ProductWiki

Microsoft Zune 80

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:47:53 -0400

The Zune 80 is part of Microsoft's second generation of media players that compete with Apple's iPods; the Zune 80 competing directly with the iPod Classic. With the second generation of products Microsoft is refining the Zune experience expanding the WiFi sharing capabilities, and file format support. The hardware is also updated with a larger screen and a touch sensitive pad that can be used for quickly scrolling through menus. Microsoft's previous generation, renamed the Zune 30, will not be discontinued and is instead being updated with the latest features through a new firmware.

Features

3.2 inch screen with a 320x240 resolution
80GB hard drive
WiFi capabilities for sharing music and photos with other zunes
WiFi syncing with host computer
Integrates with Zune marketplace
FM Radio with RDS support
Image formats: JPEG
Audio formats: unprotected AAC, MP3, WMA
Video formats: h.264, MPEG4, WMV

The screen can be used in portrait mode when navigating menus, and flipped on its side to landscape mode for viewing widescreen videos. Directly underneath the screen lies the touch pad which has been improved over the Zune 30's by providing touch sensitive operations reminiscent of the iPod. Playback of the new video formats is supported natively so the Zune software no longer has to convert videos into the WMV format. Microsoft also claims that the Zune Marketplace will begin to offer video and podcast content, though currently the only videos are music videos and not television/movies. The Zune also supports television out, and can accommodate videos with DVD resolution for better quality on a big screen.

Microsoft raised some eyebrows when it launched the first Zune Marketplace abandoning its own PlayForSure initiative. The Zune continues this trend seeing the marketplace improved by expanding its audio content, and offering unprotected music. A subscription option to the Marketplace remains. With the next-generation Zunes, Microsoft introduces what they are calling the Zune Social, which is a social network to connect Zune owners. The network shares what music your friends are listening to, tracks the top music, and allows friends to listen to 30 second previews of music on your playlist.

The Zune's WiFi capabilities have also been expanded. Previously, music shared with other Zunes had two major restrictions: the music was only available for three days after the fact, and the second Zune could only play the song three times. Microsoft is lifting the restriction on the number of days, but the three-time playback restriction remains. Similar to before, there are no restrictions on sharing photos. Limits on video sharing remain to be seen. The WiFi sync allows you transfer music from your computer without a physical connection. When the Zune gets into wireless range of the computer the sync will happen automatically.

Microsoft Zune 30

Fri, 15 Sep 2006 11:34:57 -0400

Microsoft's first foray into the portable media world and take on the iPod head on. The Zune is set to release in holiday 2006, and will come in a variety of colours. Wireless connectivity is the standout feature for the Zune as the integrated wireless adapter allows Zune players to communicate with one another and share music. Microsoft has also created a Zune specific music store called Zune Marketplace, where people can purchase music to play on their Zune or Media Center computer. Gamers with an Xbox 360 can connect the Zune to share media, and even use their Microsoft Points to purchase music from the Zune marketplace. In November 2007 Microsoft launched their second generation Zunes with improved WiFi sharing, and a better Zune Marketplace. Instead of abandoning this first generation product, all the software features of the new Zune are incorporated in this first model through a firmware update.

Features

3 inch screen with 320x240 resolution
30GB hard drive
WiFi capabilities for sharing music and photos with other zunes
WiFi syncing with host computer
Integrates with Zune marketplace
FM Radio with RDS support
Image formats: JPEG
Audio formats: unprotected AAC, MP3, WMA
Video formats: h.264, MPEG4, WMV

Microsoft Zune 8

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 11:40:08 -0400

Newly introduced with the 2007 lineup of Zunes are the Zune 8 and Zune 4, flash based players that house all the same features as the Zune 80 in a smaller size. The smaller players support all the same media formats, and contain the same WiFi sharing capabilities and syncing. The screen itself has been reduced to accommodate the smaller form factor, but the same resolution as the larger Zunes is used. The other major difference with these flash based players are the variety in colors. While the Zune 80 is limited to black, the Zune 8 and 4 add red, green, and pink.

Features

1.8 inch screen with a 320x240 resolution
Zune 8 ($199): 8GB flash memory
Zune 4 ($149): 4GB flash memory
WiFi capabilities for sharing music and photos with other zunes
WiFi syncing with host computer
Integrates with Zune marketplace
FM Radio with RDS support
Image formats: JPEG
Audio formats: unprotected AAC, MP3, WMA
Video formats: h.264, MPEG4, WMV

Microsoft Zune 120

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 13:44:09 -0500

The Microsoft Zune 120 is a high-end portable MP3/media playback device designed obviously by the Microsoft Corporation; their aim is to provide aggressive competition against Apple's popular iPod devices and iTunes marketplace. The Zune 120 model features a 120GB internal hard drive capacity, a built-in FM tuner, and wireless sync compatibility for complete wireless song and media transfer via a home wireless network. Additional Zune 120 features include a large size 3.2" color LCD screen, wireless Zune to Zune media sharing, Zune marketplace support, audiobook and device gaming support, and an option to buy any songs that were recently played on the FM radio.

The new Zune models are designed with a much thinner body style when compared to the older models; the earlier models were frequently criticized for their "massive" size when compared to competing devices such as the very slim and portable Apple iPod devices. The Microsoft Zune marketplace has also undergone a complete design overhaul as Microsoft has tried to modernize more features and provide a smoother music browsing interface.

Features

High-end portable media playback device
120GB internal storage capacity
3.2" color LCD display screen
Wireless Zune to Zune media sharing, and home network media transfer
Integrated FM radio
Zune marketplace support

Specs

Most of this information comes directly from the manufacturer's website

HDD Capacity: 120 gigabytes (GB)
- Up to 30,000 songs, or 25,000 pictures, or 375 hours of video
Screen/ Display
- Size: 3.2-inch color display
- Type: Scratch-resistant glass
- Orientation: Vertical (music) and horizontal (pictures and videos)
- Resolution: 320 pixels x 240 pixel
- 18-bit color (262,144 colors)
Wireless
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g compatible
- Range: Up to 30 feet
Wireless Sync
- Connectivity: 802.11b/g compatible
- Authentication modes: Open, WEP, WPA, and WPA2
- Encryption modes: WEP 64- and 128-bit, TKIP, and AES
Audio Support:
- Windows Media® Audio Standard (WMA) (.wma): Up to 320 Kbps; constant bit rate (CBR) and variable bit rate (VBR) up to 48 kHz sample rate. WMA Pro 2-channel up to 384 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48 kHz
- WMA Lossless
- Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) (.mp4, .m4a, .m4b, .mov): .m4a and .m4b files without FairPlay DRM up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48 kHz
- MP3 (.mp3): up to 320 Kbps; CBR and VBR up to 48 kHz
Picture Support
- JPEG (.jpg)
Video Support
- Windows Media Video (WMV) (.wmv): Main and Simple Profile, CBR or VBR, up to 3.0 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD WMV files at device sync
- MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V) (.mp4) Part 2 video: Simple Profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD MPEG-4 files at device sync
- H.264 video: Baseline profile up to 2.5 Mbps peak video bit rate; 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second). Zune software will transcode HD H.264 files at device sync
- DVR-MS: Zune software will transcode at device sync
Included Accessories
- Headphones
- Zune Sync Cable
- Three pairs of foam earpiece covers
External Ports
- Connector port
- Headphone jack / AV output
Available Colors: Glossy black
Battery:
- Music, up to 30 hours (wireless off); video, up to 4 hours
- Charge time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90 percent
Dimensions:
- 61.1 mm x 108.2 mm x 12.9 mm (w x h x d)
- Weight: 4.5 ounces (128 grams)