Microsot Zune to be released tomorrow

[Wetzilla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by devin_mm I'm wanting to know how that is a big advantage over iTunes? I'm not trying to start an argument I just need more information.

paying a flat fee and having access to all their music seems to be a pretty big advantage to me. As long as the pricing is similar to napsters, 15 bucks a month, thats pretty good. For the price of 15 songs off itunes, you get access to the ENTIRE music catalogue that the Zune store has. I'd definintly think about doing that.

 

[mkozlows]

Quote:

Originally Posted by devin_mm I'm wanting to know how that is a big advantage over iTunes? I'm not trying to start an argument I just need more information.

Everyone I've met who's used a subscription music service has believed it's the future of music. It does to music what Netflix does to DVDs, only more so, since you get unlimited amounts of it all at once.

So far, the practical hassles of it have limited the appeal (syncing up a PFS store to a PFS device is frequently an exercise in frustration), but a rental service with smooth integration would be amazingly awesome.

 

[sethsez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetzilla Also, it will have better battery life than the ipod. At least 12 hours

Twelve hours... for video? Because if that's for audio, I don't see how that's better than the iPod.

 

[rockin_amigo14]

so can the Zune actually play AAC, or just does the software library support it?

i honestly don't see anything to go out of the way for. boost the audio battery life to at least 16 hours, then maybe we'll talk.

 

[Wetzilla]

the 12 hours was J Allard actually using it, with shuffle and moving through menu's and the such. And this was back in mid august, I'm sure they'll have the software tweaked by launch to be even better. He said they were focusing on trying to beat the ipod's battery life. And most people I know with ipods get under 10 hours. And yes, the zune will actually play aac, just not the drm protected itunes tracks.

 

[bigshot]

The WiFi sharing feature wraps DRM around your file to limit it to 3 days/3 plays- even if you legitimately can share the file through CC license. The person you share it with can't share it themselves. They play it three times, then they have to delete the DRMed hulk manually. Pretty useless if you ask me.

See ya
Steve

 

[sethsez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetzilla And most people I know with ipods get under 10 hours.

Those are some ****ed up iPods, then. Either that or most people you know are still using first gen models.

 

[chefhow]

Are they for sale yet? Where can I see one?

 

[Wetzilla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sethsez Those are some ****ed up iPods, then. Either that or most people you know are still using first gen models.

I think a few are 4th gen, and I know one person with a 5g that gets right around 10 hours.

 

[sethsez]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wetzilla I think a few are 4th gen, and I know one person with a 5g that gets right around 10 hours.

I can't imagine how, then.

 

[1979]

I don't know, the whole Zune player just seems rather pointless. How many here would really buy it? I wouldn't; the only feature it is touting is the wireless support, but the whole 'play three times' rule really blows.

 

[blinx]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1979 I don't know, the whole Zune player just seems rather pointless. How many here would really buy it? I wouldn't; the only feature it is touting is the wireless support, but the whole 'play three times' rule really blows.

its not just all about features, its about sound quality and build quality.

 

[Wetzilla]

I really liked the interface, and really can't stand touch sensetive controls like the scroll wheel on the ipod. I would have much prefered the dpad on the Zune to be a tactile (I think thats the right word) mechanical wheel, but the dpad works pretty well on the Zune. But it really does come down to the sound quality for me. I have a iriver h320 right now, and it sounds so much better compared to an ipod. I'll buy a Zune if it has similar sound quality to my iriver, and is the same price or cheaper than the new 30 gig ipods. Though I bet microsoft is going to try undercutting the price, probably around 225 or something.

 

[bigshot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by blinx its not just all about features, its about sound quality and build quality.

Who says it has good sound or build quality? All we know about it is the features.

See ya
Steve

 

[Wetzilla]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigshot Who says it has good sound or build quality? All we know about it is the features. See ya Steve

no one said that, he was just making the statement that there is more to an audio player than it's features.