ZUNE:
Written on 7:23 AM by JJ
Zune is Microsoft's digital portable media player and online music store. It can play music files and display videos and images. The device released to the U.S. market was a 30-GB model for US$249.99 on November 14, 2006.Largely based on the Gigabeat S, the Zune was created in close cooperation with Toshiba, which registered the device under the name Toshiba 1089 with the FCC. The Zune's casing is made from rubberized plastic. Its controls include a circular controller with five buttons arranged in a circle, a menu button to the left, a play/pause button to the right, and a hold switch atop the player next to the headphone port. The device has a "twist interface" that provides "two-dimensional navigation."Users can buy songs at the online Zune Marketplace and manage them with PC client software called Zune Software.
Music, videos, and pictures can be streamed to an Xbox 360 via USB or from the Zune Software via a home network.Zune's Wi-Fi communication allows limited sharing of songs, recordings, playlists and pictures with other Zunes up to 30 feet away. Images may be transferred from one Zune to another without restriction. But songs expire after three plays or three days, whichever comes first, unless purchased or downloaded from the Zune Marketplace online store. Recipients cannot re-send music or audio files, but can save the names of expired songs for later purchase. Many songs downloaded from the Zune Marketplace cannot be shared: the ones record companies flag as non-distributable.Zune uses a new digital rights management system — Windows Media DRM (WMDRM) — that is incompatible with other DRM systems, including Microsoft's own PlaysForSure. Zune does not support Audible.com's audiobooks and container format. It uses Media Transfer Protocol (MTP); however, its proprietary MTP extensions place an interoperability barrier between the Zune and previous MTP-based software and services.
Features
- Can broadcast user profile and current activity to other nearby Zunes.
- The wallpaper on the Zune can be changed to any image.
- The player software will automatically convert most audio and video to a Zune-playable resolution (e.g., a video with a resolution of 720x540 will be converted to a resolution of 320x240 if necessary).
- Zune can play unprotected podcasts, although it lacks integrated podcast support, with no podcast directory or automatic downloading through RSS feeds.
- Able to add songs to a quick playlist without reconnecting to the Zune software.
- Built-in FM radio (U.S., Japanese, and European ranges) that can show song information on supported FM stations using RDS
- Support for controllable power management.
- With purchase of a separate connection, can output analog TV in NTSC and PAL but not SECAM.
- Updatable firmware.
Colors
The device is sold in light black, chocolate brown, and pearl white, which come with a "doubleshot," or translucent glow in a different color, of blue, green, and clear, respectively.In October 2006, limited-edition red Zunes were put up for auction in various stores in the Los Angeles area.[7]In November 2006, 100 pink and 100 orange Zunes[8] were randomly inserted into Zune boxes along with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Pink and orange Zune devices were given to the Zune team as ship gifts. They had "Welcome to the Social November 14, 2006" written on the back and came in white packaging featuring Zune artwork.
Specifications
• 4.4 × 2.4 × 0.58-inch (11.2 × 6.1 × 1.4 cm)
• 5.6 ounces (158.8 grams)
• 802.11b/g built-in Wi-Fi
• 30 GB hard drive
• 3-inch QVGA LCD screen, with a resolution of 320×240, 65k color screen
• Radio Data System enabled FM receiver
• Supports MP3, ASF, WMA, WMA Pro (2-channel)[14], WMV, MP4[MPEG-4[JPEG and AAC • Charge Time: 3 hours; 2 hours to 90%
• With Wi-Fi turned on, up to 13 hours battery life when playing music (optimal conditions)
• With Wi-Fi turned off, up to 14 hours battery life when playing music, 4 hours playing video or viewing pictures.
• Operating system: Based on Portable Media Center / Windows CE.
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