Zune: And So It Begins…

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Categorized | Announcements & News

Zune: And So It Begins…

Posted on 04 November 2006 by Judie Stanford

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

This post was written by:

Judie Stanford - who has written 1699 posts on Gear Diary.

I started Gear Diary on September 30, 2006, and my goal was that this not be an easily labeled site. We all have gear that we use daily – some of it electronic and some of it organic. I think it is fascinating to explore the equipment that makes our lives easier, more entertaining, more productive, and more manageable. My hope is that Gear Diary visitors will find this site to be a comfortable and friendly place to discuss interesting topics – and not only those that are tech related, as well as a location to discover various types of gear – whatever that term may end up implying – that they never knew existed. My specialty is in-depth reviews written in a layman’s terms, because everyone can understand technology, sometimes it just takes a little translating. +Judie Stanford

Contact the author

dougom
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 . . .
http://www.geardiary.com Judie
“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!
flub
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
http://www.geardiary.com Judie
Hi flub – Well, it looks like it may be 2008 before the Zune is released; sorry for the bad news.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/30/zune-wont-hit-the-uk-until-2008/
http://news.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029666,49283969,00.htm
http://news.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic/0,39029666,49284916,00.htm
http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/5337/6361/microsoft-zune-late-UK-release.phtml
Aviv_AV
The zune is far too big for a “portable” media player, I would have bought a Gigabeat instead.
greypoet
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
http://www.geardiary.com Judie
greypoet – I am just impressed that you get a clear AM station that plays music you enjoy; that’s great!
http://www.astraware.com Alsicole
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.
http://www.gadgetvenue.com Matthew
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
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http://www.geardiary.com Judie
“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.
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