Zune HD Now Available

30 seconds of loading with a video commercial, versus a banner ad? I disagree heartily.
And that's just to launch Microsoft's own Chess!
 
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That's just bullshit! If they had actually gave you an option to buy the apps to bypass the ads, then it would be a different story. But to make all the games free by pushing ads at the beginning, that takes the cake. Bonehead move MS. <shakes head in disgust>

The more I hear about the Zune HD the more I'm starting to think MS failed. It was a great attempt, but if this is what they think is worthy of taking my money instead of a iPod touch, then they have lost all touch with me and the rest of their customer base. There was a lot of potential there, but oh well.

Tommy McClain
 
Kind of surprising how many people are saying they'd be willing to pay to avoid ads.

Seems like they've won half the battle if they got potential customers conditioned to be willing to pay to avoid ads.
 
I'd be willing to pay to have no ads in games. Of course, I'm willing to pay for the device but MS doesn't want my money. Now THAT is a bone-headed move.
 
I wouldn't pay for just removal of ads. I think they need to give a choice for consumers though.

But it will never come to Europe anyway, so why should I bother ;)
 
Seems like compared to the ipod touch 2g its faster in surfing some sites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_qoDxxIXvc&feature=player_embedded

In the Engadget review there's a video comparison between Zune HD and iPhone 3GS (as fast as iPod touch 32GB/64GB) loading times.

Loading engadget.com over WiFi:
Zune HD: ~43s
iPhone 3GS: ~9s
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/17/zune-hd-review
http://cdn-static.viddler.com/flash/simple_publisher.swf?key=39d2b8a1

Edit: The YouTube video is not a very good indicator of browser speed. 1) sites may have been cached (you can at least see that they go from yahoo.com to google.com to yahoo.com). 2) the two devices don't show the same content, e.g. the Zune HD clearly displays a lower-end version (mobile?) of google.com and yahoo.com. 3) the Zune HD doesn't render the last site correct, content is clearly missing. 4) google.com and yahoo.com are extra small and simple sites, not very representative. 5) no info about the iPhone OS version (there are huge differences in browser speed, should be 3.x since that's the version you get since the Zune HD is out). 6) the iPod touch has another tab open in the background. And last but not least, they may be comparing the wrong hardware. If it's a Zune HD 32GB than it should have been an iPod touch 32GB.
 
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Zune HD Firmware 4.3 now available...

Changelog:
  • Support for the upcoming 3D games and applications.
  • Auto Suggest feature for text input.
  • Faster web browsing experience.
  • Landscape keyboard.
  • Keyboard option has been added in the settings section.
  • New toggle between seek and presets under Radio.
  • Under the Internet in settings, you can now toggle to default mobile or desktop webpage layout.
  • Artists bios are updated; embedded links to other artists in text.
  • Other bug fixes.

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/ne...ds-support-for-upcoming-3d-games-and-apps.ars


Tommy McClain
 
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