January 3rd, 2010Review of Microsoft Zune HD portable multimedia player
Perhaps today is not no secret that in addition to the Windows operating system in Microsoft’s portfolio is a whole mass of different products - both software and hardware. Among the latter are good mouse, keyboards and webcams, as well as the Xbox 360 console. All this iron can be easily found on sale in Canada.
Music is a family of Microsoft Zune portable multimedia players we have not enjoyed considerable popularity: first of all for the reason that they were never on Russia’s market has not been formally delivered. Several online stores at one time tried to sell these players, but later, these attempts almost completely disappeared. For example, some enthusiasts in my hometown could sell half a dozen of these devices, but eventually they returned two player - buyers did not suit the lack of Russification, guarantees, as well as “characters” that appear in the tags instead of the usual Cyrillic.
It is believed that the Zune is a grand failure of Microsoft - to invade this market segment, traditionally controlled by the great and terrible Apple, Redmond corporation failed. In principle, this assertion hard to disagree: sell players in the United States left much to be desired, and particularly impressionable buyer is not satisfied yet, and their appearance. Mol, brown, sorry for the vulgarity, “perfectly characterizes the quality of players Zune”. (True, brown was only the first 30-gigabyte player, and subsequent modifications were produced in several colors. The holders of these “Zunes” mostly treated them with love - the music they played beautifully.) However, the discussion of color Product speak primarily about the loyalty of users to its developer: for example, the world’s first Android-communicator T-Mobile G1 also had the brown version, but neither the HTC, or Google for that moment, no one blamed.
One way or another, but in Redmond drew the right conclusions from the situation described above and 27 May this year announced a fundamentally new and very topical player - Zune HD. The first reports about it appeared in April: Someone put it to the network advertising poster depicting a certain portable multimedia player, who was allegedly preparing to release Microsoft. Many people felt this picture fakie, but personally I believe the existence of the new Zune - is too qualitatively it - the picture - has been implemented.
And on Sept. 15 started selling. Data on the number of players sold to date no, but eyewitnesses claim that a certain buzz around the Zune HD still observed. And the most popular modification of the portable multimedia player with 16 gigabytes of flash memory (there is also a 32-gigabyte version). For me, one indicator of the popularity of a product are the message … its faults. If users make a fuss of defects, then the device it is interesting and it is exposed “peremyvke bones.
For example, the network likes to tell the public about the alleged cracking shells iPhone; addition, recently all self-respecting Western news sites have published information about the problems with cameras communicator HTC HD2 and Motorola Droid. In some instances Zune HD, it turns out, there are some spots on OLED-screens. Hurray, Microsoft adopted a new portable multimedia player in the elite club!
But seriously, there are no visible problems with the quality of manufacturing have no new items: it is perfectly assembled, and the materials used are good. Rear panel is made of metal, and he has, as they say, “pronounced texture. The front panel conceals tempered glass; ventured to rub his rib coins and key, but no scratches as a result did not appear. Is housing Zune HD and small plastic inserts, but they are also not subject to abrasion. Incidentally, the left side player is ma-and-scarlet inscription - hello from seattle ( “With greetings from Seattle”).
Met on the local forums posts along the following lines: “Aah!!! Microsoft again lohanulas as tore design for iPod Touch! No Zun this is not necessary, people do not like secondariness !!!”. I consider it my duty to see that the authors of such posts - people are sick and, apparently, is also blind. With the same success can be claimed that Apple iPhone design borrowed directly from PRADA Phone by LG and fifty communicators running Windows Mobile: These devices are also equipped with monoblocks-touchscreen, but were submitted much earlier than “yamobilko.
In general, my opinion is this: Microsoft managed to create a beautiful authentic gadget, and his style in general, I would venture to be called “corporate”. No zamylennostey and round, only the strict forms and straight lines. On the side faces are small indentations, which are very convenient for clinging fingers. And housing player rather thin. For example, Cowon S9 after Zune HD seems massive plastic soap box, which weighs in with even a little less.
But AMOLED-display S9 somewhat brighter OLED-screen Zune HD (and both cleaned merge AMOLED-matrix phone Samsung S8000 Jet). On paper, their characteristics are identical - the diagonal of 3.3 inches at a resolution 272h480 points, but in practice sometimes (stress: sometimes!) Seems to display the player Microsoft slightly dull. You go to settings to increase the brightness, lo and behold - and it already is at maximum. But I note that there is a deficit mainly through direct comparison: not the fact that it can be felt, having the only one Zune HD. In any case, the screen excellent viewing angles, and perceived it much better than the TFT-displays in a number of competing products.
Supported by the notorious multitouch technology - it can be used to scale the images and pages in your web browser. The latter, alas, disappointment: it is not working properly with Cyrillic letters - instead of the usual letters, words and sentences at most sites display some “characters”. For example, the five dozen open in the browser French resources only fifteen looked adequately (Computerra-line “in their number, unfortunately, not included). Actually, after that you can not complain about the lack of multi and overall, shall we say, “the simplicity of the browser. There is a “History”, is the “Bookmarks”, supported by the “Cookies” are allowed to search through mayrosoftovskoy machine Bing.com. Here I will note that the Zune HD controller is equipped with WiFi (IEEE 802.11b / g). Module works fine, no issues.
Flash an interesting situation: banners seemed to be running, but the animation is not - see only the first frame. True, at one site, I suddenly began to move advertising picture, thought it was an ordinary image in the GIF, but not - visit the site with PC showed that it was just a flash banner. Resource YouTube actually does not work: He himself is loaded, and thumbnails visible spots. But when you try to go to a page with a specific video browser displays the phrase “Can’t load page you requested” (when the browser is the “mobile” mode), or simply a request to go to the Adobe site and download the flash player ( “desktop” mode ; than they are different, not very clear, but setting any). In short, the normal flush here and there, apparently, never will be. By the way, this megabrauzer compiled on the basis of the mobile version of IE 6.
On the other hand, blame Microsoft for bad supports Cyrillic I would not: yes, this time disappointed, and very depressing, but then the Zune HD is not available to us. Want a normal localization? Buy related products. In general, the reporting player is not prepared for use in our realities. Let me explain why. For example, Zune HD is not on friendly terms with the Russian version of the operating system of Windows: Give him English, French or Spanish (Incidentally, only these languages are available and the menu of the player, but with Cyrillic in the tags is no problem). Otherwise, the software Zune Software 4.0, designed for downloading content from a PC, the player simply does not find. I had to download and install the system in English language pack.
To download and install applications, you must specify in Windows, that you are in the United States. Otherwise Zune Software will not register with the Zune Marketplace (you can use your existing account Windows Live ID, Hotmail or Xbox Live) and do not unlock the corresponding item in the menu. While I address all this, went unnoticed for two hours. As they say, you asked for. Oh, and another: after the very first power-player does not go into the settings to connect to the web, and even listen to the radio - before all this Zune HD must be connected to your computer and install the latest firmware. Current version of software - 4.3. Judging by cheyndzhlogu, it was significantly improved browser. (Ha!)
At the heart of Zune HD is the “system on a chip” nVidia Tegra APX2600. Evil tongues say that there is nothing special about it is not, and it represents not the latest technology, NVIDIA purchased in 2007 with the company PortalPlayer. In any case, manufacturers of gadgets is not yet really in a hurry to use “Tegra” in their products: according to rumors, now in development is already the second version of the platform, but on its first-generation devices effectively dead. Actually, there are only a two: portable multimedia players Zune HD and Samsung YP-M1. Well, still seems to be some small Asian offices at some exhibitions demonstrated smartbuki on Tegra, but sales are still not appeared. However, detract from the dignity and the platform should also not be: it is fully capable to provide a decent implementation of those functions which must be advanced multimedia players.
Animated player interface looks very fresh and beautiful: I personally standard matrix of icons already rather tired. And in the Zune HD menus implemented in the form of a list - it is vaguely reminiscent of “working tables” communicators running Windows Mobile 6.5. However, it is better to see once than seven times to read. I note only that the player interface is very fast, and the operating system Windows CE 6.0, which is managed and the Zune HD, absolutely not noticeable - it is completely “plastered” shell. It is like an element of “history”: it appears in the right side of the screen and contains all the images, tracks, videos, radio stations and websites visited. Links to all these “units of content” can be added to favorites - and they will be displayed in the pins on the “history”.
Walk through the menu items. First on the list is “music” (music). Of course, supports the display cover, you can add tracks to the playlist, make a bookmark on the album, one or more songs, as well as search for songs by name with a virtual QWERTY-keyboard (supported only Latin). You can sort the content by album, artist, genre and so on and so forth. In general, all basic functions are present.
What surprised me the location of the equalizer (seven options in style, its configuration can not make): Access to this function can be obtained only from the main menu item “Settings” (settings), but quickly switch to it from the screen playing music, alas, is impossible. Perhaps Microsoft did not believe in the equalizer of any important thing: after all, some orthodox audiophiles in general believe that music should be heard solely as intended her executor.
Hardware keys to control playback in the portable multimedia player, unfortunately, not provided: there is only one button on the left side face, which causes the virtual keys. They also can be reached by clicking once on the display. Headphones that came with the Zune HD, not equipped with remote control, in the end we obtain the following picture: To switch tracks will get the player out of his pocket, which is not always convenient. In the same Cowon S9 and Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000 hardware buttons available - and the overall ergonomics are affected the most positive way. C on the other hand, the screen “Zun” excellent handles pressing: miss by even the most diminutive menu item is impossible.
The portable multimedia player supports the following audio formats: WMA (including its lossless-variation), MP3, M4a and M4b (in other words, the format options AAC). No OGG, WAV, FLAC and APE - True audiophiles Zune HD is hardly ideal. However, sound quality, issued by our hero, I am personally pleased: if the use of normal headphones it does not yield any Cowon, or Sony.
The second menu item - “Video” (videos). This is where the fun begins - because this player can play HD-format videos in 720p (1280×720 pixels). But in practice, all much more complicated and difficult than on paper. It is obvious that viewing HD-content on the screen Zune HD does not make much sense, but in order to connect the player to a TV, you must purchase proprietary docking station, which costs about $ 90. Actually, you have no such accessory - and the abbreviation in the name of HD device loses much of its relevance. No, of course, the player naturally loses HD-video on your own display, but far more sensible to upload videos to it at a lower resolution - at least in terms of saving memory. Difference you still can not feel.
With all the formats are also quite complicated: the manufacturer announces support WMV, MPEG-4 (MP4/M4V), H.264, and DVR-MS (of course, no “diviksov and iksvidov” - is not like Cowon, which will digest just about anything that in his record). In this case all the files before uploading into the player are converted to a format Zune Software WMV. This is not really and health: for instance, is my little spot in the MPEG-4 format with a resolution of 320×240 pixels, seemingly abandoned him for ten seconds and the portable multimedia player - forward view. But with the Zune HD such a focus does not go: BY compulsorily converts it into a format WMV (with two options: “Broadcast TV” or “optimized for viewing on the screen of the player”), spending on this process for about five minutes and carefully heating the laptop case. The mass of different HD-rollers with extension MP4 program generally are not perceived: that the format wrong. No problems are observed only with WMV.
In short, the role of a portable video portable multimedia player “every day” Zune HD is not very suitable. Of course, this device is sharpened primarily for use in conjunction with microsoft’s online service Xbox Live Marketplace and the Zune Marketplace - buy a video, download, and it is perfectly reproduced using the Zune HD. In our country such a hike, as we know, is not popular.
“Pictures” (pictures). Then apply especially not what - photos can be sorted by date or by folder, and where any of the pictures, you can set wallpaper for the screen lock. There is a slideshow mode, and more on any of the folders or pics you can put a bookmark.
“Radio” (radio). As is known, the receiver is considered the player supports the format of HD Radio, but in our part of it is irrelevant. FM-tuner is not nothing special stands out: to introduce radio frequency manually is impossible - only supported by scanning the ether, rename, added to the memory of the station is also not allowed, and the list looks like this: 101,6, 102,8 and so on. Strange approach.
“Shop” (marketplace). Directly from the portable multimedia player, you can buy the songs (to listen to their 30-second fragments), as well as download the application. Available search. With this package, Zune Software on a PC you can also purchase videos, as well as download podcasts, and pictures. All this stuff in two clicks you can burn in memory Zune HD.
“Contacts” (social). This item is designed to download and display the contact holder Zune HD from Windows Live and Xbox Live, as well as exchange messages with them. You can also find out what kind of music currently listening to your pals.
“Internet” (internet). Here lies already described by me above web browser.
“Applications” (apps). In the Marketplace is now available fifteen free games and programs. In the near future, Microsoft says it will release two more applications - customers for Facebook and Twitter. Well, wait, load, oprobuem. I remember that I saw in the web reports that some applications for the Zune HD before you start showing advertisements - for example, videos about cars Kia. We have nothing like this: some programs only show the banner with the proposal to try to free music store, Microsoft. (Each winner Zune HD has the right to two weeks “freebies”.)
Talk about the full-store applications for the Zune HD is still too early. Maybe in the future will allow the corporation to write a software for this portable multimedia player to third-party developers, and it was then-ah … and then see what will come of this venture. A calculator - he and Cowon S9 is. And no advertising, he does not show, and runs ten times faster. As for the quality of graphics in those three or four 3D-games, which are available for the Zune HD, then it is at the Sony PSP or iPod Touch. Office in a number of games (as well as in the browser and image viewer) by using the accelerometer.
“Settings” (Settings). Actually, the settings. Everything here is quite usual, and against the background stands a chance to ask the password on exit from the screen lock. Suppose you connect at a party player to your stereo and went to dance; So, detractors, who decided to include the quiet group “Hands up!” instead Armin Van Buren, do not succeed. If it is, of course, will pick up the code.
Well, a couple of points: Zune HD synchronize with a PC can not only via cable, but wirelessly. As a “removable disk” it is not defined at all, that is, use it as a flash drive will not work. From a single battery charge, he, according to Microsoft, working up to 33 hours of audio playback and up to 8,5 - mode video playback. For comparison: the creators Cowon S9 promise 55 and 11 hours. Draw conclusions.
Well, we come to the conclusions of the global. Zune HD - this is an elegant and high-quality toys, but play with her best at her home in the United States. Well, or in those countries, where he soon will start selling this player - Microsoft recently announced the release of Zune brand to the world market.
Lovers of the exotic can order a Zune HD, say, eBay.com and receiving the trick pleasant and relatively inexpensive ($ 260 with express delivery for the version with 16 gigabytes of memory), but little suited to domestic realities. Compare this novelty, of course, is the best player in the history of Microsoft, should not at all with iPod Touch - this product is perhaps more PDA than a simple portable multimedia player.
In my humble opinion, the closest analogue may be called Zune HD portable multimedia player Sony Walkman NWZ-X1000. Why not? He also has a OLED-screen controller, WiFi, and antediluvian web browser. In addition, the Japanese player is also not animal is omnivorous. At the same models Cowon and Samsung are very different audience: the Korean “school pleerostroeniya” focuses on different ideals and different approach to functionality.
