Zune details announced
Thought the Zune had nothing to do with the Xbox after it became clear that it was set to be a media player? Well think again, because it seems it will have more in common with the 360 than initially meets the eye.
Zune Insider is the official blog of the Zune team (a media player from Microsoft, which will attempt to challenge Apple’s iPod), who today announced some exciting details about the upcoming Zune. It seems that you will be able to interact with your 360 in some very interesting ways:
You can plug your Zune device into your Xbox 360 to stream music, pictures, and video, via USB cable. Get all your Zune content on the TV in your living room. Also, when Zune launches, folks who also have a Media Center Edition 2005 PC will be able to access and play any music they downloaded from Zune Marketplace.
Yup, you read that right. Music videos in the beauty of high definition are coming your way! And yes, that does say “Zune Marketplace”. It sounds very similar to the Xbox Live Marketplace, and there’s a very good reason for that:
Oh, and the Points you have in Xbox Live will transfer to Zune (you need the same passport). They’re Microsoft Points.
So MS Points will now be going beyond the simple gamerpics and Picture Packs. You will need them to buy yourself music and music videos, as well as any other ‘video’ content Microsoft bring our way. Looks like consumers are going to have to prioritise exactly what content they want: should you pay 200MS points for some Horse Armour, or maybe not waste it and spend it on some good music? The choice is now freely yours! Though you best arm yourself with a Points converter to make an informed decision on your purchases from now on.
This is definitely something that will attract people to the Zune. It will make current 360 holders think long and hard about getting Zune, and Zune holders to think long and hard about picking up a 360. Fortunately for you, I’ve got more details to help make your minds up.
First off. Yes, Zune is a 30 GB Player. You can store up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 100 hours of video. Make play lists on the go and watch a slide show while you’re listening. But Zune’s about being connected - about turning 1000 songs into 1000 recommendations or 1000 different experiences with 10,000 different friends.
Other details that were released were things that were to be expected, such as WiFi capabilities and a built in FM radio receiver built in. Screen details have emerged too, with QVGA being used on the 3 inch screen.
All this is great, but the most important things for a media player these days is the Codecs that it supports. Unsurprisingly, it supports Microsoft’s very own WMA format, along with MP3 and AAC for music. Very handy for transferring over from your iTunes (assuming you didn’t buy them from the iTunes music store; that music has DRM protection and only works on iPods). For videos, Microsoft unsurprisingly support their WMV format, along with H.264, MPEG4 and 320×240. For pictures, JPEG is supported.
So what makes this different to ‘just another MP3 player’? Well, it’s USP has to be the idea of connectivity between two Zunes, allowing music to be shared between mates:
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.
This is certainly something very unique, and is a great way for music to be shared without the risk of piracy, since the track will have to be bought eventually by the receiver if they want to keep listening to it. Other sharable items include pictures and play lists. Homemade videos and music files can also be sent, but will still have the three day protection, since there is currently no way of telling what exactly you are sending.
Microsft were not so forthcoming on pricing, availability and Live Anywhere functionality, however. They said, on speaking about the release date, “this holiday season”, which could be anytime from November through to January (and that only applies to the US). And bearing in mind all the excitement of Live Anywhere, after it was seen on a phone, it seems strange no details were released about that. Maybe MS are not sure themselves just yet. However they did state that patches, à la the Dashboard Updates would be released:
but they do hint heavily at future software updates to take even better advantage of the wireless capabilities.
And that’s not all, you can also get deciding as to which colour you want your Zune, as it comes in three flavours- black, brown and white. Head over to Endgadget for more images of the Zune.
And finally, to really make you want one, there are three packs being released. Travel, car and home packs, each offering different things, depending on when you are most likely to use the Zune. Details of the packs can be found here.
So there you have it. A major roundup of what is going on with Zune. It is not a direct link to Xbox, but it seems that it will play a very cool role alongside it. From what has been said, it will make an excellent partner to the 360, especially when I don’t like iPods. And with Live Anywhere functionality possibly in the pipeline allowing you to play Arcade games whilst having your music pumped directly into your ears anywhere you like, it is setting itself up to be an excellent little gadget. Lets just hope they do price “competitively”, as they claim.
Thanks to Roy Johnson for the heads up.
Sounds like it’s gonna be the myspace and youtube of mp3 players
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpHzQYKDlWU
sounds interesting, I might trade in my Ipod nano and get this
Im getting a Zune now! I was gonna get a Video iPod in afew weeks but now im just gonna wait for this!
Looks well nice cant wait to get one!!
I think I should be paid commission from MS for the article. I’ve already persuaded two people to get one! Ya hear me MS?! I LOVE THE ZUNE!
I think i’ll wait til i find out what capabilities it has. (i.e what audio and video codecs will it support, What features wont work with regular old XP etc)
haha the iPod is way ahead of this guys. I’m not talking about the ones out now, but the ones on the way are SO more pimp than the Zune. Touch-sensitive, bluetooth, wi-fi and pleanty of other badass stuff. Just wait, you’ll see.
How did this Apple fanboy get threw the gates :S
Of course now Apple have to bring out a WiFi iPod and other stuff! Its called competition! We all benefit MS and Apple fanboys
Apple have just re-modelled the iPod range, why is it the Video iPod just got a storage increase then?
It sounds sweet - now if the zune supports the .aac format, it really would have a chance in my house. 95% of my music is in MP3, but those other 5% are recent Itunes purchases
Yeah just what I want, DRM controlling my life & consuming media the way microsoft wants! YEA! good freaken job evilsoft
I have to tell you im not impressed. Yay.. I can listen to someone elses songs 3 times each… then go buy it.. or whatever. Who cares.
Urge is a stupid name, and so is Zune.. this is no iPOD killer. Apple OWNES the market in this, and for good reason. The iPOD is a great little piece of equipment. Im sure the Zune is fine too, but who really cares.
It is the same stupid XBOX vs. SONY battle.
Xbox is TECHNICALLY a great system… but where are the games? Halo? Ive played that… its called Doom. That game really brings nothing else to the table for me. I know its graphically better, better story, better gameplay etc. but its still a FPS, which is all Microsoft is bringing to the table. FPS’s and ports of other games.
Gears of War looks amazing though. And Oblivion. So ill give you guys that.
Sony has a TON of great games, pushing 3 generations worth.
And then Nintendo. I cant wait for that. Something really new and exciting.
The zune and Urge are both very forgettable names… unless I read it… its out of my mind.. and where am I reading about it?
In iPod vs Zune articles… what stands out?
IPOD.
I disagree entirely. Zune stands out in the iPod vs Zune part of your comment, because it is new. People will wonder what the hell is Zune, whereas everyone knows what an iPod is.
Sony no longer have a great catologue, it’s all multi-format, apart from two games that people care about- Metal Gear and Final Fantasy.
You are clearly a goldfish, not being able to remember two names for the future. The iPod is a good bit of kit, I won’t deny that, but I refuse to buy something that is more expensive simply because of a Logo. I can get a 20GB player far cheaper than what Apple expect me to pay. So if Zune undercut the iPod, I’m game.
carrying around 400 CDs in my pocket.. is a lot more appealing than carrying around 400 CDs. No matter what the machine is.
But I just dont see the need for yet another portable music player, especially from Microsoft.
Im not totally defending apple either though.
The Nano is crap. For $50.00 more you get 22 more gigs in a 30gig iPod..
the Nano should go away. It is not a smart buy and im sorry for any fashionistas that purchased them.
I say the forgettable name thing (Zune / Urge) because.. honestly, they are forgettable.
The first things that come to mind.
Zool (ghostbusters) Zoom. Dune…
and Urge Overkill.
They just sound like EXTREME or BUZZ words..
like a Mountain Dew add or something.
Bad names for a copycat product.
That’s like saying you don’t see the need for another handheld device, or even another console.
The whole point of releasing “the same product but different” is to add to choice. It would be a very boring world if there is only one MP3 player, one next-gen console etc. There is need for “yet another portable music player” because it makes people like Apple look at their products and think of ways of expanding it.
The consumer is in a win-win situation. You can watch the companies pouring millions into a project, but you don’t have to buy it. You anlalyse whats best, then go from there.
Hope that clears up as to why there is more than one product of everything.
Sorry, but feel I need to step in now.
The Ipod is not on top because it is a great bit of kit, that is the notion perpetrated by Apple clan of fanboys and people who bought an Ipod then realised that it ain’t as good as they thought.
The iPod is on top for one simple reason alone, Marketing.
There are already far better MP3 players on the market (Creative Zen for instance) but these are not marketed to the same degree and so to a lot of consumers they are unknown, people that have knowledge in the MP3 market and are not a blind apple zealot will 99% of the time admit that the iPod is far from the best available on the market.
If you disagree, tough titties, your wrong.
I just love all the apple zealots who make blind judgements on anything because they didn’t see it on apple’s website. They just keep proving to the world how much they are sheep, oh sorry isheep. LOL!
Although it looks great at first there’s a couple of things that bother me… Microsoft controlling what you do with your media, what I can’t transfer my family home movies from my zune to my mother in law’s zune without them dissapearing from her zune after three days? Secondly why oh why do I have to buy another piece of hardware from Microsoft in order to play movies over usb? I already have a USB harddrive that I could easily connect to my 360?
If they fix those two things I might still be persuaded to buy a zune though… are you listening to me billy boy?
First off i’m really excited about this. It’s everything i’ve been looking for in a MP3 player. Cutomizable background, sleak design,seems easy to use, connectivity, and sweet options with my beloved 360.
But i have a couple of questions. Will the Zune be able to play XBLA games, and show our gamertags? It probably can, but i havnt heard any official comfirmation.
Also, are you able to put the songs you download from the “Zune marketplace” onto ur computer? And with all this mumbo jumbo about only being able to have other peoples songs fro three day, you ARE going to be able to put music that you have on ur computer onto the Zune right? Again, i’m pretty sure you can, just want to clarify.
Can’t confirm anything you have asked. However, where I write about the Live Anywhere, this is where the Gamertag and Arcade could could in. However Microsoft confirmed nothing, so you will have to wait and see. My poinion is it will feature on the Zune, but it won’t immediately be available.
No gif’s :S
Only one problem,look at it is f**king ugly.
Whenever you share files, it converts it to DRM’d WMA. You can only share 3 times, and whoever listens to the shared file can only listen 3 times.
Most of us have all our music in MP3, Ogg, or maybe AAC. So it will re-encode (lose quality) and DRM it (lose ownership). Thanks, Microsoft! I really want to pay money for that
not
are you sure that’s how it’s gonna work. I think it’s going to have to do with something about the songs that you download directly from “Zune Marketplace.” I doubt they would not allow us to even put our “legal” CDs on it. THen whats the point right?
It will come down to price.
If Microsoft is willing to run this as a loss leader - (financed with all that lovely Vista / Office licensing) - with higher specifications then it will certainly take sales from Apple.
IPOD is a huge brand, but then so is MS.
iRiver and Creative have not been able to create effective market share partly because Mr and Mrs “know F*** all about tech” recognize the IPOD brand and that gives them some comfort when they hand over the $$$.
I hope that the product lives up to the hype. The IPOD is good kit but the early nano defects smacked of a company getting a little too complacent. Competition is king for the consumer.
First I am totally against DRM [1]. It will just break everyone freedom.
It is just a trick to lure people into Microsoft products. Microsoft will have a total control on the music you want to put on your player.
I do prefer using ogg vorbis (libvorbis and libogg) b ecause they are free software. I believe that Microsoft should use this format. Open standards are really important. It is like OpenXML vs ODF [4]. Who will win the race?? Microsoft of course! they got the money!!!?
The fact is Microsoft has money so it can take market share like they did with the xbox, pc games, hardware like keyboard and mouse and of course their creepy operating systems.
I guest that you will be able to install a Linux kernel on the ZUNE just like some people did with the iPOD [2]. Or maybe you’ll be able to run netBSD as their slogan is “Of course it runs NetBSD.”
Sébastien
[1] http://defectivebydesign.org
[2] http://ipodlinux.org
[3] http://freshmeat.net/projects/libvorbis/
[4] http://news.com.com/Micro.../2100-1013_3-6076916.html
A word of caution: get a decent pair of headphones and listen before you buy.
Microsoft Media Player never managed to decode MP3 correctly (and we’re talking 11 major software releases here). Widows itself has such a poor audio mechanism that pro-audio guys must bypass it with tihrd-party interfaces. In a word: that company has tin ears.
Out of the huge selection of small “digital audio appliances” out there, some prove that good audio is not more expensive (or harder to do) than the above crap. All it takes is, well, open ears: just listen!
3 days to share song? I like that. plug zune headphone jack into pc mic and rip in real time. this will make sharing songs so easy. LOVE IT! the itunes ACC protection is bull especially since you pay full retail prices. like the original mac, apples always has the first move but they tend to shoot themselves in the foot. rip apple.
Well Im looking forward to a nice black Zune for Xmas…I do believe it will be just what my 360 needs…Keep it up Microsoft !!! and dont listen to the Apple Zealots they will still be singing the same itune when they have 1% of the Portable MP3 Market…
does anyone knnow what game will come on it?