Zune: And So It Begins…
Posted on 04 November 2006, at 5:36 pm, by Judie Lipsett
Microsoft is starting to amp up the Zune anticipation as they get ready for the November 14th launch. The Zune site has had a major face-lift, and there are now all sorts of goodies posted, including the full spec list*.
I also just read Jason Chen’s “First Full Review” on Gizmodo, and when I saw this picture something strange happened…
After repeated jokes with Alison about the brown Zune and “why would anyone make or want a brown gadget?”, I must now admit that it is growing on me… 
I really am surprised; how did this happen?
Maybe it’s the green glow coming from behind the brown in these pictures (because we all know that I am a sucker for green!), but the brown Zune is suddenly looking more ‘chocolate chip mint ice cream’ to me than the less yummy adjectives I have been guilty of using.
Ah well, I already have the black version on order.
What do you think about the Zune? Will you be getting one? What’s your favorite color? Do you think it will have a chance in hades to dethrone the iPod?
My only concern at the moment is the music that I had bought through iTunes. Now I’ll have to burn it and rip it to reload it. Maybe I should just go back to buying actual CDS. 
*Specifications:
Size and Weight
-4.4 in. x 2.4 in. x 0.6 in. (h x w x d)
-Weight: 5.6 ounces
Battery
-Music, up to 14 hours (wireless off), up to 13 hours (wireless on); pictures, up to 4 hours; video, up to 4 hours
-Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
Display
-Size: 3.0 inches
-Orientation: Vertical and Horizontal
-Resolution: 320 x 240 pixels
Audio
-Windows Media® Audio Standard (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
-MP3 (.mp3): Up to 320 Kbps, CBR and VBR, up to 48-kHz sample rate
-AAC (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): Up to 320 Kbps, Low Complexity (LC), up to 48-kHz sample rate
Pictures
-JPEG (.jpg): All resolutions (desktop software will automatically convert to 640×480 at sync time)
Video
-Windows Media Video (.wmv): Main Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 1.5 Mbps peak video bitrate, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo audio; Simple Profile, CBR, up to 736 Kbps video bitrate, 320 x 240 pixels, 30 frames per sec., with Windows Media Audio up to 192 Kbps, 44.1 kHz, stereo audio.
Wireless
-Connectivity: 802.11 b/g
-Range: Up to 30 feet
Language
-English
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Zune is Almost Here » Gadget Venue dot com Says:
November 7th, 2006 at 9:36 am[...] Via: GearDiary [...]
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November 4th, 2006 at 8:53 pm
I am not planning on getting a Zune, nor do I plan on getting one at any time in the future. Part of this is mere cussedness: I have a plain, irrational (but admitted!) dislike of All Things MicroSoft, which I can go into if anyone is interested. But beyond that, I am very resistant to Release 1 versions of pretty much anything. I prefer to let other folks–Hi, Judie!–experience the bugs of the Release 1 version of a product, and then get the Release 2 or Release 3 version. Or later.
The only time I can remember getting a Release 1 version of something was the PalmPilot 1000 (yes, 1000!), and I never regretted it. But that was far and away the exception. Most of the time, I’m way, way behind the curve. I still don’t have an iPod, for example; I prefer listening to my music via an MP3 player on my Zodiac or my HTC Universal. (DRM software gives me the hives. But I digress.)
When Apple releases a version of the iPod that has a 4″, 480×320 resolution video screen with a scroll wheel and eReader software pre-installed, hey, they got themselves a buyer. In the meantime, though . . .
November 4th, 2006 at 8:59 pm
“I prefer to let other folks–Hi, Judie!–experience the bugs of the Release 1 version of a product, and then get the Release 2 or Release 3 version. Or later.”
At your service!
November 5th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Hi Judie – love Gear Diary – have you any idea when this Zune thingy is going to be on sale in the UK? I can’t find this information anywhere. It would be great for us quaint old Brits to wander the streets of Ye Olde England listening to Shakespeare on our cool chocolate minty Zunes – I love that Brown finish! Why do these things always come out in the colonies first? : )
best wishes from flub in NW England
November 5th, 2006 at 12:01 pm
Hi flub – Well, it looks like it may be 2008 before the Zune is released; sorry for the bad news.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/1.....ntil-2008/
http://news.cnet.co.uk/digital.....969,00.htm
http://news.cnet.co.uk/digital.....916,00.htm
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/n.....ease.phtml
November 5th, 2006 at 12:34 pm
The zune is far too big for a “portable” media player, I would have bought a Gigabeat instead.
November 5th, 2006 at 1:22 pm
Hi Judie, As I sit here reading about the latest Zune and the ongoing battles between Apple and Microsoft, I turn my AC powered AM radio up a little to hear an interview with an artist I enjoy.
Guess you could say I’m curious but not really interested. Outside of reading blogs, listening to AM radio shows and reading books I am happy to interact with real people in a face to face convivial atmosphere.
Old fashioned? Yup!
Jim
November 5th, 2006 at 1:29 pm
greypoet – I am just impressed that you get a clear AM station that plays music you enjoy; that’s great!
November 6th, 2006 at 6:55 am
I’m still not convinced, but that’s probably more to do with my personal inherent dislike of the colour brown, rather than a reflection of it being a ‘wrong’ colour for a gadget.
I’ll be sticking with my iPod for the time being anyway.
November 7th, 2006 at 9:05 am
Not sure if I would get one as I dont get too much chance to listen to music. I must admit that it does look good and could be a good contender for the iPod although I seem to remember that Apple mentioned 2007 was going to be a big year for them with new products. Maybe they are just trying to get people to hold off to wait what Apple will bring
November 7th, 2006 at 10:28 am
“Maybe they are just trying to get people to hold off to wait what Apple will bring.”
Well, the way I see it is that Apple has been holding off on the really good stuff for a while – no 100GB iPod, no VGA full-screen video iPod…we keep hearing about these uber-iPods, but they don’t happen. If the Zune coming out, being a good device and ultimately being successful is what it takes for Apple to release a better iPod, then that’s a good thing, isn’t it?
This way, the real winners are the consumers.