Zune HD’s getting a worthwhile update, Smart DJ and MPEG-4 support have arrived
Posted on 12 January 2010, at 2:13 pm, by Francis Scardino
Photo courtesy of Wareseeker
Even though the Zune HD packs one of the most powerful mobile platforms out today, the MP3 player gets no love compared to Apples’s industry Juggernaut the iPod. I have a 32GB Zune HD and absolutely love it. The biggest issue I have is the small marketplace and app support. Â The Zune HD is actually a really great player, but needs to unleash the power of the Tegra, and so far has failed to do so. With Tegra powering the device, HD content and games have no problems with playback or quality. The ultra slim case and OLED screen make it stand out from the crowded MP3 player market, but the software development has been left in the cold since the release.
Our friends at Microsoft are finally releasing a worthy firmware update for the device. MPEG-4 (part 2 Advanced Simple Profile) codecs incl. Xvid will be natively supported after the update. Playback will also allow the codecs to work while docked and connected to a HD monitor. Unfortunately Divx will not be making an appearance this time around, but you can scour the internet for some good transcoding software to take care of that for you. Smart DJ (on-the-fly playlists) will also be featured in this update, currently available on the desktop client but now will be a feature on the device itself. Hopefully the future brightens up for the Zune, I would like some other streaming media apps outside of the marketplace such as Pandora.
For now I’ll patiently wait for the update and enjoy the Zune for what it is. The super responsive multitouch screen and accelerometer leaves endless opportunities for future apps and games. HD radio is also great feature but adding some streaming media over Wifi would be even better. More accessories are beginning to show up along with a few good selections of screen protectors and cases. We’ll update you when the new firmware has been released.
Via Slashgear
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3 Comments For This Post
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Allistair Lee Says:
January 12th, 2010 at 2:15 pmGD: Zune HD’s getting a worthwhile update, Smart DJ and MPEG-4 support have arrived http://bit.ly/8T37gx
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Vanessa Says:
January 12th, 2010 at 8:16 pmRT @GearDiarySite: Zune HD’s getting a worthwhile update, Smart DJ and MPEG-4 support have arrived http://goo.gl/fb/FFDe
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The Tornado Says:
January 13th, 2010 at 4:02 amZune HD's getting a worthwhile update, Smart DJ and MPEG-4 support … http://bit.ly/6Eq7t4
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January 13th, 2010 at 9:07 am
It’s excellent that the ZuneHD had gotten this update, but I wonder what it’s future is. I keep reading about the Zune’s poor showing in holdiay sales figures – although the Zune isn’t available worldwide, so that has an impact too, but still I keep reading that MS is unhappy with Zune sales and that they are looking to leverage the name in other ways. So where will that leve this interesting device going forward?
January 13th, 2010 at 9:24 am
It is a sad thing … MS entered with a pretty mediocre and very ugly device with features few cared about and limited compatibility and desktop software no one wanted and … well, it is no surprise that it tanked at first.
But recently they have done a really good job with the hardware and the desktop software, but remain one step behind Apple, and still fight the public stigma of the Zune as yet another ‘crappy iPod wannabe’.
January 13th, 2010 at 9:27 am
I agree with you both. As much as I like my Zune and am hopeful for it to succeed I dont think it will catch on if it hasnt already. The HD really is a cool device but without good apps and software to back it up it really has no shot against Apple. But Ill certainly take any updates as they come.