November 2007
Microsoft's revamped Zunes: First Look
Updated digital media players rival Apple's (older) iPods
8GB Zune (left), 80GB Zune (center), 30GB Zune (right)
Price: 80GB hard-disk Zune $250
8 GB flash Zune $200
4 GB flash Zune $150 (similar to 8GB model, but not tested)
Microsoft's first MP3 player, the 30-gigabyte Zune, debuted last year, boasting a then-rare feature among players: Wi-Fi capability. But the player was bulky and you could use its wireless connection only to share music with other nearby Zunes.
We've completed initial tests on the revamped Zunes. There's an 80GB hard-disk version (holding up to 20,000 songs), and 8GB and 4GB flash Zunes (holding 2,000 and 1,000 songs respectively).
The new 80GB Zune is about the same size as the old 30GB Zune, which is still available for about $150. Battery life is improved. The 30GB Zune poops out after 14 hours while the 80GB model claims 30 hours and the flash Zunes 24 hours, all with the wireless turned off.
The controls have been made more responsive, the user interface has been further improved, and picture quality has been upgraded, especially on the 80GB Zune. For the first time, you can share music beamed to you from other Zune players-though transfers were slower in our tests than with the old Zunes. Also, you can use the Zune's wireless capability to sync with your PC over your home's Wi-Fi network-though not to browse the Web or purchase music online. When you do buy music, via your PC, you must still pay in Microsoft's bizarrely complex currency.
If you're shopping for a portable player this holiday season, check out our buying advice on MP3 players and on portable digital video players. (ConsumerReports.org subscribers have access to our latest Ratings of MP3 players and CR Quick Recommendations of portable media players.)
We'll report our complete test results and findings in our Ratings of MP3 players soon. In the meantime, here's more about what we liked and disliked about Microsoft's new Zunes.
HIGHS
The big screen (80GB Zune only). This model increases its diagonal screen size from 3 inches to 3.2 inches, which is noticeably larger than the 2.5-in. display of an Apple iPod Classic. Picture and video quality were also slightly sharper and brighter than the first Zune's, which made watching videos a very pleasant experience. Picture quality was equally good on the 8GB model we tested, though it has a relatively tiny 1.8-in. screen.
Easier navigation. A distinct improvement is the new Zunes' more responsive control. Called the Zune Pad, it crosses a jog dial with a touch pad. You can easily adjust volume, make selections, and navigate in any direction by pressing the corresponding side of the Zune Pad. Sliding any finger over the Zune Pad's touch-sensitive surface lets you scroll through hundreds of songs in just a few seconds.
The Zune user interface has always been sensibly organized. In fact, it's better arranged than the one found on the iPod Classic and Nano, requiring fewer clicks to access content and player features. (The iPod Touch and iPhone still have the best media controls we've seen on any portable device). The Zune's updated interface uses larger fonts, which makes them a little easier to see, especially on the Lilliputian displays of the flash players. When coupled with the new Zune Pad, the new interface makes selecting and organizing content a very simple affair.
Wireless syncing. After a free software update, even first-generation Zunes will now wirelessly sync with your PC and allow you to share music beamed to you from other Zune players. The three-plays-per-song restriction remains in effect, but there's no longer a time limit. You can now take as long as you like to play songs beamed to you from other Zunes. Too bad you can't use the Wi-Fi connection to browse the Web or purchase music online, as you can with the iPod Touch.
Improved Zune Marketplace. Like iPod, the Zune has an exclusive, seamless relationship with a music-management program (Zune) and integrated online music store (Zune Marketplace) that resembles that of iPod's and Apple's iTunes program and iTunes Store. The Zune Marketplace's library of more than 3 million songs is about half as big iTunes'. But that still leaves plenty of music, videos, and podcasts-a new feature-from which to choose. Microsoft claims that more than a million of its downloadable songs are DRM-free MP3s, which means you can play them on any number of MP3 players, including iPods.
Another nice feature is the Zune Pass subscription, which lets you fill up to three Zunes and three PCs with songs from the Zune Marketplace library for a flat $15 per month. But DRM-free MP3s, some additional songs, and videos are excluded from the deal.
LOWS
That currency. As with the first Zune, you can't buy songs in dollars. Instead, you buy Microsoft "Points," the same currency used to purchase content for Microsoft Xbox video game consoles. Song prices still vary, but a song valued at 99 cents costs 79 points. More annoying: You have to buy Points in $5 increments. So if you only want to buy one song, you'll have to leave the change with Microsoft.
Tardy transfers. The Zunes' wireless sync is one convenience few players, including the iPod Touch, can offer. But you'll need to be patient. On the old Zune, it took only 3 minutes to beam 21 songs (about 105 megabytes) to another player. After we updated its software, that process stretched to 5 minutes. The new Zunes are even slower, taking 8 minutes to transfer the 21 songs.
Noisy headphones. The in-ear, noise-canceling headphones that come with the 80GB model fit comfortably and do a good job of blocking outside noise. The problem is that the cloth insulation that covers the headphone wires acts as a conduit for other annoying sounds. Whenever the headphone cable is jostled or rubs against other objects, such as clothing or your fingers, the cloth insulation transmits those sounds directly to your ears-like a stethoscope. Fortunately, the more basic but good-sounding ear buds that come with the 4GB and 8GB models don't have that problem.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Despite their quirks, the new Zunes are more-worthy alternatives to the iPod family than their older siblings. The best bet is the 80GB Zune, which offers a much larger screen than the iPod Classic, or any other player with similar capacity and price. While the flash Zunes also match evenly against the Nanos in price and capacity, many people will prefer the Nano's smaller, sleeker design and slightly larger (2-inch) display.
8 GB flash Zune $200
4 GB flash Zune $150 (similar to 8GB model, but not tested)
Microsoft's first MP3 player, the 30-gigabyte Zune, debuted last year, boasting a then-rare feature among players: Wi-Fi capability. But the player was bulky and you could use its wireless connection only to share music with other nearby Zunes.
We've completed initial tests on the revamped Zunes. There's an 80GB hard-disk version (holding up to 20,000 songs), and 8GB and 4GB flash Zunes (holding 2,000 and 1,000 songs respectively).
The new 80GB Zune is about the same size as the old 30GB Zune, which is still available for about $150. Battery life is improved. The 30GB Zune poops out after 14 hours while the 80GB model claims 30 hours and the flash Zunes 24 hours, all with the wireless turned off.
The controls have been made more responsive, the user interface has been further improved, and picture quality has been upgraded, especially on the 80GB Zune. For the first time, you can share music beamed to you from other Zune players-though transfers were slower in our tests than with the old Zunes. Also, you can use the Zune's wireless capability to sync with your PC over your home's Wi-Fi network-though not to browse the Web or purchase music online. When you do buy music, via your PC, you must still pay in Microsoft's bizarrely complex currency.
If you're shopping for a portable player this holiday season, check out our buying advice on MP3 players and on portable digital video players. (ConsumerReports.org subscribers have access to our latest Ratings of MP3 players and CR Quick Recommendations of portable media players.)
We'll report our complete test results and findings in our Ratings of MP3 players soon. In the meantime, here's more about what we liked and disliked about Microsoft's new Zunes.
HIGHS
The big screen (80GB Zune only). This model increases its diagonal screen size from 3 inches to 3.2 inches, which is noticeably larger than the 2.5-in. display of an Apple iPod Classic. Picture and video quality were also slightly sharper and brighter than the first Zune's, which made watching videos a very pleasant experience. Picture quality was equally good on the 8GB model we tested, though it has a relatively tiny 1.8-in. screen.
Easier navigation. A distinct improvement is the new Zunes' more responsive control. Called the Zune Pad, it crosses a jog dial with a touch pad. You can easily adjust volume, make selections, and navigate in any direction by pressing the corresponding side of the Zune Pad. Sliding any finger over the Zune Pad's touch-sensitive surface lets you scroll through hundreds of songs in just a few seconds.
The Zune user interface has always been sensibly organized. In fact, it's better arranged than the one found on the iPod Classic and Nano, requiring fewer clicks to access content and player features. (The iPod Touch and iPhone still have the best media controls we've seen on any portable device). The Zune's updated interface uses larger fonts, which makes them a little easier to see, especially on the Lilliputian displays of the flash players. When coupled with the new Zune Pad, the new interface makes selecting and organizing content a very simple affair.
Wireless syncing. After a free software update, even first-generation Zunes will now wirelessly sync with your PC and allow you to share music beamed to you from other Zune players. The three-plays-per-song restriction remains in effect, but there's no longer a time limit. You can now take as long as you like to play songs beamed to you from other Zunes. Too bad you can't use the Wi-Fi connection to browse the Web or purchase music online, as you can with the iPod Touch.
Improved Zune Marketplace. Like iPod, the Zune has an exclusive, seamless relationship with a music-management program (Zune) and integrated online music store (Zune Marketplace) that resembles that of iPod's and Apple's iTunes program and iTunes Store. The Zune Marketplace's library of more than 3 million songs is about half as big iTunes'. But that still leaves plenty of music, videos, and podcasts-a new feature-from which to choose. Microsoft claims that more than a million of its downloadable songs are DRM-free MP3s, which means you can play them on any number of MP3 players, including iPods.
Another nice feature is the Zune Pass subscription, which lets you fill up to three Zunes and three PCs with songs from the Zune Marketplace library for a flat $15 per month. But DRM-free MP3s, some additional songs, and videos are excluded from the deal.
LOWS
That currency. As with the first Zune, you can't buy songs in dollars. Instead, you buy Microsoft "Points," the same currency used to purchase content for Microsoft Xbox video game consoles. Song prices still vary, but a song valued at 99 cents costs 79 points. More annoying: You have to buy Points in $5 increments. So if you only want to buy one song, you'll have to leave the change with Microsoft.
Tardy transfers. The Zunes' wireless sync is one convenience few players, including the iPod Touch, can offer. But you'll need to be patient. On the old Zune, it took only 3 minutes to beam 21 songs (about 105 megabytes) to another player. After we updated its software, that process stretched to 5 minutes. The new Zunes are even slower, taking 8 minutes to transfer the 21 songs.
Noisy headphones. The in-ear, noise-canceling headphones that come with the 80GB model fit comfortably and do a good job of blocking outside noise. The problem is that the cloth insulation that covers the headphone wires acts as a conduit for other annoying sounds. Whenever the headphone cable is jostled or rubs against other objects, such as clothing or your fingers, the cloth insulation transmits those sounds directly to your ears-like a stethoscope. Fortunately, the more basic but good-sounding ear buds that come with the 4GB and 8GB models don't have that problem.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Despite their quirks, the new Zunes are more-worthy alternatives to the iPod family than their older siblings. The best bet is the 80GB Zune, which offers a much larger screen than the iPod Classic, or any other player with similar capacity and price. While the flash Zunes also match evenly against the Nanos in price and capacity, many people will prefer the Nano's smaller, sleeker design and slightly larger (2-inch) display.
