Zune HD

[ISiddiqui]

The Zune HD came out today and I'm drooling over it. nVidia Tegra processor, OLED 720p touch screen, HD Radio, wi-fi and a 16 GB flash version for $219 (there is a 32 GB hard drive version for $289):

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.engadget.com/media/2009/09/microsoft-600-zunehd-launchblack-and-platinum-family-shot-engadget.jpg

Just downloaded the Zune 4.0 software and it's gorgeous. Currently I have an 8 GB iPod Nano, but I think this blows it out of the water.

Anyone else contemplating getting one?

[Young Drachma]

I'm on my second one (Zune, that is) and it's been fine. I only do it for the subscription service part of it (and not using a third party tool that's just going to stop being supported after a year or two) and save for dropping it too often and having it act a bit bonkers, I'm pretty happy with it.

All of the press on this has been fairly dandy and I'm going to download the new firmware when I get home. So when I replace this one, it's probably likely I'll upgrade to one of these. But we'll see. I doubt I'd get an iPod, because when I have to rip music to listen to it, it takes me too long to keep up with my tastes and I listen to less music, so I've got to have a subscription service that lets me download stuff and none of the Rhapsody players are all that appealing to me.

[DaddyTorgo]

I've got an old Creative Zen Vision M - it's got an issue where every so often it will essentially "freeze up" and i have to hard reset and rebuild the library. I'm also not insanely wild about the software. I might consider a Zune...

[ISiddiqui]

I misspoke... the 32 GB is also a flash drive player.

Also, the Zune software takes up FAR LESS RAM than iTunes, which would constantly freeze up my system as it was loading something. Though the store takes longer to load (basically because its loading all sorts of pictures and stuff for the artist rather than a basic template... a bit annoying).

[DaddyTorgo]

Is anybody else planning to get one?

maybe. i'll at least look at them and consider it

[Young Drachma]

I've got an old Creative Zen Vision M - it's got an issue where every so often it will essentially "freeze up" and i have to hard reset and rebuild the library. I'm also not insanely wild about the software. I might consider a Zune...

I went from a Creative Zen to Zune when Rhapsody stopped supporting the one I had. I would've gotten an iPod if there was a subscription service to ITunes, but there isn't, so I won't ever do that.

The new Zune software works well so far and I'm thinking a touchscreen Zune getting rid of the current button on it would probably put me over and I'm pretty ready to move on from my 120GB which wasn't a bad idea, just a waste for me since I don't really download video at all.

[DaddyTorgo]

in general were you pleased with your movement to zune from creative zen?

[fantom1979]

I am currently not in the market for one (my blackberry does fine for me right now), but if I decide to go with a dedicated mp3 player, this will be high on the list.

[gstelmack]

My wife has a Zune. I'm considering the HD as my Dell Axim x51v is getting a bit long in the tooth, but I hate that these are basically media players and missing a few bits to make them real PDA replacements (contact list anyone?).

[ISiddiqui]

Well I think cellphones are replacing PDAs these days.

[gstelmack]

Well I think cellphones are replacing PDAs these days.

And I hate that trend. I don't use my cellphone much (my house gets lousy signals), and I don't want my phone to have that big a screen. All I really need is a contact list and a way to take the occasional note and I'd finally be able to replace my PDA.

Or maybe figure out if I can buy and use a Blackberry with my Verizon pre-paid plan...

[sterlingice]

Should you be allowed to call something with a 3" screen "HD"?

SI

[ISiddiqui]

It can output to your TV in 720p if you want, so yah, I think its ok.

[ISiddiqui]

To expound:

Zune HD Review: The PMP, Evolved - Zune hd review - Gizmodo (http://gizmodo.com/5360126/zune-hd-review-the-pmp-evolved?skyline=true&s=x)

The Zune HD's unparalleled ability to output video in 720p is a major selling point for the device, and let me tell you, it's everything you'd hope it would be. Video is crisp, clear and smooth, looking just as good as the same video played through any bulky media streamer. The interface as a whole actually translates really well to a bigger screen, slightly dumbed down for speed's sake (for example, there's no background artist image on the now playing screen). It's not as full-featured as an HTPC, but for just playing back your media, it does a great job. The screensaver on the now playing screen looks especially awesome on a big HDTV.

And on the device itself:

To take advantage of that premium OLED screen, Microsoft is really pushing high-quality video playback on the Zune HD. iPod comparisons aside, my sample HD clip (a 720p episode of Battlestar Galactica bought from the Zune store) sparkles. Tap the screen while video's playing and "Quickplay controls" bring up every button you need.

[Young Drachma]

in general were you pleased with your movement to zune from creative zen?

Yeah, I'm on my second one. Subscription service helps a ton for me, obviously. But not having to rip music to get it on the system helps me a lot. But even if you were buying and such alike, it's pretty easy to load stuff onto it and it's light years ahead of where it started say 3 yrs ago when I bought my first one.

[Daimyo]

I use my iPhone 3GS connected to a TV as a media player when I travel and I love that functionality. Having the option to do 720p would be nice, of course, but I doubt I'd use it much for two reasons... I rip everything from DVD anyway and 720x480 takes up 500MB-1GB per hour with H.264 and that already fills up my 32GB pretty quick (I generally keep 16GB of it full of music). I'm pretty sure you won't be able to tell the difference between 720p and 480p on the 3.5" screen (even 240p looks amazing on a 3.5" screen!). Apparently the iPhone 3GS hardware can handle 720p output it just hasn't been enabled in software.

Wireless sync is also pretty neat if you can stream video content off your PC like how the AppleTV works (iPhone requires 3rd party software for that). I've wished I could do that a few times when I've forgotten to sync my iPhone going to another room to watch it. Not an amazing feature, but nice to have. I really hope Apple adds this in an update to the iPhone, but I doubt they will.

I don't listen to HD radio so I don't care much for that feature. I think iPhone has apps to stream it over the data network anyway and also apps like Pandora that would fill the same need if I cared. I have enough of my own music though. :)

All in all, I'm glad MS will actually have a competitive product this generation... hopefully it will push more innovation from Apple so everyone wins. I don't think I'd trade the iPhone/Touch interface and Apps store for those features though.

[Daimyo]

I'm also surprised there is no 64GB version consider the iPod Touch is available at that size. Having the extra 32GB of space would probably make the HD video size issue moot.

[Daimyo]

. . .OLED 720p touch screen . . .

Actually according to the fine print on their site:

1Zune HD player screen shows supported 720p HD videos at 480 x 272 - not HD resolution. HDTV and Zune HD AV Dock (all sold separately) are required to view video at 720p HD resolution.

I thought a 3.5" 720p screen was a bit overkill since no one with human eyes would detect a benefit out of it. :)