The good folks at Ubergizmo have released a review of the Zune HD media player here on their website. Here’s an excerpt from their conclusion:

“Technologically, the Zune HD is one of the most powerful mobile devices out there and its user interface is unbelievably fast, but it lacks applications beyond the basic media player functions. At least, it’s got great potential. At the moment, the iPod touch has better (and so much more) apps, and provides a better web experience. You need to know if you want your device to be a media player or a personal digital assistant (PDA).”

Make sure to head over to Ubergizmo to read the rest of the review.

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Technorati Tags: Zune HD Review, Ubergizmo

Reviews for the new Zune HD which was officially launched on Tuesday are now starting to hit the web and the overall impressions have been quite positive thus far. Most of the comments are roughly the same:

• Audio is great
• Video support is good – HD output is cool but available selections in the Marketplace suck
• Touch-screen is awesome
• GUI is awesome
• Lack of apps is a bummer
• A/V dock being extra is a bummer

Without further ado here’s a quick rundown of all the various reviews, first impressions etc. Oh yeah we’ve got ourselves a 32GB Zune HD in the house and we’re still playing with it so stay tuned for our own review which probably won’t arrive for another week or so .. but definitely check out the other reviews in the meantime.

SlashGear:

“Given the lackluster appeal of the original Zune models, it’s come as no small surprise how much we like the Zune HD. There’s a sense that the Zune team really love digital media, and put above and beyond the usual effort into crafting a PMP capable of not only showing that off to its best, but doing so in a way that endears and pleases with its creative UI. Yes, boosting native codec support and ironing out the few confusions in the control structure would make it even better, but if you think of the Zune HD as the first generation of Microsoft’s new breed of PMPs then you have to admire everything they’ve achieved. Even the pricing is reasonable: $220 for the 16GB model and $290 for the 32GB, though we wish Microsoft offered a 64GB version too. Those buyers looking for broad mobile flexibility – apps, media playback and everything else – should stick to the iPod touch for the moment, but anybody wanting an excellent PMP should definitely be considering the Zune HD.”

DVICE.com:

“Summing up, the Zune HD represents a remarkable feat of technological prowess. Its user interface is the best we’ve seen on a portable media player, its sound is admirable, and its HD playback is jaw-dropping with that tiny NVIDIA Integra processor inside. This built-from-the-ground-up media player portends great things from Microsoft, perhaps hinting that this tiny form factor might someday grow into something more. Zune phone anyone?”

PC Magazine:

“With a fantastic OLED touch screen, a top-notch Web browser, and a wireless music store, the Zune HD is the best PMP you can buy—that is, if you live outside the iTunes universe.”

PC World:

“Should you consider buying a Zune HD? Absolutely, if the hardware design appeals to you and you like the idea of feasting on music for fifteen bucks a month. The video features are another major attraction if you plan to supply your own content from (ahem) ripped DVDs or other sources rather depending on Microsoft’s offerings. But the HD isn’t a pocket-sized computer like the iPod Touch–as I said at the start of this review, it’s a mere media player, albeit a (mostly) neat one.”

Gizmodo:

“

The Zune HD is the best touchscreen PMP on the market. It’s got the most unique vision, the most impressive hardware and the most stylish software. It’s priced fairly at $220 for 16GB and $290 for 32GB, though I’d call the $90 dock a required accessory.

But I’m not sure that’s enough. PMPs like the Zune HD and Sony X-Series try to advance the genre with new and impressive media playback features, but the success of the iPod Touch shows that that media playback alone isn’t necessarily enough anymore. People seem to want pocketable computers, either in smartphone or near-smartphone form, or simpler, smaller devices like the iPod Nano and SanDisk’s Sansa line. So it’s not going to steal sales from the iPod Touch, but it should make some Samsung and Sony executives pretty jealous.

I’m left wishing Microsoft could get its Zune team to work with (read: boss around) the Windows Mobile team to put together a media phone. The Zune HD is a great PMP, but it could have been a jaw-dropping, unbelievable phone.”

Engadget:

“So let’s pretend for a moment that these players are exactly the same in every way except for how you get music on them. In that scenario, we think Microsoft’s angle has some real advantages. Of course, these players are different — you’re still sacrificing a lot for that $15 subscription — and even though the Zune HD is a tremendous media player with a lot of great features, we still don’t think it competes 1:1 with a device like the touch. Still, it competes, and for Microsoft and the Zune brand, that’s a major leap forward.”

NYTimes:

“It’s an outdated joke; the Zune HD player isn’t perfect, but it’s every bit as joyful, polished and satisfying as its rival. The question is whether Microsoft will stick it out long enough to close the catalog gap, the ecosystem gap and the image gap.”

Technorati Tags: Zune HD Reviews

TheStreet.com has an amusing article about the new Zune 3.0 update over on their website entitled “Zune 3.0: Microsoft’s iPod Killer?” Now before Apple fans go ballistic with that statement, the author does point out immediately that “Apple’s iPod still rules the roost — and probably will for a long time.” Yup.. I’ll definitely admit to that one. In any case, the article’s somewhat amusing because of the statements that the author makes.

Case in point - near the end of the first page, Gary Krakow writes “The new software is definitely an improvement over the original and last year’s update. It puts your computer music library right on the front page where you can see everything in a glance. “  Umm sorry Gary but the initial library snapshot is pretty much identical to last year’s update. The music was always there to begin with.

Then he writes “The new software also puts Microsoft’s new Zune Marketplace front and center.” I’m not sure how “front and center” it is, but the Marketplace is as easily accessible this year as it was last year. It just looks a bit better graphically speaking.

“The biggest hardware difference is that Zune built-in Wi-Fi.” Umm.. Hello? Have you seen the iPod touch? (Unless he’s referring to the Nano and the classic of course… but he doesn’t clarify).

Yet there is one thing I do agree with Mr. Krakow. The Zune sounds better than the iPod. I definitely will agree to that.. though IMHO, the difference is subtle.

In any case, check out the review for a little chuckle..

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Technorati Tags: Zune 3.0, TheStreet.com, Review

PC Magazine published two separate reviews of the new Zune updates this past week - separating out a review for the Zune 16GB flash player and the Zune 120GB hard disk drive player.

For the Zune 16, they had the following to say about the player:

Calling the Zune 16GB a new product is a bit of a stretch. With no real hardware changes, and the ability to load the new software onto any of the older models, we’re basically looking at the same old player with a paint job, a capacity upgrade, and price change.

They ended up giving the player 3 stars out of 5 - calling it a “good” player.

Now for the 120GB player, PC Magazine had this to say:

Still the best hard drive-based portable media player on the market—the feature-barren iPod classic can’t compete with the Zune’s top-notch navigation and added wireless abilities.

So there you have it - the hard drive version of the Zune still rocks in the eyes of PC Mag.. the flash player could use a little updating though.

Technorati Tags: PC Magazine, Microsoft, Zune 16, Zune 120, Review

Here are two recent reviews of the new Zune media players which I feel should be highlighted here at ZuneSphere.com. First up, David Pogue posted his look at the new Zune player over at the New York Times and guess what folks? He actually found it a "pleasure to use." Yes, while Mr. Pogue is sometimes criticized as being biased towards Apple products, he actually does compose a well-balanced review of the new Zune players. Here’s a blurb from the review:

The bottom line: the iPod is still a more versatile, compact and beautiful machine. But the Zune has come a long way in very little time. Already, its potential audience is no longer limited to a sect of irrational Apple haters. It’s now a candidate for anyone who values its unique powers — excellent built-in FM radio, scratchproof case and wireless auto-synching — more than they value the richness and choice of the iPod universe.

Not bad..

Meanwhile the folks at CNET have published their "CNET prizefight" between the Apple iPod Classic and the Microsoft Zune 80". Three different reviewers assigned numbers between 1-5 for five different categories: Navigation, Sexiness, Compatibility, Sound and Science, and Wallet Factor. The final verdict? A TIE!! Not bad! Actually, the Zune came out ahead in 4 of the 5 categories except in the "Compatibility" category where it got trounced by Apple. Here’s a blurb from the article:

The fact that the Zune even tied the mighty iPod Classic should be enough to send Apple’s most devout fans into a reactionary hissy-fit.

Technorati Tags: Zune, Microsoft, Zune 80, Reviews, David Pogue, CNET

David Becker of Wired.com has a hilarious posting up from a few days ago entitled "Hands On: Original Zune Not Deadly After All". Yes.. Mr. Becker decided to get an original first generation Zune 30GB player for a mere $70 bucks including a free upgrade to overnight shipping and guess what? His "initial experience has been fine" thus far. Of course a fair amount of this is probably due to the following scenarios:

• He’s been using an Archos Gmini 400 media player for quite some time (and yes.. their GUI is indeed horrific)
• He’s experiencing the latest Zune Software package as opposed to the first version that came out last year
• He got the unit at $70 bucks

But hey - at least he’s having a good experience with the player now right? Compare this to some of the brief postings he’s written in the past about the Zune.. say this one or this one.

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Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Zune, Microsoft Zune, David Becker, Wired.com

Ahh.. I’ve been waiting for the folks at ArsTechnica to release their review of the new Zune media players and .. they finally have. You can find their review of the Zune 8 flash player here on their website. It’s a well written review that’s balanced and clearly not pro-Apple or con-Microsoft whatsoever (or pro-Microsoft). The review makes several valid points about the player, the Zune Marketplace, and of course the software. A couple of major griping points are important - especially supporting recorded television content from Windows Media Center systems. Here’s a blurb from the review:

Still, they are a huge step forward and a solid choice for anyone who likes the look and interface. We expect that the new lineup will help Microsoft become an established player in the PMP space over the next year. The updated devices should also put an end to the almost-endless set of Zune-related jokes, and they are an obvious choice for anyone who loves subscription music services.

Congratulations, Microsoft. Now keep working. 

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Technorati Tags: Microsoft Zune, Zune 8GB, Review, Ars Technica

Remember Walt Mossberg’s article on the Zune yesterday? Well Jon Healey from the Los Angeles Times has posted a short blog article in response to that article.. and I absolutely love his comments to Mossie. “Well duh”…

Healey’s points are - we all know the Zune is no iPod - no duh! We all know iTunes has no subscription service yet every other vendor seems to offer subscription services. Why? Because people actually do want them. Guess what? If you subscribe to a subscription service and then discontinue the subscription, your music disappears. Well NO DUH!!! That’s no fault of the Zune. It’s a fact of subscription services.

You’ll just have to read the article here to get the full effect.

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Here’s the latest review roundup for the new Microsoft Zune players (yes - it’s easier than creating individual postings for each posting isn’t it?) So here goes nothing..

We’ll start with Digital Trends which reviewed the Microsoft Zune 8GB edition here. Here’s what they had to say about the flash player:

Overall, the new 8GB Zune Red is a really good media player. It’ll especially appeal to those who don’t want to line the Apple coffers with their hard earned money but still want a solid music experience. For $199 USD, the 8GB Zune is a decent iPod contender.

Of course, the Zune can only have so much bath water right? How about a little slap in the face from Walt Mossberg. Yes.. you can always count on Mossberg to provide a bit of .. “yes it’s better but it’s not quite that good”. The review is here and the verdict is as follows:

Microsoft has greatly improved the Zune hardware and software this time. But it seems to be competing with Apple’s last efforts, not its newest ones.

Sure.. if you compare the Zune against the iPod touch then yes - it’s no real comparison. But come on Mossie… compare the Zune 80 against the real rival here - the iPod classic 80.. and you’ll quickly see things stack up fairly closely (though my Apple friends often remind me of the little things that are still better on the iPod. To that.. I answer.. it’s not about the little things when it comes to MP3 players.. it’s about whether it works or not folks).

We talked about PC Magazine’s review a few days ago but they also reviewed the new Zune Marketplace here. Here’s their verdict on the marketplace.

Zune Marketplace is definitely showing signs of progress, but we’ll have to wait and see if it can really stand up to iTunes.

The Seattle Post Intelligencer has posted their look at the new Zunes here on their website. Here’s a blurb from the article:

Despite my gripes, its form and function should make the second-generation Zune a strong contender in the portable media player market. And while I’m not throwing out my iPod just yet, I will be keeping an eye on what the Zune does next.

Finally, Wired.com has an interesting article entitled “Microsoft Retools Zune to Target Apple’s Flaws”. Here’s a blurb from that article:

With an upgraded Zune player and a new strategy for tapping the strength of social networking sites, Microsoft is making serious moves to challenge the iPod.

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, Zune, Reviews, Zune 8, Zune 80, Zune 4,

ExtremeTech has published their first look at the new Zune 8 flash media player here on their website. This is not an extensive review - just an early look at the new player as well as the new Zune software so stay tuned for the full review. Here’s a blurb from the first look:

If I had to make a recommendation based on my initial impressions, though, I’d give it a big thumbs up. Microsoft has definitely created something compelling here and given Zune its own identity. Now they just have to keep the momentum going, adding features and content at a rapid pace.

Yes folks - thumbs up to the Microsoft Zune team. Keep the momentum going!!

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Technorati Tags: Zune 8, Zune, First Look, ExtremeTech,