Bits 'n Bytes

Last week Microsoft released the 4th generation of their MP3 player, the Zune HD just days after Apple announced their latest revision of the iPod Touch.  Like the Touch, the Zune HD has a large touch screen with a single button (no more squircle).  Both devices include an Internet browser and allow wireless downloads of music and video.  It’s clear Microsoft intends this device to compete directly with the iPod Touch, so here’s a brief comparison between the two products.

First, the Zune HD is only being sold in the United States.  So if you live anywhere else, the Zune is not even an option.

The Zune HD is lighter and slightly smaller than the iPod Touch.  The Zune HD comes with a touch interface that is on par with Apple’s innovative design.  The Zune also has a number of features not offered on the iPod:

• a high-contrast OLED screen which gives blacker blacks
• the ability to output 720p video to an external HDTV (with the addition of the optional AV dock)
• an FM HD radio tuner (and if you hear a song you like you can purchase it directly from the radio player)
• wireless syncing to a computer
• music subscription via Zune Pass

Zune Pass is perhaps the greatest feature of the Zune.  For $14.99 a month, you are allowed unlimited downloads from the Zune Marketplace.  In addition, you are able to download 10 songs a month which you can keep forever.  If you listen to a lot of music this is a great way to go.

Apple’s strong point is their App Store.  Microsoft has said that they will support games on the Zune, but so far there is nothing to compare with what is available for the iPod Touch.  If you want to play games or run any of the nifty apps, you want to stick with the iPod Touch.

The low-end iPod Touch is slightly less expensive, but it is slower and only holds 8GB.  For an extra $20, the low-end Zune holds twice as much music, photos and videos.  The 16GB iPod Touch is $299, which is $10 more that the platinum Zune HD which holds 32GB.  Overall, the Zunes are more affordable than the Touches.

There has been a lot of speculation that the latest revision of the iPod Touch was going to include a camera, but for some reason Apple decided to leave it out.  Apple did introduce a new iPod Nano with a camera.  A Touch with a camera may eventually become available, but probably not this year.  If you are willing to pay the service charges, the iPhone 3Gs is a great phone and MP3 player that has Internet connectivity even if a Wi-Fi hotspot is unavailable.

But if you live in the United States and listen to lots of music, you might want to give the Zune HD a good look.

For more information, see Andy Ihnatko’s review of the Zune HD.  Paul Thurott also has a detailed review and a handy table that compares the Zune HD with the iPod Touch.  Update» Also check out the CNET Prizefight: Apple iPod Touch vs. Microsoft Zune HD video comparison of the two products.

This Zune HD Grand Tour video below gives one of the better demos of the new product: