Information About Microsoft Zune 2 Gen. Black Digital Media Player and Its Feature
Thursday, August 18th, 2011We can confidently say that times are changing for the Zune. The underdog of portable music players has pulled up a seat at the cool kids table alongside Apple’s iPod fleet. The 80GB Zune boasts a bigger screen than its predecessor, a new wireless synching capability, and an easy-to-use gesture Zune Pad. In fact, the 80GB Zune and Zune Marketplace have the goods to be our new daily music device and PC listening software combo of choice.
The Zune’s audio and video playback performance is very good to excellent. As with all portables, the bass is a bit lacking, but a good set of aftermarket headphones will make a big difference. The built-in equalizer presets are all too similar to do much good, but the overall sound of the Zune is very satisfying. Photos and videos appear clear, although darker areas of videos showed some pixelation. Microsoft preloads the Zune with a selection of songs, music videos and movies, so you’re ready to go right out of the box. Granted, we didn’t recognize many of the songs or artists, but this is still a nice bonus.
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The Zune is a bit larger and heavier than the latest 30GB iPod, but its bright, beautiful color screen is a half-inch larger (measured diagonally) than the iPod’s. When you’re watching videos on a screen that small, every extra bit of real estate counts.Rounding out the package are a USB cable, a carrying case, headphones, and a 14-day trial membership in Zune Pass, Microsoft’s -per-month, all-you-can eat music subscription service.
Audio was clean and crisp – although the hard drive is distractingly audible at times. The on-player interface is easy to use and handsome, especially the large album art while track are playing.Video performance is very good, with the screen size really helping. Color was strong, brightness more than adequate in our test environments. I’m still dying for DivX support without transcoding, but hey I’m just happy to watch
Battery life didn’t meet the published specs of 20 hours for music and 4 hours for video with the Wi-Fi turned off. My rundown test on music was 18 hours, and video was 3.5 hours, which is, you know, fine.So call it a 6, with points off for HD noise and uninspiring battery life.
For video, the Zune is compatible with WMV, and the included software will convert MPEG-4 and H.264/AVC for playback. However, it won’t play video from Unbox, Vongo, Tivo to Go or other similar sites, and there is no support for DivX. It can only display JPEG pictures.
Features:-
Storage Capacity:-80.0 GB
Number of Songs:-20000.0
Main Storage Type:-Hard Drive
Audio Format:-MP3, WMA, AAC
Video Format:-MPEG-4, H.264, WMV
Screen Size:-3.2 inch
Interface:-USB 2.0
Outputs:-Headphone Jack
Additional Features:-FM Stereo Tuner
Power Source:-Rechargeable via USB cable
Width:-2.4 in.
Depth:-0.5 in.
Height:-4.3 in.
Weigh:-4.5 oz.
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Microsoft Zune Review – the Future of Mp3 and Digital Media Players?
Friday, August 12th, 2011Earlier this year, the idea of a Microsoft-branded MP3 player was foreign to most consumers. After all, what could the software giant do to the iPod dynasty that Windows Media hardware partners such as Creative, iRiver, and Samsung had been unable to do? Well, we all knew that after Microsoft’s September 14 announcement, the Zune would be a different kind of portable media player, one that integrates wireless technology for Zune-to-Zune sharing of files, and one that works within an iTunes-like closed Zune Marketplace ecosystem. The hard drive device, which comes in black, white, or the love-it/hate-it brown, has entered the real world and will please most users, especially beginners, thanks to an excellent UI, nice integration with Zune Marketplace software, and good playback performance.
By now, we all know the basics of the Zune: it’s a 30GB MP3 player with a photo- and video-friendly 3-inch (4:3) screen, and it costs 9.99 (unless you buy it at buyazune.com). It runs on a customized version of Portable Media Center software (Windows CE-based) and features the same intuitive twist-navigation like players such as the Toshiba Gigabeat S.
While the player is similar to many other players in terms of its feature set–music, video, and photo playback, plus an FM tuner–what sets it apart is its integrated Wi-Fi chip, which allows it to seek out and be seen by other Zune-sters. This sharing feature allows users to share music and photos (but not video) within the same room. Shared photo files, on the other hand, have no limitations. We’d love to see Wi-Fi expanded so that one could sync or purchase music wirelessly (or even see Zunes across the globe), but having played with the device, I see why Microsoft is starting small. So far, the Zune experience out of the box and beyond has been predictable and solid. Wi-Fi or not, it’s one excellent media player.
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Quickly, about the box and its contents: the Zune packaging is minimal but has flare. You actually lift the Zune out of the box by pulling on its brown ribbon (nice touch), and the bundled earphones and rubbery USB cable are nowhere to be seen until you realize the flaps adjacent to the Zune lift open. In addition, you’ll get a suede case, a software CD, some guides, and a sticker in the package. While we’d love to see more–such as an AC adaptor– the introductory Zune experience is well done.
The colors are subdued and the shell has a translucent matte finish, and more importantly, the body does not attract fingerprints (though the screen does). The double-shot effect of the secondary color (green on the brown version, bluish on the black, translucent on the white) definitely gives the player visual pizzazz. The built-in battery will last up to 14 hours for audio. Interestingly, the back says this in fine print: “Hello from Seattle.” The Zune, which is manufactured by Toshiba but completely designed by Microsoft, is an original-looking player with a style of its own.
It’s a durable device that will withstand scratches, bumps, and bruises, though the primary seam of the device looks as if it might burst open after a hard fall. The body is minimal with no buttons on the sides, only a hold switch and an earphone jack on top and a proprietary USB/accessories port on the bottom. The screen and main controller are surrounded by a thin, metallic inlay, while the three control buttons are dead simple (the small dedicated back and play/pause buttons are flush with the body).
Overall, the Zune is a well-designed portable media device with good playback performance, a snappy processor, and an excellent interface. Wi-Fi sharing worked well, but prospective owners should know its format support, especially for videos, is limited. The Zune looks like a good fit for MP3 player novices, though we hope Microsoft addresses issues and will make the Zune usable as a hard drive; extend video support to include DRM (which they probably will do when its own video store opens); and open up a true Wi-Fi network. The foundation looks good, though, and those not interested in version 1 of Zune can look forward to improved versions 2, 3, and beyond.
This review was brought to you by CNET.
If your interested in the Microsoft Zune, I would recommend http://www.buyazune.com as they consistently offer the best prices for every model and accessory of the Zune.
MGM Zone
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Zune HD 32Gb Platinum Unboxing
Saturday, July 30th, 2011Zune Music Player Slideshow – Get it
Wednesday, July 20th, 2011Unboxing: Zune HD (32 GB)
Monday, June 13th, 2011Zune HD 32GB Platinum Unboxing (Microsoft)
Sunday, June 5th, 2011Zune Music Player Slideshow
Thursday, May 12th, 2011Zune HD Media Player by Microsoft
Monday, March 28th, 2011Zune is Microsoft’s music and entertainment brand that provides an integrated digital entertainment experience. The Zune platform includes a line of portable digital media players, elegant software, the Zune Marketplace online store, Zune Pass music subscription service, and the Zune Social online music community, created to help people discover more music. Zune is part of Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division and supports the company’s software-based services vision to help drive innovation in the digital entertainment space.
Zune HD is the next iteration of the Zune device family and brings a new level of listening and viewing experiences to the portable media player category. This news marks a turning point for Zune as it brings cross-platform experiences and premium video content to living rooms around the world.
Zune HD comes with a built-in HD Radio receiver so users can listen to higher-quality sound than traditional radio on the go. Users also will have access to the additional song and artist data broadcast by HD Radio stations as well as additional channels from their favorite stations multicasting in HD. If you don’t like the song playing on your station’s HD channel, switch to its HD2 or HD3 channels for additional programming.The bright OLED touch screen interface allows users to flip through music, movies and other content with ease, and the 16:9 widescreen format display (480×272 resolution) offers a premium viewing experience on the go. The HD-compatible output lets Zune HD customers playback supported HD video files from the device through a premium high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) audiovisual docking station (sold separately) direct to an HD TV in 720p.
Zune HD will include a full-screen Internet browser optimized for multitouch functionality.Zune HD is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing for instant streaming to the device from the more than 5 million-track Zune music store.The new line of players brings a flood of changes to the device, from a new form factor to a multitouch screen to HD radio support to the ability to play back 720p video on your HDTV (with an optional dock).
In short, the Zune HD is aggressively positioning itself against Apple’s iPod touch, with its multitouch capability and App Store. What Microsoft is hoping will set the Zune HD apart are its HD radio offering and native integration with the XBox and Windows PCs, creating a sort of cloud for music and video content purchases from the soon-to-be-launched Zune Marketplace.The devices will be formally debuted at E3, and will be available this fall. No prices have been announced yet.
Zune HD Media Player by Microsoft
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