Engadget spotted that Microsoft has confirmed the new Zune software update will be made available on September 15.In a newsletter to subscribers, Microsoft notes "soon you'll be able to experience the all-new Zune software packed with exciting new features. Watch for the update on September 15 so you'll be ready to enjoy the full Zune experience."
It's expected that the latest update will include more HD video options and an apps marketplace. Zune HD applications were confirmed by a Microsoft official in late August. Earlier this week Microsoft company officials confirmed that current Zune models, the Zune 8, 16, 80, and 120, have all been discontinued and that the Zune HD will be the only Zune device manufactured.
The software update comes on the same day that Microsoft will release the new Zune HD. Currently, customers in the US can pre-order the Zune HD to ensure a happy September 15. Prices for the Zune HD are currently $219.99 for the 16GB model and $289.99 for the 32GB variant.
Although Microsoft has confirmed that the Zune HD will go international later this year, release date and pricing information for countries outside the United States has yet to be confirmed.
"Although Microsoft has confirmed that the Zune HD will go international later this year, release date and pricing information for countries outside the United States has yet to be confirmed."
"Although Microsoft has confirmed that the Zune HD will go international later this year, release date and pricing information for countries outside the United States has yet to be confirmed."
Opps ive only just woke up i should read properly.
Bit of a sad state of affairs, Microsoft shafted Europeans on the first 2 generations of Zune and they are going to do it again with the Zune HD, screw them then, i was going to get an MP3 player in a month or two but ill just go get an ipod, its clear Microsoft doesnt want any European money.
After the way they get treated by the governments over there, I can see why they might be tempted to stay away from that market.
"Although Microsoft has confirmed that the Zune HD will go international later this year, release date and pricing information for countries outside the United States has yet to be confirmed."
Opps ive only just woke up i should read properly.
Bit of a sad state of affairs, Microsoft shafted Europeans on the first 2 generations of Zune and they are going to do it again with the Zune HD, screw them then, i was going to get an MP3 player in a month or two but ill just go get an ipod, its clear Microsoft doesnt want any European money.
I hope it makes a European appearance. BEFORE Christmas (well...as they said "later this year" it should) as i want to get an MP3 player before i go away on holiday.
I dont work for the government either do 99.99% of europeans why punish us?
Yep, but they got in power somehow. You guys over there still have elections, corrent? Remember all the fun comments about US citizens on here while Bush was in office? What goes around comes around, I suppose.
Why not punish you? Are you not punishable somehow? Besides, they have to sell off the old Zunes somewhere.
Personally i've not been given a good enough reason to stop using iPods yet, and that appears to be the norm from what i see people using in public.
Right, but is that due to product quality or brand recognition? I'd guess it's the latter.
the thing is WAY to restricted. if i had actually paid money for Zune i would be really upset right now.
p.s. i know there's hacks out there to make it work as a drive letter in windows explorer but they dont seem to work with all the newest updates and i dont think there is a way to downgrade either. the only reason i wanted the Zune 30GB in the first place was pretty much for storage. now that that seems out of the picture i cant even seem to figure out how to use the damn thing as it's software is NOT easy to use.
i prefer the manual windows explorer file transfers vs all that junk software. Zune gets a massive thumbs down from me.
p.s. my Sandisk Sansa e250 device running Rockbox firmware is MILES better than the Zune 30GB as it's not restricted in any way once running rockbox and it shows up as a drive letter in Windows Explorer like ALL devices should.... the sad thing is the Zune 30GB costs more than the Sansa devices lol
that's the problem... i want to store ANYTHING i want onto it's hard drive like Rockbox lets me do on my Sansa device.
it's just MS trying to 'control' everything again
but thanks for your reply though.
p.s. to look at the positive note... 'attempting' to "USE" the Zune makes me appreciate my Sansa device that much more. lol
if Zune could ever run Rockbox (which it dont look like it will be able to) then the Zune would be a pretty good device. but as is, it's pretty much a joke especially considering the prices they charge people for that thing when there's lots of other brand that aint nearly as restricting.
but no DAP (Digital Audio Player) can compete with Rockbox (www.rockbox.org) due to the control it gives you over your device and not to mention audio format support to.
at the end of the day though.... Microsoft should never limit basic Windows Explorer use of the device. i just hate how they FORCE there crappy software on you as the ONLY way to transfer anything to the device. Windows Explorer is much quicker and more efficient.
as you have to select folders on it's 'Settings > Collection' tab to where your videos will be located. THEN... you got to go back to 'Collection > Videos', then right click the damn thing and then 'Sync to Zune' (etc) and it will transfer it but it will only list the file if it's compatible with the Zune.
definitely not what i would call 'easy'. but at least i can play around with the Zune's video playback since that's about the only OK thing this device can do because for Audio my Sansa running Rockbox is miles better.
but using some free software i got online (i.e. Free Zune Video Converter 1.1) i can convert some of my .avi movie files to use on it once in a great while.
so i guess the Zune aint a total loss now but still, if i did not get this device for free (it's a new in box to) i would definitely not be happy with it.
about the only real advantage the Zune has over my Sansa device is the screen size is about it which is only handy if your doing alot of video playback etc which who would do that since these devices are primarily made for 'audio'.... but with screen size improvement comes bulk of the device as my Sansa would be much smaller/better to carry around vs the bulky Zune.
just some thoughts
Are you serious? Zune software is so slick and better than WMP12... and it's not even bloated like iTunes. I think you're just over-reacting, the Zune is a PMP, not a hard drive, if you want an external hard drive... go buy one. They're cheaper.
When you plug your Zune in it shows the icon in the corner of the software. Drag whatever you want (podcasts, videos, playlists, individual songs, or entire albums) from either the marketplace (if you have Zune pass) or your collection to the little Zune icon. Done. How could that be easier? The only "hard" part about that is personal media must be in your collection before it can be added to the Zune.
Also, I'm not sure, but I believe the reason you are required to use the Zune software is because of the way the media is stored on the Zune. The software optimizes the layout and indexes for speed of navigation. Plus, since the Zune can only play certain media types and bitrates, the Zune software will re-encode/transcode to what the Zune can play. Yes, it would be nice if the software support more file types, but they've already improved it, and hopefully it will just get better with Zune 4.0.
Besides, you really don't know the Zune unless you have a Zune Pass. This device was designed around the Zune Pass, and that's the only real reason I got a Zune instead of something like a Sansa. And if you think Zune software is bad...have you tried iTunes?
iPod "classic" has had this feature for years now and people love it.
lol
it's just MS trying to 'control' everything again
but thanks for your reply though.
p.s. to look at the positive note... 'attempting' to "USE" the Zune makes me appreciate my Sansa device that much more. lol
if Zune could ever run Rockbox (which it dont look like it will be able to) then the Zune would be a pretty good device. but as is, it's pretty much a joke especially considering the prices they charge people for that thing when there's lots of other brand that aint nearly as restricting.
but no DAP (Digital Audio Player) can compete with Rockbox (www.rockbox.org) due to the control it gives you over your device and not to mention audio format support to.
at the end of the day though.... Microsoft should never limit basic Windows Explorer use of the device. i just hate how they FORCE there crappy software on you as the ONLY way to transfer anything to the device. Windows Explorer is much quicker and more efficient.
then buy an external drive. the zune is a media player not a hard drive.
I much prefer iTunes over the Zune software. If you don't like the bloat it's pretty easy to extract iTunes and Quicktime, it's always worked pretty much flawlessly for me.
iTunes *is* the bloat.
You can get one for like $75 on NewEgg...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820220261
Why anyone would want to use such a MEDIA player to carry around general files is beyond me, I'd barely have enough space for music and videos as it is, never mind anything else!
Actually Sansas let you drag and drop in Windows Explorer natively
You can get one for like $75 on NewEgg...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820220261
Why anyone would want to use such a MEDIA player to carry around general files is beyond me, I'd barely have enough space for music and videos as it is, never mind anything else!
Because it is convenient, a useful feature, and would be trivial for Microsoft to implement.
I could make a similar argument for something like the iPhone. "Why would anyone want a PHONE to carry around MEDIA is beyond me." Obviously the iPhone does this and is quite popular. See how silly your argument is now?
Your analogy is flawed, because cars don't come with waffle irons. If they did come with a waffle iron, but the manufacturer didn't let you use the waffle iron to make waffles, then that would be a better analogy of the situation.
No, because the Zune HD doesn't have a hard drive.
even WITHOUT Rockbox... the Sansa still acts like a storage device. hence my point is still valid.
p.s. i can't believe people ain't seeing my point...
the simple fact is that Microsoft is handicapping the Zune because asking for it to act as a portable storage device should be standard issue in ANY device of this type. this is not unreasonable especially when the Zune costs so much in the first first when much cheaper devices out there have this feature.
and at the end of the day my Sansa is miles better than a Zune for audio playback (and general use etc) which is what these types of devices primary function is anyways. so ill keep my 'crappy sansa' while you keep your handicapped/overpriced Zune. (nothing personal, but i make a strong point)
heck, even the overrated IPOD's act as external storage devices, right? ... and i always dis those to. but even they give you that much.
p.s. +1 to 'Shadrack's' comments... he actually understands my general point which i don't see how anyone who aint a MS fanboy could disagree with.
Last edited by ThaCrip on 05 Sep 2009 - 00:53
yes, dead serious. i am also talking about 'Windows Explorer' NOT WMP (Windows Media Player)... Windows Media Player sucks for all that syncing etc etc... Windows Explorer on the other hand gets straight to the point and is very easy to use if you can navigate your PC well, which i assume pretty much everyone on neowin knows Windows Explorer quite well since it's used ALOT to get to files in general on your PC.
i am not over-reacting at all. because go from a device that gives you total control (i.e. Sansa running Rockbo
Also, I'm not sure, but I believe the reason you are required to use the Zune software is because of the way the media is stored on the Zune. The software optimizes the layout and indexes for speed of navigation. Plus, since the Zune can only play certain media types and bitrates, the Zune software will re-encode/transcode to what the Zune can play. Yes, it would be nice if the software support more file types, but they've already improved it, and hopefully it will just get better with Zune 4.0.
Besides, you really don't know the Zune unless you have a Zune Pass. This device was designed around the Zune Pass, and that's the only real reason I got a Zune instead of something like a Sansa. And if you think Zune software is bad...have you tried iTunes?
thanks for the reply but...
it dont seem like 'dragging and dropping' works on ALL audio/video files as i just tried directly dragging and droping a .avi (XviD) file to there and it does nothing.
so i just assume you mean by already supported files it will work with.
because as far as i can tell you cant just drag ANY video file to the Zune as it has to be in .wmv format for it to work at all and i typically had to use other software to convert video files so they they work on Zune.
p.s. i can't believe people ain't seeing my point...
the simple fact is that Microsoft is handicapping the Zune because asking for it to act as a portable storage device should be standard issue in ANY device of this type. this is not unreasonable especially when the Zune costs so much in the first first when much cheaper devices out there have this feature.
and at the end of the day my Sansa is miles better than a Zune for audio playback (and general use etc) which is what these types of devices primary function is anyways. so ill keep my 'crappy sansa' while you keep your handicapped/overpriced Zune. (nothing personal, but i make a strong point)
heck, even the overrated IPOD's act as external storage devices, right? ... and i always dis those to. but even they give you that much.
p.s. +1 to 'Shadrack's' comments... he actually understands my general point which i don't see how anyone who aint a MS fanboy could disagree with.
The Zune can act as a storage device. There's a hack out there for it. Figure it out.
p.s. i can't believe people ain't seeing my point...
the simple fact is that Microsoft is handicapping the Zune because asking for it to act as a portable storage device should be standard issue in ANY device of this type. this is not unreasonable especially when the Zune costs so much in the first first when much cheaper devices out there have this feature.
and at the end of the day my Sansa is miles better than a Zune for audio playback (and general use etc) which is what these types of devices primary function is anyways. so ill keep my 'crappy sansa' while you keep your handicapped/overpriced Zune. (nothing personal, but i make a strong point)
heck, even the overrated IPOD's act as external storage devices, right? ... and i always dis those to. but even they give you that much.
p.s. +1 to 'Shadrack's' comments... he actually understands my general point which i don't see how anyone who aint a MS fanboy could disagree with.
The Zune can act as a storage device. There's a hack out there for it. Figure it out.
the hack apparently DOES NOT work anyone if your zune is using the newest firmware/software etc which i am running. and as far as i can tell from looking around there's no way to go back.
?
yeah, that didn't really make the sense s/he thought it did
It certainly did. The previous Zunes were ugly and feature incomplete. They couldn't compete with the iPod's... It was a half baked first attempt. Given the choice, very few people that didn't have a preexisting dislike for Apple would choose the Zune. By keeping these previous models in production after the HD came out, it would only hurt Microsoft's efforts. The Zune HD and the previous Zunes are worlds apart. I like the HD a lot, and I expect consumers to like it as well. Microsoft might have a shot this time around.
You could argue they should retain the HD based ones for the 80gigs of storage but perhaps the new firmware wont run on them without the tegra chips, thus the reasoning for phasing them out now. Who knows.
Anyway the biggest factor this time IMHO isnt the device itself but the fact its shipping internationally. They really did hamper their efforts the first time by being US only. I mean, ask people what players they recommend on a forum and I doubt too many non US people would ever recommend a Zune, even to a US customer based on the fact they were never available. They should be able to garner up a lot more word of mouth this time.
Maybe if the Zune HD does very well, Microsoft might bring back the non-touch flash Zunes with a hardware refresh or something. There's still a good market for those that want something cheaper and more dedicated to playing media.
Zune Software > WMP
Still, it will have to be on hell of a piece of software. Don't like having another app just to sync to the player and WMP serves my music playing needs just fine.
It's nice software, but I prefer navigating WMP's library. That may be because a lot of my music is not sold by Zune so I need to manage the organizing and tagging myself
None of my music is bought from the Zune store, and it's not organized very well. However the Zune software tags and organizes it all. Windows media player however has 3/4 of my songs as "Unknown artist"
I'm not going to miss the small flash zunes, but I think they make pretty neat players and I would recommend them. People will miss the huge storage of the 'classic' Zunes though
Oh wait, you cannot. I'm so sad...
Oh wait, you cannot. I'm so sad...
Considering SDHC cards only go up to 32 GB and SDXC hasn't caught on yet anyway? It doesn't matter.
-1
-938324234 x infinity.
Your comment looks cheap and ignorant. Nuff said.
Yours too.
Yours too.
Poor wife, lol. She can't join your Social!
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.