Since its inception, the Microsoft Zune MP3 player has been the laughingstock of MP3 players amongst the Apple crowd. But although it first debuted as a thick, chunky, clumsy MP3 player, Microsoft finally got their act together and created a Zune worth bragging about: the new Zune HD 32GB.
If you're like me, you're not always sold on the latest "i-thing" that hits the market. Just because Apple created it doesn't mean it's the most perfect user-friendly media player. But finding good quality, user-friendly alternatives to the iPod Nano and iPod Touch that are comparable both in usability, design, touch-screen interface, and brand is far from easy. Sure, Sony, Samsung, Creative, Phillips and other brand-x players have their own line of iPod knockoffs, but truly, they're not your first choice.
That's what makes the new Microsoft Zune HD such a great buy. Just look at how much it resembles (and builds on) what the iPod Touch has done for music lovers, and you'll see that it is possible, even desirable, to buy Zune HD players as opposed to iPod Touch or iPod Nano models.
So what's so great about this new Zune HD? Check out the iPod-esque features below, and see if you don't appreciate the resemblance to Apple products in addition to qualities you won't find in an Apple product.
Finally - a Player Compatible with Windows PC's
If you're not a Mac user, you're probably going to be pretty disappointed when you plug in your iPod and find you have to sync, back up, and update every single time you go to charge it. iTunes software pops up and turns your Windows PC into a slug until it's finished doing its thing with your iPod - no matter which user is trying to log in. As long as the iPod is plugged into the machine and automatic synching is turned on (or it turns itself on after you've turned it off), you're going to have problems.
However, Zune HD users have found that Zune's software works far better with the Windows interface (no surprise), and doesn't turn your machine into a slug, which is amazing, considering the Windows source. So updating your Zune is a dream compared to updating your iPod.
Unplug Yourself: Enjoy Wireless Connectivity to the Internet and Your PC
Now, with the Microsoft MP3 Zune HD, you can update your player wirelessly without connecting to your PC on your home network.
Also, you can stream, buy, browse, and more on the Zune Marketplace using a wireless connection, which means you don't have to be connected to your computer to buy that new song or download a brand new game.
Additionally, Zune HD picks up wireless connection wherever there's wireless to be had, so you can browse the internet in more places than ever before. You can experience the portability of your favorite internet browser with the user-friendly interface and QWERTY keyboard.
Create Shortcuts with Zune HD's Quickplay
Tell me, can you create shortcuts on your iPod or iPod Touch? Not last I checked. But true to Microsoft's shortcut interface, the Zune HD lets you create shortcuts to your favorite media, recently played music and movies, or virtually any other folders you'd like to shortcut to. Zune's Quickplay interface lets you control how quickly you navigate to your favorite media.
Expand to HDTV and XBOX 360
Last I checked, the iPod family did not extend its interface to TV's and XBOX's. But with a few adapters (sold separately) the Zune HD can relay its HD media to HDTV's and XBOX. Buy a movie only once and you can watch it on your Zune as well as your XBOX, so you never have to pay twice for the same movie. How convenient is that!
Listen to Your Favorite Music Free with HD Radio
Your Zune HD now comes equipped with a built-in HD Radio tuner, which augments the idea of Apple's iPod Touch (which does not have a built-in radio tuner) and the iPod Nano 5th Generation (which has a built-in tuner, but no in HD.) Now granted, you need to be near HD radio stations to take full advantage of the feature, but it's still pretty slick.
Better Touch Screen Capability than Apple iPods
Users have said time and again that they prefer Microsoft Zune HD's touch screen interface over Apple's iPod Touch. Not only is the navigation more intuitive, but the screen is more responsive and sleek than the iTouch.
Plus, the OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen is usually considered sleeker and more vibrant than the iTouch, despite this particular iPod's reputation for having the best screen on the block.
Better Battery Life than iPod
Nobody likes Apple telling them that they have 30 hours of movie or music playback and wind up having to charge it every 4 hours anyway. But with Zune HD, you get more hours of playback before having to hook it up to the charger again. The battery life far surpasses iPod.
But don't just take my word for it. Check out what these super-happy Zune HD users have to say about their positive experience with the Microsoft Zune MP3 player.
E. Yasi says,
"Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.
I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)
Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.
Points of comparison:
- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast
OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.
-Zune Pass subscription service
This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it's pried from my my desperate grasp. For $15 a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you're paying only $5 for that access. It's better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there's no reason you can't use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It's not either/or, it's a wonderful "AND", especially if you're the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.
Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.
- Wireless sync
In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.
- Smart DJ
Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its 'Channels' feature, and Apple followed with its 'Genius' feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a 'Channel' feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a 'Smart DJ' feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what's even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It's wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.
-Web Browsing
The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.
-Zune Marketplace and iTunes
This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like 'Mixview' that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you're listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of "neighbors" will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune "Social" is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.
Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune!"
T. Nield says,
"With the rapid rise of the iPod Touch and iPhone, it's no surprise Microsoft came up with a touchscreen portable media player of its own. However, this is not a copy of the iPod touch at all. Sure the Zune HD features a touchscreen, accelerometer, app support, a strong web browser and other features that made the iPod Touch so popular.
However, the Zune HD has what the iPod Touch lacks, such as...
-ZunePass (Download all the music you want for $15/month, keep 10 songs per month DRM-Free)
-720p HDMI output
-An aesthetically nice software (Zune 4.0 interface is very pretty to look at, not a dull spreadsheet like iTunes)
-An aesthetically nice device OS (Artist pictures and info float around while playing a song, it's cool)
-OLED screen (brighter, more vibrant than LCD)
-Free HD radio
-Radio "tagging" (If you like a song you hear on the radio, "tag" it to add it to your cart for download)
-XBOX Live integration
-An advanced nVidia Tegra Chip (A couple of graphically-intense 3D games are coming out this fall, like Burnout: Ferrari Edition)
-On-demand music (play music online with your Zune HD, don't need to download it to your hard drive)
Again, the Zune HD is just simply amazing. With the Nvidia Tegra chip and highly capable processor, the potential for this device is endless. The Zune HD is supposed to be a portable gaming platform to compete head-to-head with the Nintendo DS and PSP brands. I'm excited to see Burnout: Ferrari Edition on it this fall. I'm also looking forward to see more apps as well.
Could this device take significant market share from Apple's iPod Touch? With the right marketing to increase public awareness of this product, yes it definitely can. Every large monopolizing entity like Kmart, GM, and even Apple will dominate a market completely for some period of time. However, times change and something better always comes along. Is this Zune HD the better alternative to the iPod? With some more releases in the app store and updates, it clearly will be. The question is will Apple change and copy the Zune's features including the Zune Pass? I don't know, we'll see. The Zune Pass will clearly become the new standard of digital music services and the $1-per-song marketplace model will not be competitive much longer."
Nighthawk says,
"Microsoft did an outstanding job with this media device. It is far sleeker than my iPod touch. Having used an ipod touch, the interface and the features on the Zune are far better. You get impressive features on the Zune. HD radio sounds great. OLED Screen is fantastic. The device is extremely light and very well built. Battery life is great as well.
I've been using Zune 4.0 software all day and the changes and the updates are very good. Zune Software blows away iTunes. It is much sleeker and is not a processor hog.
The great thing about the Zune Marketplace is for $15 a month you can download unlimited music to keep for as long as you have the service. Plus you get to keep 10 songs a month of your choice, and you can share the same subscription with up to 3 Zunes. That is fantastic for a family. I bought a Zune for my daughter as well and it's great that we can both download unlimited music for only $15 a month. She downloads hundreds of songs a month, that would cost a fortune with the iPOD, but not with the Zune Marketplace. Sure you only get to keep 10 a month, but most people get sick of songs fairly quickly. And if you keep your subscription that will never be a problem. So with keeping 10 songs a month that means you're only paying $5 a month for unlimited music. FANTASTIC.
The OLED display is so crisp and beautiful. Pictures don't do it justice. It is extremely responsive, far nicer than my iPOD touch.
Right now there are about 11 Apps in the Zune Marketplace and they are all free (included with the subscription) which is great.
I have no complaints about this device. I purchased it with the dock, and man does the picture look great on my TV. The Zune outputs videos without any problems or hesitation. Truly a great device. I highly recommend and definitely recommend that you play around with it for yourself, because pictures truly don't do it justice."
So, what do you think? Better than the Apple iPod? Find out for yourself and read more about the Microsoft Zune HD, or go right ahead and buy a Zune right now.
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