Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player (White)
by Zune
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Category: Network Media Player
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Digital Photo Product Details
Artist: Artist Not ProvidedManufacturer: Zune
Brand: Zune
Edition: Electronics
Format: CD-ROM
Release Date: 2006-11-14
Platform: Windows 2000, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional
Model: ZUNE
Color: White
Publisher: Zune
Studio: Zune
Music Label: Zune
Product features:
- IMPORTANT: Allow your Zune to charge for 30 minutes then disconnect and reconnect the cable to turn on the player
- 30 GB digital media player stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video
- Features wireless networking so you can share tracks and other media
- 3-inch color screen features a landscape mode for video viewing
- Compatible with Zune Marketplace for media downloads and subscriptions
- Automatically imports your existing music, pictures and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats
- Sony MDR-J10 H.Ear Headphones with Non-Slip Design (Blue)
- Ultimate Ears MetroFi 220 Noise Isolating Earphones
- Music Power 0900-72 Encore Dual Port USB AC Charger with Rechargeable Extended Battery
- Powerline By Original Power 0900-79 12-Volt DC Dual Socket Splitter with USB Charging Port
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player (White)
Customer Review: Zune is a great MP3 player. Buy one and review it yourself. I think you will agree!
Summary: 5 Stars
Dec. 20 - I spent some more time today physically comparing features of the Ipod, Creative Zen, SanDisk, and Zune. I stress to anyone considering an MP3 player purchase, go and try the Zune out at a store. Don't let the Ipod click wheel hypnotize you into thinking it is the best way to control an MP3 player user interface.
I actually prefer the Zune rocker over the click wheel because it is easier to control the movement while scrolling and you don't have to spin your finger in circles to scroll. The Zune rocker dial is different and will initially feel awkward if you move from an Ipod to a Zune but don't give up on the Zune.
Try out the user interface and compare it to any of the other MP3 players I mentioned. The Zune interface is by far the most intuitive and easy to use. It also has the nicest looking graphics. Click on Music and then click the rocker wheel to the right and see how easy it is to move from Genre, to Artist, to Album, etc... Go back and click on Video and do the same. Then go and compare all the steps you have to take to do this same task with the other players. It takes multiple steps to achieve the same thing you can do by just pushing to the left or right with rocker dial on the Zune.
Stop on Albums and see the Album Art feature. When you are viewing your Albums on the Zune you actually see the Album Art next to each album with additional information. When you scroll down through all your albums and hold the rocker down a large overlay letter appears on the screen that matches up with the first letter in the Album title and changes as you scroll. This helps you know where you are at in your list so you can scroll quickly. This same feature occurs when you are scrolling down through the artists. When you click on an individual Artist it opens up and shows each of that artist's albums with the Album Art next to each Album for that artist. When you play your music the Album Art fills the screen which creates a nice look and is a feature that is very different than what you see when you look at an Ipod and other players. Ipod has album art once you play an album but not when you are viewing an Artist and seeing an Artist's ablums. You can actually see the difference in the screen shots of the players on Amazon. On an Ipod and other players the Album art doesn't fill the entire screen or look even close to as nice as it does on the Zune. The Album Art and other graphic features make the Zune standout and make the Ipod screen seem bland.
I also like that I can personalize my Zune by selecting my own background and Zune name. I am using a photo that I took as the wallpaper I see as I flip through my screens. Your Zune name is what other Zunes see when you turn the WiFi on.
I currently have around 3300 songs(192Kpbs), 15 videos, and 4 pictures on my Zune. When I showed it to my friends with Ipods they immediately said they like the material the Zune is made of because their Ipods were all scratched up and full of fingerprints. They thought the Zune material seemed more scratch and fingerprint resistant with the flat finish. They also liked the feel of the Zune in their hand, widescreen video, the double shot color, the way it uses Album Art and the graphics in the user interface.
You may hear people say things about the size of the Zune and how they can't fit into their pockets. This is not true at all. I have put it in my shirt pockets, jacket pockets, side pockets on my jeans, sweat pant pockets and have never been upset with the size. The extra size was obviously necessary for the extra features it offers that the Ipod and others don't offer like the Larger Screen, WiFi, and the FM tuner.
I have shared songs between Zunes wirelessly and it is a nice feature. The wireless transfer was very quick and the process is easy. Songs are shared in a matter of seconds. All you do is choose a song, podcast, or picture you want to send, hit the send button, and then choose the Nearby Zune you want to send it to. Then, the Nearby Zune user you send it to either accepts or rejects the file you send. The wireless feature looks similiar to the wireless you see on your PC with the names of other available Zunes in the area. Microsoft has said that they intend to expand the functionality of the wireless capabilities over time. I am looking forward to the wifi development but I am glad my Zune has this feature NOW rather than having to wait for it to HOPEFULLY be an option in the future. Wifi is not available on Ipods.
With the Zune, someone can send you a song that you can hear three times for free on your own Zune and then decide if you want to buy from the Zune Marketplace by flagging it on the Zune. I don't understand why the anti-Zune folks can't just appreciate this feature for what it is, a way to share music that you like with someone else. It is a social experience even if it is a limited one. Since I am 35, I probably won't use the feature like I would if I was in Jr. High, High School, or College where I would be with my friends more often. I know I would use the sharing feature all the time if I were in that group the same way they use text messaging all the time.
The Zune software and marketplace are easy to use. Before I purchased the Zune I actually preferred Windows Media Player to Itunes which is why I like the Zune Software. It is very straightforward and resembles Windows Media Player 11. I have a large selection of CDs that I ripped to my hard drive and synced to my Zune so I haven't had a need YET to join the Zune Marketplace subscription service. I do really like the fact that it is available and easy to use if I want to be able to download all the music I want for $15 a month. This is another MAJOR difference between Zune and Ipod. Ipod doesn't have a subscription service available.
The Zune has more shuffle options than the Ipod. With the Zune you can turn the shuffle feature on in the main menu music setting and this allows you to choose an Artist and shuffle all of the Albums for a single Artist. Not on the Ipod. You can also shuffle by Genre on the Zune and have all the music playback shuffled for that Genre. Not on the Ipod. On the Zune, you can also shuffle all the Albums, a Single Album, and you can shuffle by all the Songs in your entire collection. The Ipod gives you two choices, shuffle by Album or Songs but you can not break it down the same way that you can on the Zune.
Some people reviewing are complaining about Zune not being able to download podcasts. I already download Podcasts to my Zune. They go right into my Zune folder and sync without a problem at all. I have recently learned how to put YouTube videos on it as well. I am doing this with the free FeedYourZune and TubeSucker shareware. Microsoft has said they will be providing firmware upgrades in the future that will make it possible to get podcasts via the Zune but the 3rd party software works great NOW.
The Ipod is the only MP3 player with more accessories available then the Zune at this time. There are already plenty of accessories for the Zune with many more planned for the future. I purchased the Home A/V Pack and you can see what I think of that product in the review I wrote there. In short, it makes me like my Zune even more! :-) I decided to use a 2nd Home A/V Pack in my car with the Zune car charger. More info about that below.
I am using the Home A/V pack and Zune Car Charger in my car as well. I put the Zune dock in my car, plugged the Zune car charger into the dock and plugged the aux audio cable coming off the back of my Alpine into my Zune headphone jack. The Zune home A/V pack includes a wireless remote. Bottom line, I am now able to put my Zune on the dock and it will charge and play through my car stereo with wireless control via the remote. If my car stereo was setup for video and I had LCDs I could also hook up the yellow A/V cable Video connection and the Zune video would play through the LCDs as well.
I can't see any reason why someone would pick a 30GB Ipod or other 30GB MP3 player over a Zune. I guess I can understand why you might if you have purchased a lot of music from Itunes that has wrapped your music with DRM software since that controls how and where you can use your music. It would be expensive to have to go and buy all that music again via the Zune Marketplace or CD. This is the same issue a Zune user who purchases from the Zune Marketplace will have since Zune wraps your music in DRM software as well. I prefer buying CDs and ripping them so I am not controlled by Microsoft or Apple.
My only advice, go and compare Zune features side-by-side to other players and see for yourself. Just because Ipods are the most popular device doesn't mean they are the best device. Zune is a different device with NEW features.
I am really happy with my Zune and Zune accessory purchases.
Description of Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player (White)
Thanks to integrated wireless technology, the Microsoft Zune 30GB White Digital Media MP3 Player is more than just an MP3 player - it's a social network, a community. Share your favorite songs, playlists, recordings and pictures with friends with just a click of a button. The big bright screen is perfect for viewing videos and pictures, and can be viewed upright in portrait or on its side in landscape mode. The background picture is completely customizable, so you can personalize your Zune's appearance to match your personality.Entertainment and sharing to go. That's the Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player. The Zune plays music and videos, displays images, and unlike the iPod, it even receives FM radio so you can stay on top of local news or sports. Designed around the principles of sharing, discovery, and community, Zune connects people and empowers them with the tools needed to share entertainment experiences. The Zune experience is centered around connection--connection to your library, friends, community, and other Zunes. It's powered by software that allows users to manage files on the player, rip audio CDs, and buy from a wide selection of music and videos at the Zune Marketplace.
 The Zune lets you share music and pictures with other Zune users in the area. |
 The controls are designed to be familiar and easy to use so you can jump right in and start having fun. View larger. |
 Zune software can find compatible music files on your PC and copy them to your Zune device. |
 Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing lets you share your favorite tracks and photos. |
 Browse more than 100,000 artist bios and hundreds of playlists in the Zune Marketplace. |
The Zune's navigation is simple and intuitive with a scroll wheel and basic buttons, and the big, bright screen makes it easy to browse music and show off your favorite pictures and videos. This attractive, smart device stores up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 100 hours of video. Get creative. Make playlists on the go and watch slide shows while you're listening. And if you're watching video on the Zune, you'll be pleased with the landscape mode that allows you to get the most out of the vivid display.
Zune-to-Zune Sharing
Don't forget the primary principle of the Zune: sharing. With this device in hand you're holding an opportunity to share music and photos wirelessly from one Zune to another. Send your favorite tracks or images to your friends, or just about anyone with a Zune that's within your reach.
Whether you're walking down the street, in a room with a bunch of friends, at a concert, at the airport, or on the bus, you can whip out your Zune and see all the other Zune devices that surround you. In the blink of an eye you're connected to your best friend and you can send over your band's newest song. Another friend might get the hilarious podcast your little brother made at school, plus that hot new song you just downloaded from the Zune Marketplace. And, of course, there's all the good stuff that your friends want to send back your way. The connections are made and the Zune community grows.
Best of all, the song you sent (or received) isn't a short 30-second preview--it's the whole song. Your friend can sample the song up to three times in three days, flag it on their device and then buy it from the Zune Marketplace. You can send pictures, too. If you loved the photo of your dog at the park and you just have to share it with your buddies, shoot it off to whoever is around. And any pictures that are sent or received can be kept and viewed indefinitely.
Sometimes you don't want to be noticed, and the Zune allows you to fly under the radar. All you need to do is turn the wireless function off, or adjust the privacy settings to control whether people can see you are online. And if you want to keep your Zune private while studying in the library or reading the newspaper on the bus, you can also block Zune devices in wireless range from sending you a song.
Zune Marketplace
Zune makes it easy to find music you love--whether it's songs in your existing library or new music from the Zune Marketplace. You can easily import your existing music, pictures, and videos in many popular formats from your PC and browse millions of songs at the Zune Marketplace where you can purchase individual tracks or buy a Zune Pass subscription to download as many songs as you want for a flat fee. Plus, you can apply Microsoft Points towards the purchase of music so you can buy online without a credit card for added security. At the Zune Marketplace you can read over 100,000 artist biographies and features from leading magazines including XLR8R, NME, and FADED, and you'll have easy access to Billboard Charts, including Billboard 200, Hot 100 Songs, and more. You'll even be able to browse what people in the Zune community are listening to by checking out the Zune Charts.
Pre-Loaded Content
Zune is a vehicle to explore new sounds and share entertainment experiences. With that in mind, the Zune comes pre-loaded with a variety of songs and videos from hot, new artists, as well as some fun films and images. With something for everyone, the pre-loaded Zune content may help you discover your new favorite band, but at the very least you'll have some entertainment at your fingertips so you can start connecting and sharing. Zune pre-loaded content includes loads of audio tracks, music videos, and film shorts, plus 12 classic rock posters from "Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion."
Zune Accessories
You can choose from a full line of accessories to outfit your Zune. These three Zune Accessory Packs provide complete solutions for Zune in your car, in your home or while you travel. Individual accessories are also available.
- The Zune Car Pack includes everything needed to hit the road with a Zune device, such as the built-in FM tuner with AutoSeek and the Zune Car Charger.
- The Zune Home A/V Pack enhances your experience in the home through five products that integrate Zune with the TV and music speakers: Zune AV Output Cable, Zune Dock, Zune Sync Cable, Zune AC Adapter and the Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock.
- The Zune Travel Pack is a set of five products designed to keep friends and family entertained on the road: Zune Premium Earphones, Zune Dual Connect Remote, Zune Gear Bag, Zune Sync Cable and the Zune AC Adapter.
Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player, earphones, USB cable, and sleeve.
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