The Competition: Zune HD to be Priced $100 Less than iPod touch?
WMExperts (via Crunchgear and Gizmodo) rounds up the latest on Zune HD, linking up the above hands-on video, and news that it might just drop at $100 lower than the iPod touch. In other words, Microsoft to Apple: "it's broughtn'ed".
Now, there's no getting around the Zune HD being an OLED iPod touch two years too late, much as the original Zune was a Wi-Fi squirting iPod classic two years too late. At even $100 discount, can Microsoft compete with a 3rd generation iPod touch, rumored to include a camera, perhaps video recording and sharing, and a 65,000+ strong App Store?
Meh. They'll get some iPod rebels and budget conscious adaption, no doubt, and that's probably all they intend. A strong #2 in the music player market, much like they're going for against Google in the search/advertising space, is likely enough for them now. Understandable, to be sure, but we'd still rather see a mind-blowing Windows Mobile Phone with Zune-like interface and hardware specs, Mobile Xbox gaming, and awesome Windows integration.
But we've been wanting that for years...
Editor-in-Chief of iMore, Executive Producer at Mobile Nations, co-host of Iterate and ZEN and TECH, cook, grappler, photon wrangler.
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respect your enemy....
I can see a version of their laptop hunters commercials for this. In all seriousness, this is all well and good until next month when Apple does their product refresh.
The Zune HD does look pretty sweet. Where is my oled screen apple?
sour grapes much?
i find it odd that anyone who's tried and honestly used a zune has wanted one over an ipod classic, or nano, yet all those that haven't still declare to be an inferior device. Odder still that apple has jumped on their photo copiers to borrow user interface, and hardware ideas from zune, and even curiouser that itunes9 is rumoured to borrow yet more ideas from the zune ecosystem.
like i say. Sour grapes much? Perhaps you should adhere to your own strap-line when reporting in the future and dare to be different.
zune hd comes with some unique selling points, at potentially a great price. Perhaps you should give it a go as a real contender to your beloved ipods before you pass judgement, if only so you don't look like some sickofant
edit: sycophant oopsie.
@jrb - Who are these Zune users you speak of? Everyone I know who's ever had one either hates it, has bought an iPod since, or wishes they bought an iPod instead. Which side of the fence are the sales numbers on?
Seriously sick interface. They should put a phone on that thing. I think it could be a real contender. To hell with winmo 6.5 and 7. Why bother when you already have something this nasty developed.
I know a couple of people with zunes and they like them. At first I was like get that crap outta here we only use iPods but they really do like them. They have a nice set of features.
That's the problem with fanboys, they shoot down every mp3 player or every phone as a crappy apple wanna be product..
One of those days something will come and be better than the iPod touch, it's okay fanboy don't cry... This is how competetion works.. With out this Zune HD apple thinks that oled is not a feature that people care about so is outputting HD video, and a camera on ur mp3 player .. And best of all it's $100 less many many people out there don't care of this or that, they see a touch screen device with a stunning screen $100 less they will buy it. U know some people actually buy these things to listen to music and only music... So hopefully this Zune HD sells enough so that apple can feel it and lower their $&@"&$ prices and give us higher products
fanboys should be excited to see highend products competing like that, the only way to go for apple or microsoft is how can we make our product better than theirs while cheaper
I don't understand how someone defends apple's products without actually seeing and using competing products, it's as if he was breastfed by apple and has a need to defend it
Moe
"but we’d still rather see a mind-blowing Windows Mobile Phone with Zune-like interface and hardware specs, Mobile Xbox gaming, and awesome Windows integration"
^This
Btw I am posting this from my iPhone 3gs, so I would like to see Microsoft make apple pull it's head out of it's own a$$, and make them listen to what users want, not what better for AT&T
Very cool interface! You would think this would be a phone soon, it's already got the browser! It only needs an email client, a cell radio and a dialer. You never know though, MS may just focus on improving WM before adding a Zune phone line.
great interface indeed.
I bought an ipod mini 5 years ago or so. Always had issues when i wanted to charge it and the battery was at 0%. Apple didnt help much.
Im pretty computer savy. I changed the battery of my iPod twice, damage the clickwheel once, so my success rate when changing a battery (dum) is 50%. My gf has one too. Changed her battery twice, damaged the board once. Im at 50% with her ipod too. 2 out of 4. Now my board is in her pink ipod.
I never bought an apple product again. Not planning on buying another one anytime soon. I WOULD TAKE THIS ZUNE FOR A SPIN ANYTIME!!!!!
The interface is questionable IMO. I still don't know what the keyboard is gonna do if I press 2 keys at once.. And I don't like The media player controls being so hard to access and taking up the entire screen.... :S
It's a great offering at no doubt an amazing price but when iPod touch has a camera the consumer market for these devices is still going to find the iPod touch to be a better contender..
The Zune Phone shouldn't be too far behind. The start of the new decade is going to be very interesting.
Hooray, the consumer wins.
Now Apple can't charge an arm and a leg anymore.
@ Tim
Isn't competition beautiful? This is why you should want competitors to do well. Iphone users everywhere should want Palm, Rim, Android, and WinMo to succeed because when they do well everyone wins.
Apple has never had a good relationship with OLED screens (since Kodak showed them these screens a long time ago, they never trusted in them).
They stil prefer OLD (a.k.a. LCD) displays to OLED ones.
umm i thought the pinch and zoon with the fingers was patented by apple? law suit in the future coming?
@Samuel, have you seen an OLED screen lately? Find a Best Buy that has Sony's 10" OLED on display. It blows away anything else they have in the store. Blacks are so black it's like looking into a black hole. Colors are crazy bright and vivid.
@kingbernie
why are u on a website dedicated to an apple product I'd you are not planning on ever owning one of their products?
They are more expensive which make apples profits drop yet MS has managed to offer oleds for $100 less
apple's profit margins are waaay to high
I must admit that the zune HD looks amazing. Microsoft really improved their product. Now it's time to see what Apple is going to produce next month. The ipod touch and zune aren't a big deal to me since I use my iphone 3g for everything. The only thing that is still a deal breaker to me is the ability to sync with itunes. It's so much easier than using windows media player IMO.
It's fine but it's such an iPod Touch copy. Pinch to zoom, swipe to move through photos, rotate to landscape.
@the real truth
look at the first post... In contrast to Tipb, particularly this article, I respect my enemy.
I like apple's 'think outside the box' attitude, and they have the best industrial design team on the planet. That is why I visit Tipb. Unfortunately, they also have the best marketing team and they are really good at smoke shows and smoke screens.
you iPad haters are just htaing since you don't have an iPad.if the iPAd was just a big ipodtouch then why is it about 400$ more then a ipodtouch y'all are mad cuz your to poor to afford an iPad I have one and it's way better then the ipodtouch I would know since I have one.who cares if it can't fit in your pocket there's something called carrying you can buy it a case like a laptop and carry it around you stupid lazy basterds the iPad is way easier to type on it's more clear and faster and a
cool looking ipod, cant even change the battery without damaging the thing. I wont touch my gf's iphone because of that, but every one should be able to service a device's battery easily. Without damaging anything.
so I dont think this Zune deserves the bashing, it looks great, its cheap, and you will most likely service it without breaking it. then again this is a fanboy site....
I've never owned a Zune or even handled one. Can anybody tell me if past Zunes are constructed as well as their iPod counterparts at the time?
Apple only needs to fear palm,microsoft is a giant. I say this because david always beats goliath.
the ipod has nothing to worry about. the palm pre didn't beat the iphone, none of the android phones beat the iphone. and the previous zunes hardly affected the ipod. mainly because they're only on sale in the US and canada. and this is going to be no different from the rest. i honestly think its going to be a great device but it is going to fail to top the ipod touch.
@Rob Terry I pray that was sarcasm at it's greatest, LMAO
@himynameissam What are you speaking? To say that Android hasnt beaten iPhone is a premature comment. Demand rising, adoption rate growing at a faster rate than iPhones, multiple phones being released, form factors, etc. That's a typical blinded, narrow-minded person to make a statement like that. I'm not saying it WILL beat the iPhone. But to when comparing...you always have to look at other factors besides sales. Remember...the tortoise beat the hare in the end. =]
And to be on topic. Whoever says this MP3 player is not fine...is clearly ridiculous. Compare it as a MP3 PLAYER. Not a gaming device...phone...etc etc. It's simple, great screen, wonderful processor (which blows any Apple processor out the water). It's a beautiful and wonderful competitor. A camera is not going to be enough to switch consumers over. Apple is reaching the limit of what they can do without losing that grip they have. So I'm interested to see what happens in the upcoming future dealing with the tech front.
Wow, Microsoft once again sacrificing profits again for market share.
Why do I get the feeling that every Palm, Android and Microsoft marketing goon is commenting on iPhone sites. Do you you actually think your scoring any points? Do you really think that people buy into your BS?
@MOE
apples profit margins are way too high? are you serious? isnt profit the point of any business? market share doesn't pay the bills, does it?
OLED screens get washed out in direct sunlight. The current LCD in the iPhone and iPod Touch is a reflective LCD screen, so it's useable in bright light. Apple could have easily added OLED to the iPhone 3GS, but knew that people aren't vampires and actually use their phones/pmps during the day outdoors often.
I see the MS fanboyee/trolls now frequent this site too... It has an interface that does look interesting. Usable over time? Hard to say. Cool demos do not make for long-term satisfaction. The unit itself looks cheap - and if they're undercutting Apple by ~$100, it will have to be, and MS is going to lose money in order to "compete" That's how they do it when they can't compete on even terms. What's funny is how the "Apple makes cute toy interfaces" folks now love when MS tries to emulate Apple. Look at Win7 yet? New Zune? Yep, Apple-influenced and copied for those who like cheap PC laptops. Oops - I mean ACTORS paid to like cheap PC laptops. Competition is good - but what this little device fails to address is that Apple is already working on the next one. This is trying to catch up to two-years ago.
Good luck "Lauren"
LOL SLB your an imbecile and i can build any PC cheaper than any shitastic mac you own or buy with better reliability so dont even go there cause you'll just get your feelings crushed.
I love to see iFags sweating bullets over a product that is hardware wise superior and with the Zune ecosystem coming into its own, id rather use that over itunes anyday.
Take a serious look at the device. HD output (goes well with my 48 inch 1080p Sony Bravia) HD radio (my damn car stereo doesnt have this) OLED screen (crushes any LCD offering) at a 219 dollar price point.
The only thing the iTouch has is a app store where most the apps are 95% garbage, a microphone (for people too poor for an iphone i guess) and now...a camera? (lulz...thats why i have a real digital camera) Apple is getting stagnant cause they have a giant portion of market share and their head up their ass. People buy ipods cause its an ipod, not cause its better.
I hope the boys have sprinkled some crack in your Kool-Aid from Cupertino, cause i know if i didnt sell my ipod touch already it would gone in a heartbeat come Sept 15th.
@LOL fanboys,
You have so many personal issues - not the least of which is projecting your homosexuality at me in hopes of making you sound macho? The "Zune eco-system" consists of 11 people - 9 of which work for Microsoft. HD output eh? How much data does it take to store 1080P HD? Care to guess, asspod? You dismiss the most successful (and growing by leaps and bounds) device on the market today. Look at AAPL stock - if you know what that is. Now, look at MSFT stock. Not worth wiping your ass with (your sore ass) OTOH, my AAPL has bought me a new car, roof for the home, and vacations. Keep laughing - and enjoy the virtual masturbation session that is the Zune Social.
Someones ass is hurting cause they got reamed last night in that fictional car, house and vacation your stock got. Maybe you should check yourself for homosexuality before you try to seem like an e-badass only to get shot the fuck down.
My 720p rips come in under 2.6GB per movie depending length. Why would i put a 1080p movie on a device THAT ONLY OUTPUTS 720p? Sounds incredibly fuckin stupid, like you.
Since your so fuckin filled with knowledge assclown, inform me about the Zune Ecosystem and what it entails?
Apple has become stagnant in its ipod development. A camera? Be serious if im going out to take pictures, im not carrying an iPod to do so, thats why i have a Cybershot T70, maybe if the new iPod is packing 5+ MP i wouldn't laugh at it. If i needed email, im not carrying an ipod, i have my BlackBerry, which ironically can take pictures on the fly thus negating a camera EVEN MORE. How about more features that matter for a media player, like a high res screen ON the device with better screen quality.
The App Store has paved a way for all mobile devices and Safari is nice but i can only tolerate it in mobile form. MS has shown they are there in their designing and UI, just take a look at the Zune and videos of the Browser at work. Even if the new ipod takes the 3GS hardware and camera (further adding that your just buying an iphone sans SMS/Phone app) the Tegra inside the Zune looms over it, so whats up?
Most of people here tell sh*t about Zune is surely Apple Fan-boy and or didn't actually got a Zune. It's a great device, dudes, face the TRUTH!
Oh yeah, no doubt Hieu - all 12 of you love them. Get lost. Just like the Zune.
After I completely crushed scottb he won't respond back, must be choking on the kool-aid or something
OMG - you fags are beyond stupid. CJ - you are the dumbest of all. AAPL never split? Really? Fucktard. I did buy all those things and more. AAPL at $14 a share. AAPL had gone way up, and split. AAPL reached 200 and I sold slightly lower on the way down before the economic downturn. Since then, it's back up and almost at $170 again. Douche.
As for "funny" how did you crush me you idiot? Dumbass gonna fill your Zoon with HD video - all four of them - to watch on a TV? LMAO. You should stick to Pikachu cards in your mom's basement with your child-molestor uncle. Zune II or whatever it is HAS to do better because the others were such HUGE failures. Not unlike the buyers of them. Microsoft vs AAPL. Look girls at the value of each. Look at the stocks. Look at their numbers. one is STILL going up, one going STILL into the toilet. FLUSH bitches!
CJ - I just had to reply to you again as you're the dumbest fck on this forum. I love when a kid has a break at Best Buy from his "Geek Squad" job and thinks he knows sht. You're pathetic. You're ignorant. And you're going to be one of probably 500,000 people to buy a Zune HD. Giving MS a completely pie in the sky break with that number. OK dude - now go reformat that 2001 ACER your grandma brought in to get cleaned of viri...
@slb - honestly look up the zune and the community before you talk. i dont care about your stock or whatever i'm just saying dont just research actually participate and try things out. i have a zune and love it i had an ipod and always had problems with it freezing, draining the battery and not to mention i cant backup my music. with a zune i've had no problems and i can put music back onto my computer something i havent seen apple do yet. in fact if my memory's right they took of that feature of itunes when the 2nd gen ipod videos came out.
@lol fanboys
you my friend are what I like to refer to as a "shithead". Shouldn't you be busy sticking your dick in your xbox or "squirting" with your zune?
@dfjk,
The black version of THIS Zune looks good. I'd give it a shot, but MS doesn't make it Mac-compatible as far as I know. At least Apple does for Windows too. If they're so proud of it - make it work on a Mac so I can compare. I've got Win7 running in Boot Camp, but I'm not going to try a Zune unless I can run it in my iTunes or a comparable app on the "Mac side"
@scottb, i totally understand you with the zune software, to me it seems like a win-win if MS gets a mac version of Zune but hopefully this one will bring it and then we'll see some real competition in the MP3 player world
I think what you posted was very glaicol. However, consider this, what if you were to write a awesome title? I ain't suggesting your information is not solid., however suppose you added something to maybe get people's attention? I mean iOS 5 will be released on October 12th | GeekAhead.Com is a little plain. You should glance at Yahoo's home page and see how they create article headlines to grab viewers interested. You might add a video or a pic or two to grab readers interested about everything've written. In my opinion, it would bring your posts a little bit more interesting.
Apples makes iPods compatible with Windows because if it made it only compatible with macs only 10% of poeple who own computers would be able to use an iPod. From what I've gathered looking at the first look reviews from Cnet and other online technology websites the Zune HD is regarded as a better device than the current iPod Touch. So Apple fans just let it go because you're coming off stupid and desperate.