Post by: Xbox-Scene on March 20, 2007, 08:20:00 PM
Five things Microsoft needs to do to fix the Zune Posted by XanTium | March 20 20:44 EST | News Category: Xbox360 |
| From engadget.com: Quote
Full Story: engadget.com |
Post by: mlapaglia on March 20, 2007, 07:43:00 PM
Post by: XHN_SCRAPY on March 20, 2007, 07:55:00 PM
Post by: Millenia1x on March 20, 2007, 08:07:00 PM
Post by: proger on March 20, 2007, 08:26:00 PM
Post by: tiavo on March 20, 2007, 08:42:00 PM
Post by: gehx on March 20, 2007, 08:30:00 PM
Post by: The Zep Man on March 21, 2007, 02:09:00 AM
And if anyone would do that, also write a program for the PSP so it can share music (and perhaps other stuff) with the Zune. Now that would kickass.
QUOTE
1. Fix the DRM, syncing, and system bugs, and get firmware v1.3 out the door!
Just remove the DRM.QUOTE
2. Add useful WiFi features: wireless streaming to friends, Zune Pass (subscription) song transfer to friends' Zunes (á la MusicGremlin), computer-free downloads content downloads.
I don't think these mentioned features are terribly useful. At all.QUOTE
3. Add podcast and vidcast support. It doesn't even have to be as comprehensive as the iTMS, just a basic RSS reader / enclosure scraper or something.
Oh, come on...QUOTE
4. Increase codec support. Go out on a limb and add open (read: free) codecs like FLAC, APE, OGG, XviD; if you really want to make your customers happy, belly up to the bar and license DivX.
Codecs cost money (patents, licenses, etc.). The answer will simply be: no.QUOTE
5. Drop the price. For most consumers, there is still a huge mental barrier in paying $250 for a Zune when you can pay the same $250 for an iPod. One isn't necessarily better than the other, but people really love the iPod. Make it $230 MSRP, and let that sink down to like $210 for online retailers. People will freak out that this player, that does all these things it does, is barely more than two bills.
Just buy a PSP with a 2GB memory stick for the same price. Even unmodded, it allows you to play MP3's, allows you to surf the web, use RSS feeds using WiFi 802.11b and play videos in a decent resolution using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec. This video codec is featured in many open-source products and kicks the ass of WMV (any version). If you mod the PSP, you can even encode videos in it's native, widescreen resolution (480x272).Shortly said: if you want a bang for your bucks... don't buy a Zune nor an iPod. Did I already mention that you can use the PSP's memory stick drive as an USB Mass Storage Device when you connect the PSP with your PC? You can just drag and drop your MP3's in the correct folder, without installing any (crappy) software.
[edit]
Forgot one last detail. You can also play a lot of (retail/homebrew/emulated) games on the PSP. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)
This post has been edited by The Zep Man: Mar 21 2007, 09:11 AM
Post by: vanxman on March 21, 2007, 02:37:00 AM
Or was that www.unrelated-microsoft-products-scene.com???
This post has been edited by vanxman: Mar 21 2007, 09:42 AM
Post by: Ken_D on March 21, 2007, 07:31:00 AM
QUOTE(vanxman @ Mar 21 2007, 08:08 AM) 
Welcome to www.zune-scene.com
Or was that www.unrelated-microsoft-products-scene.com???
Well said Vanxman, I was just about to reply with the same. What next, Vista news?
Post by: REDMODS on March 21, 2007, 09:46:00 AM
Post by: beige on March 21, 2007, 10:01:00 AM
QUOTE(The Zep Man @ Mar 21 2007, 02:40 AM)
Just buy a PSP with a 2GB memory stick for the same price. Even unmodded, it allows you to play MP3's, allows you to surf the web, use RSS feeds using WiFi 802.11b and play videos in a decent resolution using the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC codec. This video codec is featured in many open-source products and kicks the ass of WMV (any version). If you mod the PSP, you can even encode videos in it's native, widescreen resolution (480x272).
Shortly said: if you want a bang for your bucks... don't buy a Zune nor an iPod. Did I already mention that you can use the PSP's memory stick drive as an USB Mass Storage Device when you connect the PSP with your PC? You can just drag and drop your MP3's in the correct folder, without installing any (crappy) software.
[edit]
Forgot one last detail. You can also play a lot of (retail/homebrew/emulated) games on the PSP.
You're going to fit all of your music, movies and games on a 2 gb memory stick?.
That being said, the only thing the Zune has going for it, is it's HD
Post by: bucko on March 21, 2007, 11:23:00 AM
Post by: The Zep Man on March 21, 2007, 02:00:00 PM
QUOTE(beige @ Mar 21 2007, 05:08 PM)
You're going to fit all of your music, movies and games on a 2 gb memory stick?.
That being said, the only thing the Zune has going for it, is it's HD
Post by: Fuzzy on March 21, 2007, 02:37:00 PM
QUOTE(REDMODS @ Mar 21 2007, 11:17 AM)
How about they fix the random locking, pausing and restarting mine does every so often.
Agreed
Post by: beige on March 21, 2007, 05:37:00 PM
QUOTE(The Zep Man @ Mar 21 2007, 03:07 PM) 
True. Then again, carrying multiple memory sticks with you all the time is a small sacrifice.
It's not carrying them around that's the problem, it's spending 50 bucks per 2gb of storage.
Post by: ProChief CXVII on March 21, 2007, 05:44:00 PM
Post by: sp3cialk on March 21, 2007, 10:37:00 PM
QUOTE(REDMODS @ Mar 21 2007, 11:17 AM)
How about they fix the random locking, pausing and restarting mine does every so often.
I used to think mine was dying... but then I realized it was the static protection.. if you get a static charge say when you touch a car or a door knob the zune can detect it through the earbuds and shuts down to protect it... since it's getting warmer here I haven't had the problem
Post by: Fuzzy on March 22, 2007, 12:13:00 PM
QUOTE(sp3cialk @ Mar 22 2007, 12:44 AM)
I used to think mine was dying... but then I realized it was the static protection.. if you get a static charge say when you touch a car or a door knob the zune can detect it through the earbuds and shuts down to protect it... since it's getting warmer here I haven't had the problem
Heh, that's really funny. I've been noticing the problem a lot more lately...just after I bought my new jacket which creates a ridiculous amount of static