be in the next release. Less resource hungry desktop software would be nice too but that's more of a dream...

]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:31AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 10:07AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/]]>Sep 2nd 2008 8:40AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 8:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/02/zune-updates-more-than-just-capacity/Sep 2nd 2008 10:00AM