You probably know by now that at least some of us here at pretty high on the Zune HD—look at the lengths I went to get it up and running!—but I recognize that not every Mac owner is going to jump through hoops just to be able to use the device. But maybe, just maybe, Microsoft is finally ready to do what so many people have asked it to do: make a Mac version of the Zune software, thereby enabling all the Mac owners out there to use the portable media player a little more easily.
The deal is that Microsoft is “evaluating a lot of options in terms of platforms.” So it told ZDNet at some sort of open house it hosted yesterday. (I was gonna go, but I stayed home and watched Dream 11. I’m not joking.) In plain English that means, yeah, Microsoft is looking to make it so that you can the Zune HD without having to be tethered to Windows.
And if that happens, you can kiss the iPod’s hegemony over.
What’s the top of the line iPod these days, the iPod touch? Yeah, it’s a neat device, I guess, but I think it’s safe to say that most people gravitate that-a-way because of all those damn Apps. That is to say, people aren’t necessarily flocking toward the iPod touch because it’s the better portable media player, just that it so happens to have FitBuilder or City Transit on there.
I remember, back when the iPod was still newish (2003/04), people would defend the iPod’s high price as saying, “Yeah, maybe it’s more expensive than Random MP3 Player, but its user interface is so good. That’s what I’m paying for.” And, if you were a Mac user, you also had the iTunes Music Store.
Today? I dare you to compare the iPod touch’s user interface to the Zune HD’s. It’s just night and day better. I often just flip through my Zune HD while at my desk because 1) it’s fun to do so, given the amazing UI and 2) I’m a huge dork.
Both players have music stores, yes, but if the future of the Internet is all about social this, social that, then the Zune HD’s store wins again. I can see what songs my dumb friends have been playing right from the device, preview said songs, and, if I have a Zune HD music subscription (I don’t because, well, I really have no use for it). The days of “squirting” music are long gone. (And really: who the hell thought “squirting” was a good word to use? I can almost hear Steve Jobs’ laughter.)
I don’t know, I just think that, given a fair shot, a heck of a lot of people would pick up a Zune HD. If you’re an iPhone user, well then that’s a totally different story.
Then again, both Apple and Microsoft could go bankrupt tomorrow, making all of this moot.
I might seriously give it a look if they do! That’s been the only thing holding it back for me, I think.
The Zune’s UI is nice and flashy, but it’s no where near as functional as the iPods.
Touching the top of the screen/bottom of the HUGE fonts goes back a screen– how is this better than a back arrow on the iPod?
Also, I don’t see the benefits of a Zune over the iPod touch. The functionality seems so limited in comparison– due mostly to the app store.
The screen is nice though (indoors).
hmm, so you compare ONE function of the artistic design of the Zune HD, and because the Zune HD can move back, you suggest that the entire Zune HD is therefore no better then the iPod? Wow.
You know, Women and Men both have hands and feet, they must be all the same. You know a brand new BMW and a jalopy both have a steering wheel, a engine, and tires, man they must be the same too. I mean they both move on a road, so how could they be any difference? I mean, even think about a drawing that davinci did verses some a 3 grader doodles on their homework, they are both just pencils on paper, according to your logic, they must be the same, so 3rd grader are just as great as Davinci was. Wow amazing!
Seriously though, the UI on the ZUNE HD isn’t just “HUGE fonts”. Beyond being beautiful to look and and just flick around because of how they have the 3D like animations (which I stared at for a good 10 minutes just playing with) it has all these elements that are better organized and displayed on the screen, to make it easier to use, more attractive to look at, and more seamless from page to page. Even the simple quick play menu is beyond anything that Apple has. And the way they even access the quick play menu is cool and attractive. Different elements with organization all you to move quicker and more easily through your music and artist or whatever on the Zune HD, where on the Touch, even though it could be called simpled, it is too simple, being just a huge excel spread sheet that you swipe your finger through. I’m sure you’re used to it, and that’s why you’re biased to thinking it’s great, but once you get to use something better, it’s amazing why would ever liked your old way.
As for functionality, beyond missing any radio HD or regular, having a far worse screen than the Zune HD on the order of 100 times to 1000 times worse (look up the specs for contrast ratio, response time, even color gamut, and angle of viewing), not being able to use 720p video out to a HD TV like the Zune HD can, being bulkly meaning it’s less portable than the Zune HD which is a no brainer to take it with you, also missing syncing wirelessly, having a worse battery life than the Zune HD, and having no Zune Pass equivalent, yeah I guess the iPod Touch does have more functionality….
The only functionality that the iPod touch has over the Zune HD currently is far more Apps and Games, a speaker, and bluetooth. That’s it. The speaker can be handy, but it’s really up to if someone really wants it or not, same with bluetooth. Unfortunately, both the bluetooth and speaker have pretty terrible quality, and most likely make the device more bulky, and why they might be nice to have the option, if it did make the Zune HD heavier or less super portable then it is, then I’d rather not have them. As for Apps, yes that is the one thing that the iPod currently has over the Zune HD, and prertt much only because it’s had a few year head start. More apps are coming, and as it turns out from talks with developers, a lot more than were announced are coming. Will it be 75,000? Definitely not, but according to developers the games being made for the Zune HD are far more indpeth then anything that has been made on the iPod Touch.
It will be interesting to see everything looks like in a few months, and when Apps start making their way to the Zune HD, what will be left for the iPod to have over the Zune. A crappy speaker and bluetooth. That’s it.
True.Just stupid and idiot as MS.iPod is way better than ZHD.They have’nt add any new feature this time becuase they belive thier ipod touch 2G can compete with ZHD.And it is true.ipod touch has a 2 year refresh.
Nicholas gave to very obvious reasons why the Zunes UI is night and day better than the iPods–
1. It’s fun to just “flip” through
2. He’s a huge dork
Those are reason enough for me to admit that the Zune trumps the iPod’s UI.
Also, the iPod is thinner and has a larger/higher resolution screen.
You mean that a device is better for one person because of their subjective opinion?
What kind of crazy talk is that?! Obviously one HAS to be better!
Dude you just wrote a whole essay on how the Zune is supposedly better than the iPod touch, god dam! No one even knows what the Zune is, its going to crash, it will never be what the iPod is, and you say that all the touch has is Apps? Oooo thats all? The app store is where the money is at, why? Because more people own ipods and it will always be like that, no developers want to make apps for a device that no one uses.
So what you are saying is a player with much less market share shoudl just hang it up because they will fail? I guess Apple should just pull the plug on the Mac. They only have 6 8% share so why bother?
Mr.Stupid ,,,Apple is in premium category…mostly for Upper middle class or rich people.They are making so much money out of mac.So Mr.Stupid if they gain 1% more market share its billions of $$$$$$$$$$$$ profit.
Mr. Deleon is the leading lover of all things Microsoft. Just Google the dude.
Well maybe there’s finally a reason to love a few Microsoft things. You make it sound like a “Microsoft Lover” is worse or less annoying than a “Mac Lover”.
@John
What do you mean how is that better? It is so much easier then pressing a back button. The ZuneHD also has a back button in certain parts of the system also. The ZHD’s take on going back to a previous page is new and very inventive.
Also if you read the article it stated a reason for the app store and its dilemma. If that really is a selling point for you on a PMP then don’t buy one. Get a netbook.
yeah yeah yeah.MS fanboys have something to happy about.
Mind elaborating Andy? What exactly do “MS Fanboys” have to be happy about?
may be about their ZHD and stupid Vista.hahaha
True….lol MS fanboys are crying again
Yeah just like Apple fan-boys are happy about their Snow Leopard and iPod Touch. Whats your point?
becuase MS fanboys are nothing to loose,,becuase they are looser with their cheap products.
It’s true, I find myself just flipping through the Zune HD user interface because it is so awesome.
Not to mention, when it is docked, the ’screen saver’ that runs while music is playing is truly eye-catching and stunning to look at.
-Love Zune HD
Wow I just love all of these people on here calling each other fanboys. If you are commenting and trying to downplay another product, doesn’t that make you a fanboy also? And it only makes sense to say one product is better than another of that person owns both. I just got my zune HD and Im making this comment on my iPod touch. So all of you fan oys out there really need to calm down and stop complaining about everyone else’s attempt to compete in the pmp market.
“but I recognize that not every Mac owner is going to jump through hoops just to be able to use the device.”
Really? Because you tried to tell us at the time that it was easy-peezy, and we should all do it because there was no hoop jumping.
Now you are telling us the “hegemony” is over? Really?
You are an idiot.
“That is to say, people aren’t necessarily flocking toward the iPod touch because it’s the better portable media player, just that it so happens to have FitBuilder or City Transit on there.”
We’ve all had 2-4 PMPs for nearly a decade; we want more, not more of 2002.
“I often just flip through my Zune HD while at my desk because 1) it’s fun to do so, given the amazing UI and 2) I’m a huge dork.”
Again, you’re an idiot. In another 3 weeks, you will be bored.
“I can see what songs my dumb friends have been playing right from the device, preview said songs, and, if I have a Zune HD music subscription (I don’t because, well, I really have no use for it).”
You could do things that you can’t do because you don’t want to. Really? Great. You are an idiot.
“I don’t know, I just think that, given a fair shot, a heck of a lot of people would pick up a Zune HD.”
You are blubbering. Get over your own idiocy and your silly Zune. “A fair shot” would have been developing it half a decade ago, having one stragy, sticking with it, and bringing it to the world and other platforms — again, 5 years ago. Don’t tell me that it’s not getting it’s fair shot because I prefer the iPod/iPhone.
Wow, is someone liking something different from you such a huge insult to you? Is it really so hard to believe that someone might prefer the UI, hardware, player, services, or what have you of the Zune or any other player?
I reviewed the Zune HD for this site and I prefer it as a media player to the iPod touch as well. Many people do. Are they all idiots? Or are you just being intolerant of other people’s viewpoints? I think it’s pretty clearly the latter.
No, you are free to like whatever you like, no problem there. You are an idiot for completely contradicting yourself just a week or two later, you are an idiot for saying that some vague PR comment will fundamentally change Apple’s iPod/iPhone position, you are an idiot for flicking away and staring at an interface to pass the time, you are an idiot for proclaiming an advantage that you don’t even use because you don’t even want it, and you are an idiot because you think your really lame points persuade anyone to like what you like.
The best strategy would be to skip the Mac and go straight to the iPhone. Do I really think Zune for iPhone, which would be very significant for Microsoft, is half as important or compelling as Spotify on the iPhone? Hell no.
Speaking of contradictions Tim. You say you have no problem with him having his own opinions. Then you call him an idiot over and over for those opinions he has.
Well, I think you’re an idiot for not being open to other people’s viewpoints.
Nicholas,
You misunderstood MS’s comments regarding other platforms. Maybe they will make the Zune software compatible with the Mac, and maybe they won’t. However, they’re not talking about operating systems, they’re talking about devices.
Right now, the Zune software only officially works on Zune players (and unofficially works on S60 based phones). With next year’s Zune HD refresh currently slated to be the last physical Zune, MS is looking to move the Zune software platform to more devices. Windows Mobile 7 is the first logical choice. However, there have also been talks to move it to portable media players made by Sony, Samsung, Sansa, etc. Basically, they want the Zune Software to work on anything that isn’t an iPod, to improve their market share.
WOW!!! “APPLE-NISM” in the building folks!!! y cant they just admit that MS made a kickass product..and i think MS has already stated that they arent goin head to head to ITOUCH. also most of the reviewers agree to the fact that u cant compare them..the only similarity is that they are touchscreen media players with added functionality..
they each have their pros and cons which make em good in their own respects.. and its not that MS fanboys wont buy mac or IPODs.. if they get more outta less expensive products then y should they spend on something outrageously expensive i.e SNOW LEOPARD..LMAO
and APPLE FANBOYS we doesnt praise vista much but atleast the latest windows isnt called “SNOW VISTA”.. cheers to windows 7.
another thing UI and apps functionality are distinguished by the buyer..some may like an IPOD better or some may like a ZUNE HD.but look I being from INDIA dont have an APP store nor can i have a ZUNE PASS n HD radio. which 1 should i buy? a better PMP right?? n there are no prizes for guessing which 1 is better in that category..i might well buy a IPOD classic then a ITOUCH.. so to each its own.
and well ZUNE software is being MULTI PLAT because MS is concentrating on software and not hardware..
so cheer on MAC FANBOYS!!!
Such an Idiot MS fanboy.hahaha
Stupid ZHD followers and ridiculous MS.Vista is not snow vista but Slow XP….hahaha
And Windows 7 cant compete with powerful mac OS…
how much i have to wait
I feel like an idiot after reading all these comments. I feel that the Zune HD gives you a superior music / video experience and the software is fantastic. The iPod touch is great if you want an all-in-one device.
Zune is only good as long as you don’t have viruses on your system……my Zune died as soon as I synced it with my pc (before my antivirus located the software)…
ROFL..
what is this? one dude saying everyone is an idiot for liking something else?
thats like calling someone an idiot for liking a camaro instead of a benz..what the hell?? you cant do that..dumba$$.
the ZHD and the TOUCH DO NOT.. i repeat DO NOT go against eah other..
ZHD is concentrating on being a MEDIA PLAYER..
the TOUCH is becoming a GAMING DEVICE(or if you guys want, all-in-one)..
those are each gadget’s strengths..
MEDIA is VIDEO and MUSIC the whole experience.
GAMING DEVICE( all-in-one) APPS GAMES OTHER FRACKING FEATURES.
each gadget kicks the others A$$.
TOUCH wins by app store.
ZUNE HD wins by audio and video quality.
NOW if we are talking about AESTHETICS. TO EACH HIS OWN!