Microsoft  Zune is a 30 GB digital media player, but there’s a twist. You can wirelessly share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures, or your own home-grown tunes directly from Zune to Zune (within 30 feet). You can listen to the full-length songs that

17.jpgyou receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you love, and easily buy them the next time you sync up–its like test-driving songs before you purchase an album.
With a built in FM tuner, you aren’t limited to listening and watching the up to 7,500 songs, 25,000 pictures or 100 hours of video your Zune can store. The Zune can automatically import your existing music, pictures and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings, without having to spend hours at the computer copying all your files. With promises of frequent firmware upgrades based on Zune users’ requests and a full line of accessories already available, the Zune is a great MP3 player that very well may change the way we look at MP3 players for good. Microsoft plans eventually to link the Zune up with PCs and Xbox 360 consoles using its wireless connection; but right now, the wireless connectivity is limited. There’s no wireless syncing with your Wi-Fi-equipped PC at home and no wireless access to the Zune store.

Zune starts with a 30GB digital media player and adds a twist. You can wirelessly share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures or your home-grown tracks directly from Zune to Zune. You can listen to the full-length songs that you receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you like and easily buy them the next time you sync up. You can discover new music in the Zune Marketplace, and show off your favorite pictures and videos on the big, bright screen. Zune has all that and a built in FM tuner, too. Let your inner DJ run wild.Weight: 5.6 System Compatibility: PC System Connectivity: USB Storage Capacity: 30 GB Storage Media Supported: Internal Hard Drive Additional Features: Equalizer, FM Tuner, Photo Viewer

Bonafiderreviews The reasons as to why it’s impossible for another player to instantly steal the market from the iPod go on and on. What it will take for another product to capture a piece of the market is that it will have to be a solid product, it will have to have a solid marketing campaign to build brand awareness, it will have to come with a solid music store experience to load the device with music, and it will of course have to come a very competitive price.

pricegrabber reviews Zune starts with a 30GB digital media player and adds a twist. You can wirelessly share selected full-length sample tracks, playlists, pictures or your home-grown tracks directly from Zune to Zune. You can listen to the full-length songs that you receive up to three times in three days, flag the ones you like and easily buy them the next time you sync up. You can discover new music in the Zune Marketplace, and show off your favorite pictures and videos on the big, bright screen. Zune has all that and a built in FM tuner, too. Let your inner DJ run wild.

Summary-:

 The good:  The Microsoft Zune has very good playback performance of audio, video, and photos; intuitive and colorful interface; good FM radio with RDS; works well with Zune Marketplace software; integrated wireless allows sharing of songs (limited) and photos; many accessories available at launch.

The bad: The Microsoft Zune is not backward compatible with WMA-DRM9; weak native video support (cannot play protected content) and no video offerings from Zune Marketplace; cannot be used as a hard drive (and no UMS support); proprietary USB; cannot use Wi-Fi to sync, stream, or purchase content; minimal bundled accessories; no podcast directory; maximum capacity is 30GB.

The bottom line: The Microsoft Zune, with its intuitive interface and solid playback performance, will please most users. But lukewarm format support and the cool but limited Wi-Fi capability will have advanced users seeking more. The Zune is a very good start, though.

Specs: Device type: Digital player

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