| The Volish Zune is better than Apple's Ipod Classic
MICROSOFT'S latest Zune player is proving better than the Apple Ipod, according to the latest reviews. Although not many appear to have bought the last version of the Zune, it seems that Vole has managed to do a bit better on its second generation machines which will hit the shops soon. This time its $250 80GB model wipes the floor with the iPod Classic with its wireless syncing and built in radio. The beast is not as pretty than the iPod, being a bit thicker. According to PC World, sound quality was all right thanks to the better quality headphones which ships with the beasts. The Zune supports MP3, WMA, WMA lossless, PlaysForSure DRM-ed audio, and its own DRM format for Zune Pass subscriptions. It can also play FM and video and displays photos on its 3.2-inch 320-by-240-pixel screen, and the Zune now supports h.264 and MPEG-4 encoding in addition to WMV.
WSJ: new Zune targets old iPod, not new
Microsoft's new Zune line is good but meant more to compete against the last generation of iPods than the new models, according to a new review by Wall Street Journal technology columnist Walt Mossberg. While the new flash- and hard drive-based players are definite improvements over the original version released a year ago and work well, the devices are said to only truly excel when compared to Apple's 2006-era 5th-generation iPod and second-generation iPod nano. For every feature absent from comparably priced iPods, Apple has another of its own: the Zune's FM radio and larger screen (for the 80GB model) are countered by interface touches such as smart playlists, much better battery life, and a better-quality screen, Mossberg claims. The edge in software goes to Apple again despite clear improvements, as the Zune's improved jukebox is criticized for focusing too strongly on whole albums and the absence of an interface such as Cover Flow.
Microsoft Zune 80GB Media Player (Black)
Though the old 30GB Zune didn't go over too well, Microsoft's kept at it and managed to produce an impressive pair of players in its second-generation Zunes. The $250 80GB hard-drive model I tested would make a capable alternative to an 80GB iPod Classic if wireless syncing or built-in radio interest you. The 80GB Zune is just about the same size as Apple's 160GB iPod Classic, which makes it a bit thicker than the 80GB model it's competing with. In our objective audio tests and my listening tests, the Zune performed well, producing clean sound with little distortion. One tiny annoyance, though: The player's 20-step digital volume control doesn't provide much granularity. Occasionally, I'd reach points where one step was too low and the next too high. .
Zune trumps iPod as Amazon.com's top seller
Microsoft's Zune portable media player is currently Amazon.com's top-selling digital music device, usurping Apple's iPod for the highest rank in the "Electronics" category. The 30GB Zune -- which Microsoft has heavily discounted to a purchase price of $134 -- dethroned Apple's 4GB iPod nano this morning in Amazon.com's list of top-selling MP3 players. Apple's 4GB iPod nano took second place, while the Cupertino-based company's 80GB iPod classic holds the no. 3 spot. Microsoft's recently-introduced 80GB Zune player is labeled as temporarily out of stock with no future shipping date on Amazon.com, which coincides with the Redmond-based company's own statement that the 80GB Zune will be unavailable until early December. Earlier this month Microsoft announced plans to improve on the basic formula of the iPod's customization for its new Zune players.
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