Digital NARM to bring about Zune feature updates?

You don't have to look far to see that the Zune rumor mill has been workin' overtime of late, and while the only conclusive pieces we're seen thus far involve various shades of red, Digital NARM could potentially shed some much-needed light on a bevy of questions. According to the docket, Christina Calio is set to speak about "hot new stuff" in regard to Microsoft's Zune for half an hour on May 1st. Interestingly, ClicZune has it that her speech title previously boasted about "exciting updates on developments in Microsoft's new innovative device," but unless our weary eyes have seriously deceived us, that little diddy has since vanished. Still, any latent updates shouldn't come as a surprise considering the position the player is in, but it looks like we're stuck waiting a few more days to find out what Christina's schpeel will reveal.

[Via ClicZune]

[Kichigai Mentat @ Apr 18th 2007 11:42AM]

You know what, the Zune pretty much took something near a deathblow already. Not to say that the Zune is a bad device. As far as physical design, it only has one major flaw (that'd be the wheel-styled D-Pad, which seems odd, and hardly as innovative or useful as the iPod's click-wheel). The rest is software. The mandated DRM, and WMV/WMA limitations are absolutely horrible. The WiFi crippling basically annihilated the Zune's most novel feature.

Now, I'm going to start pulling things out my ass (but at least I'll admit it). Microsoft isn't about to remove DRM, but it's possible they'll open up to other format, and allow loading of DRM-free media. Either way, its lack of Mac OS X support will make me not care.

However, once RockBox runs on the Zune, I'll be pleased. Since WMV isn't exactly an ISO or MPEG spec, I doubt it has a dedicated decoder chip, which means it likely uses some kind of software decoder on a decently powerful CPU (again, pulling things out of my ass). If this is true, then theoretically it shouldn't be too hard to implement an MPEG-4/H.264 decoder on the Zune in custom firmware (though, it might not run at full speed, at first. But such is the way of early versions of custom firmware).

If someone gave me a Zune, and I had a way of using it with my Mac, I would probably hang on to it, maybe find a use for it. It's hardly about to be an iPod-killer for me, but it seems like a nice toy.

[radioedit @ Apr 18th 2007 12:50PM]

"it's possible they'll open up to other format, and allow loading of DRM-free media"

My Zune loads MP3s absolutely fine :)

[jibba jabba @ Apr 18th 2007 1:56PM]

@Kichigai Mentat
I think your fatal flaw is subjective to the user. I've used the Ipod touch wheel, I always thought it was cool/ innovative... but execution wise...frustrating as hell to use. I've found the d-pad on the Zune much easier to use (especially while driving)... so it may not be innovative and what not but that doesn't matter too much when it works really well.
I've used the zune for several months now and if I were to give it a fatal flaw or just a major flaw.. its that they created a whole 'nother media player for it, instead of just using WMP11 as a sync software. I understand there intention of using the Apple's approach of vertical integration but they should have made it fit with what they already had available. That way there is no need to go through the horrendous process of trying to install that hunk of crap software and you have one less thing to keep updated.

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Apr 18th 2007 10:55PM]

I agree with your flaws. The lack of innovative navigation was sad, and so was the LCD. It's roughly twice the size, and the same resolution as ipod? Come on microsoft... And the no mac compatibility, now that pisses me off. I would be willing to trade my ipod for a zune, only because i've had it for a year already (kind of lost it's new-ness), but no mac compatibility. And what you said about no MP3's, is it true Zune only takes DRM encoded music? That seems just kind of ridiculous, but if it's true its true.

[marklar @ Apr 18th 2007 12:16PM]

every time somebody at microsoft uses the word 'innovative' about one of its products, the portrait of himself that bill gates keeps in his attic looks a little more evil

[marklar @ Apr 18th 2007 12:17PM]

can somebody post a comment about pulling stuff out of their ass and a brown zune please

[Jonathan Allen @ Apr 18th 2007 12:29PM]

gladly....hmm....


It looks like poop. And the pink one looks like poop when all you have have to drink is a 64oz. cherry slurpee.

[PA @ Apr 18th 2007 12:29PM]

Each time I see a Zuuuuune pic, I scroll down to the next topic. The device is still odd looking and I can't remember someone proudly wearing it in public

[Cupajo @ Apr 18th 2007 12:51PM]

Why would I "proudly wear it in public"? It's not a status symbol. It's an MP3 player. And all I expect from an MP3 player is that it has good sound and be sturdy (because I am invariably going to drop it). Zune does both of those things. Better than the iPod I owned previously, in fact.
Are there features that I would like to see on the Zune? Sure. But the device is only afew months old. There's plenty of time for software-side improvements.

And by the way, anyone who would proudly display thei MP3 player as a status symbol is a poseur who deserves the mugging they will very likely get.

[Jeff Lewis @ Apr 18th 2007 1:29PM]

Remove the 3x3 from non-DRM files.
Make it work as a pocket drive.
Allow syncing over WiFi.
Allow sharing of non-DRM files over WiFi (ie: file copy to pocket drive store).
Add a text reader.
Add a clock! (Sheesh)
Add syncing to Outlook for contacts and events.

That would be a good start.

Oh and start selling it outside the US. I know it will take time for MS to get their Marketplaces up in other countries - but I almost never buy music through on line sources (I have a lot of CDs and just don't add that many new ones to collection), so it's annoying that I can't buy one just because MS wants to use the Zune as a way to get me to spend even more money.

[Tony @ Apr 18th 2007 1:38PM]

Please i beg all Ipod lovers not to comment on ZUNE i have 5 ipods and one zune and the zune is better. who cares about the color .. go snuggle up to Steve jobs and have fun with your device

[George @ Apr 18th 2007 2:43PM]

Society is really going down the tubes if people are hating zune because it doesnt look "as cool" as ipod. I had an ipod, a zen vision and now I have a zune. The menus are much better than ipod and the player is nearly scratch proof, even the screen is. I dont care if teens dont think i am cool because i have a zune instead of an ipod, screw what anyone thinks i have more confidence than that. The wifi on the zune is useless to me but the plsyer itself is by far the best one i have had so far, it has large album art is scratch resistant and holds my entire collection. stop hatng on zune because it is cool to and get a life.

[angelsvairwaves1 @ Apr 18th 2007 11:02PM]

We're not necessarily "hating" on it... It's just a few things (in my opinion). iPod has the click wheel, and its by far the best menu navigation tool, because it's unique, and you can decide how fast you want to go through menus. None of that with a d-pad. And the hi-res screen. BUT...For me, that's about it. If Zune had a higher resolution screen, it would be mine because honestly the screen quality is one of the most important things for me. and no mac compatibility. That's the real clincher. It makes me think that as a mac user, i'm not deserving of a zune. Interesting marketing strategy, microsoft.

[Zeus the God @ Apr 18th 2007 3:49PM]

No, you're all wrong. The Zune sucks because MicroSoft made it. If anyone else made it, like Apple for instance,it would be the greatest thing since sliced TV.

Not really, the Zune beats the iPod out as far as features go, it's just that the advertising doesn't appeal to the "rich kids". All the "preps" at my school have iPods, and all the people that actually like functionality and a decent MP3 player have Zunes or other half-way decent devices.

The iPod just kinda' blows. It's not nearly as reliable as anything else on the market; including the knock off cheap-o music players.

My friend went through 5 black iPod Video 5.5G's in 1 week. The reason being because every time he exchanged it, the same thing happened. It would constantly freeze and it wouldn't sync music (it's not his computer, as he had synced other iPods). He finally returned it and bought a Zune, and it's worked great for him ever since without a single problem.

[don @ Apr 18th 2007 4:28PM]

In partnership with Fox's "American Idol" TV show, Microsoft will release a special "Zunjaya" version of their Zune MP3 player.

It will have a 240x320 screen surrounded by a lot of stylable brown hair and will pitch-shift your music randomly during playback. It will be water-resistant so that any tears falling from the face of its owner won't affect the device.

Zunjaya - Welcome to the Idol.

[PRei @ Apr 18th 2007 4:36PM]

"spiel" not "schpeel"...typo or no spell check enabled?

More than changes in the Zune's features improving it, I'd like to see it available in other countries. It'd be nice to be able to get the device where I am or at least have the option of that instead of an iPod. But for now, I'll stick with my iPods and wait for a better solution to come out.

[chadow @ Apr 18th 2007 5:24PM]

The Title of the article says "Zune". If you honestly dont care for the Zune and dont have any interest in it, then just skip it.

What I am noticing is, Ipod groupies cant stand to see anything written about the Zune without jumping in to type in some stupid comment.

I swear, Engadget makes me more of a proud Zune owner everyday just by reminding me how many morons own its biggest competitor.

[joe @ Apr 18th 2007 7:25PM]

Any word if Microsofts actually going to make the 2.0 more than 30 gigs? i have so much music, and i've sworn myself away from the name ipod. The Toshiba gigabeat is good (my brother owns one) but i'd love to have that microsoft zune...though i'm not so keen on sending to some 3rd party chop shop to have a larger hard drive installed...(for a few hundred bucks.)

anyone know, or agree?

[Czanchez @ Apr 18th 2007 10:21PM]

One thing I really want to see is XNA support. The ability to make your own games for the zune would be great. Though games would be a nice addition. Imagine playing over wifi with a friend or maybe just someone else in the world by connecting to a hotspot in stead of at-hac. Or if it has XNA support the community could develop games for the zune, and community, like open source, always makes the product better.

[D. A. @ Apr 18th 2007 11:44PM]

The problem with the Zune is its size. This thing is HUGE! How can someone work out with this?? it's even hard to carry it around. Couldn't they make it the same size as the iPod Video? I would have bought one if wasn't by its size, for now I will have to continue to stick with the iPod.
PS: Also we need more battery life.

[barnz2k @ Apr 19th 2007 12:30AM]

Joe - Gigabeat S60 rocks. 60gigs, PMC. which 1 your bro got?

Hey I havent looked into it much as I have the giga-S - but does the Zune let you backup photos direct from camera too?

PS: Ipod users piss off and comment elsewhere, on an inferior i[insert product]