“With the Zune HD, Microsoft has dusted off its failed brand and applied it to a new device aimed at the iPod touch. To distinguish it, the company has added several new features. Unfortunately, as was the case with previous models, what Microsoft has added is all sizzle and no steak,” Prince McLean reports for AppleInsider.
For example, “today’s OLED panels are much dimmer than standard issue LCDs: a typical maximum output of 200cd/m^2 compared to around 4-500 for mid-range LCDs. OLED also performs considerably worse in bright light because OLED is 100% emissive rather than being partially transflective… Microsoft knows this, which is why it only demonstrates the Zune HD in dark rooms… Microsoft sets up its demos in the dark because the Zune HD looks terrible outside, where its contrast ratio advantage observed in ideal conditions completely falls apart.. Microsoft is desperately looking for a marketable feature, whether or not that feature makes any sense for consumers,” McLean reports.
The the full article, McLean looks at the Zune’s over-hyped processor, what’s not “HD” about the device, its major app-lack problem, and more while explaining why the Zune HD appears to have failed before even hitting the market, here.
Engadget has a Zune HD, but reports that “Microsoft decided to hold on loading up any usable software until the new Zunes were out to market. What that means is that we have yet to do any serious testing with the new device.”
Engadget promises a “proper review coming soon” in their article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Microsoft, the Norman Bates of digital media players. Bury that thing already, it stinks.
So if anyone buys a Zune, and that person does not have internet access, they are screwed, Correct?
Zune screen is lower res than the apple screen, but wouldn’t it be nice to get HD video out of the iPhone/iPod?
–Rob
Go ahead MAC fangirls. Laugh all you want. You and I both know it’s a disguise for all your fear that Zune HD is getting some magnificent press, super cool + innovative features and best of all Microsoft made sure it was ready from day one instead of shipping an unfinished product like MAC would have done. The I-Pod has finally met its match.
I was going to leave early from work but the boss has me staying late to put the finishing touches on a Powerpoint presentation with awesome transitions. My guess is the Zune HD lines will be way too long by the time I get out of here.
Your potential. Our passion.™
One thing they didn’t mention about HD radio in the US: Current FCC restrictions limit the power output of HD Radio broadcasts to just 1% of the power of the same station’s analog broadcast. This means that HD radio is useless unless you live close to the heart of a large city. I do, but I’m skeptical that the Zune HD with its little antenna would be able to pick up HD radio in my house. I have HD Radio in my car and I love it, but my car has a much bigger antenna than the Zune and I never tried my car’s radio indoors.
If there’s no software on it, and Engadget’s unit is just sitting there a brick, what exactly are people who bought one supposed to do with it? How long are they supposed to wait to get an OS for the thing? If Apple shipped a new iPod touch with no OS but promisted it “soon”, the pitchforks would be out en masse.
I just played around with one just now that my colleague just bought. It actually looks really nice and I love the UI look and feel. I think that they did a pretty good job overall. Still missing plenty though; no speaker, no camera, no iTunes, no App store.
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So yeah, Looks good, feel good, runs fast but not a threat at all IMO. I’ll keep my iPhone, thanks!
I love the way they go on about the virtues of the Zune Pass subscription service.
It costs $15 per month, you get to keep 10 free tunes per month and you can listen to MILLIONS of songs.
You get 10 songs per month for $15 – rip off – BUT YOU GET TO LISTEN TO MILLIONS OF TUNES!
If you started today, to listen to each tune once, for 10 hours per day, through the entire Zune catalogue, it would take you 110 years and cost you $20,000.
Bonus, you would have enough free tunes to fill a low end iPod Shuffle.
I guess when you are filthy rich, you can afford to be incredibly stupid and still survive.
I love the Tang of Zune in the morning
I only read Zune Tang about once or twice a year, when a new MS music player is released; that was worth a chuckle. See ya next year!
Happy Zune!
Thanks, ZT®!
You are clearly a Zoon/Zune/Dzun Touch of Class!
I think MicroS would do much better having you do the ads! At least most of us would really have a good time with them! Now, they’re just an embarrassment.