Who says Microsoft ain't lookin' out for those who selected its Zune HD over something Designed In Cupertino? Just days after countless owners went berserk over a playcount syncing issue, Microsoft has released a new firmware update that not only solves that very quandary but also adds a gaggle of fantastic new and / or improved features. The v4.3 update is available now by selecting "Player Update" from within the device itself, and with it will come "support for upcoming 3d games and applications, as well as an auto-suggest feature for better text input, and other minor improvements." We're hearing that those "minor improvements" include a snappier browser, so it's pretty safe to say you're only harming yourself if you don't get this download going right now. (Psst... there's a vid of the new software running after the break.)
dude i'm lovin my zune hd i stopped using the iPod touch, the apps just kinda got old and everything I used on the iPod like multiple e-mail support i just use on computer now (adobe AIR heck yea!)
whilst i agree wit u and prefer physical keyboard, there is really no way of doing it any other way and more and more companies want their phones and gadgets thin so theyve to get rid of the real keyboard
@ jnorman3 So, because it doesn't move a million units in 2 months its a failure? Well, by that logic there are a lot of failures out there. (SnowVista anyone?)
Being the apple fanboy that you are, You should know how it feels to use a device that the majority of the world doesn't use, i.e anything apple that's not an ipod/iphone.
The zune was never designed or marketed to be better than the iPod, you just fell for all the hype that sites like engadget promoted. It does however provide some needed competition.
I was skimming through that link he posted and I was laughing the entire time. He does realize that the first gen ipod touch had no volume button, no apps, no headset with mic/controls, the internet browser was lame, and that its a brick and looked horrible. I guess this is just another fanboy hard at work.
I find it funny he was bitching about no volume button. Is it really that difficult to tap the screen? When you have your first gen ipod touch it didn't seem to bother anyone.
When is Engadget going post sales figures to compare the Zune, the iPod Touch and the other various MP3 players? cause I know Zunes aren't selling well."
So you must also think that Macs are an abysmal failure because way more people use Windows? Haha oh wow, your failed logic is showing.
i find it amusing to see these MS fanboys trying to flip the argument by saying the first gen ipod touch didn't have this or that. how long ago was the ipod touch first released? is this suggesting that this zune HD is supposed to be competing with a now discontinued product of that many years ago? give me a break. zune HD is competing with the ipod touch of today, so the fact that zune HD doesn't have features that the CURRENT ipod touch has is a perfectly reasonable criticism. there's a reason apple added a volume rocker to the ipod touch, and part of that was all the anti-apple morons who keep holding a carrot out saying "if only the ipod touch had this, i'd be all over it", only changing the desired feature every time a new product is released that addressed the previous complaints. if only the ipod touch had a smaller screen, no external volume control, no thousands of compatible accessories, no hundreds of thousands of apps, no perfect sync with the best desktop media player, no mail app, no superior web browser, etc. etc. maybe then i'd buy an ipod touch. AMIRITE? actually that can be reduced to "if only i didn't have an unreasonable dislike of apple i'd buy it". just say what you mean to say.
According to Amazon, Zune is ranked 26th in the MP3 players list. MS can keep hyping their Zune but the mainstream consumers don't buy their hype. That also explains why Zune has less than 2% market share which consists of fanboys!
Is Microsoft still selling Zune HDs? I thought they'd given up by now. I haven't seen one person carrying one. Maybe they're just afraid to take it out in public for fear of being laughed at. Hey look, it's a dork using a Zune HD. Hardy, har har.
Not sure if you're helping the others by saying the first gen iPod Touch also did not have such and such back in (2007). This been repeated so often with the Zune brand. Usually companies try to compete with what's out in 2009/10 not 2007, except Microsoft it seems.
You didn't get the memo? Engadget is expanding its services to be a fight promotion website. I hear their gambling arm should open sometime in the next month.
@Squid7085 "Well considering the image is "Binging" for "IPod(sic) touch sucks," I think that the Microsoft Fanboys started this one."
Well it's obvious by your avatar, and your posts that you are a Apple fan-boy. If you weren't offended, then why are you commenting on it, or responding to it??? Not everyone has to be converted into your religious cult, we have our own likes and opinions, just as you do, and if we don't follow the Apple/Mac cult, deal with it, STFU, and fuck off. Tired of apple/mac fan-boys that chronically masturbate non-stop to apple/mac only products as worship. And I'm not a Microsoft fan boy either. I'd prefer Android over all.
Ok, I love my Zune HD, but WHERE IS THE SUPPORT FOR WPA/WPA2 ENTERPRISE NETWORKS? Yes, I know it took Apple a year to support it for the Touch, but honestly MS. It's a pain in the ass not being able to get internet all over the place.
dear ballsack: are you for real? turns out its possible and quite reasonable to comment on something that doesn't offend you. This post is not a good example as your comment offended the entire human race. Apple isn't a religion, its a company. also, have fun with android on a 15 inch screen.
I tried to get the update, but it keeps telling me that v4.1 is the latest for my device. I read at some other websites that the 32GB is getting it though (I'm on the 16GB). Anyone able to confirm?
it has be unoffically confirmed (last i checked) most 16 gb zune hds are not getting the update however deleting your firmware has been known to work (power and media button for 15seconds) this will not delete your music etc but should allow you to update to 4.3 =)
Actually, you have to go into Control panel and change your region to English(Canada). Then open the Zune software and check for updates and it should appear.
"...countless owners went berserk over a playcount syncing issue"
Really?? Countless owners?? Berserk??
From what I remembered, no one really cared all that much about it and said it would be fixed in the next update. It was only Engadget that made a big deal over it and made it sound like it was never going to be fixed......
Guess what? You're wrong. Engadget reported this story because Zune HD users WERE getting pissed. Playcounts are essential to many core elements of the Zune experience. Without accurate playcounts my automatic playlists are broken, music recommendations are useless (instead of just mediocre), I didn't collect my Zune social badges, and I can't find people who listen to the same music I do.
I was one of those that went berserk. It really did screw my experience not having playcounts working. It's great this update fixes so much more though.
Isn't the playcount used to determine how to compensate rights holders if you use the subscription service as well? Do they still let you use the service on the old, broken firmware?
you really just said it's screen sucks? The oled is way better+saves battery and has a higher pixel density than the ipod touch and in 16:9 it has the same pixel count too! so stfu and i wont bother with the last part of that comment your too stupid.
While I wish it was better visible in sunlight, it hasn't bothered me yet. On the other hand, the screen looks like a miniature high end plasma HDTV, unlike the back light bleeding LCD's out there.
Can it do shuffle-by-album? This is one feature that is critically missed on the iPod Touch/iPhone (or any DAP for that matter, except for the regular iPods/nano)
@Christo27: Are you sure? I'm not talking about shuffling the tracks within the album. By shuffle-by-album, I mean playing the songs in the correct order per album, while selecting a random album to be played next. The key here is that the tracks within the album is played in-order.
All you have to do for the Zune 16GB is connect your Zune to your computer. Close the Zune Software. Then on your Zune hold the Power and Media buttons for 15 seconds until you get the "on your pc, start up the zune software and restore blah blah" then start the zune software on your computer and it will say 4.3 update required.
Just did it on mine, update is being downloaded now
LOL @ people that buy things for "apps!" If you are always on the go, why not buy a PSP or something? I have more important things to do while I'm listening to music than play silly "games." The only app I would ever use in my free time would be the browser. Otherwise I always have a WinMo smartphone, laptop, desktop, or console at the ready.
@andrewopolis - good job you are not in marketing. You may not want "silly", cheap games, but you are hardly representative. No one thought the iPod Touch would be a credible game device but the market has spoken. Why carry another device? The ZuneHD is directly competing with the iPod Touch. Why did you buy the HD and not stick with the original Zune?
I didn't get the non-HD until July of this year, because I was good with XM radio, and then using my WinMo phone to play the Zune Pass music. I knew the HD would be coming out this year, but it was rumored to be coming out in November, not September. I wasn't very happy when it came out that much earlier, and I was only using 8 gb of the 120.
Being a tech lover, I went to go check it out in the store, and had to get it the same day. The screen and UI is really what sold me, especially how smooth the UI runs. And I love, love, love touchscreens. I knew it would be easier and a lot faster to navigate through a few touches rather than having to scroll up and down like on the 120.
Of course, I'll eventually be unhappy about this purchase since probably by the end of next year, smartphones will be able to replace the Zune (probably not the HD part though).
Wow, the person in the video really needs more practice with that keyboard! I can even type well with my thumbs now. They pretty much butchered it lol.
He's holding a camera. Which means that in order to type with his thumbs, he would have to hold onto this very thin device with two fingers and support the back with two, and then type with one thumb. He probably does type with his both his thumbs, not one. Though he could've used it in portrait mode. It's easier to type with one thumb that way.
The ZuneHD is a joke. No one cares. I live in So Cal, and I've seen exactly one in the wild. One! For all I know, that guy got his waiting in line at the Microsoft Store. Regardless of what the geeks here think, this thing is a failure in terms of sales. It might be a fine media player (I guess it better be, since that's all it does), but if no one cares, what's the point?
So because everyone and their grandmother (literally) doesn't have one its a failure? I've had three iPods over the past 2 years and decided to go for something DIFFERENT. Haven't looked back.
Besides, its Microsoft. They don't really need any more money.
Who cares that no one cares? Do you really wanna be associated with the majority of Californians? I sure as hell don't. Plus, the Zune HD sold out pretty much everywhere (including Microsoft's own Online store).
You and all the other probable iPod users on here are most likely only saying this because you don't want to feel like a complete idiot by maybe enjoying a Zune, thereby making all of your iPod accessory purchases, and iTunes purchases a total waste of money. Have any of you even gone into a store and used one of the Zunes on display? I doubt it.
It's a good idea to look beyond "apps" here too. The Zune Pass is great. I don't have to spend $1k to have 1k songs. I spend $15 a month and it breaks down like this: $10 of it gives me 10 credits to download songs that I can keep forever, $5 unlocks millions of songs.
I've gone into several stores to check out the Zune HD. Unfortunately, no one ever bothers to activate the demo unit or put any media on it, so the only experience I've gotten is to play with the top level menus. That's no way to sell a device. Load up some songs and videos, for chrissakes! I imagine that MS is doing this at their stores, all retailers who sell the Zune should be able to do this.
@andrewpolis: Don't you think you're being a little disingenuous?
You're saying "for $5 dollars blah blah blah" yet ignoring the fact that those millions of songs are unavailable once you stop paying for a subscription.
That being said, the previous models of the Zune never interested me, but the Zune HD did catch a bit of interest. However, 32GB is far too little storage.
The Zune HD is important to some/many of us, and we do care. I've been using iPods since 2003, and while they're popular, I don't particularly like them. I haven't seen a single person yet with a Zune HD, but when I walk around my campus and see the iconic iPod earbuds dangling from others' ears, I feel proud that my device, while lesser-known, is mine.
I feel proud that my name is etched to the back of my Zune. I like that I can connect my Zune to my TV and watch Tekzilla episodes in stunning (albeit upscaled) high definition. It's my Zune, and I never felt this happy with any of my iPods (though I do miss having the 160GB capacity my iPod Classic provided).
To each his own, I guess. Just because other options aren't as popular doesn't mean they're meaningless.
I own a ZuneHD and subscribe to Zune Pass. It's great, but I think your math is wrong.
To OWN 1000 songs using Zune Pass, it would cost $1500 and take 100 months (over 8 years) to accumulate. You'd have access to all of that music and more for the entire 100 months, but it would actually cost you 50% more than paying a buck per song and buying the music outright.
Depending on your rate of music consumption, one plan will be better than the other. I don't think you can say that either one is the best for everyone.
That makes no sense. On ZM if you buy MS points to pay for your music the prices are roughly the same. He was saying how if I bought 1,000 songs in one year on iTunes that would cost 1,000 dollars, but on ZM if you have zune pass it costs 180 dollars, you get 120 songs and UNLIMITED music for the whole year. You could get unlimited music on ZM for over 5 years for the same price of 1,000 itunes songs. Granted after that time you would lose all the music you didn't own (you would have ~666 songs to keep), but I think i'll stick with zune pass.
Why can't I update? I connect my Zune HD, go into the settings tab, then click player update, and it says my 4.1 is the latest. Anyway, I think the Zune HD is better than the iPod touch for everything except games. I mean, more battery life, faster processor, better browser (imo), and FM radio.
Hahaha oh wow. Look at that screen. The least you ZuneHD fanboys could have done was take a better photo that doesn't show the downfalls of your OLED bullshit screen.
miles are you really that ignorant? read any of the Zune HD reviews...it's got an OLED screen that is way better than the iPod Touch screen. If your gonna pick things to criticize, pick something that doesn't make you look like an ignorant ass.
Hey, guess what? The main function of a screen is for YOU to see it, not your camera. Christ, you're annoying. I'm an iPod touch user myself, and the only reason I haven't gotten a HD yet is because i want to go the extra $50 and double my storage. Apple has SOME cool features, but Microsoft has some cooler ones and their own versions of most of Apple's. You can get third-party software to emulate the rest.
Now that we've thrown 'em off the trail, use the form below to get in touch with the people at Engadget. Please fill in all of the required fields because they're required.
posted Nov 7th 2009 12:22PM
bleh. on screen keyboards take up a ridiculous amount of screen space.
um....no shit? if you had a really small software keyboard, what would be the point?
Just because something is more popular, doesn't mean it's better.
@ jnorman3
Ovbious fanboy is ovbious
dude i'm lovin my zune hd
i stopped using the iPod touch, the apps just kinda got old
and everything I used on the iPod like multiple e-mail support i just use on computer now
(adobe AIR heck yea!)
whilst i agree wit u and prefer physical keyboard, there is really no way of doing it any other way and more and more companies want their phones and gadgets thin so theyve to get rid of the real keyboard
@ jnorman3
So, because it doesn't move a million units in 2 months its a failure? Well, by that logic there are a lot of failures out there. (SnowVista anyone?)
Being the apple fanboy that you are, You should know how it feels to use a device that the majority of the world doesn't use, i.e anything apple that's not an ipod/iphone.
The zune was never designed or marketed to be better than the iPod, you just fell for all the hype that sites like engadget promoted. It does however provide some needed competition.
@ jnorman3
Quantum! We missed you. You're the only one arrogant enough to post HIS OWN epinion articles on every post he makes. You must be one of Steve's sheep.
@ jnorman3
Quantum! We missed you. You're the only one arrogant enough to post HIS OWN epinion articles on every post he makes. You must be one of Steve's sheep.
He did the same thing with his Droid epinion review. Obvious Apple plant.
Wow @ jnorman3
I was skimming through that link he posted and I was laughing the entire time. He does realize that the first gen ipod touch had no volume button, no apps, no headset with mic/controls, the internet browser was lame, and that its a brick and looked horrible. I guess this is just another fanboy hard at work.
I find it funny he was bitching about no volume button. Is it really that difficult to tap the screen? When you have your first gen ipod touch it didn't seem to bother anyone.
Go back under your bridge, troll.
@jnorman3
"The Zune HD is an abysmal FAILURE.
When is Engadget going post sales figures to compare the Zune, the iPod Touch and the other various MP3 players? cause I know Zunes aren't selling well."
So you must also think that Macs are an abysmal failure because way more people use Windows? Haha oh wow, your failed logic is showing.
i find it amusing to see these MS fanboys trying to flip the argument by saying the first gen ipod touch didn't have this or that. how long ago was the ipod touch first released? is this suggesting that this zune HD is supposed to be competing with a now discontinued product of that many years ago? give me a break. zune HD is competing with the ipod touch of today, so the fact that zune HD doesn't have features that the CURRENT ipod touch has is a perfectly reasonable criticism. there's a reason apple added a volume rocker to the ipod touch, and part of that was all the anti-apple morons who keep holding a carrot out saying "if only the ipod touch had this, i'd be all over it", only changing the desired feature every time a new product is released that addressed the previous complaints. if only the ipod touch had a smaller screen, no external volume control, no thousands of compatible accessories, no hundreds of thousands of apps, no perfect sync with the best desktop media player, no mail app, no superior web browser, etc. etc. maybe then i'd buy an ipod touch. AMIRITE? actually that can be reduced to "if only i didn't have an unreasonable dislike of apple i'd buy it". just say what you mean to say.
According to Amazon, Zune is ranked 26th in the MP3 players list. MS can keep hyping
their Zune but the mainstream consumers don't buy their hype. That also explains why Zune
has less than 2% market share which consists of fanboys!
Is Microsoft still selling Zune HDs? I thought they'd given up by now. I haven't seen one person carrying one. Maybe they're just afraid to take it out in public for fear of being laughed at. Hey look, it's a dork using a Zune HD. Hardy, har har.
@ Emblazin
Not sure if you're helping the others by saying the first gen iPod Touch also did not have such and such back in (2007). This been repeated so often with the Zune brand. Usually companies try to compete with what's out in 2009/10 not 2007, except Microsoft it seems.
I don't ive a shit how popular it is, is it any good?
@ matt - EXACTYLY!!! And I wager you still use Windows!?!?! Oh the irony...
@Mark Anderson - It's made by MSFT, so no, it's not any good.
In before massive iPod Touch fanboy flamewar.
Well considering the image is "Binging" for "IPod(sic) touch sucks," I think that the Microsoft Fanboys started this one.
Yeah, I've never seen an Engadget image that actually encouraged a flamewar as much as this one.
For the record, I own an iPhone, I just don't care at all about what product is better than what. Just buy the one you like.
You didn't get the memo? Engadget is expanding its services to be a fight promotion website. I hear their gambling arm should open sometime in the next month.
@Squid7085 "Well considering the image is "Binging" for "IPod(sic) touch sucks," I think that the Microsoft Fanboys started this one."
Well it's obvious by your avatar, and your posts that you are a Apple fan-boy. If you weren't offended, then why are you commenting on it, or responding to it??? Not everyone has to be converted into your religious cult, we have our own likes and opinions, just as you do, and if we don't follow the Apple/Mac cult, deal with it, STFU, and fuck off. Tired of apple/mac fan-boys that chronically masturbate non-stop to apple/mac only products as worship. And I'm not a Microsoft fan boy either. I'd prefer Android over all.
Ok, I love my Zune HD, but WHERE IS THE SUPPORT FOR WPA/WPA2 ENTERPRISE NETWORKS? Yes, I know it took Apple a year to support it for the Touch, but honestly MS. It's a pain in the ass not being able to get internet all over the place.
too late but nice try hahaha
dear ballsack:
are you for real?
turns out its possible and quite reasonable to comment on something that doesn't offend you. This post is not a good example as your comment offended the entire human race. Apple isn't a religion, its a company. also, have fun with android on a 15 inch screen.
Sounds interesting! I'll have to download it and get back to you. Thanks for the update.
Cool. Now how about some games to take advantage of that Tegra engine? A 3D farting modeling app perhaps?
I tried to get the update, but it keeps telling me that v4.1 is the latest for my device. I read at some other websites that the 32GB is getting it though (I'm on the 16GB). Anyone able to confirm?
it has be unoffically confirmed (last i checked)
most 16 gb zune hds are not getting the update
however deleting your firmware has been known to work
(power and media button for 15seconds)
this will not delete your music etc
but should allow you to update to 4.3
=)
Yes. Only 32GB devices are receiving the update.
16GB will get it soon... Right?
Also, Engadget, your comment system is really screwed up...
I tried it and it didn't let me receive the update still.
I don't know where you guys are getting this 32GB only bit, but my 32GB sure as hell isn't updating.
There seems to be a bug updating from 4.1 to 4.3 for some people. To get around this, here is what I did:
1) Hold down the power button and side button for about 15 seconds to go into player recovery mode
2) Connect to PC via USB
3) Start Zune software
The Zune software sees the current player software as "Zune Recovery" instead of 4.1, and will attempt to apply 4.3. Worked fine for my 16GB player.
@kazbaeden
Yeah. I tried that before and it still gave me version 4.1. Maybe this will all be sorted out Monday..
Actually, you have to go into Control panel and change your region to English(Canada). Then open the Zune software and check for updates and it should appear.
thanks dcoaster, that worked.
@dcoaster
Thanks, Canada saves the day again.
WTH, Zune HD is not even sold in Canada. Again, we(Canadians) are being blasted in the ass.
@dcoaster
That worked. Thanks!
@dcoaster:
changing the region to canada worked... thanks mate...
so random i had to change it to canada to get it to update on my 16gb... but at least it worked!
Oh shit! What a delightful surprise. Ready to go download now.
"...countless owners went berserk over a playcount syncing issue"
Really?? Countless owners?? Berserk??
From what I remembered, no one really cared all that much about it and said it would be fixed in the next update. It was only Engadget that made a big deal over it and made it sound like it was never going to be fixed......
Could be worse...Imagine if it had guest accounts and every time you used one your stuff disappeared
Guess what? You're wrong. Engadget reported this story because Zune HD users WERE getting pissed. Playcounts are essential to many core elements of the Zune experience. Without accurate playcounts my automatic playlists are broken, music recommendations are useless (instead of just mediocre), I didn't collect my Zune social badges, and I can't find people who listen to the same music I do.
I was one of those that went berserk. It really did screw my experience not having playcounts working. It's great this update fixes so much more though.
They must have graduated from the Fox News School of Broadcasting.
Isn't the playcount used to determine how to compensate rights holders if you use the subscription service as well? Do they still let you use the service on the old, broken firmware?
maybe what he meant by "countless owners" was owners whose devices do not count, thus making them, count-less owners. :D
@Matt: I completely agree, and I saw it as a design issue rather than a bug... Yay for media spin.
The person in the video wrote "iPod Touch Sucks" in bing ... lol
zune's screen sucks, furthermore everything is crap with Microsoft...
ipod screen sucks lol cuz it's lcd.
you really just said it's screen sucks? The oled is way better+saves battery and has a higher pixel density than the ipod touch and in 16:9 it has the same pixel count too! so stfu and i wont bother with the last part of that comment your too stupid.
He created an account just to make that one dumb comment?
I'm a PC, and Windows 7 was my idea. ^_^
oled is the future cuz it far superior to the shit screen on touch
While I wish it was better visible in sunlight, it hasn't bothered me yet. On the other hand, the screen looks like a miniature high end plasma HDTV, unlike the back light bleeding LCD's out there.
Insert your 100% authentic, genuine, bonafide, Engadget-style flamewar here
There's no way that this is exactly the same as something else that is similar but not the thing itself!
NO U!
Still waiting for some apps to come out before I buy a Zune HD.
F*** the aps, gimme 64GB and Microsoft will get me to buy at least one, maybe two of these things.
Dead srs.
Downrank comment?
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/07/zune-hd-v4-3-firmware-out-now-fixes-playcount-bug-adds-lots-of/comments/22924202/
Looks like a glitch for 16GB Zunes HD for now. Wont download the update.
Can it do shuffle-by-album? This is one feature that is critically missed on the iPod Touch/iPhone (or any DAP for that matter, except for the regular iPods/nano)
Yes, it can. On everything in the music section, there is a play button that you can hit to shuffle all sub-catogories, ie- artist, album, genre, etc.
@Christo27: Are you sure? I'm not talking about shuffling the tracks within the album. By shuffle-by-album, I mean playing the songs in the correct order per album, while selecting a random album to be played next. The key here is that the tracks within the album is played in-order.
Yes, you can shuffle the 'album' sub-category.
@theoneandonlyradiostation
Thanks. I'll give that a shot.
All you have to do for the Zune 16GB is connect your Zune to your computer. Close the Zune Software. Then on your Zune hold the Power and Media buttons for 15 seconds until you get the "on your pc, start up the zune software and restore blah blah" then start the zune software on your computer and it will say 4.3 update required.
Just did it on mine, update is being downloaded now
not working for me
LOL @ people that buy things for "apps!" If you are always on the go, why not buy a PSP or something? I have more important things to do while I'm listening to music than play silly "games." The only app I would ever use in my free time would be the browser. Otherwise I always have a WinMo smartphone, laptop, desktop, or console at the ready.
@andrewopolis - good job you are not in marketing. You may not want "silly", cheap games, but you are hardly representative. No one thought the iPod Touch would be a credible game device but the market has spoken. Why carry another device? The ZuneHD is directly competing with the iPod Touch. Why did you buy the HD and not stick with the original Zune?
I didn't get the non-HD until July of this year, because I was good with XM radio, and then using my WinMo phone to play the Zune Pass music. I knew the HD would be coming out this year, but it was rumored to be coming out in November, not September. I wasn't very happy when it came out that much earlier, and I was only using 8 gb of the 120.
Being a tech lover, I went to go check it out in the store, and had to get it the same day. The screen and UI is really what sold me, especially how smooth the UI runs. And I love, love, love touchscreens. I knew it would be easier and a lot faster to navigate through a few touches rather than having to scroll up and down like on the 120.
Of course, I'll eventually be unhappy about this purchase since probably by the end of next year, smartphones will be able to replace the Zune (probably not the HD part though).
Special Agent Steve, just hit the report icon (y'know, that lil grey exclamation mark next to the + and - votes). Couldn't be simpler.....
Updates are always goooood.
Wow, the person in the video really needs more practice with that keyboard! I can even type well with my thumbs now. They pretty much butchered it lol.
He's holding a camera too, but you're right, his typing totally sucks and the demo doesn't show the new auto-correct typing function.
@Jim
It's the new auto-suggest function, not auto-correct.
It's the words appearing on top of the text field.
He's holding a camera. Which means that in order to type with his thumbs, he would have to hold onto this very thin device with two fingers and support the back with two, and then type with one thumb. He probably does type with his both his thumbs, not one. Though he could've used it in portrait mode. It's easier to type with one thumb that way.
Great, now that the great playcount bug of 2009 is behind us, let us never speak of it again.
"replace the Zune" as in being able to play the Zune Pass music, etc.
in reference to what I said earlier, since you apparently have to click "Reply" twice sometimes to..reply.
The ZuneHD is a joke. No one cares. I live in So Cal, and I've seen exactly one in the wild. One! For all I know, that guy got his waiting in line at the Microsoft Store. Regardless of what the geeks here think, this thing is a failure in terms of sales. It might be a fine media player (I guess it better be, since that's all it does), but if no one cares, what's the point?
So because everyone and their grandmother (literally) doesn't have one its a failure? I've had three iPods over the past 2 years and decided to go for something DIFFERENT. Haven't looked back.
Besides, its Microsoft. They don't really need any more money.
Who cares that no one cares? Do you really wanna be associated with the majority of Californians? I sure as hell don't.
Plus, the Zune HD sold out pretty much everywhere (including Microsoft's own Online store).
You and all the other probable iPod users on here are most likely only saying this because you don't want to feel like a complete idiot by maybe enjoying a Zune, thereby making all of your iPod accessory purchases, and iTunes purchases a total waste of money. Have any of you even gone into a store and used one of the Zunes on display? I doubt it.
It's a good idea to look beyond "apps" here too. The Zune Pass is great. I don't have to spend $1k to have 1k songs. I spend $15 a month and it breaks down like this: $10 of it gives me 10 credits to download songs that I can keep forever, $5 unlocks millions of songs.
So basically, for $5 I have millions of songs.
With iTunes, for $5, I have 5 songs.
I've gone into several stores to check out the Zune HD. Unfortunately, no one ever bothers to activate the demo unit or put any media on it, so the only experience I've gotten is to play with the top level menus. That's no way to sell a device. Load up some songs and videos, for chrissakes! I imagine that MS is doing this at their stores, all retailers who sell the Zune should be able to do this.
@andrewpolis: Don't you think you're being a little disingenuous?
You're saying "for $5 dollars blah blah blah" yet ignoring the fact that those millions of songs are unavailable once you stop paying for a subscription.
That being said, the previous models of the Zune never interested me, but the Zune HD did catch a bit of interest. However, 32GB is far too little storage.
The Zune HD is important to some/many of us, and we do care. I've been using iPods since 2003, and while they're popular, I don't particularly like them. I haven't seen a single person yet with a Zune HD, but when I walk around my campus and see the iconic iPod earbuds dangling from others' ears, I feel proud that my device, while lesser-known, is mine.
I feel proud that my name is etched to the back of my Zune. I like that I can connect my Zune to my TV and watch Tekzilla episodes in stunning (albeit upscaled) high definition. It's my Zune, and I never felt this happy with any of my iPods (though I do miss having the 160GB capacity my iPod Classic provided).
To each his own, I guess. Just because other options aren't as popular doesn't mean they're meaningless.
@andrewopolis
I own a ZuneHD and subscribe to Zune Pass. It's great, but I think your math is wrong.
To OWN 1000 songs using Zune Pass, it would cost $1500 and take 100 months (over 8 years) to accumulate. You'd have access to all of that music and more for the entire 100 months, but it would actually cost you 50% more than paying a buck per song and buying the music outright.
Depending on your rate of music consumption, one plan will be better than the other. I don't think you can say that either one is the best for everyone.
@kerber
That makes no sense. On ZM if you buy MS points to pay for your music the prices are roughly the same. He was saying how if I bought 1,000 songs in one year on iTunes that would cost 1,000 dollars, but on ZM if you have zune pass it costs 180 dollars, you get 120 songs and UNLIMITED music for the whole year. You could get unlimited music on ZM for over 5 years for the same price of 1,000 itunes songs. Granted after that time you would lose all the music you didn't own (you would have ~666 songs to keep), but I think i'll stick with zune pass.
I'm enjoying the speed increase in the browser, the text finish is cool, plus it's free I've heard some people have to pay for updates.
Why can't I update? I connect my Zune HD, go into the settings tab, then click player update, and it says my 4.1 is the latest. Anyway, I think the Zune HD is better than the iPod touch for everything except games. I mean, more battery life, faster processor, better browser (imo), and FM radio.
Hahaha oh wow.
Look at that screen. The least you ZuneHD fanboys could have done was take a better photo that doesn't show the downfalls of your OLED bullshit screen.
Christ, I hope you're trolling. Take a still picture of ANY screen and waves will appear.
miles are you really that ignorant? read any of the Zune HD reviews...it's got an OLED screen that is way better than the iPod Touch screen. If your gonna pick things to criticize, pick something that doesn't make you look like an ignorant ass.
Hey, guess what? The main function of a screen is for YOU to see it, not your camera. Christ, you're annoying. I'm an iPod touch user myself, and the only reason I haven't gotten a HD yet is because i want to go the extra $50 and double my storage. Apple has SOME cool features, but Microsoft has some cooler ones and their own versions of most of Apple's. You can get third-party software to emulate the rest.