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Blasphemy · Dec 31, 2006, 12:13 AM

ahahahahhaha!!!

Kenneth · Dec 31, 2006, 12:14 AM

^ ^
Costco?

iomatic · Jan 20, 2007, 05:56 PM

I'm still waiting for the first Zune mugging.

Buckaroo · Jan 20, 2007, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by scaught

I LIKE the brown zune. It's a pretty good color.

Give me a break. Brown Zune! . . . Sucks!

Gossamer · Jan 20, 2007, 06:04 PM

I'm still waiting for Apple to go out of business.

Buckaroo · Jan 20, 2007, 06:10 PM

Originally Posted by jokell82

YouTube - Leo Laporte hates the Zune!

Leo Laporte rocks.

Oisín · Jan 20, 2007, 06:24 PM

Ouch a Dufus huh. Hmmm, so what term should I use? Digital Audio Player seems too work for me, but hey I can live with being called a dufus by a 14 year old punk.

For the record: having a hissy fit and assuming everyone who disagrees with you is a teenage punk doesn’t exactly do much for the “non-sarcastic level-headed information”. Rather the contrary.

happymac · Jan 28, 2007, 02:38 AM

Just a tech kinda question, has anyone tried to load their zune software onto Virtual PC , then use VPC's option of creating a disc image of the VPC drive to get into the folder where the zune software stores the music and change the contents, as in adding or removing music. I know nothing of the zune ( nor do I really want to) so I don't even know what format the music is stored as, though I am sure that is an easy hurtle to overcome with graphic converter or other software. just a thought on the whole zune compatibility issue.

BTW I can't wait till we start to see the virus issue hit the zune , kinda gives me goose bumps when I have another reason to add to conversations at work " shoulda bought a Mac, well ipod"
Guys at work hate to talk computer around me. He He

happymac · Jan 28, 2007, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by Gossamer

I'm still waiting for Apple to go out of business.

I Hope your not holding your breath,

goMac · Jan 28, 2007, 03:08 AM

Originally Posted by happymac

Just a tech kinda question, has anyone tried to load their zune software onto Virtual PC , then use VPC's option of creating a disc image of the VPC drive to get into the folder where the zune software stores the music and change the contents, as in adding or removing music. I know nothing of the zune ( nor do I really want to) so I don't even know what format the music is stored as, though I am sure that is an easy hurtle to overcome with graphic converter or other software. just a thought on the whole zune compatibility issue.

The Zune doesn't work as a hard drive, don't ask me how it works but not like the iPod. You'd have to get the Zune working as a USB device.

Gossamer · Jan 28, 2007, 08:16 PM

Originally Posted by happymac

I Hope your not holding your breath,

That was a joke.

Originally Posted by goMac

The Zune doesn't work as a hard drive, don't ask me how it works but not like the iPod. You'd have to get the Zune working as a USB device.

It's been done. There are currently third party patches out there to enable hard drive usage.

Oh, I was buying a PS2 game at the local Gamestop and I asked them how many Zunes they've sold so far...one.

lamewing · Jan 29, 2007, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by goMac

The Zune doesn't work as a hard drive, don't ask me how it works but not like the iPod. You'd have to get the Zune working as a USB device.

This is incorrect. The Zune can work as a hard drive, but unfortunately you have to do a registry tweak to gain the ability.

The same mentality that keeps iTunes's songs locked with DRM is also what convinced MS to turn off the HD capability. This way the Zune cannot be used to even carry pirated music. Once again, no matter who you buy from, the RIAA has won.

vmarks · Jan 29, 2007, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by lamewing

How is the DRM restrictive? Are you referring to the wifi limitation. Then I agreee. The time frame should be longer than it currently is. Otherwise you have no clue what you are talking about.

No idea?

You mentioned mix tapes.

The Zune DRM allows a song, even a non-DRM one, to be shared once.

If I'm an indie band promoter, I want that file to be shared from one Zune to another. Good so far, this is currently possible. But if I really want to promote them, and want the mix tape similarities to continue, I need the song to move from that second Zune to a third. This is disallowed currently. Not possible. So the mix tape cassette does better than the Zune at this point.

Also, there is no indication that a song cannot be shared until you try and share it. This is disappointing. Let us know before we start whether it's possible, so I don't look dumb saying 'here's this great one, you've got to hear it.... oh, nevermind. My DAP won't let me. It doesn't trust me.'

Surely, MS did user testing on this. They had to have known.

gargamel123 · Jan 29, 2007, 10:02 AM

The zune display where I work is starting to crap out. Very few people touch them so I guess longevity is not going to be a zune trait.

Powerbook · Jan 29, 2007, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by lamewing

[...]
15x Sony/Sharp minidisc and HiMD players and recorders (since 1995)
[...]

/OT

How are those HiMDs in comparison to MD? Will some solid decks come out with those? I'm still totally on MD (ATRAC-4.5, iirc) in car and home and would like to upgrade, if possible.

Regards,
PB

Oisín · Jan 29, 2007, 10:37 AM

The same mentality that keeps iTunes's songs locked with DRM [...]

Since when are iTunes songs kept locked with DRM? I take it you mean iTunes Music Store songs?

analogika · Jan 29, 2007, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Powerbook

/OT

How are those HiMDs in comparison to MD? Will some solid decks come out with those? I'm still totally on MD (ATRAC-4.5, iirc) in car and home and would like to upgrade, if possible.

What is it with this country and standards?

Germany is the only country in the world where MD ever became somewhat mainstream - as did, for whatever bizarre reason, ISDN.

Powerbook · Jan 29, 2007, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

What is it with this country and standards?

Germany is the only country in the world where MD ever became somewhat mainstream - as did, for whatever bizarre reason, ISDN.

Nope, at least not afaik...

#1 Japan (duh)
#2 UK
#... Germany

Regards
PB.

jokell82 · Jan 29, 2007, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Powerbook

/OT

How are those HiMDs in comparison to MD? Will some solid decks come out with those? I'm still totally on MD (ATRAC-4.5, iirc) in car and home and would like to upgrade, if possible.

Regards,
PB

The HiMDs have finally reached CD quality, so they're a HUGE improvement over the regular MDs.

JoshuaZ · Jan 29, 2007, 10:00 PM

Blah, the zune isn't cute enough to capture the Asian market. One of the main reasons the MD player, which was king here until two years ago, failed was because the market came out with very cute and small mp3 players (the iPod mini being one of the first). I'm basing this off my observations on trains and in large public areas, where music players are highly visible.

Kevin · Jan 30, 2007, 08:21 AM

YouTube - ZunePhone Ad: Microsoft's answer to Apple's iPhone

Kerrigan · Jan 31, 2007, 11:27 PM

SEATTLE, Jan 31 (Reuters) - A senior Microsoft Corp. executive who oversaw the launch of its Zune digital music player plans to leave the company, the world's largest software maker said on Wednesday.

Bryan Lee, corporate vice president at Microsoft's entertainment and devices division, also played a key role in shaping the Xbox game console business and the introduction of its Internet Protocol television software.

Lee is a key deputy of Robbie Bach, head of Microsoft's entertainment and device division. J Allard, a rising star within Microsoft and one of the early Xbox leaders, will now take full responsibility for the Zune business.

iomatic · Sep 27, 2007, 07:39 PM

How are the sales these days?

[tries to stop snickering]

design219 · Sep 27, 2007, 08:00 PM

OK, 9 months later ... it sucks even more.

loki74 · Sep 28, 2007, 01:08 AM

I happen to be a Laporte fan, but like him or not, he makes some good points. Even I expected better of MS. I mean, in all seriousness, they do have potential--to me, the Xbox proves that much. Shame they failed so miserably with this pos...

Buckaroo · Oct 2, 2007, 11:18 PM

Jack Schofield reporter/blogger or whatever seems to believe that there are a lot of people excited to get their hands on the new Zune. HA!!!

Several zillion people are no doubt waiting to see what Zune 2 is like, and Microsoft is expected to show it off later today. The main news, apparently, is the arrival of a small Flash memory version.

Zune 2 announcement expected today | Technology | Guardian Unlimited

goMac · Oct 2, 2007, 11:55 PM

Microsoft's new Zunes: officially in 80, 8, and 4GB sizes - Engadget

Wireless sync via WiFi = Nice.
Everything else = Meh.

vmarks · Oct 3, 2007, 12:55 AM

They intend to have DRM free tracks available in small numbers in the ZuneStore.

But if you share (squirt. I wish they had chosen a different word.) these DRM-free songs to another Zune, they become wrapped in the 3plays/3days DRM again.

Bah. They got rid of brown and still managed to blow it.

Kevin · Oct 3, 2007, 05:46 AM

Originally Posted by IceEnclosure

Why teh hell did they make it in BROWN? and randomly PINK?

PINK and BROWN?!

there's a joke in there somewhere.

perhaps if I had 3 songs and two zunes, I could put two in the pink and one in the stink.

Everyone knows you don't go from pink to brown. You just don't do it..

Kevin · Oct 3, 2007, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

You sound like you're trying to rationalize your purchase of a Zune.

Maybe he got it as a present from a loved one. Those are easier to rationalize.

Kevin · Oct 3, 2007, 05:54 AM

Originally Posted by Jim Paradise

I haven't heard much in the way of complaints about the iPod's sound-producing capabilities. In fact, I remember reading a site last year that did comparisons between various iPods and other mp3 players, and showed that the iPod reproduced sound quite accurately in most cases (especially with the Shuffles).

The iPod more accurately replays the song without color. Those that like the over-compressed BOOM BOOM BOOM some players have wont like the iPod. But the audiofiles love it.

OreoCookie · Oct 3, 2007, 07:03 AM

Originally Posted by vmarks

But if you share (squirt. I wish they had chosen a different word.) these DRM-free songs to another Zune, they become wrapped in the 3plays/3days DRM again.

Yeah, squirt still sounds kinda kinky to me (I can't help it!).
Now the limitations on squirted songs have apparently changed to 3 plays.

analogika · Oct 3, 2007, 07:11 AM

Originally Posted by OreoCookie

Yeah, squirt still sounds kinda kinky to me (I can't help it!).
Now the limitations on squirted songs have apparently changed to 3 plays.

Presumably still depending on whether the label allows it or not - there was that thing about a good two-thirds of Sony's catalogue not being eligible for squirting at all...

OreoCookie · Oct 3, 2007, 07:17 AM

Yeah, I can imagine the description: our song is not squirtable

Sherman Homan · Oct 3, 2007, 07:41 AM

The "Brown" part was OK, ugly, but OK.
The "Squirt" part was OK, stupid, but OK.
But "Squirt" and "Brown" together was just wrong. And in public, too!

analogika · Oct 3, 2007, 07:41 AM

The trick is that you don't know until you try...

Kevin · Oct 3, 2007, 07:53 AM

That is a marketing nightmare. *shakes head*

scaught · Oct 3, 2007, 09:16 AM

Originally Posted by goMac

Microsoft's new Zunes: officially in 80, 8, and 4GB sizes - Engadget

Wireless sync via WiFi = Nice.
Everything else = Meh.

The wireless sync is sweet. Apple has 2 ways they could do it on the iphone and choose not to for some reason. The "squirt" feature is sweet, too.

The other good thing about this is all the old zunes will get whatever new features (interface, etc) the new zunes have via a software update. This is a good thing. Apple should take notes here. It makes customers feel valued.

Btw, I still like the brown zune.

scottiB · Oct 3, 2007, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by scaught

The wireless sync is sweet. Apple has 2 ways they could do it on the iphone and choose not to for some reason. The "squirt" feature is sweet, too.

It appears to sync the Zune wirelessly, it needs to be connected to power:

From here.

Another feature that the two models share include wireless sync that allows Zune devices to automatically sync over the device owner’s home wireless network when connected to an AC adaptor, in a dock or speaker dock.

I charge my iPod Touch in a dock, so it updates via USB anyway. However, I'd love this ability when I have the Touch in my Apple Hi-Fi and push songs to it, since it's charging there. MS over Apple here.

olePigeon · Oct 3, 2007, 01:21 PM

They call the color scheme "double-shot." Why not just get it over with and call it the money shot? They're squirtin' all over the place anyway. They could bundle it with a free Hasbro Oozinator.

Cold Warrior · Oct 3, 2007, 03:04 PM

The pink zune reminded me of pepto bismol. Hah!

cybergoober · Oct 3, 2007, 06:57 PM

Still no Mac support, I'm assuming?

Meh

Buckaroo · Oct 4, 2007, 07:03 PM

Oh my gosh, in some of those photos, that ugly green color looks like something you'd find in a baby diaper.

Cold Warrior · Oct 4, 2007, 07:28 PM

No joke. The red is like cherry cough syrup. Green, baby diaper nasty mix. Pink, pepto bismol.

sek929 · Oct 4, 2007, 10:15 PM

Didn't they stop making cars that color green like 30 years ago?

design219 · Oct 4, 2007, 10:20 PM

"you make it you"

My God that is good.

Oisín · Oct 4, 2007, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by design219

"you make it you"

My God that is good.

"We make it poo" would be a good subslogan for that.

scaught · Oct 4, 2007, 10:32 PM

Originally Posted by design219

"you make it you"

My God that is good.

It really is.

Originally Posted by sek929

Didn't they stop making cars that color green like 30 years ago?

Well, home appliances - but ya.

(did I mention I like that colour, too?)

Buckaroo · Oct 22, 2007, 08:08 PM

The Zune is now down to $99

Buy.com - Microsoft Zune 30GB Digital Multimedia Device (Brown)- Audio Player, Video Player, Photo Viewer, FM Tuner - 3'' LCD - 30GB Hard Drive - JS8-00003

design219 · Oct 22, 2007, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by Buckaroo

The Zune is now down to $99

rip off