Zune HD vs. iPod Touch September 21, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Hardware, Zune, iPod.1 comment so far
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:
iPhone App Organizer September 9, 2009
Posted by cuyler in Software, iPhone, iPod.add a comment
Apple held their fall iPod press event today (the video is available here). Steve Jobs took the stage to a thunderous applause. The Apple CEO is back after recovering from a liver transplant earlier this year.
All four flavors of iPods have been updated. The big news is the iPod Nano now comes with a video camera, microphone, speaker, FM radio and pedometer (starting at $149 US). The iPod Touch (still the “funnest iPod ever”) gets a 50% improvement in speed, but not the widely rumored camera — it starts at $199 US for the 8GB model. The iPod Classic price stays the same ($249 US), but now holds 160GB of music. The iPod Shuffle now comes in various colors starting at $59 US.
That’s all well and good, but as an avid iPhone user, the big news for me was the announcement of iTunes 9 and the release of iPhone OS 3.1. The most welcome feature is the ability to organize the applications using iTunes.
It has been possible to move the application icons from page to page on the phone itself, but it is a long, painful process. Now iTunes 9 makes it easy to place icons on any page. Just connect your iPhone or iPod Touch, select the device in iTunes. The new Applications tab provides three columns:
- a list of all the applications on the left
- a simulation of the iPhone screen to the right
- and a column of thumbnails for each page on the far right
The apps can be moved around on the screen or dropped onto one of the page thumbnails. Multiple app icons can be selected by pressing the command key and clicking. If you are not sure which page holds the app, double-click the app in the list on the left and it jumps directly to that page. To save space on the iPhone, you can uncheck the app in the list.
Finally apps can be organized on the iPhone without spending half a day moving wiggling icons one by one.
The iTunes store also gets a new layout. Ringtones are available for $1.29. A new category of albums, iTunes LP, come with liner notes and extra features. Home Sharing lets you transfer music and media between different computers on your personal network.
Apple has put a lot of work into iTunes and it has paid off. They are the #1 music retailer and the new features and ease of use of their new store should place them yet another step ahead of the competition.
September 9th Apple Event August 17, 2009
Posted by cuyler in iPod.add a comment
Hold on to your iPods! Apple is holding a “rock and roll” press event on Wednesday, September 9th. Apple is expected to announce updates to the iPod line and iTunes 9 (perhaps why the event is scheduled for the 9th). The new version of iTunes is expected to have Blu-ray support and social network integration.
Speculation is that new versions of the iPod Touch and iPod Nano will include a camera.
Apparently there will be no announcement of a new tablet computer that has been widely rumored. Speculation is that a tablet device will come out sometime in early 2010.
It would be wonderful if Steve Jobs handles the presentation next month, but I might think Apple wants him to keep a low profile. Steve Jobs is unquestionably important, but Apple shouldn’t want investors to equate the health of Steve Jobs with the health of the company.
Update»
September 9, 2009 is a big day the Beatles. They are releasing their digitally remastered catalogue that day (9/9/9). In addition, it is the release date for The Beatles: Rock Band video game. Could this also be the day that the entire Beatles collection is finally available on iTunes?
It may be that Apple also announces an update to the iPhone OS that enables MMS for AT&T customers. (Update — on September 3rd, AT&T announced MMS will be available for the iPhone on the 25th).
