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All posts tagged "hands-on"


Wednesday, August 5, 2009

CNET Gets Hands-On Time With the Zune HD

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Zune Articles & Resources" @ 02:45 PM

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_...0303243-49.html

"I'll admit right off the bat that I've been a pretty big fan of the Zune ever since I bought my first one back in 2007. I've also had some disappointments, which I haven't been shy about sharing--and last year's half-hearted Zune hardware refresh had me losing faith that Microsoft would be able to steer this one out of the ditch. Well, having just geeked-out with a pair of Zune HDs for about an hour, I am tentatively reaffirming my faith in Microsoft. This thing was worth the wait, folks."

Donald Bell was fortunate enough to get his hands on the Zune HD - one of an increasing number of people able to do so - and he was generally pleased with what he saw. Check out his article for the details, but the highlights are that the Zune HD is using the same Wolfson DSP so the sound quality should be just as good, and the EQ has been brought back. What surprised me, in a pleasant way, was the fact that he was impressed with the Web browser. I was expecting it to be the most suck-tastic part of the Zune HD because IE Mobile on Windows Mobile is such a dog, but Bell says it's as impressive as the browser on the iPhone. There's also a gallery of photos worth checking out.


Saturday, November 11, 2006

Zune Thoughts and the Zune Hookup

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Zune Talk" @ 07:26 PM

There are some disadvantages of being a Zune site staffed, at the moment, by a guy from Canada and a guy from Australia. The first major problem is that because there's no Zune launching here (yet!) there are no events here. I was invited to go to the Zune launch event in Los Angeles that was held a couple of days ago, but after looking at what would be offered, and what wouldn't, I decided to take John Starkweather, a Group Product Manager at Microsoft in the Windows Mobile group, up on his offer to have me come down for a day-long Microsoft campus visit where I'll get a chance to meet with some members of the Zune team, look at some new Windows Mobile stuff, and hopefully chat with someone on the Windows Media team about their massively dysfunctional approach to the Windows Media Video world.

I purchased a last-minute plane ticket (damn those get expensive) and am flying into Seattle on the evening of the 13th. On the morning of the 14th, I'll be going to a retail store to purchased several Zunes (right now it's looking like five or six units). That's something I couldn't have done if I went to the event in LA on the 9th - the invite didn't include a Zune, not even a loaner for review. So it was imperative that I be in the USA on the 14th. I'll spend the remainder of the day on the 14th working on my Zune review, hopefully posting it by that evening. I don't mind saying that it's a little frustrating publishing my first hands-on experience so long after (seemingly) everyone else on the planet has had hands-on time with the Zune, but that's the cards I was dealt. On the 15th, I'll be hitting the Microsoft campus and will hopefully learn some good stuff.

Now here's the part that impacts you: I'll be purchasing one Zune to give away in a contest right here on Zune Thoughts. So if you haven't already registered a user account and posted once to get your account authenticated, do so now so you're ready for the contest. I've also been contacting vendors of Zune accessories, and several have offered up products for review and giveaways. So things are going to start to heat up here at Zune Thoughts - the best is yet to come!


Friday, November 3, 2006

engadget Posts Zune Player and Software Gallery

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Thoughts Media Off Topic" @ 11:30 AM

http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/03/microsoft-zune-player-and-software-hands-on-gallery/

"It's been a long, arduous trip prying our way into Microsoft's inner workings this past year, but we finally got a chance to sit down with all three Zunes and get some serious play time with the damned things. It may be a little early to give final impressions, but let's just say what we saw is a very decent start. The player was responsive and fast; all functions worked flawlessly and without delay. The software and storefront has a lot of new, unique features that make browsing and finding music a more engrossing, enjoyable experience. Obviously Apple is the game to beat -- and a tough game at that -- but something tells us this little player's got some fight in it. We're not going to talk too much about the device itself, namely because we'd rather show you; later today expect a walkthrough of every nook and cranny of the device, and a demo of its wireless functionality. But in the mean time, click on for loads more high res shots of the Zune family, software, Marketplace, and, um, executive briefcase."



It's a good thing Ryan Block lives so far away from me, because I'd totally mug him to get some hands-on time with the Zune at this point. At any rate, the engadget article has some nice pics and details about the Zune desktop software, though I'm still waiting for someone (anyone) to give me a screen by screen breakdown of the Zune desktop software. The devil is in the details for a product like this, and the sync/desktop experience is really where all of other media player makers have fallen down flat. The Zune has to be light years better than what Creative + Windows Media Player 10 offered the world or it's in for trouble.


Thursday, September 14, 2006

Coolfer Weighs in on the Zune

Posted by Jason Dunn in "Zune Talk" @ 08:50 PM

"Last week, at the invitation of Microsoft, I was one of a handful of bloggers who had a chance to see Microsoft's Zune media player and music store. (Disclosure: Microsoft paid for all travel expenses to Seattle.) Part of the afternoon was spent talking to key employees who work on the Zune project. The other part was spent hands-on with the device and watching a Flash presentation of the Zune's interaction with the software and online store. (The device I saw was not the final version and did not have wireless capabilities.)...What were my initial impressions of the Zune? It's a sleek piece of craftsmanship that's simple and functional. It doesn't have the sexiness of the iPod, but it does have a graceful utilitarianism. It comes in three colors: brown, black and white. The brown is an attractive, earthy shade and was my favorite of the three. (It looks much better in person that what is represented by the stock image seen above. No pictures of the Zune were allowed during my visit.) The black is more like a gray, actually, and the white has a full color to it. Each comes with what is called a "doubleshot," or a combination of a main color with a complementing trim. For example, when the power is on, the brown Zune sports a just-perceptible green trim. The device is heavier than I expected it to be. That could be a negative, but there's feeling of craftsmanship that goes along with the weight."

An interesting write-up from Glenn Peoples, who got some hands-on time with the Zune, although the version he got to try out lacked WiFi, and they didn't get to see the desktop software...so it was likely hard to get a feeling for the overall Zune experience. Still, Glenn got to try out the Zune and has some interesting things to say about it. What I found particularly refreshing is that he doesn't own an iPod and came at the Zune without preconceptions of how it "should" work. The flip side of that coin, of course, is that so many people own iPods they do have preconceived notions about how things should work. It doesn't sound like anything about the Zune is a radical departure though, so there may be less bumps than we think. I really like the idea of the "doubleshot" - adding a dash of complementary colour. Nice!


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