Microsoft to unveil Zune today

Here's some wrapup on the Zune from Engadget.

I think it actually looks pretty slick (except the Brown version). I don't have a huge library but if you have a larger than 30 GB library of music, you probably wouldn't want this one.

I currently have an iPod but I think this product looks slicker and I like the bigger screen and the way album art is presented. It'll all boil down to personal preference. Here are some links and pictures of the device and the new Zune software (iTunes for Zune).

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http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/14/microsoft-launches-the-zune/

As expected, Microsoft is busting out the Zune today, and we've got the rundown. Not a lot of surprises in the specs department, but they've confirmed the basics we've known for a while, like WiFi, 30GB of HDD, built-in FM, a 3-inch screen and the basic music, pictures and video playback. They also finally let slip the screen res -- an unsurprising QVGA -- and some better news on the codec front: the Zune supports h.264, MP3, AAC and WMA. As for ballyhoo, wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing is where the real action is at, and it works pretty much like we've been hearing: you can share a full-length track with a friend, and they've got three times to listen to it over a three day period, after which they can flag the song for purchase on the Zune Marketplace -- unless they're an unlimited "Zune Pass" subscriber, of course. You can also share playlists and pictures with your buddies, along with what we suppose are "unprotected" homemade recordings. So far Microsoft isn't mentioning Live Anywhere functionality, but they do hint heavily at future software updates to take even better advantage of the wireless capabilities. Of course, it all really comes down to matching your Zune with that snazzy new fall wardrobe of yours, and to that end the Zune comes in black, brown and white. Sadly, Microsoft still won't spill the beans on pricing and availability (other than a vague "this holiday season"), so we'll keep an eye out for that just like always. Keep reading for all relevant pr0n.

 

Thats pretty damn cool. Thinking about selling my Ipod Video now.

 

That brown one looks like a turd.

 

hmm, that's better than I thought it would be. The screen is a little bigger than an iPod, but the resolution is the same. 30GB max is kind of a joke though if they really consider it a video player.

Is that a scroll wheel? Can they do that?

I wonder if Apple will have the 6G iPod ready in time to take on Microsoft.

 

Are the Ipods released like yesterday considered 6G?

I'll take the iPod anyday, personally.

 

Are you kidding? 30GB plays about 4000 hours of video encoded at that resolution.
And that's not a scroll wheel. It's a D-Pad.

 

you gotta admit thats one hell of a turd though.

 

I'm assuming people will be loading music on there as well. For me, 30gb is fine for my music and a few videos, but they need to release a bigger version. I know a lot of people that couldn't fit their music collection alone on a 30GB drive.

I'm sure there's more to the Zune than they'e shown so far. From what I've seen this would be a good competitor for the iPod 5.5G that came out this week. I doubt they're planning on trying to compete with a future iPod with just the features they've revealed so far.

In any case, it's nice to finally see some actual competition for the iPod. I guess we all win as consumers.

 

Looks pretty nice but horrendous timing for this sort of announcement, considering Apple went all out with the release of its new ipods just a few days ago.

Zune got no publicity thanks to apple's timing so I'm not expecting too much from it. Plus most of these details had already been leaked weeks ago.

 

it would be nice if it had a scroll wheel