Portable Media, hands-on, marketplace, zune

Zune Hands On: Skin All Sexy and Smooth

The guys at 2old2play seem to have a few tricks up their old-man sleeves, scoring a few minutes with the Zune. The most important detail?

The 'skin' of the Zune was a 'rubberized' material that had a smooth seductive feel to it. I found myself unable to stop stroking the device, so much that the demo assistant asked me to put it down.

Video and slideshow were both fluid and skip-free on the player and the file transfers were fairly speedy. You'll also need to register a Zunetag in order to use the Microsoft Zune Marketplace, which will be able to use the same Xbox Live Marketplace points you've already paid for to purchase songs. If you have a gamertag on Xbox Live, that same name will be reserved for your Zunetag.

The Zune Marketplace software on your PC can interface with the Xbox 360 music UI, and you can play back songs you downloaded or imported into Zune Marketplace. Pretty cool, but we're looking forward to doing a direct comparison of how the Zune music management software stacks up to iTunes—which in our opinion is the best part of the iPod experience. – Jason Chen

Hands On The Zune [2old2play]

7:38 PM on Fri Oct 20 2006
By Jason Chen
2,048 views
17 comments

Comments

milo2 at 07:59 PM on 10/20/06
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God I'm so sick of hearing about the Zune.

Almost every day, another Zune post.

I really hope you ARE getting paid for these. No MP3 player, especially a "me-too" model is worth daily coverage. If it's paying for the other fine posts on this site, then great (we all have to pay the bills somehow) but I would hate to think that you are giving it away for free.
bitfactory at 08:06 PM on 10/20/06
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Microsoft Passport? Gag... Microsoft points? Gag... ZuneTags? Target audience < 15yr olds.

After reading that I have no doubt that he 'found myself unable to stop stroking the device' - unfortunately I don't think he was talking about the Zune.
mredraider at 09:48 PM on 10/20/06
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What is considered appropriate punishment for stroking someone elses "personal entertainment device" in public?
M.O.D.O.K. at 11:41 PM on 10/20/06
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Doesn't a rubbery skin attract pocket lint ? I found this out with my iPod's silicone cover.
dschlaefer at 01:19 AM on 10/21/06
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I imagine it's like the skin on the Insignia Amigo players at Best Buy. They feel very nice in the hand, but don't pick up excess dirt and lint, and don't scratch as easily as glossy plastic.
Geirskogul at 04:05 AM on 10/21/06
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You are very angry people.
MonocularJack at 01:40 PM on 10/21/06
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It's interesting that you find iTunes to be the *best* part of the whole iExperience. From most of my interactions with iTunes, at least until version 7, it has been pretty horrible. Just the fact that it took *7* versions to create an application that was more than lukewarm is suprising considering all the UI mojo that Appple is famed for having.
woody56292 at 01:52 PM on 10/21/06
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bitfactory: Unless I am mistaken ( and I am not ) you have to have an account to purchase songs with itunes, just like zune marketplace's passport/zunetag. Although I agree I don't like the MP points, but it will be nice for xbox users because I already bought MP points for arcade games and content. The reason they are making songs 79 points is because you will have to buy them in packs of 500, 1000,1500, or 2000. ( really sneaky marketing tactic, just like how they sell food in larger amounts than you want. )
Penchum at 06:34 PM on 10/21/06
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Go Zune, Go Zune! :)
DrChaos at 08:02 PM on 10/21/06
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I, for one, really dig the zune. I plan on getting one around when they come out, but that mandatory DRM is killing me and is the biggest factor against me getting one, if it's true. I'm still not clear if the Zune will have that drm crap. God I hope not, if not, then its plety of brown zune and paul oakenfoldie goodness for me
karmaghost at 11:22 PM on 10/21/06
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Really? iTunes is your favorite part of the iPod experience? Surely you jest!
auricom at 02:38 AM on 10/22/06
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Zany
Under-performing
Non-sensical
Equipment

Disclaimer: Not based on actual experience fondling the device in question. Abbreviation was made based solely on prediction of the device and prejudice of the manufacturer.
jonny at 03:27 PM on 10/22/06
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My Tivoli Pal has rubbery skin.

Peels.
Ixero at 01:59 PM on 10/23/06
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"I found myself unable to stop stroking the device"

Hmmm.. wondering what was on your mind...
ProsumeThis at 02:20 PM on 10/23/06
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It's called elastomere coating; sure it peels; Zune can't hide behind it either...
surefit4u at 07:15 PM on 10/23/06
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What next, izunes !!!

It's a Zuney world these days, but I still love my ipod video, not to say I wouldn't buy a Zune, why not I have all the other gadgets there are and I want to watch my Zuney Toones on one.
So everone rag on and on till something else come on the market to rag about.

BILL,
Melbourne, Fl.
Destardi at 01:19 AM on 10/31/06
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oh the apple folk are just pissy because their market share is .0001 of Microsoft's.

And Bill Gates actually showers.