Zune ... Just don't bring up that "Welcome to the Social" junk

[Aramis]

So, a couple weeks ago I picked up a Zune through Woot.com. I have to say, after owning some different DAPs including an iPod nano, I really love the thing. It's the older 30gig in black. It's got a good solid build to it and the buttons are nice. The screen is bright, large, and the menus are nice. I really like the sound. Videos play great on it- I have a couple episodes of Heroes on it currently that I use to show off the device. I have a lot of pictures on it, and the slideshow is a nice touch. You can also set any picture as a background and it automatically crops it for you. I haven't messed with the wireless at all (in fact I have it turned off to keep up battery life) but it's a neat little feature I suppose.

What I don't like as much is the Zune software. It's pretty bloated. It's not very intuitive. I feel like I have a handle on syncing and ripping and all of those settings now, but initially I was scratching my head in confusion. It's also a little slow. I'm hoping that the update next week to the firmware of the player and the Zune software itself will improve on this. Also, accessories are EXPENSIVE. Thus far I haven't bought any- still using the default headphones and the little terrycloth type sleeve for it (which is nice for cleaning it).

All in all, it's a great device. I love bringing it with me to work, plugging it into my speakers and hitting shuffle and my entire audio library is at my fingertips. Does anyone else have one? Currently they're available for about $99 if the word "refurbished" doesn't scare you off.

[Dr.Jeckyl]

Why is the thing revered? sounds like a real solid player and does what it's advertised to do. Is there just too many iPod fanboys bashing it so the good reviews are drowned out by the bashing?

I've thought about getting one because I absolutely refuse to install iTunes on my computer so an iPod is out of the question.

[Aramis]

Good question, though "revered" means the opposite of the context of your sentence. Reviled maybe?

It's because of two reasons: One, they're Microsoft, and have built-in haterade (did I just use that word) thanks to years of OS and console snobbery. Two, iPod fanboys not only hate everything not Apple, they hate MS even worse.

Really, it's a solid product that I personally got at a great price. The whole accessories racket is some serious BS, but I'm not surprised by it after seeing what Apple did with their DAP line.

[MaddGIJoe]

My dad has one... like you said the player is great... but the software is horrible...

[Aramis]

Very true. Once you get the music on there though, you're golden. Considering it's 30gig, it's doubtful you'll be syncing it every day. I have been lately as I'm cleaning up my library and adding album art (another nice feature with the huge screen).

Speaking of, here's what's currently my wallpaper for my Zune (can't wait for this game!):

[MaddGIJoe]

oh speaking of album art... that stupid software decided to add album art to a good amount of my songs with the wrong album art... ugh... and all of that then traveled to my ipod...

Oh and Assassins Creed is going to be so kickass, REP +1.

[Aramis]

oh speaking of album art... that stupid software decided to add album art to a good amount of my songs with the wrong album art... ugh... and all of that then traveled to my ipod...

Oh and Assassins Creed is going to be so kickass, REP +1.

Yeah, make sure that you only allow it to get album art for albums that don't have anything yet. That was something I read about before-hand. I'll tell you though, as long as you have the rest tagged ok, Media Monkey is a great tool for tagging and grabbing album art automatically. It's free and it searches Amazon for the art. It's not perfect, but it sure kicks ass for helping to quickly clean up the bulk of your library. It's become an indispensible little tool for me. It even works with the ipod so you don't have to use iTunes for it if you don't want to. Doesn't really detect the Zune however, which is too bad.

Another good tip for the Zune software is to make sure and allow it to automatically determine the filesize/quality of what goes on your Zune. If you try to force it to say, 192k, it'll have to convert everything that's not that size, and that can really slow down sync.

[Dr.Jeckyl]

Good question, though "revered" means the opposite of the context of your sentence. Reviled maybe?

Doh.. that's what I ment.

[Mutt_Dog]

Hey Aramis I can get accessories dirt cheap...whatcha want?

[Aramis]

Personally I want the dock (which I can get online for about $26 apparently) and the travel pack. Those two would give me everything I need- better headphones, extra cables for work and home, a nice case, ac adapter, and a dock for when it's at home.

I have a bid at ebay for the travel pack currently but honestly I expect it to go over the maximum of what I want to pay. It's amazing that MS will package up a usb -> AC adapter and charge $29.99 for the goofy thing. In my opinion the Zune should come with a decent dock and an AC adapter off the bat.

[Fixxxer]

I've thought about getting one because I absolutely refuse to install iTunes on my computer so an iPod is out of the question.

Why? iTunes is possibly the best music app out there. I've never seen a program as simple yet still so extremely useful as iTunes.

I'm not knocking Zune, because it's good to have different apps/mp3 players out there to keep each company striving to do more when there's competition, but I think with the popularity of iTunes/the iPod, most other mp3 players aren't worth it. I was a little hesitant to get an iPod simply because I am an avid anti-Mac guy myself, but I would be lost without my iPod and iTunes when at my PC.

There's always talk of how the iPod's battery life isn't so good, but I've had not problems with my 60GB iPod that I've had for two years now.

However, I'm glad you scored a piece of hardware you enjoy, Aramis. When it all boils down to it, you're just supposed to enjoy it. If you absolutely hate it, don't get it.

P.S.

How's the wife and the little munchkin, Aramis?

[Mutt_Dog]

Personally I want the dock (which I can get online for about $26 apparently) and the travel pack. Those two would give me everything I need- better headphones, extra cables for work and home, a nice case, ac adapter, and a dock for when it's at home.

I have a bid at ebay for the travel pack currently but honestly I expect it to go over the maximum of what I want to pay. It's amazing that MS will package up a usb -> AC adapter and charge $29.99 for the goofy thing. In my opinion the Zune should come with a decent dock and an AC adapter off the bat.

I'll find out what it cost @ work and we'll arrange something

[Aramis]

I personally don't like iTunes because it's bloated and always wants to go out to the internet to give you suggestions on what to buy. It also does some wacky things with my music folders when I let it keep them organized. It's not really changed in multiple versions, except making it harder for me to play the music that I bought on iTunes on other devices or computers.

Unfortunately, the Zune software is like that too currently.

I really like Media Monkey- I'm telling you, if I had an iPod I'd be using that instead as my only software to load music, instead of that for files, iTunes for my wife, and Zune for me. I suggest you guys check it out if you want an easy way to tag your music.

I got my 30gig Zune for $99 bucks. Good luck getting even a refurb iPod that way. I probably would have if I could, but I gotta say I personally like the heft, build, and the size of the screen on this Zune. I also love throwing videos/movies on there that play great and are of a watchable size. Like you said Fix, that's what it all comes down to. I personally hate everything Apple yet I still like the iPod (well, not the Shuffle or the Touch- those things are on extreme ends of the spectrum).

PS- Wife and daughter are good. My daughter got a fairy outfit for Halloween but ended up going as Spider-Man because she's well... obsessed. It was pretty funny watching her run around in this muscle-padded outfit Halloween night.

PSS- I lost my auction. I hate ebay. I'll need to find another way to purchase the crap I want. I hate that all DAPs have proprietary connectors.

[Dr.Jeckyl]

I'd say my disdain for iTunes is more from past versions really. It was a bit too intrusive. Don't know if it's still that way or not. I'd buy a Zune over an iPod anyways so at this time there is no need for me to install iTunes. Plus I subscribe to Napster right now and get all my streaming music from them(plus ripped ones). If I were to get a Zune(or any compatible player) I'd just upgrade my subscription to a "Take it with you" type.

[Zazoo]

Weird you should post this.
I just ordered a Zune from Amazon the other day (won't ship until December). Right now they have a deal on the brown 30GB Zune -- new for 89$. For some reason the brown one is a lot cheaper than the same model in other colors (probably because it's butt-ugly, but that's why they sell skins/covers)

I wasn't even in the market for an MP3 player but I couldn't pass that deal up.
Glad to hear I won't be disappointed with it!
~Mike

[Aramis]

Mike, if you read this in the next hour you may want to cancel and order from Woot.com. If you buy two there you get a free travel pack if you order TWO. Give one as a gift or something since the travel pack is almost worth that much anyway.

http://www.woot.com/

Only runs until midnight. Sorry if you miss out on this.



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In other news I picked up a Zune AV kit today from a guy on Craigslist for $45. It's a really nice piece of kit. Add to this that the new firmware drops tomorrow with WIRELESS SYNCING and I'm actually psyched.

[Aramis]

Let me just save you folks that own a Zune some trouble now:

Album Art Issues
November 13, 2007

Some people have reported that thier album info and art has been gotten all mixed up after they upgraded. Zunerama has posted some easy fixes for this issue.

Here’s something that has fixed the messed up album art for a lot of people. There’s a file that contains metadata about your tracks. If you delete that while the client is not running then restart the client, it is rebuilt automatically. It does NOT delete your music, just the metadata. Here are the instructions. Please make a copy of the file before deleting it.

In XP Zune2 software stores it’s database in the folders

XP C:\Documents and Settings\\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Zune\
Vista C:\Users\ Application Data\Local\Microsoft\Zune\

Exit Zune2 software
Delete files in this folder
Restart Zune2 software and it will rebuild your collection.
Let me know how it goes.

——————————————————————————–
Zune Social Dev

.: This posting is provided “as-is” with no warranties, and confers no rights :.

Community User Level:1
Today 5:04 PM REPORT
re: ZUNE SOFTWARE MIXING UP ALBUMS, ART, TRACKS, ETC. (Though metadata correct in WMP)

If your having some problems with the albums after upgrading from V1, try the following:

1) Close down the software

2) from start menu -> run:

On XP, %UserProfile%\local settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Zune

On Vista: %UserProfile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Zune

3) Renaming or deleting your zunestore.sdf file will cause the software to regrovel the database on next launch, much like a fresh install instead of an upgrade.

Chances are in the conversion it screwed up albums even though it didn't touch the metadata. This appears to fix it.