How the Zune could win...

[lupin]

Microsoft there is one thing that you could easily do that would push you over the iPod once and for all (or at least till the 6Gs hit) support all video codecs. None of this Zune Player re-encodes bullshit either. Im talking I have an AVI of Borat and I want to watch it on the plane ride to MAC World (im not going but hey while we are dreaming right?) all I have to do is drag and drop. The GP2X offered this but, it used SD cards. With the harddrive space of the Zune and the multimedia functionality of a PC the Zune would crush all opponents. Or, even better, release a SDK for the Zune MS. Make the Zune a portable PC of sorts. Sure it couldnt do much outside of music and video and maybe a few small WiFi apps, but the scene would love you. Do it... you know you want to win...

what the hell? I dont remember putting a "FUC" at the end of my post. Maybe it is time I head to bed...

[ringwurm]

Agreed. Having the ability to purchase music via Wi-Fi was a good idea, and would push it up to the iPod's level, but for some reason Microsoft scrapped the idea.


C'mon, the only reason the Zune has wi-fi is to swap music with other zune owners (haha, who owns a zune?), and the swapped music only stays on your zune for three days, or three playbacks. if that's the only thing you can do with a zune's wi-fi, than why does the zune have wi-fi?

[magunwarrior]

Agreed. Having the ability to purchase music via Wi-Fi was a good idea, and would push it up to the iPod's level, but for some reason Microsoft scrapped the idea.


C'mon, the only reason the Zune has wi-fi is to swap music with other zune owners (haha, who owns a zune?)

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/01/03

[darknessgp]

although I doubt they could support all video codecs, I'm surprized Apple and Microsoft don't support XVid or divx... there are other portable video players out there that do though.

If Alex's insider was right about it only taking 7 months for the whole project... I understand the lack of goodness. I also hope he's right about the Zune 2, and hopefully they won't rush it.

[lupin]

Well according to everything I have read its just a Toshiba Gigabeat with a WiFi chip added and a new OS. Albeit that new OS is much better then the Gigabeats. But, if that is true, then it would make since that it only took 7 months.

[noonebutme]

Never going to happen. Plus, re-encoding is generally necessary cause of the screen size - the iPod video's are encoded in a different resolution then what you normally download (which there is no set standard for), so by converting, it's all put into a format the iPod can display properly.

Plus, the encoding for the ipod, if used properly, is fairly good :)

Oh, and whats to stop Apple from releasing a software update that would do the same thing.

Zune's wifi is a huge gimmick, if it werent for the wifi, it would be like any portable video player 3 years ago.

[lupin]

The WiFi isnt a gimmick its just the fact that the software hasnt tapped into it yet. And the screen size doesnt make a difference. Look at my example of the GP2X it could handle resolutions of up to 720x480 or something to that effect but its native was the same as the Zunes. And most videos you get for your PC are smaller then 720x480 and even if they arent the freeware app PocketDivx can resize a 1 hour video in about 5 minutes or less. The re-encoding is not just for screen size. And yes I too think that video conversion for the iPod is much simplier but the screen size of the iPod makes watching videos on it a less enjoyable experince then it is with the Zune.

[darknessgp]

If I remember correctly, the zune converts the video into a format that uses less processing power and therefore less battery power... however I may be wrong.

About the Zune's wifi. It was definately a gimmick at launch, but if they plan on doing mostly software upgrades and the such, they already have most of their hardware in place... i.e. unlike if Apple wanted to give the iPod full wifi ability, they would have to sell another iPod. The Zune could, depending on how it is set up, could just get a software update and suddenly, bam, browsing the internets, syncing over wireless, etc.

[lupin]

Hmm idk about that since its all Software decoding and Im pretty sure its weak CPU is probably tapped out on WMV too.

[ryudo]

riiiiiiiiiight.... ;)

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/portable-media/its-so-zunely-at-ces-227217.php

[lupin]

I love it when everyone gets opinions on stuff but its so obvious they are based in ignorance. Im always pointing out the good and bad of the Zune because Im objective on the thing. In fact sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision. Last night a friend of mine an I where talking about what we thought about the Transition of MACs from PPC to Intel since it has been roughly a year and we where both surprised by how well it went (I hopped on that band wagon to with a MACTEL Mini)

Then we started talking about some of the people who had worried about it and some how we got to Leo Laporte and we decided this: Leo is just old. And naturally he is doing what old people do; complain.

*Imitates Leo as an old man* MEH!!! YOU KIDS THESE DAYS AND YOUR INTEL MACS I REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD WAS 68030 THAT DIDNT EVEN HAVE A BUILT IN FPU!! AND WHATS WITH THESE ZUNES! MEH!! I REMEMBER WHEN MY iPod HAD A MECHANICAL CLICK WHEEL! YOU ABOUT BROKE YOUR FINGER TRYING TO TURN IT! MEH!!! MEH!! meh! meh... me... m... ... .... ...

*doses off*

*gets shaken by someone*

MEH!! NETCAST!!

ty tyvm

[ryudo]

: Leo is just old. And naturally he is doing what old people do; complain.


You must be old then judging by most your topics.

[lupin]

OH SNAP!! Thats right I "SNAP'd" myself... Deal with it America.