Wisetechie Blog : Ctrl your Tech Life

Positives

1. Ability to send photos, and music files from Zune-to-Zune via WiFi. Photo files may be shared without restrictions. For restrictions on Music Sharing , see negative below.
2. Firmware upgrades are possible.
   Wallpapers may be set in the Zune Player.
3. Fm Radio (Ipods lack inbuilt radio) , song name might be displayed if the radio station supports it.
4. The Zune will play standard podcast files, which are usually available in unprotected MP3 or AAC format. However, the Zune software lacks full podcast support, such as a directory and automatic downloading via RSS feeds. A Zune team member has stated that in the future “We’ll ship podcasting, and we’ll call it “Podcasting” when we do.”
5. The player software will automatically convert audio and video in a format not supported by the Zune into a format that is. (e.g. a video with a resolution of 720×540 will be converted to a resolution of 320×240 if necessary).
6. You can tell other people having Zunes near you, what you are listening.

Negatives

1. Zune Sharing – Its easy to make a Zune to Zune song transfer , perhaps too easy , thats why every time a song is transferred Zune to Zune it gets limited to a three day or three play restriction , which ever comes first. Plus a play is counted if a song is played for 1 minute or half the song (whichever is shorter). Even if the song is recorded , non-copyrighted , this restriction applies.
2. Crippled Wifi – The Wifi only allows a Zune to connect to another Zune , not a computer or a Wifi Hotspot.
3. No hard Drive – The Zune also cant be used as an external hard-drive unlike an Ipod.

The following comes pre-loaded in a Zune

Audio tracks

• Band of Horses, “Wicked Gil” (Sub Pop)
• Bitter:Sweet, “The Mating Game” (Quango Music Group)
• CSS, “Alala (Microsoft edit)” (Sub Pop)
• Darkel, “At The End of The Sky (edit)” (Astralwerks)
• Every Move A Picture, “Signs of Life” (V2 Records)
• Small Sins, “Stay” (Astralwerks)
• The Adored, “Tell Me Tell Me” (V2 Records)
• The Rakes, “Open Book” (V2 Records)
• The Thermals, “A Pillar Of Salt” (Sub Pop)

Music videos

• 30 Seconds to Mars, “The Kill” (Virgin Records)
• BT, “1.618” (DTS Entertainment)
• Chad VanGaalen, “Red Hot Drops” (Sub Pop)
• Coldcut featuring Roots Manuva, “True Skool” (Ninja Tune)
• CSS, “Let’s Make Love and Listen to Death From Above” (Sub Pop)
• Fruit Bats, “Live: The Wind That Blew My Heart Away” (Sub Pop)
• Grandaddy, “Elevate Myself” (V2 Records)
• Hot Chip, “Over and Over” (Astralwerks)
• Kraak & Smaak featuring Dez., “Keep Me Home” (Quango Music Group)
• Kinski, “Live: The Snowy Parts of Scandinavia” (Sub Pop)
• Paul Oakenfold featuring Brittany Murphy, “Faster Kill Pussycat” (Perfecto Records)
• Serena-Maneesh, “Drain Cosmetics” (Playlouderecordings)

Short films

• 5boro: “A New York Skateboarding Minute” (Skateboarding)
• Radical Films: “Kranked — Progression” (Mountain Biking)
• TGRTV The North Face (Skiing/Snowboarding)

The verdict is left to you