You've seen
the PR, now check the videos. The
zunitedcommunity just posted four introductory videos straight outta Redmond -- three demonstrate the new WiFi Marketplace, buy from FM, and Channel features in the 3.0 firmware while the fourth demonstrates the updated desktop software with new Zune mix, improved Now Playing view, and new Picks view auto-populated to reflect your listening habits.
CNET News also had the chance to get some hands-on time courtesy of Zune's Joe Belfiore. Joe confirms that WiFi access to Marketplace only works from hotspots that don't require a browser-based login (duh) while once again hinting at future Xbox and Zune integration since "both stores are based on the same technology." He also confirms that the 3.0 firmware will work with all Zune devices as we expected. Curiously, when asked about accessing your Zune music collection from a phone, Joe responded by saying, "that's another really interesting device that you may someday see us do work on but nothing that we're announcing here today." Funny response since CNET asked him about
accessing Zune music from a phone
, not a Zune phone. See all five videos after the break.
[Via
Zunited, thanks Ryan and Milo]
posted September 9th 2008 1:32AM
Ah, I was wondering where the voice of delusion in a series of reasonable post was. Great work Jubei, you've yet to let me down, or impress me.
LOL!
I'm with you CJ- this kid is worthless.
You know what's really funny?
He's probably an intern of Apple's marketing team and it's his job to come here and comment in hopes of making Microsoft look bad. (especially since Apple pays for advertising here...McCain's team does the same on the sites that they advertise with)
Well, before Apple went bashing Microsoft...I would have actually bought their products. Things like this and the Apple v. Microsoft ads make me intentionally go out of my way to avoid buying their products. Even though they make decent products, they go about selling them in a highly scumbag way. I actually make sure to tell everyone that I know to steer clear of their products now. Since the start of 2008, I've influenced 4 phone purchases, 3 laptop purchases and a MP3 player purchase. That's not including my own purchases.
So... Keep bashing Microsoft Jubie, you're just giving Apple a worse image.
The Zune is such a great device now, it almost makes me sad that I bought into the whole iPod/iPhone system...
@who?
"You can't count that Nano, it had a tiny, almost square screen. The longer screen makes it a different design."
Yeah, cuz if it wasn't for MS, Apple's design team would *never* have thought of a bigger screen.
The elongated form factor and material can both be traced back to the 2G Nano, the key differences being screen size and the curved surface that Apple seems to be in love with. That's pretty obvious to anyone who isn't in denial. The Zune is still sticking with the same glossy, two-toned, square edged look of the 1G Nano.
"(it would be like saying the original zune took the iPod Classics's design)"
No, apart from their bizarre decision to copy the look of Apple's clickwheel, but not the functionality, the original Zune is just the Toshiba Gigabeat in a new shell.
I love my Zune 80... The only downside is being an international user. I live in the UK and bought mine off eBay. So i can't use ANY of the marketplace meaning most of these new features are completely useless for me. Sure, I know I'm not the target market... but throw me a bone Microsoft. Announce Zune for Europe so i can finally access your store without having to use hacks. I really, really want a Zune pass!
Wow I can not wait until these features are out... The very beginning to these videos are weird with that new Zune sound and weird logo where it goes from the cube ball and other thing into a Zune logo, definitely never seen that one before. But these features are going to be awesome. ONly thing is that on the main page, it seems like it's got a lot of options now, there's music, video, pictures, the usual, then Social and radio, typical for the Zune, then podcasts and now marketplace and games and finally settings, seems like a bit much, but I'll have to see. Still, that's 9 main menu items on the main screen.
It's been announced that the menu items only appear/show up if you have that type of media.
If you have no games, there will be no games menu, if you have no podcasts, there will be no podcasts menu!
I'm actually looking forward to this new software, I'm considering buying one for my next MP3 player. Zune has really come into it's stride as an iPod competitor.
Why has no one mentioned the fact that he had Games as an option on his zune?
Or is there something I missed?
-sm
It appears we're getting Hexic and Texas Hold 'Em. Exciting... I think the most important feature missed out has been the clock. All hail the clock!
It was discussed on the last zune post when the feature was discovered I believe.
Still it was to be expected with the XNA 3 CTP released a while back, you can even get some free games and apps for it, not really commercial level but quite nice. Take a peek over at zuneboards and you can put some of them (the ones built with RIG) in your 2.5 without even having to install XNA or Visual Studio.
It also comes with the great Hexic puzzler and some other games, a space shooter I believe. Can't wait to see what games come up.
Also for the people commenting about the animation being on the start of the device, both the 30 the 80 and probably 120 have the same hardware, except screen, controls etc. It's mostly a limitation of the firmware, since you'd need to start a good part of the firware before you'd be able to play video, that's why most systems have simple boot elements, low mem req and sys requirements.
At 1:21 in the top video -
What is in the top right corner of the screen? There is something I can't make out, and the battery/Wifi icons are at the bottom right not the top.
@alfatreze:
The Zune 30 and 80 do not have the same hardware. The 80 has a faster processor and better video capability.
Joe responded by saying, "that's another really interesting device that you may someday see us do work on but nothing that we're announcing here today."
To be honest, that seems more like a cookie-cutter response then an accidental slip of a new Zune phone. Im sure he gets asked all the time about a potential Zune phone, so thats probably the same response he gives to everyone.
Although, seeing that Zune, ever since Gen 2 has done nothing but impress in this market, i would love them to move into making a phone as well that shares the design methodology of the Zune, since its such an elegant looking device. But im fine with WM Zune software if they dont.
Im considering buying a zune 16 or 120 to replace my 1st gen ipod nano. Ive never liked the nano or apples software or the clickwheel. Maybe ill get it after i get my Touch Diamond. Why would I do that? Because I still want a dedicated mp3 player instead of draining my cellphone battery as my primary mp3 player.
I bought a Sprint Mogul and Zune 80gb for the same reason.
My personal advice to you is to download the Zune software or make sure your music is tagged correctly in Windows Media Player. WMP and Zune recognizes the same tags. iTunes, on the other hand, likes to scatter folders and mis-tag a lot of stuff. ...or it won't find any song information because you refuse to open an account.
Both Zune's software and WMP will do an album lookup if you right click on the song/album with no account needed. It'll also download album art automatically without an account. When you get your new phone/Zune, you'll have everything ready and will just need to sync.
@Everyone hoping for Mac Support
MS has solved the sync to Mac issue. Bootcamp to Windows, set-up/sync your Zune initially. Everyday syncs can now be done to the Internet cloud! With a Zune Pass you may never need to sync to your Mac again, or PC for that matter.
I honestly sync my Zune about every 3 weeks and only to get latest podcasts. If they support wifi sync of music, podcasts, etc then I can't imagine I would sync it to my PC other than to get the FREE firmware upgrades.
Do you guys know will the play count & date added -data transfer to the Zune, when I transfer my iTunes music library to it? This is the decisive buying factor for me with this thingy here.
beep beep.
New account -- test!
While it is true that the Touch is in a league of its own I find the rest of the iPods very tired hardware and software wise.(Full disclosure though - I've actually always found the click wheel iPods to be like navigating a flowchart and wildly overrated.) Obviously the classic and nano are where these compete and I think, come out on top.
Still there are some nagging issues. The biggest for me - can ZunePass subscribers trade songs with each other without the playback restrictions? If no - then why they hell not? Also, the wifi market seems great but ultimately not so useful. How many no-login spots are there anymore? Why can't you log onto a wifi spot? The method for searching for something seems decent enough and not really worse than other devices w/o a text input method. Not such trouble to enter a password. Also, the xbox > to Zune integrations needs to be here now. None of this "you'll see us" do that. It is late already!
Anyway, it is all nice but I don't understand them not going all the way which they are going to have to if they want a breakthrough. (Especially since - no matter what apple announces it is treated like a revolution.)
Test.
beep beep.
Test!
He's just assuming that since you don't need to pay 20 bucks for the upgrade, ala the iPod touch, the software must suck.
Seriously though, the fact that this will be a free update for my 1st gen 30GB Zune is really amazing. It shows that MS isn't abandoning early adopters, and it will be like getting a brand new PMP. I will probably upgrade to the 120GB eventually, since I would fill up pretty fast with the unlimited Zune pass and wireless downloads.
@Cromag
"Yeah, cuz if it wasn't for MS, Apple's design team would *never* have thought of a bigger screen."
I didn't say that. Maybe they got there by themselves, but they weren't first.
Is there multi-language support in the new software/firmware? I need the chinese/japaneses support to my Zune. Technically there should be easy to do.
Sean
I know it's not fair, but something about the guy in the first video made me want to punch him in the face. I'm not even a violent guy, and all I could think about was how annoyed I was by his existence. Maybe it was how smug he looked, maybe it was his use of the words "super cool", but I would give anything right now to have a good swing at him.
Oh right: Zune; iphone; obligatory fanboy comment.
Does any one have this new software already? I am thinking it might have come with the new Zunes that are already been sold....
What the fuck?
@ az runner Yeah because obviously we all share your opinion based on who we high rank and low rank. Apple makes a good product but please get off your high horse, it gets annoying.
This is pretty sweet. It'll be like getting a new Zune when I add this free software update to my first gen Zune 30 next Tuesday. I'm sure the games won't be as good with the older style control pad, but we'll see I guess... I don't like the iPod interface or aesthetics and wanted something different than everyone else initially and am now a very happy Zune customer now that MSFT has figured out how to make the Zune software usable (it wasn't for the first year or so) and since they keep adding functionality through these free updates. A couple of complaints I still have are that the Zune Marketplace still lacks a lot of the music I typically look for. Mainstream stuff is all there, but not the remixes I can usually find on iTunes (that I have to strip DRM from to play on my Zune). Also, video conversion is a bit of a pain. I wish MSFT would come out with a Touch competitor or a Zune phone. I really want to buy an iPhone 3G, but I'm not willing to put up with all the issues people are having with them!
The man who just killed my Zune : Steve Jobs
I wonder why more isn't said about support for audiobooks. For instance, I would love to hear that audible.com is supported. An alternative, I guess, would be for Microsoft, themselves, to create an audiobook section in Zune Marketplace.
Audible will be supported with the update, also several other audiobook ppl.
After todays Apple announcement, the Zune is now relegated to the bargain bin basement of leftover junk. Even NBC came back with HD content. It's so sad for that "me too" product trying to compete by copying Apple.
God DAMN, you are too funny Jubei.
Apple has yet to do anything with it's iPod classic or Nano to top anything the Zune line offers. Sorry, but your marketing ploy doesn't work except on the weak, ignorant Apple tools.
Zune has "stuff" and is gaining marketshare.
Apple have marketshare but no stuff on its boring products.
Dont point out about the ipod touch..zune has all that in mind for the future.. :)
Zune Rocks. Apple Sucks.
The former-Zune Guy must be kicking himself right about now...
Zune seriously is really good... no matter how new the apple gets.
Dare I say the best of both worlds:
Favorite MS Powered Product: Office 2008 for Mac
Favorite Apple Product: Office 2008 for Mac
Zune 3.0 is awesome!
Zune blows away ipod with this new update
Of course Microsoft is going to be bringing out a phone, but I doubt it will be called 'Zune'. Hint: Sidekick (T-Mobile)
http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2008/feb08/02-11Acquisition.mspx