You know what, the Zune pretty much took something near a deathblow already. Not to say that the Zune is a bad device. As far as physical design, it only has one major flaw (that'd be the wheel-styled D-Pad, which seems odd, and hardly as innovative or useful as the iPod's click-wheel). The rest is software. The mandated DRM, and WMV/WMA limitations are absolutely horrible. The WiFi crippling basically annihilated the Zune's most novel feature.
Now, I'm going to start pulling things out my ass (but at least I'll admit it). Microsoft isn't about to remove DRM, but it's possible they'll open up to other format, and allow loading of DRM-free media. Either way, its lack of Mac OS X support will make me not care.
However, once RockBox runs on the Zune, I'll be pleased. Since WMV isn't exactly an ISO or MPEG spec, I doubt it has a dedicated decoder chip, which means it likely uses some kind of software decoder on a decently powerful CPU (again, pulling things out of my ass). If this is true, then theoretically it shouldn't be too hard to implement an MPEG-4/H.264 decoder on the Zune in custom firmware (though, it might not run at full speed, at first. But such is the way of early versions of custom firmware).
If someone gave me a Zune, and I had a way of using it with my Mac, I would probably hang on to it, maybe find a use for it. It's hardly about to be an iPod-killer for me, but it seems like a nice toy.
@Kichigai Mentat I think your fatal flaw is subjective to the user. I've used the Ipod touch wheel, I always thought it was cool/ innovative... but execution wise...frustrating as hell to use. I've found the d-pad on the Zune much easier to use (especially while driving)... so it may not be innovative and what not but that doesn't matter too much when it works really well. I've used the zune for several months now and if I were to give it a fatal flaw or just a major flaw.. its that they created a whole 'nother media player for it, instead of just using WMP11 as a sync software. I understand there intention of using the Apple's approach of vertical integration but they should have made it fit with what they already had available. That way there is no need to go through the horrendous process of trying to install that hunk of crap software and you have one less thing to keep updated.
I agree with your flaws. The lack of innovative navigation was sad, and so was the LCD. It's roughly twice the size, and the same resolution as ipod? Come on microsoft... And the no mac compatibility, now that pisses me off. I would be willing to trade my ipod for a zune, only because i've had it for a year already (kind of lost it's new-ness), but no mac compatibility. And what you said about no MP3's, is it true Zune only takes DRM encoded music? That seems just kind of ridiculous, but if it's true its true.
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You know what, the Zune pretty much took something near a deathblow already. Not to say that the Zune is a bad device. As far as physical design, it only has one major flaw (that'd be the wheel-styled D-Pad, which seems odd, and hardly as innovative or useful as the iPod's click-wheel). The rest is software. The mandated DRM, and WMV/WMA limitations are absolutely horrible. The WiFi crippling basically annihilated the Zune's most novel feature.
Now, I'm going to start pulling things out my ass (but at least I'll admit it). Microsoft isn't about to remove DRM, but it's possible they'll open up to other format, and allow loading of DRM-free media. Either way, its lack of Mac OS X support will make me not care.
However, once RockBox runs on the Zune, I'll be pleased. Since WMV isn't exactly an ISO or MPEG spec, I doubt it has a dedicated decoder chip, which means it likely uses some kind of software decoder on a decently powerful CPU (again, pulling things out of my ass). If this is true, then theoretically it shouldn't be too hard to implement an MPEG-4/H.264 decoder on the Zune in custom firmware (though, it might not run at full speed, at first. But such is the way of early versions of custom firmware).
If someone gave me a Zune, and I had a way of using it with my Mac, I would probably hang on to it, maybe find a use for it. It's hardly about to be an iPod-killer for me, but it seems like a nice toy.
"it's possible they'll open up to other format, and allow loading of DRM-free media"
My Zune loads MP3s absolutely fine :)
@Kichigai Mentat
I think your fatal flaw is subjective to the user. I've used the Ipod touch wheel, I always thought it was cool/ innovative... but execution wise...frustrating as hell to use. I've found the d-pad on the Zune much easier to use (especially while driving)... so it may not be innovative and what not but that doesn't matter too much when it works really well.
I've used the zune for several months now and if I were to give it a fatal flaw or just a major flaw.. its that they created a whole 'nother media player for it, instead of just using WMP11 as a sync software. I understand there intention of using the Apple's approach of vertical integration but they should have made it fit with what they already had available. That way there is no need to go through the horrendous process of trying to install that hunk of crap software and you have one less thing to keep updated.
I agree with your flaws. The lack of innovative navigation was sad, and so was the LCD. It's roughly twice the size, and the same resolution as ipod? Come on microsoft... And the no mac compatibility, now that pisses me off. I would be willing to trade my ipod for a zune, only because i've had it for a year already (kind of lost it's new-ness), but no mac compatibility. And what you said about no MP3's, is it true Zune only takes DRM encoded music? That seems just kind of ridiculous, but if it's true its true.