Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: ZuneHD, Microsoft, Touch | Themes: Audio/Video Players
6. Microsoft Is Thinking Differently
The Zune HD is an excellent piece of hardware, with some exemplary software included within it. It competes seriously with the iPod Touch in all ways except applications and keyboard typing, but considering the Zune app store will only have been open for fewer than two days when this article is published, it’s not that big a deal. What is important is that watching videos and listening to music is better, smarter, and more convenient than the previous Zune models and is on par with Apple’s interface.
Microsoft also sells a Zune accessory: a $90 dock with HDMI and optical output, which allows for the Zune to play 720p video on an HDTV. We tested the quality of both SD and HD content, and while the quality of the video will depend on your TV, we found it very satisfying to simply plug in the Zune, use the remote to quickly navigate through the specialized dock menu system, and select whatever music, videos, pictures, or radio stations we wanted. The dock, officially called the Zune AV and HD Dock, even comes with a 1990s style wired antenna.
You can also plug the Zune into your media center during a party and set a channel up, and if there’s WiFi in range, the Zune can play new music on the fly. The TV will display music information in a smart, sexy fashion, keeping the screen moving but not in a way to attract too much attention. It’s a very simple DJ system. And if you have an older Zune, the dock will work with those as well.
Neither the Zune software nor the Zune HD supports WAV files (nor AIFF or FLAC). There is no support for high-end audio files. Therefore, we were unable to test the Zune HD under a heavier workload of high-bitrate audio, but more importantly, anyone who has music in WAV files (a format to which many programs record directly) will have to change the audio format if they wish to put the music on either their Zune handheld device or background player.
From what we’ve seen, it’s apparent that Microsoft understands the music side. It has an excellent player that provides clear, crisp sound, and a top-notch software suite. With the Zunepass subscription, looking at Apple’s Touch in comparison doesn’t work. The two devices are too different. Without Zunepass, the Touch stays ahead thanks to its apps, and the few kinks Microsoft needs to work out, like no speakers and playable formats.
For Zunepass subscribers, getting a Zune HD is a no-brainer. The device is made just for you, made to take new music on the road, to hear new artists, etc. Users who like watching video on portable devices may find difficulty finding the correct video format to transfer video to it. A future with Xbox 360 integration is also coming, but with Zune on the Xbox, and with the Zune HD connectable to the Xbox.
In the end, we’ve found that Zune’s greatest success is how it was made to give users new music by any means necessary, not including putting a 3G antenna in it. It’s this ability that makes the Zune HD not only a great music player, but an excellent tool to find and listen to new music. Even if you’re not in the market for a new media player, the new Zune software is the best way we’ve seen to find, play and experience new music.
- Previous page Zune Gets Social Web
- Next page Update: Why Software Is So Important
Good article! Brought some of the lesser known features out and reviewed them thoroughly!
Excellent article! Wow, I wanted one before, but thought it might be best to wait and see if the price comes down. Now I'm thinking, where's my wallet?
Ouch. That's kind of a big thing to leave out.
Just a little info: the "Easter Egg" you found (Hello From Seattle) was also on the back of the original Zune.
More on topic, can't wait to purchase one of these! Great review!
"hello from seattle" has been on every single Zune since it's creation. Dont assume you're 'that' special.
Quick Question:
Do I NEED the dock to plug the zune HD to my hdtv or is it optional?
Slow Question:
Can I browse regular webpages with it?
Quick Question
1) Yes, you do. It's 80$ from what I've heard.
2) Yes, but you have to click on the non-mobile button after the page loads (shouldn't take more than a second) and then it will load the full version. It's like the PSP browser.
Quick Question
You can use the old dock that sells for $20 but it won't play HD.
1) Yes, you do. It's 80$ from what I've heard. 2) Yes, but you have to click on the non-mobile button after the page loads (shouldn't take more than a second) and then it will load the full version. It's like the PSP browser.
You can use the old dock that sells for $20 but it won't play HD.
Thanks for the quick (and slow xD) answers.
The dock thing is kinda a bummer though.
amazon has the HD dock for $62 as of RIGHT now
480x320 resolution of the iPhone has an aspect ratio of....4:3?
... 320 / 160 = 2...
... 480 / 160 = 3...
...Am I doing my maths right?
Any word on last.fm scrobbling?
@manjyomethunder
It's possible the iPhone doesn't have square pixels, either that or they've made a mistake with the figures.
Wow...
$80 for the dock, damn.
Just sounds like a really portable video player to me. It would make it easier to play my downloaded films on my TV. All I need is a Zune HD, Zune HD HDMI dock, and a HDMI cable... not sounding all to great any more ($$$)...
i don't live in America so i cant get it, otherwise i would have pre-ordered it. with the dock. imagine using the dock controller to play actual 3d games on tv, taking tegra and arm 11 to the limits.
argh why the hell dont they sell this thing in the UK.. id buy one in a flash if they did
You didn't go into my favorite feature, wireless sync. I love leaving my zune in my car in the garage, and finding new podcasts every morning when I drive to work.
Something neat, when tied to a comp via USB it will run through the PCs network (I was pulling up web-pages with wifi off and did a double take yesterday). Makes web-pages a bit faster but doesn't do much else. Suppose its an easy way to download if ones wifi is odd, but you have the zune software already to do this... so... redundant?
A few notes. First, thanks for all the comments, it was very helpful for the update.
manjyomethunder, your math is correct. The Touch has a 3:2 screen ratio. I'd love to say it was a typo, but it was just wrong information. I myself checked the numbers before, but saw what I thought was concrete info about it being 4:3. Obviously, a poor source we won't be using anymore.
fartblossom, we didn't go into wireless sync too much (did more in the update) because it's not a new feature. I like it very much, but I don't like how it only works on one network. In my house, we've got 3 wi-fi networks on the same router, so unless I'm in the vicinity of my home office, I can't sync wirelessly.
One thing we're not sure about, and waiting for more feedback on, is whether the Zune HD supports ad-hoc networking. Our tests show that it does not, but it could be a problem with our device, since realistically it should be identical to making your laptop into a wi-fi hotspot.
What do you guys think of it so far?
Great article, but I disagree on two fronts. First I think apps work fine - the poker is quite enjoyable to play. Second and more important, is it seems that you are familiar with typing on the iphone. I just recently started testing an iphone app and haven't used the keyboard before and had had horrible time typing on it. keypresses are noted on initial touch where with the zune they are enacted upon release and you have some room to adjust prior to selecting the key. I thought I was going to have problems with the zune given my iphone experience and it works phenomenal for me. Actually, really like it and had to double check my first URL was i typed into it was 100% correct. (and this was in before i realized i could type in landscape mode).