The new ZUNE

The i-pods have ruled the PMP roost for what seems an eternity.Last november Microsoft came out with what could have been the first serious alternative to the pods in the concerned segment. But It turned out to be a marketing failure more than anything.Though the ZUNE was a decent player it had it drawbacks and hence could not vow what is even today an i-pod toting world. But all that is about to change,or atleast that thats what people at Microsoft believe.The new Zune is here and in my belief it could very well be the PMP device that shakes the pod foundation.Its too early to decide how good or bad a device it really is.But by the looks of it Apple sure has reason to worry about. With a new design, higher capacity, wireless sync capability, larger screen, and integrated support for audio and video podcasts, the new 80GB Zune ($249) is finally giving everyone a true alternative to the iPod.

Design features:
The 80GB Zune cuts a much slimmer figure than its bricklike older brother. Measuring 4.3 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep, Microsoft shaved some considerable bulk off the Zune's thickness, while nearly tripling its capacity. Beyond its more pocket-worthy form, the two major improvements to the Zune's hardware design are its screen and its navigation pad. With a diagonal measurement of 3.2 inches, the 80GB Zune's luxuriously large LCD screen leaves the 2.5-inch screen of the i-pod classic in the dust.The 80GB Zune's use of an optical glass screen shield (instead of plastic) further distinguishes it from its older sibling, as well as the competition.The Zune's new glass screen not only affords the device a sophisticated feel, but it also provides a more scratch-resistant surface with less optical distortion than the ubiquitous(more common) plastic variety. The second major improvement engineered into the new fleet of Zune MP3 players is a completely unique navigation control that Microsoft dubs the Zune Pad. You can think of the Zune Pad as a cross between a standard four-direction navigation pad and a laptop's touch pad. With the Zune Pad, users can navigate menus by either pressing or sliding their finger in four directions, and select items by clicking on the middle of the pad. The most significant design change to the Zune is an overhauled graphic user interface that no longer looks like a rehash of the Portable Media Center operating system found on the toshiba gigabit s. While the critically beloved "twist" interface of the first-generation Zune remains, the main menu screen has been replaced with stunning, oversized text that takes readability to the next level. tech















Features:
The 80GB Zune maintains all of the original Zune's compelling features and ups the ante with tightly integrated audio and video podcast support, as well as the unique ability to automatically sync content over a home wireless network.With the latest refresh of the Zune PC software, first- and second-generation Zune owners can now enjoy audio and video podcasts with the same ease as their iPod contemporaries. Podcasts now have their own directory within the main menu of the Zune, which is subdivided between audio and video podcasts. The Zune PC software also includes a new podcast tab that allows users to browse through a growing library of podcasts. If your favorite podcast can't be found in the directory, links are provided to both recommend the podcast for inclusion, as well as add the podcast manually by copying and pasting its URL into the Zune software. In the end, podcast downloads, autosync preferences, and subscription management match that of iTunes. In fact, Microsoft takes podcast integration a step further by allowing users to unsubscribe from podcasts directly on their Zune--a great feature for podcast junkies who want to tidy up their podcast subscriptions on the go. The second major addition to the Zune's set of features is the ability to wirelessly sync content from your PC over your home Wi-Fi network. The feature requires a one-time setup to familiarize the Zune with your home network, after which it will remember to look for the network automatically each time it is plugged in for a recharge.Of course, you can always connect the Zune directly to your computer using the included proprietary USB cable, but the wireless option is a neat trick.The Zune's music player supports MP3, WMA, protected-WMA (Zune Marketplace only), WMA Lossless, and AAC music file formats. The inclusion of the high-fidelity WMA Lossless music format on a high-capacity player like the 80GB Zune should make more than a few audio purists very pleased, and the continued support for AAC opens the door for iPod converts. The Zune supports WMV, MPEG-4, and H.264 video formats natively at a DVD-quality 30fps frame rate. Unfortunately, the 80 GB Zune's battery life is only average when held up to a high-capacity competitor such as the iPod Classic. With the Wi-Fi feature turned off, Microsoft rates the Zune's battery life at 30 hours for audio, and 4 hours for video. Final verdict The bottom line is Microsoft's biggest achievement will be overcoming the Zune stigma still lingering from last year's debut. With its beautiful screen, podcast integration, revamped interface, and wireless sync, we believe the latest crop of Zunes should finally take hold as a true iPod alternative. On the down side,The Zune is a PC-only device that requires its own software and still does not support older WMA-DRM9 music files; Zune Marketplace does not offer TV or movie downloads; the USB connection is proprietary; no Wi-Fi music streaming; and the EQ feature has been removed.


Price:
You can get it online and shipped for free(mostly) for around $240 - $250


Cheers!!!