We’ve already been told that it’s coming “Zune” to Canada, but how does Microsoft’s sophomore entry into the MP3 player market compare against the iPods of the world? I had the chance to take the larger Zune 80GB out for a test drive and I have to admit that they have made some serious improvements over the first-generation Microsoft Zune.
Zune Models
The first-generation Zune (30GB) is not going to make its way to the Canadian market and thank goodness. That thing was bulky and the user interface wasn’t nearly as intuitive as the equivalent offering from Apple. For their Canadian launch, Microsoft is only sending the newer three models of the Zune, all of which are already available south of the 49th parallel.
The Zune 4GB and Zune 8GB are similar in size and shape as the second-generation iPod nano. For the purposes of this review, we took a closer look at the Zune 80GB. Although it has a footprint that is similar to the first Zune, it does feel a little lighter in my hands and it seems to a smidge thinner as well. All three models are equipped with the Zune Pad for navigation, which is a considerable step in the right direction compared to the clunky plastic five-way navigator of the first Zune.
Features and Specifications
Let’s have a look at the key specifications on the Zune 80GB.
- 80GB hard disk drive
- 3.2-inch color screen
- Premium headphones with noise-blocking
- Touch controls via new Zune Pad
- Wireless sync with your PC over Wi-Fi
- Wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Listen to any song you receive up to three times
- Import unprotected WMV, MPG4 and H.264 files into your Zune video library
- Built-in FM radio
- Zune Marketplace featuring DRM-free MP3s, audio/video podcasts and more
- Stream content in Zune software to your Xbox 360 wirelessly
- Dimensions: 4.26 x 2.41 x 0.51 in. (108.2 x 61.1 x 12.9 mm)
- Weight: 4.5 ounces
With the noted exception of the integrated Wi-Fi connectivity (and all the associated functionality), this feature set is pretty much in line with the iPod Classic 80GB. Where the Zune wins, in this regard, is the fact that it has a much larger display, making video watching a richly rewarding experience.
More on the Zune Pad
This is probably the most notable change over the previous model. The Zune Pad is a squircle-shaped (yes, that’s a real word) soft pad that replaces the plastic five-way navigator on the original Zune. It doesn’t really provide any extra functionality, per se, but you are able to swipe your finger across its surface to scroll through playlists and navigate through the menu.
For instance, when you swipe from the top to the bottom, you can quickly scroll your way down a playlist, similar to what you may do on an iPhone or an iPod touch. What’s cool is that when you achieve a certain speed of swiping, letters start to pop up on the screen so that you can skip to a certain part of the playlist. Realistically, you can achieve the same effect by holding down the bottom portion of the Zune Pad; it still functions as a regular five-way navigator if that’s what you prefer.
Veterans of the iPod’s click wheel may need to take a little time to get accustomed to the Zune Pad, because it does not operate in a circular fashion. Up is still up, down is still down. While listening to a song, sliding your finger up and down adjusts the volume, whereas horizontal swipes skip to the previous or next track.
Beyond the Zune Pad, there are two other buttons on the face of the Zune. The one on the left is “back” and it allows you to retract through the menu, whereas the one of the right is play/pause. You can probably guess what that does. On a side note, you press the center of the Zune Pad (you definitely feel a “click”) to select an option rather than the play button. Overall, I’m pleased with how the Zune Pad works, because it provides the intuitiveness of touch-sensitive controls, but it also has solid tactile feedback when you actually press it down.
Fantastic Earphones Included
Having a large 3.2-inch color display is great and all, but what about the sound department? Unlike so many other MP3 players on the market that come with the cheapest earbuds imaginable, Microsoft has really stepped it up with the earphones that come bundled with the Microsoft Zune 80GB. These in-ear headphones have soft foam pads and a noise-blocking feature to help you better enjoy your music.
Sound quality was very good for earphones that come for “free” with the player. They may not necessarily compete against the Shure and Sennheiser offerings on the market, but they’re pretty fantastic for what they are. Better still, the two earbuds are actually magnetic, so they’ll hold together in your pocket, minimizing tangles. I would have preferred a non-cloth cord, however, as brushing the headphone cord against your clothing is amplified through the earbuds.
Oddly, the Zune 80GB does not appear to have any sort of equalizer settings, so you are not really able to crank up the bass or turn down the treble. Just the basic ability to choose between a few pre-determined equalizer settings would have been appreciated.
Menu Navigation
Another gripe that people had against the original Zune was the menu wasn’t the easiest thing to navigate. The text was very small, despite the device having such a large display. Thankfully, Microsoft addressed this issue in the new Zune, substantially increasing the size of all screen elements. Take a look at the main menu!
That’s monstrous. Going down the main menu, you’ll find quick access to music, videos, pictures, social (wireless sharing with nearby Zunes), radio (FM), podcasts, and settings. Everything is arranged in a reasonably intuitive manner and you are also able to set your own custom wallpaper, just like you woud on a cell phone.
The podcast integration is a particularly nice feature, because up until now, no MP3 player has truly been able to compete against the iPod on this front. Users can easily subscribe to a variety of audio and video podcasts through the Zune Marketplace and they all show up through this section of the menu. Music can be selected based on song title, genre, albums, artists, or playlists. On the page of any song, there is an option to add it to the quick list. Handy!
Big Videos, Big Album Art
The 3.2-inch display on the Zune 80GB is certainly used to its fullest potential. When playing any given song, the album art takes up about two-thirds of the screen. The bottom third is used to display the song title, artist, and album, as well as basic icons for battery life, shuffle, repeat, and so forth. I have a feeling that such a large display pulls a few hours away from the battery life. Leaving the Wi-Fi radio on can further reduce the battery life.
In a real world test, the Zune 80GB lasted for about 23 hours of uninterrupted audio playback, whereas common benchmarks on the web say that the iPod Classic can pull off about 45 hours. I can’t say for sure, but the battery life on the smaller Zune 4GB and 8GB will probably be better, largely thanks to the Flash memory used in those units (the 80GB has a hard drive).
Watching videos on such a large display is quite enjoyable, because you hold the Zune on its side for a landscape orientation. This is perfectly watchable for video podcasts, television recording, and even feature-length movies. I wouldn’t recommend watching a three-hour Peter Jackson epic on this, but a brief Judd Apatow comedy will be perfectly watchable. Strangely, the 3.2-inch screen only has a QVGA (320×240) resolution. The picture quality would be loads better with true VGA (640×480). The colors are also a little muted.
Conclusion
From what I can tell, Microsoft is moving in the right direction with their Zune product line, but they still seem to be one step behind their biggest competitor, Apple. This is most clearly demonstrated by looking at the form factor for the 4GB and 8GB models, because they mimic the look and feel of the old second-gen iPod nano. In regards to the Zune 80GB, it’s good that they’ve made the device smaller, but it’s still not compact enough for my tastes.
I appreciate the touch-sensitive Zune Pad as this is a quantum leap in the right direction compared to the controls found on the original Zune. Unlike other touch-sensitive controls, however, the Zune Pad actually offers true tactile feedback when you press it. Part of the reason why I typically don’t like touch controls is that it doesn’t feel like you are pressing anything at all. The Zune Pad, in this way, offers the best of both worlds. Furthermore, if you don’t like the touch controls, those can be turned off in the settings. Whether you prefer the linear touch of the Zune Pad or the circular touch of the iPod click wheel is simply a matter of personal preference.
Perhaps even more notable is the excellent podcast integration, making the Microsoft Zune the first real competitor to the Apple iPod in this regard. There are countless other MP3 players on the market, but very few have made the effort to integrate podcasts quite so well. Finding your favorite podcast in the Zune Marketplace is just as painless as doing the same in iTunes.
Microsoft still has some work to do, but they’ve made huge strides with the Zune 80GB, especially when compared to the brown brick known as the Zune 30GB. For starters, they might want to offer the Zune 80GB in colors other than black (the red was discontinued after Valentine’s Day 2008).
Pros
- Much improved menu interface
- Zune Pad is a huge leap in the right direction
- Streamlined audio and video podcast support
- Wireless synchronization capability
- Great set of premium earphones
Cons
- Still too large for my tastes, Zune 4/8GB might be better
- Muted colors while watching videos, only QVGA resolution
- Crippled Wi-Fi capabilities; where’s web surfing and Internet radio?
- Less than stellar battery life
- No AC/DC power adapter included
Overall Rating: 8.0/10.0
