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Manufacturer's Description
Zune is here. Designed around the principles of sharing, discovery and community, Zune will create new ways for people to connect and share entertainment experiences. The Zune experience centers around connection-- connection to your library, connection to friends, connection to community and connection to other devices. 
The Zune has arrived, sporting sharing features that may revolutionise the way we experience music. |
Zune starts with a 30GB digital media player and adds a twist. You can wirelessly share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures or your home-grown tracks directly from Zune to Zune. You can listen to the full-length songs that you receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you like and easily buy them the next time you sync up. You can discover new music in the Zune Marketplace, and show off your favorite pictures and videos on the big, bright screen.Zune stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video. You can make playlists on the go and watch a slide show while you're listening. Watching video in landscape mode gets the most out of the vivid display. Zune has all that and a built in FM tuner, too. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white. Wireless Zune-to-Zune Sharing
Every Zune device creates an opportunity for connection. Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets you spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace. 
The 30 GB player comes in three colors. |
Zune Marketplace
Zune makes it easy to find music you love--whether it's songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. Easily import your existing music, pictures and videos in many popular formats and browse millions of songs on Zune Marketplace, where you can choose to purchase tracks individually or to buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee. It's simple to buy music and sync it on your player. The Zune Marketplace works with the Microsoft Points program so you can purchase music online without a credit card.To get started with great music and videos out of the box, every Zune device is preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Music's Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records. 
Zune's three-inch screen can be switched to landscape mode--great for video. |
Import Your Music
Zune software can automatically import your existing music, pictures and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings, as permitted by the online service from which it was purchased.Room to Grow
As Zune evolves, your device can be easily updated. The Zune software on your PC will let you know when updates are available for download. And with built-in wireless capability in each player, the future is filled with possibilities. Zune Accessories
You can choose from a full line of accessories to outfit your Zune. Three Zune Accessory Packs provide complete solutions for Zune in your car, in your home or while you travel. Individual accessories are also available. - The Zune Car Pack includes everything needed to hit the road with a Zune device, such as the built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger.
- The Zune Home A/V Pack enhances your experience in the home through five products that integrate Zune with the TV and music speakers: Zune AV Output Cable, Zune Dock, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter and the Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock.
- Zune Travel Pack is a set of five products designed to keep friends and family entertained on the road: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter.
Customer ReviewsThis isn't out yet - don't believe the other reviewers!
Don't believe the other reviews - this thing isn't out yet, and has yet to be properly trialled!
I'm personally a fan of Creative's ZEN, and will be getting one of these to compare and contrast, so expect a full and proper review as and when I get mine. That doesn't mean you should or shouldn't buy one, just be aware that the other "featured" reviews are complete and utter rubbish.
(Incidentally I gave it 3 stars as an average, as I don't know if it's any good or not yet - it's not out!) Please read before you are swayed to Apple.......
I had an iPod Nano stolen from my wife at my wedding recently and was going to get another to replace it from the Apple Store.....until the guy working at EB told me about this....
I laid $50.00 down that afternoon, just on what I heard alone, I mean come on....on paper this thing sounds like MS has learnt from the restrictive nature of Apples ITunes and got it right first time.
I got mine wednesday morning whilst on honeymoon and waiting to get home has been hard, because the supplied content - whilst top notch - is not my cup of tea.
I'll start with the screen - one word - HUGE!!!! It really strikes you when you see the quality of the screen it's like when psp's came out and everyone started talking about the psp vs the ds... Hands down this has got the video Ipods licked (and yes I have seen the Ipods and whist impressive the Zune is just simply class).
Secondly sound - very good quality although the ipods are slightly louder the Zune is still up there and you can't hear much with the volume up anyway but the Ipods can really destroy hearing!!!
The Radio is really impressive - it's a shame that not many UK radio stations are broadcasting digital info with their programmes but out in Florida the track name station and a special message all get displayed in real time.
Photos are excellent - mainly due to the quality of the display....but again I can't fault the Ipod either in that respect.
GUI - this is the best interface for any MP3/Video player I have seen - EVER. Simple, effective but again stunning.
Wireless - hmmm tough one this - if the Zune gets a market share big enough (and with the team behind X360 behind it I doubt it will fail to do so) this could be the clincher. Download a song from a mate with a Zune and you can keep it for three days or listen to it three times which ever is the shortest, however if the song is tagged it will be searched for and downloaded at the next sync! Woah.... MS have caught Apple napping there.
Add to this there will no doubt be tie in's with Xbox Live and Windows Live (there isn't yet but there will be one with Xbox Live soon) and if you have an Xbox 360 you shouldn't need anymore convicing......but I'll keep going if you still need the push.
Xbox 360 support is granted OUT OF THE BOX - yes that's right you can stream video and music to an Xbox 360 to your Zune as soon as the Zune is on your network!!!!!
Also the Xbox Live system will soon boast full length movies and TV to transfer to your Zune so in time the two items will converge in a way Apple's Ipods can only dream.
The only down side is that Zune (and it's marketplace) is almost identical to iTunes and I hated iTunes with a passion only reserved for current US Presidents (I thought it was dumb!) and used third party software to sync my music. Zune Software is not as bad as iTunes.....but it just has the feel......also ignore the previous post regarding bugs....It has not crashed on me yet and has converted all videos and sync'ed all my music without hassle, I just put my video into my zune vids folder and away Zune goes.
Anyway I will end on a question my wife asked me when I handed my iPod Nano to her, "if you could have a 60gb iPod Video or this which would you take?" my answer: "Zune all the way to my 360" |
