Add MOKB to your RSS reader!
Microsoft Zune : Product Demo Review
Last week, Microsoft invited select members of the media and some select bloggers out to Seattle for a preview demo of their new mp3 player, The Zune. MOKB was one of those bloggers.
They took us to the Zune building, an in-the-works satellite office away from the Microsoft campus. It was not what I expected. Kind of a mess, very casual, kids playing XBOX 360s, couches everywhere, very laid back. Definitely set up for long nights and needed distractions. Microsoft started with an explanation of the philosophy behind the new Zune. It's all based on, and it's success or failure will also be based on, community. The Zune has a lot of nice upgrades that the iPod is yet to offer. A larger 3 inch color LCD screen, an easier navigation set and it's biggest seller (which predicates the community), wireless capabilities that can be turned on or off. The wireless capability allows Zune users to send music, videos and pictures back and forth between each other with the touch of the button.
The Zune will come in three colors. Brown with green trim. White with black trim. Black with blue trim. It has a three button navigation set that looks very similar to the iPod, but no wheel. It looks like a wheel, but it's not a wheel. This was confusing in my handling of it. I tried to use the center nav as a wheel, and of course, it didn't work like a wheel. It's simply a center button with a four point nav surrounding it. Up, Down, Left Right. One button on each side of the center nav as well. I liked this nav because if you own a 30GB or 60GB iPod wheeling through that many folders and artists can take longer than listening to the track you are looking for. Turning it off was confusing, but no more than the iPod is or was for a new user who didn't read the directions. The largest drawback related to look and feel is the shear size of the Zune. It's fairly big and "clunky".
The Zune will come with an FM receiver, so you can take your mp3 player to the gym and listen to the TVs that are tuned to certain channels as well as have all your mp3s all in one device.The Zune will come preloaded with quite a bit of content. Videos, artwork, pictures and music to be exact. Unfortunately, 30 Seconds to Mars has a video on it. Yikes, but on the brightside, so will Hot Chip. Yay! Album art will appear full screen with each song, as long as it's available with the track. The Zune can be turned sideways for video viewing and the navigation set adapts to this change in alignment. Right becomes Up, etc. Zune will also be partnering with Seattle neighbor label Sub-Pop to also provide content. Band of Horses and CSS (Cansei De Ser Sexy) will appear with content and in the branding of the Zune. Lovefoxxx, lead singer of CSS, is even doing a poster to help in the advertising efforts. Zune has plans to partner with other indie labels to provide content in upcoming releases, starting in their nearby area.
The Zune will have a software piece like iTunes as well. It will have a store functionality built into the folder structure, so you can buy straight from your playlists rather than having to go back to the store. This is due to the fact that you might have a lot of music on your Zune that was transferred to you by other Zune users.
Music tranferred to you by other Zune users will be DRM'd and have a 3 day/3 play restriction on it. This goes for any and all music. Free and legal, pirated, etc. If it was transferred to you, it's 3 days or 3 plays. You can then buy it through the Zune store (called The Zune Marketplace) if it's available. Transferred pictures have no limits placed on them.
The headphones have magnets on them that keep them together when not in use, so they don't dangle and get wrapped up in themselves.
MOKB asked about combining the Zune and the XBOX into a PSP type device but the question was danced around. It's only logical that it has already been developed.
It should be available in November, in time for the holidays.
Update Edit: I forgot to mention that battery life estimates were at about 12 hours before needing a recharge.
Related:
For a much better review, see Amrit's at Stereogum.
Coolfer's review and reactions to the Zune.
Music-For-Robots weighs in.
3Hive shares their thoughts on the Zune and the Demo.
Here is the YouTube video of someone using the Zune.
Zune Insider.com
5 Reasons Why The Microsoft Zune May Succeed (@ Gizmodo)
Zune Info.com
Zune phone in the works
Zune Odds And Ends Wrap Up @ Engadget
Coming Zune.com
Zunerama.com
Billboard : Microsoft Reveals Zune Details
Gizmodo Zune Update.
iPod losing it's cool?.
MOKB's first mention of The Zune and your reactions.
Other Reactions to the announcement: (I will update this as often as I can)
Idolator.com : MP3 Bloggers' Marketing Talents Exploited For Development Of Zune
Engadget : Music Bloggers React To The Zune
Microsoft's Zune Won't Play Protected Windows Media
Diving Deep on the Zune @ ZuneThought.com.
Q&A with Microsoft at ZuneThoughts.com.
Microsoft Zune : All the excitement that brown can bring.
Zune's Viral DRM Will Violate Creative Commons.
Also:
Since I've been working on this, I haven't put anything together, musically, for today, but here are some free and legals that I've been listening to that are great...
Four Tet - As Serious As Your Life (JayDee Remix)
Asobi Seksu - Strawberries (Cassettes Won't Listen Remix)
Teddybears ft. Annie - Yours To Keep (Annie Remix)
Benjy Ferree - In The Countryside
Update Edit: Here is the official press release with more detailed info...
REDMOND, Wash. - Sept. 14, 2006
- Marking the next big milestone for its Connected Entertainment vision, Microsoft Corp. today unveiled details of the first products to be released under its ZuneT brand. Designed around the principles of sharing, discovery and community, Zune will create new ways for consumers to connect and share entertainment experiences. The Zune experience centers around connection - connection to your library, connection to friends, connection to community and connection to other devices. "The digital music entertainment revolution is just beginning," said J Allard, vice president, design and development, at Microsoft, who is leading the charge for building the family of Zune products. "With Zune, we are not simply delivering a portable device, we are introducing a new platform that helps bring artists closer to their audiences and helps people find new music and develop new social connections."
The Zune Experience
Available this holiday season in the United States, Zune includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. The Zune device features wireless technology, a built-in FM tuner and a bright, 3-inch screen that allows users to not only show off music, pictures and video, but also to customize the experience with personal pictures or themes to truly make the device their own. Zune comes in three colors: black, brown and white. Every Zune device creates an opportunity for connection. Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets consumers spontaneously share full-length sample tracks of select songs, homemade recordings, playlists or pictures with friends between Zune devices. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times over three days. If you like a song you hear and want to buy it, you can flag it right on your device and easily purchase it from the Zune Marketplace.
Zune makes it easy to find music you love - whether it's songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. Easily import your existing music, pictures and videos in many popular formats and browse millions of songs on Zune Marketplace, where you can choose to purchase tracks individually or to buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee. To get started with great music and videos out of the box, every Zune device is preloaded with content from record labels such as DTS, EMI Music's Astralwerks Records and Virgin Records, Ninja Tune, Playlouderecordings, Quango Music Group, Sub Pop Records, and V2/Artemis Records.
Zune Accessories
To enhance the Zune experience, three accessory packs help Zune users enjoy their music where they want to, at home or on the road. The packs and the individual accessories, all designed exclusively for Zune, will be available at launch:
The Zune Car Pack includes everything needed to hit the road with a Zune device, such as the built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger.
The Zune Home A/V Pack enhances your experience in the home through five products that integrate Zune with the TV and music speakers: Zune AV Output Cable, Zune Dock, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter and the Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock.
Zune Travel Pack is a set of five products designed to keep friends and family entertained on the road: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter.
Providing consumers with additional options to customize and personalize their Zune experience, Microsoft is also working with leading accessory manufacturers Altec Lansing, Belkin Corp., Digital Lifestyle Outfitters (DLO), Dual Electronics, Griffin Technology, Harman Kardon and JBL, Integrated Mobile Electronics, Jamo International, Klipsch Audio Technologies, Logitech, Monster Cable Products Inc., Speck, Targus Group International Inc. and VAF Research
The Future is Bright
In addition to the features available at launch, built-in wireless technology and powerful software provide a strong foundation to continue to build new shared experiences around music and video. As Zune evolves, the device can be easily updated. The Zune software on your PC will let you know when these updates are available for download.
About Zune
Zune is Microsoft's music and entertainment platform that provides an end-to-end solution for Connected Entertainment. The Zune experience includes a 30GB digital media player, the Zune Marketplace music service, and a foundation for an online community that will enable music fans to discover new music. Inspired by the vast and varied community of music fans, Zune focuses on helping emerging artists shape the digital canvas. 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. More information can be found online at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/presskits/zune.
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
#########
Microsoft and Zune are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Link this: save to del.icio.us
posted by Dodge @ 3:02 PM
24 Talk back to yo' mama!
24 Talk back to yo' mama!:
I think they've got a problem if they're using Paul Oakenfeld to promote anything...ha!
Seriously, though, what do you think about the price. It seems kinda steep, no?
So envious...
I'm not sure the $299 price has been confirmed, especially after iPod's recent price breaks. I don't have the facts on that honestly Lucas. Let me know if you find out for sure that that is the price.
I am not one of these Apple freaks, but it seems like quite an uphill climb to try and syphon market share from the iPod beast....especially when your big "upgrade" is:
-WiFi (sharing with 3day/3play...yawn)
-FM tuning (dead media)
-sweet brown color option (MS Poo?)
But, I wish them luck.
-TT
I think the wi-fi sounds interesting, but the incompatibility with the mac seems spiteful and short-sighted (and also a deal breaker for me)
sell out. just kidding.
Um, don't get me wrong, I love MOKB. But don't you think that MS probably has a nice marketing budget set aside for this little gizmo. You gonna start selling camera phones too? Get on with the goddamn blogging.
seriously, what the hell kind of post is this...its seriously disgusting.
riiiiight, seriously disgusting if you're an applebot who doesn't understand that competition breeds lower prices, faster innovation and numerous other wins for the consumer...from BOTH apple and microsoft. seriously disgusting if you attach your hypocritical ethics and values and most importantly, your ignorance to what i write on. seriously disgusting if you swallow everything apple gives and accept it as the best without even thinking twice.
i'm not saying the zune is better than the ipod. i wrote about apple's launch the other day as well...equal treatment...i wrote about amazon's as well. i don't care who wins. i (and every other person here who downloads mp3s) should want the best player at the cheapest price that will last the longest with the widest array of features that appeal to our lifestyle. if microsoft seriously enters this market, that's what we'll get...either from apple or microsoft or both. that's important news to those of us who don't rely on our mommys and daddys to get our ipods for us for christmas.
sorry, you're not getting all the free mp3s you want all the time anymore. dumbfuck. feel free to elaborate on your ridiculous statement though.
Come on, you can't seriously be surprised that people are disappointed by this post. I can go to CNET for this info, and more. MOKB is a top-notch music blog. Sure I come for the tunes, but I also like your insights on the music. I was just suggesting you get back to your strength. Sorry to offend.
I dunno...posting things you're offered (or are promoted to you) is one thing, but ultimately there IS a difference between doing something because you want to and doing it because you were given an over-the-top gift. And maybe you wanted to cover the zune anyway, but this reads like an add and not a review...and the equal opportunity amazon/apple thing doesn't change that.
How is this any different from a midwest top 40 station being flown to Miami to see a Jennifer Lopez concert? I'm honestly asking...
Vlim Vlam...I wasn't addressing you. I was talking to the "seriously disgusting" guy below you. It's all such an ugly overreaction by some of you.
It's cool, you guys don't have to like it. I'm not a Top 40 station, I'm not Rolling Stone or Spin or any professional publication. I'm you and him and that guy. I run a blog. Now, I guess the rules (not that there are or were any) are changing and some of you see this as a huge mistake or letdown. Some of you are just envious twats, and some of you have valid points probably as well. I'm not going to say i'm sorry for any of it and i shouldn't have to.
The thing is, I am interested in the Zune, and no, I don't have one. It was a flight and a hotel room; an overnight trip. Some of you, not really as much on here as on other sites, are blowing it into payola, clinton's blowjob and watergate all rolled into one...all sorts of ridiculous accusations for no other reason than to be ugly. It's an mp3 player, this is an mp3 blog, how can you not see the relevance?! This isn't an ad...I said it was "big and clunky" for god's sake. I said it's success or failure is built on the community that adopts it. I didn't say go buy one right now! I have no loyalty to any of these companies. i want the cheapest mp3 player, that will last the longest, look the nicest, be the most durable and has all the options I want that fit my lifestyle. I didn't say this was it. I own a Nano and Dell DJ, I don't love either of them, but they do the job. You wouldn't have thought twice if this had been Apple rather than Microsoft...it's all so ridiculous. It's a report of my experience at the demo and my honest thoughts on the product, that's all.
This post was just an ad for the Zune. Paid for by Micro$oft.
Dodge,
Good review (despite the haters). Also good response about the benefits of competition. Mac blogs have been wishing for wifi for a while. I like that at least one company will give me a chance to sample friends' music without having to plug in while they play it for me.
Personally, I like the appearance. It looks like an iPod with some trim, a bigger screen, and a better GUI. I agree that brown is bizzare, but the Black is pretty sweet.
""...and it's success or failure will also be based on, community. The Zune has a lot of nice upgrades that the iPod is yet to offer. A larger 3 inch color LCD screen, an easier navigation set and it's biggest seller (which predicates the community), wireless capabilities that can be turned on or off."
For most people who have gotten through second grade, it's "its!"
hahahahah...sweet douchy two shoes, most people who have gotten through the second grade have found better things to do than correct grammar and spelling on blogs! toolbox.
You might want to take a close look at Sony's failed 3 play DRM solution in their SonicStage music manager. I have been a Minidisc user for years, and I had to put up with that garbage for a long time before Sony finally dropped it altogether, right after the name Walkman lost all it's street cred after years of customer abuse.
The point is, 3 play is not an acceptable format in which to listen to a DL'd song, and people know it, no matter what kind of marketing spin is applied to it as a "feature".
Sorry, but my first impression was that that Zune post was a bit excessive, too. Of course it's your blog, you have every right and so on - and I don't expect you to pay much attention to these comments - but that was one heck of a big post including the press release. With Microsoft loading the Zune up with indie artists and inviting a bunch of mp3 bloggers over to play, my casual observation (note: I'm not accusing you of anything) is just that it appears it's working, with (presumably those invited) indie mp3 bloggers posting about the Zune (the nature of the comments is irrelevant - blog posts are valuable publicity) all over the shop. That's it - $0.02!
Additional disclaimer - I don't own an iPod.
Microsoft's Zune will not play protected Windows Media Audio and Video purchased or "rented" from Napster 2.0, Rhapsody, Yahoo! Unlimited, Movielink, Cinemanow, or any other online media service.
Link
looks really...good...gotta try it to find out tho...i still feel it will make the iPod's history!..wooohoooo!!
You can also post your product reviews on my blog and site in the following sections....
All Consumer and Product reviews
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/all-reviews/index.html
Automobile and car reviews with real consumer opinions
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/auto/index.html
Cons and Con-artist stories
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/cons/index.html
Consumer reviews and opinions and products and services
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/cons/index.html
Consumer reviews and opinions about service delivery
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/delivery/index.html
Finance Opinions and Complaints
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/finance/index.html
Food Opinions and Complaints by real consumers
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/food/index.html
Opinions by real consumers about health/medical organizations
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/health/index.html
Miscelaneous Consumer Reviews
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/misc/index.html
Other Consumer Reviews and Opinions
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/other/index.html
Consumer Service Complaints
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/services/index.html
Consumer Travel Reviews
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/travel/index.html
You can also visit us at
http://pissedconsumer.blogspot.com
Regards
This site is so nice. Really i've been checkit for a wile. Here's some info about the Sony Ericsson tennis tournament history. If you like to visit my page it will be a pleasure. Or if know some one that likes to know about this, givethem this link. Will be nice to had some users like you with sites as good as yours. On August 29, 2006 Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications announced the signing of a four year contract worth $20 million to become the title sponsor of the Sony Ericsson Open. The Sony Ericsson Open is currently the largest tournament in the world with Title Sponsorship. When Butch Buchholz established the event in 1985, it marked the first time in 56 years that a new two-week tournament featuring men and women was launched. Located in Delray Beach (Laver’s International Tennis Center) in 1985 and Boca Raton (Boca West) in 1986, the tournament found a permanent home in 1987 on Miami’s Key Biscayne. In 1994, Miami-Dade County christened the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, a 30-acre expanse that is transformed each year from a public tennis facility into a full-fledged festival for the Sony Ericsson Open. The Sony Ericsson Open was awarded “Tournament of the Year” by the ATP for five consecutive years and seven of the last eight years and in 2004 by the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour and is considered one of the most prestigious titles in professional tennis. In 1999, the tournament was purchased by IMG.
The only combined 12-day Tennis Masters Series event on the ATP and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour calendar, the Sony Ericsson Open features the world's top-ranked pros - 96 men and 96 women in singles competition, and 32 men's teams and 32 women's teams in doubles action. The men’s final is a best 3-out-of-5 sets with every other match in both men’s and women’s singles and doubles a best 2-out-of-3.We specialize in hard to find or sold-out sports tickets, concert tickets and theatertickets for sporting and entertainment events worldwide. We provide great service whether you want to buy tickets or sell ticket. We buy and sell sports tickets, concert tickets and theater tickets on the secondary market such as Sony-Ericsson tennis tickets, US Open and othertennis open event tickets. We are not affiliated with or sponsored by any of the teams, performers, artists, box offices, venues or organizations for which we are providers. Trademarks and trade names have been used within this web site for descriptive purposes only. If you would like to buy tickets from the official distribution outlets, venues or organization box offices, please inquire directly with them.
The best place to obtain tickets for: Sony ericsson open, NCAA Final Tournament Four, acc tournament, big east tournament, at: http://www.ticketsofamerica.com
See also:
Download zune Movies - Top Sites Reviewed
Downloading Zune Games - Best Sites For Unlimited Zune Downloads
Zune Software Download - Best Sites
Zune Marketplace Store - Unlimited Zune Download Sites
www.eshooes.com .
www.pumafr.com.
www.myshoess.com.
[url=http://www.pumafr.com]puma shoes[/url]
[url=http://www.eshooes.com]chaussures puma[/url]
[url=http://www.myshoess.com]nike air max ltd[/url]
Post a Comment
<< Home