Boring.

Who's the bald emo dork next to Billy who looks like he's about to commit suicide?

that's J Allard you douchebag. he oversees the xbox and zune line. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J_Allard

remind me again what you've done.

Try RTFA.

zune's great, nothing REALLY bad can be said about it, it's just good...I likes em. Don't like Zune and MS? The world has a ton of alternatives out there for you to freely prefer. ;)

Ack! $249 is still a pretty penny!! I think Imma gonna wait another few years for something that offers twice the capacity at a third of the price.

John
http://www.gigatribe.com

And in a few years will you say "I think Imma gonna wait another few years for something that offers twice the capacity at a third the price"?

There's always something better right around the corner...if you keep waiting for it though you'll never enjoy anything.

Well, it's looking hopeful at least. I have to cheer them on since (forgive my incessant repetition mantra:) bolsters competition for Apple. Better products + Cheaper prices = Happier consumers.

++

Hopefully there will be a price war as Apple tries to make sure they never break the 3% mark.

Uhh, this is Apple we're talking about. They have never been known as being price competitive... that's why their Macs are always more expensive than comparably priced PC's.

From PC_Tool:
"*laughs*

MS has the inferiority complex, and yet *you* are the one compelled to make an a** out of yourself in every article involving them even remotely.

Hmmmm..."

Why is it that Beta News keeps letting this PC_Fool guy post personal attacks and troll aginst other Beta News members that have absolutely nothing to do with the articles or software reviews?" Just look, they are all over this forum. It's time to do something about this idiot Beta News.

ZOMFG!! HE CALLED ME A TROLL!!!

*laughing*

...and what was the post of the guy I replied to again?

lol@extremeinferioritycomplex

Ah, yes... Extremely informative, relevant and on topic. Yeah, I'm the troll.

Pure comedy gold, man. Keep it up. Gotta hand it to you guys, at least you stick together.

{EDIT: You got modded down? Poor baby... You lose. Thanks for playing.}

lol@extremeinferioritycomplex

*laughs*

MS has the inferiority complex, and yet *you* are the one compelled to make an a** out of yourself in every article involving them even remotely.

Hmmmm...

agreed. program86 has to chime in on every article that seemingly addresses an ipod related issue. This guy lost all credibility with me when he constantly blamed MS for the incompatibilities between the ipod and Vista. MS had an issue with the "safely remove hardware" function, but the specific ipod issues were addressed in an itunes update. Despite, these facts, and the fact Vista was available for months in various CTPs, he still claimed the problem was MS's fault.

Program86 has some serious issues.

Reminds me of pitdingo who just rages against Microsoft because they raped his infant children, murdered his wife, and stole his liquor.

and they took his porn.

and "they killed kenny"

i know. And in any thread about a M$ product you have all the M$ drones saying how great the product is and how wonderful everything M$ does is and M$ can do no wrong. And go out and buy everything M$ produces, etc...

Yet another iPod killer, I'm sure!!

So why is it that all the iPod and Zen owners should dump all their DRM protected content and purchase new incompatible DRM content from Microsoft for the Zune again?

Oh yea, because unless you repurchase all of your same old crappy music from the record companys every few years your a pirate.

You obviously ignored the part about Zune Marketplace offering up DRM-free downloads.

I think you have to be pretty dumb to buy music from iTunes that only works on a specific player from a specific company. That's why you buy the CD instead which you can rip into any format (MP3, Ogg, AAC, Flac, ect.) which makes it compatible with any MP3 player. Plus you can have it at whatever bitrate you want up to 'CD' quality. Not to mention you can get used CD's normally for pretty cheap, like at Amazon.com you can get them for as low as $0.01.

Including what GoodThings2Life already said.

I'm just pointing out the fact that iTunes is the third largest music retailer and that Microsoft and the Music companies need to offer a way to convert iTunes libraries if they want the Zune to successfully take market share away from the iPod. I agree that it is dumb to buy DRM protected music but you can't ignore the volume of iTunes music sales and the number of people locked into the iPod because of it

I am still wonder why DOJ hasn't throw an antitrust case on Apple. Their DRM only works on iPod (unless it changed recently), and this lock in all their customers who has purchased from iTunes.

"Microsoft and the Music companies need to offer a way to convert iTunes libraries"

Yea...because I'm sure apple will not sure if they do that...

Probably because the Department of Justice thinks Apple is "cool". :)

* This is BY FAR the coolest feature of the new Zunes. I haven't dumped my old school ipod yet, but this may give me reason. Can I sync MCE content via WiFi?

"In addition, recorded television content from Windows Media Centers would also be transferrable [sic] to the device."

* Do all Zunes have an AM/FM receiver? This would be cool for sitting at the game.

* I must admit also, I liked the turd brown color. As someone who enjoys working on my home, I have painted the interior multiple shades of browns & taupes. The brown would match that scheme well.

* If some of the cool new features will be available in Zune 1 via a software update, and the price is now so cheap, why should I get a Zune 2?

Bigger storage or maybe you want a smaller flash based player, I think its for more people who don't have one.

A lot of my friends are considering it (they have been ipod loyalists but little things from apple been pissing them off, so they may take a shot at this)

They wanna wait until they see it on a demo or display before they commit.

MCE sync-- Yes.

FM-- Yes... AM-- No. (Which is too bad, because I'm a listener of talk radio, but at least they are going to support podcasts now.)

As for why Zune 2... higher capacity (80GB hard drive model), smaller form factors (flash versions).

More space, the new controls, bigger screen.
... And it's less filling

Love MS or hate them, they finally are getting a grasp of things, though not perfect at least they are not shunning the first generation and giving them the new features.

Talk about unusual behavior for any company, especially Microsoft. They apparently *really* want in on this market.

Well, unlike Apple, they're going to continue to sell the current generation rather than discontinue them for new models only.

It's just a software update, and they still update Windows XP and Office 2003, so why wouldn't they update their other software? (Rhetorical question)

Of course, Zune 1 is still stuck with 30GB hard drives and a standard "button" interface. If we want to change that, we're still going to go buy them.

As well, they're getting money from those of us with Zune Pass subscriptions, so it's a win-win for them.

Yes, and unlike Apple, Microsoft seems to actually be listening to what their customers want as far as new features are concerned.

Indeed.

Hooray Apple Experience or Bust! *lol*

i love my 1st gen zune but I would like to hear about the battery life of the zune 2 for music and video playback.

First-Gen Zune Getting All The New Features: This is How You Treat Your Customers:

http://gizmodo.com/gadge...ur-customers-306422.php

hey, they are offering the same features to those of us with gen 1's. I am very excited that my Zune is becoming more like the device i envisioned at first. I am really glad that i'll be able to view my Media Center recordings without conversion. FINALLY! Yes Microsoft!!

The only negative feedback I've seen about this is from the Apple fanatics and anti-Microsoft crowd. They criticize it as being "an iPod ripoff" and that "M$ sux"... you know, the usual dribble.

That said, the specs on this are fantastic. Bigger display, wireless sync, FM radio tuner for when 4,8,30, and 80GB of music/video isn't enough, an unlimited subscription plan, and oh yeah-- they're giving Zune 1 owners the same functionality with a firmware upgrade.

The only area it lacks in is a touchscreen interface, but that's hardly a detractor.

EDIT: Oh, there is one thing I'm still waiting to hear about... Windows XP x64 support.

I'd be curious to know about x64 support as well. My iPod through iTunes works fine under 64-bit versions of XP and Vista Ultimate, but my friend's iPhone does not.

I don't know why, but I always sort of liked the brown.

/is lame

Don't feel bad, a LOT of people purchased the brown. At one point it was the highest selling colour. No idea about present stats however.

It's launching with black, but you can bet that they'll add more colors again later.

i hope they bring that colour back to v2. it stands out in a crowd.

Wireless sync? Who cares. Wi-Fi without the full browser = fail.

It's a MUSIC PLAYER, not a web browser. If you want multifunction devices, go buy a cell phone or a PDA.

I am quite impressed with what Microsoft announced, but I still believe the Apple iPods are going to reign supreme during this holiday season.

Let's just hope this generation of Zune players is muuuuuch better than the original line.

The only thing Apple has going for them is a "touchscreen" and the Apple name recognition. That said, only anti-Microsoft whiners would see the name "Microsoft" and immediately run away.

only a M$ drone would see the M$ name, eventhough the M$ name is not on the device, and immediately buy one. Especially when the iPod is so much better.

Especially when the iPod is so much better.

Care to give us an example why, or is this just trolling as usual?

How about you wait until the device comes out before you go assuming (per usual) that the device is so terrible and Apple is better.


Are you replying to me, or to El Dingo?? I never said the Zune was better.

sorry

OMGZ TEH IPOD IS THE COOLEST! !!!! 11 ELEVENTY!

See, what I mean even if the device was better, pit would still say its a terrible device.

IPOD
Fact Ipod Classic all the accessories and games will not work with the new model.

ZUNE
Fact All accessories (except maybe the dock) will work with g2 PLUS all new features that were added to g2 will work with g1.

How is the Ipod better? Other then it saying Apple of course?

How about you wait until the device comes out before you go assuming (per usual) that the device is so terrible and Apple is better.

I think Apple is going to do what they did to the Apple IIe when they were the dominant.

They are going to write MS off believing nothing can touch them and MS will come from nowhere and prove a challenge to Apple.

Apple already suffers from smugness, now add a dose of c***y and not worried, and watch ipod sales fall.

The iPod is so much better? Really? Of course, you have no way to quantify that other than the fact that you hate everything Microsoft.

Spec for spec, even the first generation generally beats out the comparable iPod model. The same is true this time around. Literally the only real innovation is the touchscreen interface. EDIT: Oh, wait, I forgot, iPod is one half ounce lighter than the first generation Zunes.

You can argue that you PREFER iTunes over Zune all you want, or that you PREFER touch over buttons, but that's subjective opinion and nothing more. Apparently, facts serve no other purpose than to confuse you with little things called the truth.

On another note... look, it's OK that you want to ignore factual information and post how much you love or hate X product. Seriously, it's OK. The rest of us here just want you to do it with some kind of intelligence, merit, and fact.

Apple has a touchscreen interface and iTunes has more content available for purchase. Those are good statements to make.

But you just show up to every single Microsoft post spouting off "M$ sux!" and offer no reason at all why they suck.

If you're going to contribute-- take a few minutes to act like an adult and not like you're Steve Jobs adopted poster child.

"the iPod is so much better"

That is one seriously misguided opinion.

The fact that I have a 5G 30GB iPod says nothing of its superiority. I settled on the iPod for the sake of convenience when it came time to make a buying decision.

There is simply better industry-wide support for the iPod, due almost entirely to its popularity.

My Alpine CDA-9856 is designed to interface with the iPod directly through the dock interface with a compatible cable that runs inside the dash to the glove box (not the cheesy solutions offered on most head units -stock or otherwise- claiming "iPod Support" that pipe the audio in from the headphone jack). That said, I do not use my iPod the way I imagine most would. Mine is simply 30GB of music storage that sits in my glove box (and rarely leaves) that I control from the head unit. That's all... simply a hard drive that the Alpine knows how to operate (and recently found it even works with the iPhone).

If I were actually looking for a portable media player to take with me everywhere I went, the iPod would not even be in my Top-5 (probably Top-10), in light of all the other cheaper players that have many more features and better file support.

Just like yountmj I went with the ipod because of convenience.

heh I almost bought an alpine but went with a jvc model because it had changing colors

/hey, I get bored driving at night
//it also had a usb port included too

The Xbox all over again,
Get treated like the town idiot, and then take them over.

As much as I hate to admit or think about, I don't expect iPod sales to drop as much as I would like them to.

Unfortunately, far too many people succumb to peer pressure and want to be "cool"... and too many people have been led to believe that if you don't have an Apple product, you're not "cool".

Another person who doesn't own an iPod who has no clue how sh!tty the sound quality is on that thing. I can't even listen to it, the compression and dynamic range sucks so bad.

A $79 Sansa blows the iPod away in that department, I gave the 80GB to my wife, even she can see how bad it sounds, and that's running line level direct into our car stereo with an iPod direct control cable.

pitdingo, you are the biggest loser walking the planet.

wireless sync = sweet. I'm actually impressed by the specs of this thing. Maybe MS will get off their a** and sell it in Canada (and other countries) too.

Canada I can see a good market for... the UK, sure, but the rest of the EU--- to hell with them. They'll just sue Microsoft for monopoly abuse for including wireless sync and an FM radio tuner, lol.

Unlikely, given Microsoft's minuscule share of the mp3 player market.

Well let's hope they change their strategy. After all, selling in new markets is a great way to gain market share...

Ordinarily, I would agree... but no one ever said that the EU does anything that makes sense.

seems perfect for playing music which is exactly what it needs to do. i'd still like to see a model that was symmetrical for watching movies much like the iphone and ipod touch are and with a larger screen. The wheel is novel but not necessary. just give me a scrolling strip on one end and some buttons for basic navigation on the other and i'm a happy weasel.

What are you talking about with the display?

Zune has a larger 3.2" screen and plays video at the same resolution as the iPods.

talking about the ipod touch and iphone. larger than crap does not instantly make something not crap.

well, the iphone has a 3.5" screen, the zune 2 has a 3.2" screen (barely a .3" difference, aka almost nothing). and 72gb more storage space, so you actually have a place to store those movies, lol.

Given that they both use the same resolution and display ratio, I'm pretty sure that you're getting exactly what you're asking for on the Zunes... the same experience on a bigger, brighter, clearer screen.

EDIT: I recognize the iPhone's display is bigger that the typical iPod screens, but then you're limited on space... the more you do on your iPhone, the less space you have, too.