Zune Media Player News And Articles

When Microsoft launched the entire Zune concept onto the marketplace, they didn’t leave out any of the major details involving new product lines in the computer technology industry.  Not only are there a great line of products, but the services are top of the line, also.  I’m referring to their online store --- the Zune Marketplace.  The biggest benefit here to the end-user is that the online store integrates well with the Zune software applications.  When the online store was... (Read More)

The Microsoft Corporation has always been a major player in all aspects of the computer world.  Millions of PC users worldwide are more than familiar with their applications, their online availability, and just all the benefits involved when dealing with them.  Once again, back in November of 2006, they introduced a product called Zune --- Microsoft’s answer to digital music products as well as services.  The line not only includes digital audio players and software, but there is even... (Read More)

When Microsoft introduced the Zune they wanted the consumer to be able to make it personal.  The Zune was created for the user to personalize in several unique ways.  In plain English, if there are five Zune 80GB sitting on the table everyone will know who's is who's with just a glance.The first way to make the Zune your own is to have the Zune laser engraved with the artwork you choose from Zune Originals.  There are over 40 designs to choose from.  The Artist Series was designed... (Read More)

The Zune v2 offers so many capabilities it is almost impossible to know where to start.  The first thing you will notice is the new Zune is smaller. The slimmer case is only a ½ inch thick.  It is 4.3 inches high and 2.4 inches wide.  There is a 3.2 inch LCD screen to optimize the user's view of the videos and pod casts on their Zune.  The screen is also made of optical glass instead of plastic which means the picture is totally clear with no distortion.There are three new... (Read More)

Finally someone was listening.  The Zune by Microsoft has family settings.  This means the Zune is a PMD that can be used by the kids.  With the family settings a child can go into the Zume Marketplace and browse safely.  They can download music that the parents approve of.  The children can set up their own collections and can safely participate in the Zune Social.The options available for the family settings for Zune include purchases.  You can choose whether the children... (Read More)

Trying to discuss a new product without discussing features and benefits is as difficult as pulling your wisdom teeth with your grandfather’s old needle-nose pliers and without anesthesia.  It can’t be done properly.  And the specifications need to be included in that discussion as well.  So hopefully, I won’t get too “techy” about all this when I talk about the features and specs of Zune products.  The list of features is as long as your arm, but they just add to the selling... (Read More)

So you’ve just unwrapped your Microsoft Zune package and all the related goodies that came with it, and of course, since you are completely uneducated and unfamiliar about this hot new technology that you decide to start doing your homework and real all the materials.  Let’s see --- I don’t need to read the technical specs because I don’t understand most of what the abbreviations and specs mean anyway, so why don’t I just read the text on how to operate it.  And then I run across the words... (Read More)

One of the greatest features about the Zune by Microsoft is the Zune Community Forum.  The Zune was designed to be a social device.  You can share music, podcasts, pictures, and more with the Zune.  Sometimes there are glitches.  This could be with the software, firmware, or other problems.  The Zune Community Forum is there to help.The Zune Community Forum has many different sections.  You can choose from tips and tricks, setup and installation issues, the wireless... (Read More)

New products can be a pain when trying to get used to them.  There are so many unanswered questions even after giving up and really reading the instruction manual.  The Microsoft Zune PMD has it's fair share of unanswered questions as well.  What is great is that Microsoft is there to answer them.Zune.net has many troubleshooting tips and tricks to get the Zune up and running the way it should.  There is a section for getting started and learning how to navigate the Zune. ... (Read More)

I’ve read a ton of reviews on this hot new technology that Microsoft introduced to the market back in November of 2006, most of them rating it as Perfect or Spectacular.  But I have to admit that although I haven’t purchased a Zune 80 yet, a friend of mine let me hang out at his place for the better part of an afternoon and evening to get savvy with the new technology.  So here’s my two cents in the matter.As far as the positives go, I like having that much memory (80GB) in a device like... (Read More)

The Zune was introduced to a not so enthusiastic public in 2006.  Microsoft listened and came up with the new Zune 80 GB.  This new PMD has made an impact.  Microsoft kept the best of the old and added some cool new features.The four directional Zune pad is great for navigating through the music and videos.  You can use it to scroll with a soft touch or click it up, down, left, and right.  You can easily go through the play list to find the song you want.  If you hold... (Read More)

When Microsoft introduced its first Zune model (the Zune 30) in November of 2006, it came with a 30GB hard drive and menu navigation was a snap because of the simple directional touchpad that it came with.  Their next generation of products included three models --- the Zune 4, Zune 8, and Zune 80 --- and these were introduced to the market in October of 2007.  These newer models came equipped with what was called a Zune Pad instead of the original directional pad of the Zune 30.The Zune... (Read More)

I have to admit that I’m what you call AYO --- Anal Yet Organized.  This is especially the case when I’m pondering something new and techy for me to get some pleasure out of with or without the use of my PC.  For several years now, I have spent countless hours at the CNET Reviews website reading about particular products before I made my purchase.  And usually, that decision to purchase or not to purchase hinged on how I felt once I had read a CNET review.  But after reading the... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zune was first billed as an iPod Killer, but it seems to be going its own way instead of following in the footsteps of Apple. The Microsoft Zune could end up being the mp3 player for people who want something different instead of for people who want the newest gadget.The latest rumor has the Microsoft Zune with a smart shuffle feature on the next generation release. The smart shuffle feature will allow each user to set the shuffle option based on meta data and tags to get shuffle options... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zune is an awesome portable media device with great styling, but the colors can sometimes leave a lot to be desired. If you have buyer's remorse over your purchase of a brown Microsoft Zune, you don't have to buy a new one and put your old one on eBay. You can change the look of your Zune with custom designed Zune skins.Skins protect your Microsoft Zune from scratches and fingerprints. They are easy to apply and easy to change. You can even change the skin to match your accessories.... (Read More)

When you have a Microsoft Zune, it is easy to walk down the accessory aisle at your local electronics store and get iPod accessory envy. With all of the eye catching skins and cases, it is hard not to get jealous of all the options that iPod owners seem to have. For example, there seems to be an unlimited number of speaker systems and docks for the iPod, but the Microsoft Zune is catching up, due in part to Microsoft's powerful position in the technology industry. With a little persistence, you don't... (Read More)

Microsoft is looking for innovative ways to tie together the Microsoft Zune media player and phones that run the Windows Mobile operating system. The most popular concept among bloggers and mobile technology experts is to replace existing Windows Media software that is currently available as part of Windows Mobile with the Zune software. This would allow users of Windows Mobile phones and Zune to have one software to sync both devices. It would also eliminate the need to have a digital media library... (Read More)

While the Microsoft Zune is a great music and video player, Microsoft isn't content to rest on the success of its flagship music device. The computer industry giant is hoping to compete with Sony and Nintendo for a share of the mobile gaming market by introducing new games for the Microsoft Zune.The new software will be written in the XNA programing environment and will be extended to a newer version of XNA Studio. The first game that Microsoft presented at the Game Developer Conference in San Franscico... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zune is more than just a plain, garden variety mp3 player. It is a personal entertainment device that fits in a pocket or a purse. If you aren't watching videos or movies on your Microsoft Zune, you aren't taking full advantage of the Microsoft Zune features. But without a central repository of media files, like Apple's iTunes for iPods music and video store, it can be hard to find videos and movies that are compatible for your Microsoft Zune.iZuneAccess provides movie downloads to... (Read More)

It's no secret that the ear buds that ship with mp3 players and other digital devices leave a lot to be desired, and the Microsoft Zune is no exception. The ear buds that ship with the Zune deliver inferior sound quality and are extremely uncomfortable. Fortunately there are many options at all ends of the price spectrum for Zune owners who want great sound with maximum comfort.There is no limit to the amount of money you can spend on ear buds. You can even spend more on your ear buds than you did... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zunes has a lot of features that set it apart from its competition in terms of functionality and styling. When we are talking functionality though the sharing features of the Zune truly set it apart from the host of other MP3 players that fluctuate throughout the market. The Microsoft Zune’s ability to share so seamlessly with so m any devices is due in part to the fact that Microsoft is such a huge company with a presence in so many different sectors. It became an easy... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zune versus the Apple iPod. Neither of those companies wants to be perceived as working on their devices to be in direct competition with each other but the fact of the matter is that they can’t help but be compared. These are the two biggest manufactures of computers in the world, and the iPod has long ruled the MP3 roost. However, Microsoft’s Zune is a might contender, and in fact has many features over the iPod which might give the underdog the edge. The first thing... (Read More)

A company that has never until the X-box been really known for cool styling and attractive packaging, Microsoft keeps on building its creative side in the styling and presentation of the Zune. Anyone who has ever picked up one of the Zunes in a store is immediately struck by the presentation and the packaging. A great thing about the Zune is the body’s resistance to fingerprints. Unlike many other MP3 players the Zune does not absorb every single finger mark you place upon it keeping... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zune is marketed to a different brand of people than the average MP3 player user. Many people use and buy MP3 players that don’t use computers and aren’t particularly computer savvy. In fact the extent of many of those users proficiency will consist of moving songs on and off the MP3 player, checking their email and word processing.  That is not too say that using the Microsoft Zune requires a technical no how beyond that of the average user. It does not, in fact it is... (Read More)

Everyone out there who ones a Microsoft Zune player is looking for and hoping for Microsoft to open up their marketplace to sell games for the player. The fact of the matter is that the iPod has been offering games for a very long time. In many respects the Zune is an amazing machine, and Microsoft has plainly stated that they don’t want it just to be a Microsoft edition of the iPod. But that’s not what a Zune game marketplace and functionality would be . Because the things is, that... (Read More)

Like any of the other portable MP3 players out there on the market, especially the more popular ones, there are a host of accessories and add on products available for the Microsoft Zune. These range from simple cases and cables to devices to greatly increase the functionality of the device. The first and most obvious kind of accessories for an MP3 player are the cases. There are cases of all shapes and sizes available that fit the Zune perfectly. Basically, whatever kind of a case you... (Read More)

The Zune was originally purported to be the iPod killer, but the iPod hasn’t died. In fact, the iPod has just gone on flourishing what with its new style of nano, the iPod touch, and bigger storage in the iPod classic. The Zune has emerged as an excellent device in its own right, and has sold many units, but the fact of the matter is that nothing has come yet that is going to kill the iPod, and there are reasons why that is true. The first reason that nothing will kill the iPod yet is... (Read More)

Most people aren’t quite sure how to feel about watching videos on their portable devices. The screen is so small that they aren’t sure if there is any enjoyability to be derived from the watching of a missed television show or a beloved movie on a tiny little screen. In terms of the Microsoft Zune, lets review that. Honestly, on a 3” screen, it’s not the best place to watch a big blockbuster for the first time and expect that you are going to get the entire effect. The movie was made... (Read More)

The Zune marketplace is the place where for certain amounts of money, Zune customers can,online, purchase and download songs and music videos for use on their Microsoft Zune player. The marketplace has been growing steadily since its inception. The Zune marketplace provides millions of songs as well as music video’s available for purchase. The store’s content is constantly expanding as Microsoft adds songs from both the major record companies as well as content from smaller labels. Microsoft’s... (Read More)

The interface of the Microsoft Zune has received a lot of attention since the device first came out. The basic concept is simply that it is easier to allow horizontal navigation than to require a user to move back a level of their file organization to find what they’re looking for. The basic premise of the Zune’s interface allows you to scroll horizontally through your files in a given category with a click of the button. The buttons are easy to use as well, and for everyone who complains that... (Read More)

Whenever you’re browsing the online electronics retailers and marketplaces you will come across reviews of the Microsoft Zune whenever you view the product. There are certain trends emerging in the reviews that are becoming fairly obvious. Nearly every review begins by saying, I don’t want to compare this to the iPod but… the fact of the matter is that comparisons are inevitable, and instead of trying to make the two devices duke it out or ignore each other, our attention would be better... (Read More)

The Microsoft Zune has become a major contender in the personal MP3 marketplace. They have carved out their nice of this market which is a very difficult marketplace to make inroads what with Apple so firmly dominating the MP3 market. Because Microsoft has found itself in such direct competition with Apple in so many regards over the years they are trying to develop and move the Zune forward in such ways that it becomes a serious competitor for the iPod. They need to get some of the... (Read More)

Chances are that you are already familiar with the Microsoft Zune, the first entry into the personal MP3/video player market by computer giant Microsoft.  The personal MP3 market has been growing very rapidly over the past few years, primarily due to the explosive popularity of a device made by Microsoft’s chief rival. The Microsoft Zune comes like most of these devices in a variety of storage sizes. Let’s take the 30GB model as an example for an introduction, although keeping in... (Read More)

The Valentine’s error made by Microsoft may actually end up working in their favor. When Microsoft announced the production of their special Valentine’s Day Zune, they were flooded by far more orders than they originally anticipated.  Many, many more people ordered the device before the cutoff date in order to receive the product by Valentine’s Day than Microsoft had initially predicted. Cue the sad music. Microsoft was unable to meet all orders on time due to this huge demand.... (Read More)

The frustration of international customers at the unavailability of the Zune in their countries has been loudly stated since the devices release and has fallen completely on deaf ears.  Microsoft has to a large extent damaged their prospective sales in all of those countries by their treating of them as second class citizens of the world. Many people in those countries could have become loyal Zune customers that would have hopped from their current MP3 player to the user friendly and... (Read More)

As for any MP3 player with wide visibility and popularity a wide variety of cases and holders have become available for the Microsoft Zune.  The Zune is known for being a more rugged and durable device than some of its competitors, but most people still want to keep their new toy as clean and scratch free for as long as possible. There are several different styles of cases available. The first two are flip cases. These come in two different primary styles. Keep in mind that in all... (Read More)

Zune 80 GB digital media player has a big and bright 3.2 inch LCD color screen. A maximum of 20000 songs, 25000 pictures or 250 hours video can be stored. This device can be used to automatically import the existing pictures, video and music from iTunes and Windows Media player in different formats. Wireless Zune to Zune sharing can be used to swap tracks and other media. This wireless range is up to 30 feet. The battery life for music is up to 20 hours, for pictures is up to 5 hours and for video... (Read More)