Apple iPod Touch 3G vs Microsoft Zune HD
Pt. 1
This will be a running post as I will be testing these two media player head to head to see how I feel about each at the end of a roughly two week period.
Initial impressions:
I like both for different reasons;
The Microsoft Zune HD feels solid and slick in my hand and while I might be imagining it, the Zune HD sounds better and delivers what sounds like a richer sound.
The Apple iPod Touch 3rd generation feels good in the hand too, but for some reason I have trouble holding on to it given its glossy surfaces.The form and function is undeniably friendly especially with its side mounted volume buttons.Further,the ease of application installation and navigation is mostly better than the Zune HD and it feels like a gadget which will provide long term owner satisfaction given the expandability factor that the apps provide.
"So whats the problem? Call it for the Apple Touch and we can put this issue to bed!" I would love to present a final answer on this but I am genuinely on the fence about which one will get my money. (I.e. which one won't get returned).
On the one hand I'm a gadget hound and so the Apple Touch appeals to me.With it I get one device that could morph over time into another depending on what app I use. Add to that the fact that I can turn my Touch Pro into a mobile wifi router and send wireless internet to the Touch means that I've got an iPhone light without the hassle and cost of the AT&T network. In terms of multi-use gadget factor, the Apple Touch wins over the Zune HD hands down.
I came to these conclusions after only a few minutes with the 3rd Gen Apple Touch and as this was my first Apple Touch experience, I was impressed. It incorporated the apps superbly , the keypad, while not light years ahead of the Zune HD was better. The Touch recognized my finger taps with more precision and finesse although I didn't notice a significant difference in page loading.
Still, as I mentioned in previous posts, I find that most of the features on the Apple Touch are redundant and already present and functional on my Sprint HTC Touch Pro. I like to carry as little as needed to be prepared for my day and therefore, carrying both devices is somewhat impractical for me. Hence, I would choose only one device and given that the Touch Pro has the cell connection, I'd take it with me and not burden myself with two devices. Further, when I'm in need of heavy computing I'd be using my laptop not a hand held.
Hence, despite my love of multifaceted gadgets, in the end the device I would use as a music player would in fact be used as a music player %98 of the time and video player the remaining %2. That means music at the gym and podcasts in the car and I'd be using the laptop when I get to school or the office.
In light of this approach to my musical desires, I would therefore choose the device with the best musical capability. This doesn't necessarily mean the Zune HD wins, although as I mentioned, the Zune HD does sound better to my ears.
The Zune HD crew decided to do away with the side mounted volume rocker and I've got to say this has irked me a bit as it is the simplest method of adjusting volume without looking. Further, the Zune HD allows you fast forward through a portion of a song or podcast, but it shows only your numerical position in the track and provides no visual indicator of where you are in the song.
The Apple Touch does provide the visual indicator and the volume button but you've got to tap the upper portion of the screen to access the visual indicator and its quite small and occasionally finicky in terms of finger placement.
Both players shuffle well, but they do it in different ways. With the Apple Touch, a nice feature is the ability to see what songs are coming up next in the shuffle list. I found this interesting, but, then again, if I'm on shuffle, the idea is for the player to surprise me. If I wanted a specific song/album, I'd just choose it.
Speaking of specific songs and albums, the Apple Touch does offer a more familiar method of selecting a song. I.e. a list of song/artist names with a thin bar on the left showing letters for quick selection. The Zune HD offers no such bar, but it is very easy to quickly flick through the song/artist names to get to where you want to go. With the Apple Touch I found that it was relatively easy to jump to my song of choice, but it wasn't perfect. In my experiences, the software wouldn't fully recognize my finger tap and so I would usually end up one letter above or below the one I wanted. Causing me to have to flick through the list, just as I did with the Zune HD.
Both players lock their screens after a few seconds of inactivity and both utilize some type of "Swipe" gesture to unlock. The Apple Touch requires a horizontal swipe along the lock bar section on the lower screen whereas the Zune HD allows for a swipe vertically with a bit more flexibility in finger placement. (Envision a closed window shade being lifted upwards.) This meant for me that with the Apple Touch, I needed to unlock the player to skip to another song. On the Zune HD, I could simply hit the "media" button and then tap the next button. This feature was nice to have especially when I'm on the treadmill but it won't work if the screen lock has been in place for more than a short time. (I've not yet figured out what amount of time precisely).
So there you have it, a relative dead heat as far as music player capability goes.
I've not yet decided which device will win my $ and it will be several more days before I decide. So far I've been able to use the Zune HD with ease in the car for all my listening needs. Ditto for the gym and aside from the lack of case options, I've been able to get by with no problem. The virtual volume/fastforward buttons have been surprisingly usable without directly looking and as I said the sound quality is better.
Yet I can't help but wonder if I'd end up wishing for some of the Cupertino pizzod goodness when I find myself with a bit of free time and nothing by my player handy...we shall see...
Konrad
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
copyranter: Erwin Rommel, Joan of Arc resurrected by PlayStation 3.
copyranter: Erwin Rommel, Joan of Arc resurrected by PlayStation 3.
Being the fervent Engadget reader that I am I quickly noticed this perplexing tidbit that they posted about Sony's approach to PS3 advertising in South America and specifically Chile. Note: the story was picked up by Engadget from Copyranter.
In a word Sony has decided to incorporate Nazi references and I'm still not sure how this idea floated to the surface in their PR department.
The Ads depict an apparently happy gamer giving a blood transfusion to what some have said is the "Desert Fox" , "Erwin Rommel". The other ad shows an equally cheerful gamer giving a heart transplant to what has been called "Joan of Arc". Again, not quite sure what Sony is getting at here.
What I will say is, that if I'm ever in a position to give advice to a company on which ad topics to avoid, top of that list would be "nothing that could be viewed as pro Nazi!".
Crazy stuff.
Konrad
Source: Copyranter CopyRanter
Via Engadget
Being the fervent Engadget reader that I am I quickly noticed this perplexing tidbit that they posted about Sony's approach to PS3 advertising in South America and specifically Chile. Note: the story was picked up by Engadget from Copyranter.
In a word Sony has decided to incorporate Nazi references and I'm still not sure how this idea floated to the surface in their PR department.
The Ads depict an apparently happy gamer giving a blood transfusion to what some have said is the "Desert Fox" , "Erwin Rommel". The other ad shows an equally cheerful gamer giving a heart transplant to what has been called "Joan of Arc". Again, not quite sure what Sony is getting at here.
What I will say is, that if I'm ever in a position to give advice to a company on which ad topics to avoid, top of that list would be "nothing that could be viewed as pro Nazi!".
Crazy stuff.
Konrad
Source: Copyranter CopyRanter
Via Engadget
More Microsoft Courier Video
Gizmodo has posted another video of the Microsoft Courier device and if you're interested in this project its worth a look.
More Microsoft Courier Video
More Microsoft Courier Video
Microsoft's Courier tablet: A Franklin Covey planner on steroids? | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com
Microsoft's Courier tablet: A Franklin Covey planner on steroids? | All about Microsoft | ZDNet.com
So more good/interesting news on the MS Courier front. According to Ms. Foley's piece in which she cites statements from one of her "Connected tipsters" who has provided the following key points:
1. Courier UI is overlayed on top of Windows 7. (I'm guessing like how Touch Flo3d is overlayed on the Windows Mobile OS).
2. Microsoft will be making these things itself(Just like the Xbox/Zune).Presumably to more closely govern quality control.(Hopefully UNLIKE the 360 initial release).
3. Despite having a windows 7 foundation, users won't be able to install Windows 7 applications because the full scale apps aren't formatted for tablet use. (A welcome dash of common sense!)
4. Public release date targeted for "mid-2010".
Source: Mary Jo Foley ZDNet
So more good/interesting news on the MS Courier front. According to Ms. Foley's piece in which she cites statements from one of her "Connected tipsters" who has provided the following key points:
1. Courier UI is overlayed on top of Windows 7. (I'm guessing like how Touch Flo3d is overlayed on the Windows Mobile OS).
2. Microsoft will be making these things itself(Just like the Xbox/Zune).Presumably to more closely govern quality control.(Hopefully UNLIKE the 360 initial release).
3. Despite having a windows 7 foundation, users won't be able to install Windows 7 applications because the full scale apps aren't formatted for tablet use. (A welcome dash of common sense!)
4. Public release date targeted for "mid-2010".
Source: Mary Jo Foley ZDNet
Sunday, September 27, 2009
HTC Leo benchmarks out
HTC Leo benchmarks out
Based on the looks of this "HD 2" aka HTC Leo, Windows Mobile users may be looking at a whole new paradigm of mobile capability.
You got to love the processor wars!
Source: WMPoweruser
Via Gizmodo
Based on the looks of this "HD 2" aka HTC Leo, Windows Mobile users may be looking at a whole new paradigm of mobile capability.
You got to love the processor wars!
Source: WMPoweruser
Via Gizmodo
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Codex and InkSeine -- the roots of Microsoft's Courier?
Codex and InkSeine -- the roots of Microsoft's Courier?
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So the good people at Engadget have picked up the ball on the dual screen tablet computer named "Microsoft Courier". Apparently they'd gotten their gadgety paws on a 2008 story about the MS "Codex project" which seems to be directly related to the Courier.
Whats more, the Engadgeteers have found what looks like the operational hardware thats being (or was) used as a proof of concept. Termed "InkSeine" this is a rough, but operational dual screen device that according to Engadget has been running the "Codex" software.
Not for nothing, but a quick check of the word "Seine" pulls up the German translation of "Its" and the fact that "Siene" is a river in France. Hence, the translation yields basically no info to what is already known about this project.
I for one am excited to know the MS crew is nose deep in this project as that means that they are that much closer to bringing this thing to market.
Konrad
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So the good people at Engadget have picked up the ball on the dual screen tablet computer named "Microsoft Courier". Apparently they'd gotten their gadgety paws on a 2008 story about the MS "Codex project" which seems to be directly related to the Courier.
Whats more, the Engadgeteers have found what looks like the operational hardware thats being (or was) used as a proof of concept. Termed "InkSeine" this is a rough, but operational dual screen device that according to Engadget has been running the "Codex" software.
Not for nothing, but a quick check of the word "Seine" pulls up the German translation of "Its" and the fact that "Siene" is a river in France. Hence, the translation yields basically no info to what is already known about this project.
I for one am excited to know the MS crew is nose deep in this project as that means that they are that much closer to bringing this thing to market.
Konrad
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Courier: First Details of Microsoft's Secret Tablet - Microsoft courier tablet - Gizmodo
Courier: First Details of Microsoft's Secret Tablet - Microsoft courier tablet - Gizmodo
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Just got a glimpse of this on Gizmodo and they've got a great video embedded, showing what appears to be a virtual demo of this dual screen wielding beauty and what it SHOULD be capable of.
I've got to admit that I'm intrigued. Of course, according to the article this product is in the "Late prototype" phase which suggests that while the product is being worked on, its not yet ready for prime time. Still, the idea of being to interact with the functions of the computer via an intuitive touch and pen like interface has really got me interested.
Seriously, I see real use for this idea as opposed to the more novelty type "tablet" approach. In book form I could easily slide it into a folio or slim briefcase and actually use it while standing and/or talking with people in the office. If the thing works like they say it might I could totally see me taking this into a court room and flying through notes that I've taken on case research with ease and precision. Considering the finesse of the Zune HD its just possible that the folks at MS decided to start bringing their A-Game. Ironically, we may have Apple to thank for this...
The article is definitely worth a look as the great folks at Giz have some more specs and of course the video.
Konrad
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Just got a glimpse of this on Gizmodo and they've got a great video embedded, showing what appears to be a virtual demo of this dual screen wielding beauty and what it SHOULD be capable of.
I've got to admit that I'm intrigued. Of course, according to the article this product is in the "Late prototype" phase which suggests that while the product is being worked on, its not yet ready for prime time. Still, the idea of being to interact with the functions of the computer via an intuitive touch and pen like interface has really got me interested.
Seriously, I see real use for this idea as opposed to the more novelty type "tablet" approach. In book form I could easily slide it into a folio or slim briefcase and actually use it while standing and/or talking with people in the office. If the thing works like they say it might I could totally see me taking this into a court room and flying through notes that I've taken on case research with ease and precision. Considering the finesse of the Zune HD its just possible that the folks at MS decided to start bringing their A-Game. Ironically, we may have Apple to thank for this...
The article is definitely worth a look as the great folks at Giz have some more specs and of course the video.
Konrad
Monday, September 21, 2009
Net neutrality: FCC proposes three new rules | csmonitor.com
Net neutrality: FCC proposes three new rules | csmonitor.com
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So I'm always a little skeptical anytime any federal organization decides that it can delve into the workings of the private sector, however, on its face, it would seem as if the FCC could deserve commendation for possibly arresting the efforts of some ISPs to limit (censor?) content that flows through their pipelines.
Still, I have some concerns and here they are:
First off, I want to embrace this move as I am an avid user of tech and I like my freedom. Ever since Comcast has introduced their bandwidth cap policy, I have been a bit apprehensive that one day my internet service provider is going to tell me that my my (legal) music downloading, video streaming and online gaming are going to cost me an arm and or a leg or worse that I am not allowed to do these things anymore.
Still, I cannot help but feel a twinge of concern for the notions of free market capitalism. If for example, a group of criminals was utilizing the web for say, illegal video downloading (For the purpose of bootleg video sales perhaps) and ISP XYZ has a strong suspicion that this activity is going on, then should that ISP not be allowed to limit this behavior? Such criminal activity would surely sap valuable bandwidth and strain the ISPs resources which would surely cause harm to the ISP right?
The other question that occurs to me and that I've yet to answer is whether US citizens (or anyone for that matter) has a right to the internet. If we don't have a right to the internet, then we surely must accept the terms and conditions that the various companies offer. We may not like it, but because its not a fundamental right, we have no right to change the terms and conditions other than by choosing a different provider (If available).
If we do have a right to the internet then I can see regulation as being more acceptable (Though regulation tends to be a double edged sword).
Hence, I am a bit conflicted over which position to take on this issue and I'd love to hear what you guys think about this.
Konrad
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So I'm always a little skeptical anytime any federal organization decides that it can delve into the workings of the private sector, however, on its face, it would seem as if the FCC could deserve commendation for possibly arresting the efforts of some ISPs to limit (censor?) content that flows through their pipelines.
Still, I have some concerns and here they are:
First off, I want to embrace this move as I am an avid user of tech and I like my freedom. Ever since Comcast has introduced their bandwidth cap policy, I have been a bit apprehensive that one day my internet service provider is going to tell me that my my (legal) music downloading, video streaming and online gaming are going to cost me an arm and or a leg or worse that I am not allowed to do these things anymore.
Still, I cannot help but feel a twinge of concern for the notions of free market capitalism. If for example, a group of criminals was utilizing the web for say, illegal video downloading (For the purpose of bootleg video sales perhaps) and ISP XYZ has a strong suspicion that this activity is going on, then should that ISP not be allowed to limit this behavior? Such criminal activity would surely sap valuable bandwidth and strain the ISPs resources which would surely cause harm to the ISP right?
The other question that occurs to me and that I've yet to answer is whether US citizens (or anyone for that matter) has a right to the internet. If we don't have a right to the internet, then we surely must accept the terms and conditions that the various companies offer. We may not like it, but because its not a fundamental right, we have no right to change the terms and conditions other than by choosing a different provider (If available).
If we do have a right to the internet then I can see regulation as being more acceptable (Though regulation tends to be a double edged sword).
Hence, I am a bit conflicted over which position to take on this issue and I'd love to hear what you guys think about this.
Konrad
3G MicroCells: Carriers Want You to Pay Extra to Fix Their Own Failures - 3G microcell - Gizmodo
3G MicroCells: Carriers Want You to Pay Extra to Fix Their Own Failures - 3G microcell - Gizmodo
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I'll be honest, I am huge fan of the guys and gals over at Gizmodo and I generally find their info to be pretty evenhanded. So when I saw this little "rant" by Adam Frucci (of Gizmodo) I had to chuckle a bit.
In short, Mr. Frucci is ticked about AT&T's new plan to charge users $150 and or $20/month for use of their "microcell" aka femtocell. Now, I can totally sympathize with the Fruccian theory as my limited encounter with AT&T wasn't good but I found a little more info floating around that puts the plan into context.
1. The $20/month plan is only for unlimited cell use. Hence, if you don't choose to get the unlimited minutes, you don't pay a monthly fee and merely deduct your talk time from your cell plan minute pool.
2. If you do subscribe to the unlimited plan you can get a $100.00 rebate from AT&T.
Hence, while it makes sense that the only reason to get this hardware is if you have need for better reception. As Mr. Frucci points out it is somewhat audacious of any phone company to ask its subscribers to pay to fix that comapny's flaws, AT&Ts action is at least in keeping with other carriers. For examply, Sprint's femtocell setup called "Airrave" requires a $99.99 expenditure on the hardware up front along with a $4.99 activation fee and a $1o.00/month/per line fee for unlimited use by one cellphone. For $20.00 total per account, you can get unlimited use for the max number of phones (3 users at one time). Link to Sprint Airrave policy.
In conclusions, I applaud Mr. Frucci for his passionate and not unwarranted statements regarding AT&Ts sometimes spotty service, this particular policy is not unprecedented.
Konrad
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I'll be honest, I am huge fan of the guys and gals over at Gizmodo and I generally find their info to be pretty evenhanded. So when I saw this little "rant" by Adam Frucci (of Gizmodo) I had to chuckle a bit.
In short, Mr. Frucci is ticked about AT&T's new plan to charge users $150 and or $20/month for use of their "microcell" aka femtocell. Now, I can totally sympathize with the Fruccian theory as my limited encounter with AT&T wasn't good but I found a little more info floating around that puts the plan into context.
1. The $20/month plan is only for unlimited cell use. Hence, if you don't choose to get the unlimited minutes, you don't pay a monthly fee and merely deduct your talk time from your cell plan minute pool.
2. If you do subscribe to the unlimited plan you can get a $100.00 rebate from AT&T.
Hence, while it makes sense that the only reason to get this hardware is if you have need for better reception. As Mr. Frucci points out it is somewhat audacious of any phone company to ask its subscribers to pay to fix that comapny's flaws, AT&Ts action is at least in keeping with other carriers. For examply, Sprint's femtocell setup called "Airrave" requires a $99.99 expenditure on the hardware up front along with a $4.99 activation fee and a $1o.00/month/per line fee for unlimited use by one cellphone. For $20.00 total per account, you can get unlimited use for the max number of phones (3 users at one time). Link to Sprint Airrave policy.
In conclusions, I applaud Mr. Frucci for his passionate and not unwarranted statements regarding AT&Ts sometimes spotty service, this particular policy is not unprecedented.
Konrad
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Windows 7 $29.99!
I was a little surprised to hear this as well, but apparently the deal is legit.
If you are a current US college student with a valid student email, then you are eligible to purchase Windows 7 (home premium?) for $29.99. Link to http://www.win741.com/ HERE .
For those of you who don't know Windows 7 will be released on October 22, 2009 and this program gives you a digital download of the operating system on or about that date.
It is a digital version just to be clear so no physical copy, however, for an extra $5.95, you have the option to buy a digital backup should you need to re-install the operating system.
Over all not too shabby if everything works as advertised, fingers crossed!
Update: 10-25-09 Problems abound with student Windows 7 install according to Engadet's piece on the issue. They've got a couple of helpful links to those of you who have had problems installing the new OS.
Microstoft help forum thread
It seems that the problem is the lack of an ISO file and a lack of clarity as to whether or not the $30 Student Offer is an "upgrade" only or if it can be installed from scratch.
Engadget has also updated their thread with the news that some users who are/have experienced problems can get a refund, so perhaps SOME good news.
I'm quite disappointed at this blatant example of ball dropping. The OS is decent, the idea was sound and this entire endeavor is now soured for many with a seemingly simple failure...
Update: 10-27-09, The FIX!
MS/ Digital River provide ISO file for 32bit XP/Vista to 64bit Windows 7 $29.99 student upgrade.
Well this is belated good news as the biggest pain in the rear was trying to turn the files provided by Digital River into an ISO file with which to install the 64bit Windows 7 on a 32bit machine. I myself could not get past the command prompts which kept erroring out on me for some reason. But it looks like all my fiddling will have been for naught as the Microsoft boys decided to do what everyone was asking for and provide the stinking ISO file.
This one has been unnecessarily stinky.
Further, I can only imagine about the the conversations between Microsoft and Digital River which must have been uber dramatic and undoubtedly full of verbal poo slinging.
If you are a current US college student with a valid student email, then you are eligible to purchase Windows 7 (home premium?) for $29.99. Link to http://www.win741.com/ HERE .
For those of you who don't know Windows 7 will be released on October 22, 2009 and this program gives you a digital download of the operating system on or about that date.
It is a digital version just to be clear so no physical copy, however, for an extra $5.95, you have the option to buy a digital backup should you need to re-install the operating system.
Over all not too shabby if everything works as advertised, fingers crossed!
Update: 10-25-09 Problems abound with student Windows 7 install according to Engadet's piece on the issue. They've got a couple of helpful links to those of you who have had problems installing the new OS.
Microstoft help forum thread
It seems that the problem is the lack of an ISO file and a lack of clarity as to whether or not the $30 Student Offer is an "upgrade" only or if it can be installed from scratch.
Engadget has also updated their thread with the news that some users who are/have experienced problems can get a refund, so perhaps SOME good news.
I'm quite disappointed at this blatant example of ball dropping. The OS is decent, the idea was sound and this entire endeavor is now soured for many with a seemingly simple failure...
Update: 10-27-09, The FIX!
MS/ Digital River provide ISO file for 32bit XP/Vista to 64bit Windows 7 $29.99 student upgrade.
Well this is belated good news as the biggest pain in the rear was trying to turn the files provided by Digital River into an ISO file with which to install the 64bit Windows 7 on a 32bit machine. I myself could not get past the command prompts which kept erroring out on me for some reason. But it looks like all my fiddling will have been for naught as the Microsoft boys decided to do what everyone was asking for and provide the stinking ISO file.
This one has been unnecessarily stinky.
Further, I can only imagine about the the conversations between Microsoft and Digital River which must have been uber dramatic and undoubtedly full of verbal poo slinging.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Zune HD Review
Zune HD 32Gb "Platinum" Preliminary Review:
By: Konrad
9-15-09
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a new Zune HD 32gb "Platinum" edition while on a trip to my local Best Buy and I figured I'd share my impressions along with some photos and video.
Overall nothing ground breaking, after all there have been plenty of shots posted already, but for me this is my first encounter with a Zune. I know I'm not alone either as there have been many out there who undoubtedly have been sporting an iPod or other music player for a while and perhaps are a bit curious about this slick new device.
So far my impressions are generally good and the learning curve isn't too steep.
The packaging:
The box was compact and filled with the expected peripherals (some promo collateral, USB sync cable, earbuds and three pairs of foam earbud covers).
Setup:
The plastic sheath that encases the Zune instructs the user to connect the device to the computer off the bat. I didn't but soon found out that you can't do much without that first sync up. The reason is simply that you need to set up everything first. I.e. link your Zune/Xbox Live Account for purposes of accessing the apps and other marketplace items. There isn't any software in the box, or apparently pre-loaded on the Zune and instead your directed to go to www.Zune.net/setup. Once there you can download the Zune software with relative ease.
The download isn't huge, and it doesn't take more than a few minutes to set up initially. What I found really nice was the fact that the software automatically pulls any music you have on that PC and syncs it up with the Zune. So in this case it pulled my itunes music (Not sure if it auto converted the files or if it merely pulled the DRM free songs) into my Zune account. This saved me time and it was easy so definite kudos there.
One minor issue I had was trying to download one of the (few) apps. I kept getting an error which told me that I had not signed into my account and that I should sync the Zune with my computer to fix this issue. At first I was perplexed by this because I had logged into my XboxLive account on my PC, but I had initially skipped the option to link this account with my Zune. Hence, performing this link solved the problem and the apps downloaded with ease and surprising speed.
Use:
Everything was set up and ready to go and one of the first things I tried out was the radio. I realize we live in an age that barely remembers what FM radio is, but I've got to say that not only did I like actually listening to the "HD" radio, but I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that it would run in the background even while websurfing and bouncing around throughout the other menus.
The only time the radio would cut out is when I actually queued up a song from my library or started playing a game.
One thing that threw me off at first was the "media button" on the side of the device. I assumed it would be a volume rocker, but it isn't. Instead, pressing the button brings up an on screen 4-way hybrid display. I say hybrid because you can either tap one of the four points on the display or swipe your finger up or down to change the volume. At first I was disappointed at the lack of a volume rocker, but as I played with the interface it grew on me. Additionally, the "forward" and "Back" arrows can be used to scan through the radio stations which was helpful.
The power button on the top was simple enough to use and you tap it to bring the screen out of its hibernation mode or to put it back to sleep.
I have mixed feelings about the location of the headphone jack. Its located on the bottom left portion of the player next to the sync port and if your holding the player, then it works great. However, if you, like me use your player at the gym and tend to use cases which affix the player to your waistband, then the bottom mounted jack takes up valuable headphone cord and could lead to unintentionally disconnects or worse, a dropped Zune.
The central, bottom mounted "Home" button does what its supposed to do and takes the users back to the home screen. Sometimes theres a tiny bit of lag as you get out of a program but in most cases its a quick return.
The screen is plain gorgeous...gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! It looks great and it responds very quickly and I found only one flaw. While leaving a comment on my facebook page, the text that I entered was strangely dulled and fuzzy looking. Mind you, it was only while typing the text in, because once the comment was posted, everything was crisp looking. Speaking of typing, the text interface is quite good. Better than many WM phones and or WM ROMs that I've used. Unlike others that use a detached "pop out" to highlight the letter being pressed, the Zune uses a "mountain" where the letter being highlighted is both larger than the neighboring letters and is located at the peak of the mountain. In this way , if the letter is at the top of the mountain, than its the one you're selecting. I found that this allowed for relatively easy one handed use because you could leave your finger in contact with the screen then scroll through the letters you want and only release once you've found the right one. Its a little different than the ipod approach, but I found it completely usable.
Also, the accelerometer works crazy fast when switching from landscape to portrait mode in the browser, so again kudos there.
Speaking of the browser, its not the best I've used but its clean and it will get the job done. I've yet to find a method of directly inputting a URL and instead must tap the small magnifying glass icon to do a search via Bing. This is an extra step in getting to a site but it will get you there.
The menu system was a little confusing at first as I am used to having a "Back" button to press to go to a previous screen. The Zune does occasionally have such a button, but in most cases you mere tap the translucent letters appearing at the top of the screen which are in fact the menu from which you just came from. Put another way, imagine a ladder, as you go down the ladder, you see the rung from which you just came at the top of the screen, but its partially see through so as not to intrude. If you want to go back to that upper rung, you merely tap the rung and then you are taken back to it.
So how does it all sound? It is a music player after all, so this is a major question. The supplied earbuds won't knock your socks off, but they aren't the worst I've seen. The included foam speaker covers do make them decently comfortable, but I rarely use this type of ear bud, because they always fall out of my ears. Connecting my Koss Pro 4aa headset, I considered the sound to be slightly better than my ipod, but only by a nominal degree. There are equalizer settings, but I've yet to play around with them fully.
My Wife was both irritated at my impulsive purchase but also intrigued. I handed it to her and she played around with it for a few minutes until she finally acknowledged that it was in fact a very cool little player.
I concur with her assessment. I'm not an expert on these matters, but I am an avid tech consumer. I've had several ipods and a couple of Sony players and I have to say that the Zune breaks no new ground, but it does do its job well. Is it an ipod killer? Who can really say? If you buy one I guess the answer is "Yes".
I for one like the radio a lot more than I thought I would. I have an Xbox360 and am eager to explore the interoperability that the Zune has with that system. My ipod is usually just a music player and I have a PSP for games. Plus, my Touch Pro acts as my email and websurfing tool of choice. Hence, we shall see just how much the Zune and all its glitz really matter to me.
I also purchased the docking system so stay tuned for that as I'll be discussing the HD out functionality very soon!
Update: 9-21-09: I've had the Zune HD for a few days now and I've put it though my usual range of use. This has included time at the gym, commuting and waiting for my car maintenance to be done.
So far I've been generally impressed though I do have a few complaints. First the bad;
1. Screen smudges: The screen is a smudge magnet and I know that its a touchscreen device, but I swear the smudges build up much faster than on my Touch Pro.
2. Lack of cases: There are a few options out there that I've found but the pickens are slim, still here's what I've found available online so far. I want to say upfront that I've not actually tested these cases so my impressions are currently only based on the feature set.
Incipio Underground
- Felt exterior with a suede interior and a clip to keep the player in place; Although the case looks nice, I have not been able to verify whether it has a clip for attaching to a belt. By the looks of the photo, there isn't any such clip and for me, this is an important feature for any case that will be used at the gym.
Vaja Zune HD Case - Leather with several custom options; Vaja's products look pretty doggone nice, but of course, nice rarely comes cheap and the case from Vaja starts at $50.00. Further, some people on various forums have complained about a lack of protection with these cases. Still, in my opinion, these products are the best looking cases I've found to date.
DLO Action Jacket/Jam Jacket - These are two cases from DLO that are decently priced cases that offer a decent gym option as well as decent way to keep your headphones secured conveniently. I've used products similar to this one and they are ok. My problem with arm bands is that they tend to slide down my arm constantly or if they are too tight they simply start to restrict blood flow in my arm. Still, the Action jacket apparently has a belt clip option which could be the ticket. The Jam Jacket is neoprene and has a raised (presumably partially hollow) portion on the back which you can use to wrap your headphones around. I've used a similar case for my iPod classic and it was more of a gimmick for me as the headphones weren't that secure, plus there was no belt clip. In fairness, I've not actually tested this case/skin out so it may be better than the one I just mentioned.
Thats just the biggest three that I was able to find with a fairly in depth keyword search. I'm sure we'll see more options pop up in the coming months, but for now I guess, we'll just have to resort to DIY options and the like. Personally, I've been using an old HTC Touch Pro case that is just about the right height for the ZHD. The lack of accessories isn't the Zune's fault per se, though I'm sure that Microsoft could have coordinated things a bit better with 3rd party accessory manufacturers.
3.No "Skip shuffle": My other complaint about the Zune software is the lack of a "Skip in shuffle" functionality. At least, I've not been able to find any such option anywhere in the 4.0 software. For me this is important because I have radio plays that I don't want to hear in shuffle that aren't "podcasts" and hence are dumped into the music section.
4. Screen locks quick: The "play/fast forward, volume up/down" screen disappears a little too quickly for my tastes.
5. FM Radio: The radio is nice, but I find that the reception can vary greatly depending on the headphones proximity to my person. (I.e. if the wire is in contact with my skin, the signal is perfect, where as just a few inches away causes lots of static).
6. Freezing: I've not had any major freeze up, but every one and a while a menu takes a few fractions of a second longer to pull up than I would have thought given the processor.
7. Screen visibility: Its actually pretty bad in direct sunlight. As in, I can't make out the characters at all without putting the player up to my eyes.
8. Volume: The volume doesn't go as high as I'd like for use in the car, although its fine when used with earbuds.
So far thats about all the "bad" that I can find and those issues really don't carry the same value as the "good" that I've found. The good:
1. Sound quality: The Zune has great sound quality and apparently its not just my wishful thinking. A keyword search yields plenty of persons who agree that the sound quality on their Zunes (Specifically the ZHD) is better than on their iPods.
2. Screen responsiveness: The moment I touched the screen for the first time I was impressed with how responsive the screen is and continues to be. Even during quick and repeated gestures, the ZHD pops from screen to screen with little or no drama. (Take notes Touch Pro!).
3. Screen: While it gets easily washed out in direct sunlight, in anything but direct natural light, the screen is jewel like delivering really nice looking colors and textures.
4. Media button: At first I wasn't a fan of the media button + virtual play/FF and volume buttons. However, after discovering that it wasn't necessary to actually hit the "+" or "-" buttons I was easily able to make volume adjustments without looking at the screen. FYI, you don't need to actually hit the media button when the screen is unlocked. Rather, merely tap the middle of the screen and it will come up.
5. Wireless syncing: Sure, the iPod Touch can do this, but I still like the fact that the Zune HD has this feature but my iPod classic didn't. I hear a song on TV or similar and I look the song up and download it right there.
6. Radio: While the reception can vary a lot, I do like the fact that its there. When the reception is good, its a great little radio. I know I've said it already, but sometimes its kind of nice to just have the songs come up randomly. Plus, if you like the song you can tag it and add it to your car with one touch of a virtual button. Though another FYI, apparently you can't DL the songs tagged from the radio via the Zunepass. Unless there was something I missed, you can only DL on the ZHD the radio songs by buying them with MS points. Now, you can still leave them in the Zune's cart, connect the Zune and DL the songs via the Zunepass on your computer w/o having to actually buy them. This kind of bugged me as it seemed like an unnecessary step but I still like the radio tagging feature.
7. Zunepass: Its like Pandora + and I like Pandora, so I really like the Zunepass. I probably spend about $15/month anyway on iTunes purchases so this comes out within the realm of cost effective for me.
Update conclusion: I've been following some pretty viscous and yet simultaneously informed arguments over the "Touch v. Zune" issue and I've decided that the Zune isn't going to trump the Touch in feature terms. However, I could have bought a Touch and yet I didn't for a couple of reasons. 1. My phone serves as my primary mobile email and news aggregating platform. I get directions and movie times on it as well. Further, I've tried some touchscreen games and with a few exceptions, I'm not a huge fan. Rather, I prefer to utilize my PSP for mobile gaming, hence, for me the iTouch would have provided me with admittedly cool, but redundant features.
For music, I like to have a dedicated device and due to the superior sound quality on the Zune, the "apps" or the lack thereof haven't mattered to me. This isn't an excuse, its a decision to choose better music quality over jack of all trades functionality. After all if its about the music, then the music needs to sound its best.
So there ya go, my latest take on the Microsoft Zune HD which has hopefully been of some use to you folks out there.
Konrad
P.S. here are a couple of perspective shots with the Sprint HTC Touch Pro.
By: Konrad
9-15-09
I was lucky enough to get my hands on a new Zune HD 32gb "Platinum" edition while on a trip to my local Best Buy and I figured I'd share my impressions along with some photos and video.Overall nothing ground breaking, after all there have been plenty of shots posted already, but for me this is my first encounter with a Zune. I know I'm not alone either as there have been many out there who undoubtedly have been sporting an iPod or other music player for a while and perhaps are a bit curious about this slick new device.
So far my impressions are generally good and the learning curve isn't too steep.
The packaging:
The box was compact and filled with the expected peripherals (some promo collateral, USB sync cable, earbuds and three pairs of foam earbud covers).
Setup:
The plastic sheath that encases the Zune instructs the user to connect the device to the computer off the bat. I didn't but soon found out that you can't do much without that first sync up. The reason is simply that you need to set up everything first. I.e. link your Zune/Xbox Live Account for purposes of accessing the apps and other marketplace items. There isn't any software in the box, or apparently pre-loaded on the Zune and instead your directed to go to www.Zune.net/setup. Once there you can download the Zune software with relative ease.
The download isn't huge, and it doesn't take more than a few minutes to set up initially. What I found really nice was the fact that the software automatically pulls any music you have on that PC and syncs it up with the Zune. So in this case it pulled my itunes music (Not sure if it auto converted the files or if it merely pulled the DRM free songs) into my Zune account. This saved me time and it was easy so definite kudos there.
One minor issue I had was trying to download one of the (few) apps. I kept getting an error which told me that I had not signed into my account and that I should sync the Zune with my computer to fix this issue. At first I was perplexed by this because I had logged into my XboxLive account on my PC, but I had initially skipped the option to link this account with my Zune. Hence, performing this link solved the problem and the apps downloaded with ease and surprising speed.
Use:
Everything was set up and ready to go and one of the first things I tried out was the radio. I realize we live in an age that barely remembers what FM radio is, but I've got to say that not only did I like actually listening to the "HD" radio, but I was pleasantly surprised at the fact that it would run in the background even while websurfing and bouncing around throughout the other menus.
The only time the radio would cut out is when I actually queued up a song from my library or started playing a game.
One thing that threw me off at first was the "media button" on the side of the device. I assumed it would be a volume rocker, but it isn't. Instead, pressing the button brings up an on screen 4-way hybrid display. I say hybrid because you can either tap one of the four points on the display or swipe your finger up or down to change the volume. At first I was disappointed at the lack of a volume rocker, but as I played with the interface it grew on me. Additionally, the "forward" and "Back" arrows can be used to scan through the radio stations which was helpful.
The power button on the top was simple enough to use and you tap it to bring the screen out of its hibernation mode or to put it back to sleep.
I have mixed feelings about the location of the headphone jack. Its located on the bottom left portion of the player next to the sync port and if your holding the player, then it works great. However, if you, like me use your player at the gym and tend to use cases which affix the player to your waistband, then the bottom mounted jack takes up valuable headphone cord and could lead to unintentionally disconnects or worse, a dropped Zune.
The central, bottom mounted "Home" button does what its supposed to do and takes the users back to the home screen. Sometimes theres a tiny bit of lag as you get out of a program but in most cases its a quick return.
The screen is plain gorgeous...gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous! It looks great and it responds very quickly and I found only one flaw. While leaving a comment on my facebook page, the text that I entered was strangely dulled and fuzzy looking. Mind you, it was only while typing the text in, because once the comment was posted, everything was crisp looking. Speaking of typing, the text interface is quite good. Better than many WM phones and or WM ROMs that I've used. Unlike others that use a detached "pop out" to highlight the letter being pressed, the Zune uses a "mountain" where the letter being highlighted is both larger than the neighboring letters and is located at the peak of the mountain. In this way , if the letter is at the top of the mountain, than its the one you're selecting. I found that this allowed for relatively easy one handed use because you could leave your finger in contact with the screen then scroll through the letters you want and only release once you've found the right one. Its a little different than the ipod approach, but I found it completely usable.
Also, the accelerometer works crazy fast when switching from landscape to portrait mode in the browser, so again kudos there.
Speaking of the browser, its not the best I've used but its clean and it will get the job done. I've yet to find a method of directly inputting a URL and instead must tap the small magnifying glass icon to do a search via Bing. This is an extra step in getting to a site but it will get you there.
The menu system was a little confusing at first as I am used to having a "Back" button to press to go to a previous screen. The Zune does occasionally have such a button, but in most cases you mere tap the translucent letters appearing at the top of the screen which are in fact the menu from which you just came from. Put another way, imagine a ladder, as you go down the ladder, you see the rung from which you just came at the top of the screen, but its partially see through so as not to intrude. If you want to go back to that upper rung, you merely tap the rung and then you are taken back to it.
So how does it all sound? It is a music player after all, so this is a major question. The supplied earbuds won't knock your socks off, but they aren't the worst I've seen. The included foam speaker covers do make them decently comfortable, but I rarely use this type of ear bud, because they always fall out of my ears. Connecting my Koss Pro 4aa headset, I considered the sound to be slightly better than my ipod, but only by a nominal degree. There are equalizer settings, but I've yet to play around with them fully.
My Wife was both irritated at my impulsive purchase but also intrigued. I handed it to her and she played around with it for a few minutes until she finally acknowledged that it was in fact a very cool little player.
I concur with her assessment. I'm not an expert on these matters, but I am an avid tech consumer. I've had several ipods and a couple of Sony players and I have to say that the Zune breaks no new ground, but it does do its job well. Is it an ipod killer? Who can really say? If you buy one I guess the answer is "Yes".
I for one like the radio a lot more than I thought I would. I have an Xbox360 and am eager to explore the interoperability that the Zune has with that system. My ipod is usually just a music player and I have a PSP for games. Plus, my Touch Pro acts as my email and websurfing tool of choice. Hence, we shall see just how much the Zune and all its glitz really matter to me.
I also purchased the docking system so stay tuned for that as I'll be discussing the HD out functionality very soon!
Update: 9-21-09: I've had the Zune HD for a few days now and I've put it though my usual range of use. This has included time at the gym, commuting and waiting for my car maintenance to be done.
So far I've been generally impressed though I do have a few complaints. First the bad;
1. Screen smudges: The screen is a smudge magnet and I know that its a touchscreen device, but I swear the smudges build up much faster than on my Touch Pro.
2. Lack of cases: There are a few options out there that I've found but the pickens are slim, still here's what I've found available online so far. I want to say upfront that I've not actually tested these cases so my impressions are currently only based on the feature set.
Incipio Underground
- Felt exterior with a suede interior and a clip to keep the player in place; Although the case looks nice, I have not been able to verify whether it has a clip for attaching to a belt. By the looks of the photo, there isn't any such clip and for me, this is an important feature for any case that will be used at the gym.Vaja Zune HD Case - Leather with several custom options; Vaja's products look pretty doggone nice, but of course, nice rarely comes cheap and the case from Vaja starts at $50.00. Further, some people on various forums have complained about a lack of protection with these cases. Still, in my opinion, these products are the best looking cases I've found to date.
DLO Action Jacket/Jam Jacket - These are two cases from DLO that are decently priced cases that offer a decent gym option as well as decent way to keep your headphones secured conveniently. I've used products similar to this one and they are ok. My problem with arm bands is that they tend to slide down my arm constantly or if they are too tight they simply start to restrict blood flow in my arm. Still, the Action jacket apparently has a belt clip option which could be the ticket. The Jam Jacket is neoprene and has a raised (presumably partially hollow) portion on the back which you can use to wrap your headphones around. I've used a similar case for my iPod classic and it was more of a gimmick for me as the headphones weren't that secure, plus there was no belt clip. In fairness, I've not actually tested this case/skin out so it may be better than the one I just mentioned.
Thats just the biggest three that I was able to find with a fairly in depth keyword search. I'm sure we'll see more options pop up in the coming months, but for now I guess, we'll just have to resort to DIY options and the like. Personally, I've been using an old HTC Touch Pro case that is just about the right height for the ZHD. The lack of accessories isn't the Zune's fault per se, though I'm sure that Microsoft could have coordinated things a bit better with 3rd party accessory manufacturers.
3.No "Skip shuffle": My other complaint about the Zune software is the lack of a "Skip in shuffle" functionality. At least, I've not been able to find any such option anywhere in the 4.0 software. For me this is important because I have radio plays that I don't want to hear in shuffle that aren't "podcasts" and hence are dumped into the music section.
4. Screen locks quick: The "play/fast forward, volume up/down" screen disappears a little too quickly for my tastes.
5. FM Radio: The radio is nice, but I find that the reception can vary greatly depending on the headphones proximity to my person. (I.e. if the wire is in contact with my skin, the signal is perfect, where as just a few inches away causes lots of static).
6. Freezing: I've not had any major freeze up, but every one and a while a menu takes a few fractions of a second longer to pull up than I would have thought given the processor.
7. Screen visibility: Its actually pretty bad in direct sunlight. As in, I can't make out the characters at all without putting the player up to my eyes.
8. Volume: The volume doesn't go as high as I'd like for use in the car, although its fine when used with earbuds.
So far thats about all the "bad" that I can find and those issues really don't carry the same value as the "good" that I've found. The good:
1. Sound quality: The Zune has great sound quality and apparently its not just my wishful thinking. A keyword search yields plenty of persons who agree that the sound quality on their Zunes (Specifically the ZHD) is better than on their iPods.
2. Screen responsiveness: The moment I touched the screen for the first time I was impressed with how responsive the screen is and continues to be. Even during quick and repeated gestures, the ZHD pops from screen to screen with little or no drama. (Take notes Touch Pro!).
3. Screen: While it gets easily washed out in direct sunlight, in anything but direct natural light, the screen is jewel like delivering really nice looking colors and textures.
4. Media button: At first I wasn't a fan of the media button + virtual play/FF and volume buttons. However, after discovering that it wasn't necessary to actually hit the "+" or "-" buttons I was easily able to make volume adjustments without looking at the screen. FYI, you don't need to actually hit the media button when the screen is unlocked. Rather, merely tap the middle of the screen and it will come up.
5. Wireless syncing: Sure, the iPod Touch can do this, but I still like the fact that the Zune HD has this feature but my iPod classic didn't. I hear a song on TV or similar and I look the song up and download it right there.
6. Radio: While the reception can vary a lot, I do like the fact that its there. When the reception is good, its a great little radio. I know I've said it already, but sometimes its kind of nice to just have the songs come up randomly. Plus, if you like the song you can tag it and add it to your car with one touch of a virtual button. Though another FYI, apparently you can't DL the songs tagged from the radio via the Zunepass. Unless there was something I missed, you can only DL on the ZHD the radio songs by buying them with MS points. Now, you can still leave them in the Zune's cart, connect the Zune and DL the songs via the Zunepass on your computer w/o having to actually buy them. This kind of bugged me as it seemed like an unnecessary step but I still like the radio tagging feature.
7. Zunepass: Its like Pandora + and I like Pandora, so I really like the Zunepass. I probably spend about $15/month anyway on iTunes purchases so this comes out within the realm of cost effective for me.
Update conclusion: I've been following some pretty viscous and yet simultaneously informed arguments over the "Touch v. Zune" issue and I've decided that the Zune isn't going to trump the Touch in feature terms. However, I could have bought a Touch and yet I didn't for a couple of reasons. 1. My phone serves as my primary mobile email and news aggregating platform. I get directions and movie times on it as well. Further, I've tried some touchscreen games and with a few exceptions, I'm not a huge fan. Rather, I prefer to utilize my PSP for mobile gaming, hence, for me the iTouch would have provided me with admittedly cool, but redundant features.
For music, I like to have a dedicated device and due to the superior sound quality on the Zune, the "apps" or the lack thereof haven't mattered to me. This isn't an excuse, its a decision to choose better music quality over jack of all trades functionality. After all if its about the music, then the music needs to sound its best.
So there ya go, my latest take on the Microsoft Zune HD which has hopefully been of some use to you folks out there.
Konrad
P.S. here are a couple of perspective shots with the Sprint HTC Touch Pro.
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