Zune was launched in November 2006 By Microsoft who claimed that their portable media device is a real iPod killer. The Zune is a digital media player made for Microsoft by Toshiba. The software includes the Zune Marketplace which includes Video and podcast stores as well as online music.
Zune has a few features that they thought would help them overtake iPod in the market but and although the features are good they did not reckon with the faithful followers of iPod. Zune has the ability to share songs with other Zune’s wirelessly, also with other Windows PC,s and has a built in FM radio. You can rip audio CDs, buy TV shows and video music and songs and manage files using Zunes software on Windows XP and Vista.
The Advantages of Zune
The first Zune was released with a 30GB memory. The Ipod is smaller and lighter but the new Zune 38GB music player has screen half an inch lager with brighter colours.
The FM tuner should give it a big advantage over the Apple iPod, and the Zune supports unprotected AAC files which is better than using the default settings for ripping CD’s with the iPod.
The Zune Wi-Fi connectivity put portable media players on new territory. Users will be able to socialize with there music universe with the Wi-Fi feature. If you want to exchange songs with your friends then this portability is an attractive prospect.
The integrated Zune Marketplace is subscription based and enables users to access an online database of new music without having to download it first to your computer. Another very good aspect is the ability to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee.
Other advantages are it is easy to use the interface combines horizontal and vertical scrolling, with many top-level menus displaying horizontally across the top of the screen, while lists of tracks or track information run vertically. Generally much faster than the iPod the Zune interface runs almost instantaneously through the tracks playlist and shuffle play. Zune’s central select button on there main control is touch sensitive and it also has a four-position directional control.
Zune has good sound quality, crisp and clear video and the larger display screen makes a big difference over the course of extended viewing. Synchronizing nicely with windows media centre it has tons of cool features. One cool feature is Zune’s ability to work with Xbox 360 which is fun to use.
The disadvantages of Zune.
As we have already spoken about it the Zune is heavier and larger than the iPod.
Zune had a lot of early problems and needed firmware updates from the start. And quite a few people had reservations about Microsoft’s Digital Rights Management policy.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation, in opposition to the Zune’s DRM, wrote:
“ Microsoft’s Zune will not play protected Windows Media Audio and Video purchased or ‘rented’ from Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, iTunes, or any other online media service. The Zune will not even play content previously purchased from Microsoft’s own MSN Music service. …The media that Microsoft promised would Play For Sure doesn’t even play on Microsoft’s own device.”
Upgrades the following year saw Microsoft become less strict in there use of DRM and dropped it for around 1/3 of its tracks.
Zune like rival iPod will only be compatible with its own software provided by Microsoft’s from September 2008.
Other disadvantages include the fact that after you are only allowed to listen to a song three times before it expires after receiving it from a friend. Resending to another friend is not allowed.
iTunes is a much simpler option to use that the Zune Marketplace. The intuitive iTunes media is simple and elegant to use. Using your credit card one click lets you download a song from iTunes for 99 cents. To buy from Zune Marketplace you have to purchase blocks of points so that you have to buy at the very least $5 of points. So if you only need one 99cent song Microsoft are holding onto your other $4.1 until you want to purchase another song. The system is based on points and is not easy. One song will cost you 79 points which you may think is cents while the actual 79 points costs 99cents. The process of buying Microsoft’s music has bee complicated and is not an easy option to use?
So Will the Zune overtake iPod?
Can Zune catch up to iPod is a question on everyone’s lips. Well a recent survey from Piper Jaffray’s bi-annual teen survey showed that Apple’s share of the portable media player market among high school students increased to 84 percent, it was 80 percent a year ago. 78% said that if they where going to buy a MP3 player then it would be an iPod. Zunes share of the market is up from the 2% last year and it now commands 3%. Now 15% of the teen’s surveyed plan to buy a Zune if they purchase within the next year. This is up from 13% last year.
So it looks like the Zune is progressing in the MP3 player market but not at a rate that will cause the Apple iPod and problems in the near future. Another thought that goes agains Zune is that lots of young folk use Macs which Zune does not support.
Netbooks Reviewed
iPod, MP3 Players, Zune