It may be time for Apple to either put up the white flag in regards to their iPod Classic and iPod Nano or seriously revamp them. It's no secret that Apple has been pushing touch screen multimedia units to the public, but it seems that their non iPhone/Touch iPods have really been suffering. That's right, I'm basically saying that if you are in the market for a multimedia player this side of $250 or less, you really should give the Zune products a look see. I'm going to try and give a thorough review of the iPod/Zune shootout.
First, let's look at the Zune flash memory based devices. Much like the Nano, they come in 4GB, 8GB, and 16GB flavours. As of the latest revision to the Nano lineup, the Apple product now only comes in 8GB and 16GB versions. So, pricing. For the Zune, the 4GB will run you about $130. The 8GB? $150. And the 16GB will set you back $200. The Nano's 8GB will run you $130, and the 16GB roughly $200. Pricing is extremely similar in that department. Here's a handy table to show you the pricing schema:
If you're interested in more space, you'll have to buy a hard drive based model. They're bulkier, but it's the price you pay for having non-flash based memory. The Zune comes in 80GB and 120GB varieties, whilst the iPod Classic only comes in 120GB. As of today, the Zune 80GB is about $225, and the Zune 120GB $250. Similar to the Zune 120GB pricing, the iPod Classic 250GB will run you about $250.
Particular quirky is that Microsoft is charging 99 cents more for each unit than Apple is. Not sure if it's worth it to you, but for all intents and purposes the devices are priced similarly. Consider this comparison a wash.
The Nano has a slightly larger screen with 2.0" versus the Zune's 1.8", however, the hard drive based Zune blows the iPod Classic out of the water with a 3.2" screen against the Classic's 2.5". The Zunes are all lighter than their iPod counterparts. In regards to overall sizing:
Overall, sizing, weight, and what have you are pretty neglible across the board. I'd consider this category a wash.
I think this is one of the most important comparison sections for music heads such as myself. Apple does not have a subscription based music service. Nothing. You're forced to purchase songs and videos from the iTunes store. Zune opts for not only giving you the option of buying the songs directly and, hence, not having the files DRM'ed (digital rights management), but they give you the option of paying $15 a month for a Zune Marketplace subscription. I trialed this with my roommates account for about 3 months before I ended up buying it for myself. It is that good. Sure, the songs don't belong to you and are DRM'ed, but I listen to so much music, that if I ended up purchasing every song from iTunes, I'd probably spend close to $200 a month or more. And to those that think the Zune Marketplace might not have the music selection of iTunes, think again. Their library is continuously growing, and I find albums that I couldn't even dream of finding through the iTunes Store. So chalk this one up to Zune. And this is a heavy one, IMHO.
Zune Marketplace
iTunes Store
If you asked me this question a few months ago, I'd say iTunes wins hands down. However, after the last few revisions the Zune application has had, I'd have to give the award to the Zune software. iTunes seems stagnant and stuck in the past. Revisions to the software seem like bandaids to an already bland design. Apple needs to completely retool the iTunes application for it to compare to the Zune software, but they may not want to so that users stay familiar with the functionality they've known and loved in the past.
Something iTunes lacks is the social networking feature of the Zune. Right on the box and nearly all things Zune (website, application, etc.), it's in big bold letters: Welcome to the Social. You can traverse through the community (which is also tied into the 360's community, Live, etc. all via your GamerTag if you so have one). Microsoft is looking to build consistency across the board with their various platforms, and it's finally starting to come together. Apple has not went this route, and I don't think they ever will.
Overall, using the Zune Software is very visual versus the iTunes "Excel" spreadsheet/boring look. Usually this is quite the other way around regarding Apple products. The Zune Software is very inviting when not only traversing the Zune Marketplace by viewing artists, artist albums, but also when playing music. With their latest Mix View functionality, the Zune Software has become that much more visual. Artist pictures fade in and out when listening to songs if you'd like, with artist names, the number of total plays and what have you scrolling warmly across the screen. Mix View allows you to find not only similar songs, artists, but also Social members that listen to similar things. It also dives into the overall psyche of the artists by showing what artists influenced the artist you're listening to. Very cool. I guess employing the younger crowd at Microsoft has finally paid off. It looks like they're infusing this more and more throughout Microsoft products. Chalk this win up to the Zune. I really could go on for days about the Zune Software functionalities, but that will be a blog for another day.
Zune Software
iTunes
This is where the iPod lacks tremendously. It's not a hard device to operate, but it is pretty quirky. Countless times I'd be in the gym and want to go back a song, but instead I somehow lock my player to not allow me to go to the previous song by pressing the back button. The scroll wheel for the iPod is too cumbersome when scrolling through volume controls or song lists. Basically, it can go through things quickly, but it lacks accuracy. Too many times I'd be out for a run adjusting my volume and it would either go way too high or way too low. Face it Apple, the scroll wheel is outdated. Microsoft's Zune takes a more practical spin on it. Instead of a scroll wheel, they use a device pad that is both clickable or flickable. So you want to go from 16 to 17 for volume? No problem, even when running. Want to flip to the next song? Either click right or left or flick right or left. Want to iterate through a list of songs quickly? Just hold down the bottom button. IMHO, Apple tried to encapsulate too much functionality in their wheeled design. Microsoft went the practical route and not only provided simplistic back and play/pause buttons, but also a very functional device pad.
As for going through your multimedia? The Zune wins in this segment as well. I've let various iPod users use my Zune, and they're floored by how simple it is to navigate and use without having seen/heard/used one before. Music, videos, pictures, social, radio, marketplace, games, and settings are all accessible from the get go. Everything is categorized nicely as well. Apple has neglected not only the user interface of the iPod but the actual layout of the device in regards to buttons.
This is another segment in which Apple not only lacks, but gets blown away by Microsoft. Since the Zune's inception, there have been the following models: Zune 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 30GB, 80GB, and 120GB. With every new version of the firmware, it is available for installation across ALL Zune devices. So, if there is a new WiFi functionality and you bought a 30GB Zune years ago, you'll have the same functionality as the newest 120GB Zune. Same goes for new functionalities that have come out recently: i.e. able to purchase songs directly from the Zune Marketplace on your Zune, able to tag some/buy songs when listening to FM radio, etc.
Apple has lacked this and has certainly left their previous generations in the dust. Recently the Zune has came out with support for Games. Previous Zune owners would feel left out, except that ALL Zunes can now have this functionality by simply upgrading their firmware. Apple has never done this, and it's a shame. Microsoft wins this battle for sure.
This is where the products from Apple shine. Being that Apple was one of the first multimedia players on the market and have since gained steam as the most popular multimedia player on the market, their accessory selection is unmatched by the Zune. The Zune has since gained a lot of steam with cables, car products, cases, docks, chargers, headphones, packs, and speaker docks available from such reputable companies as Agent 18, Altec Lansing, Belkin, DLO, iHome, Incipio, Kicker, Monster, Speck, Soundgate, Vaja, VAF, and Zune themselves. But where Apple really has the game won is in the car deck market. Tons of aftermarket companies either come with native iPod support out of the box or sell units that pretty much plug right into your stock or aftermarket car stereo. The market has been slow to accept Zune as a viable competitor, and even though various companies are now working on car support for the Zune, you're forced to either utilize the auxilary port in your headunit or an FM Modulator/Transmitter. This one is a resounding win for the iPod.
Not sure if this is important to you, but here it goes. The Nano has the market cornered in regards to colours with their 4th generation Nano. In the past, you'd have to buy a certain model Nano to get the colour you wanted, now, the colours are available across the board. Not so with the Zune, though. For the 4GB model, you can only get Black, Red, Pink, and Green. For the 8GB model, you can get Black, Red, Pink, Green, and Blue. However, for the 16GB model you can only get it in black. This doesn't make any sense to me. They're all the same size, why not make all the colours available? For the Nano, for both the 8GB and 16GB models you can get the following colours: Grey, Black, Purple, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red, and Pink. Microsoft, take note.
For the hard drive based models, your colour choices are sparse for both the Zune and the iPod Classic. For the Zune 80GB, you can get it in Red or Black. For the 120GB model, only black. The iPod Classic is available in either Silver or Black. That's it. No orgasmic rainbow colour sections. Maybe it's me, but I think if you're going to make colours available, they should be available for all models. This comparison segment goes in the iPod's favour.
The Zune comes with an FM radio, whilst the iPod does not. You can also tag/download songs that you hear over FM radio through the Zune from the Zune Marketplace.
Both offer their own forms of syncing, so I won't go into that. But the thing that the iPod lacks is wireless syncing. The Zune's wireless syncing is not only simple to use, but great in use. Gone are cables. You can also utilize automatic wireless synching by simply plugging your Zune into an outlet so it can not only charge, but also sync at the same time. Want to just do a manual sync (i.e. your playlist changed and you want to get the updated one without going to your computer)? Just click Sync under Wireless in the Settings section. On your computer and your Zune is in the other room with WiFi enabled? Just drag and drop the music into your Zune from the Zune software. Microsoft really made a winner with this functionality, and have finally made their WiFi feature that much better. Big win for the Zune here.
Quite simply, you can't share your multimedia with other iPod users since the iPod lacks WiFi. You can share your stuff with other Zune owners as long as their WiFi is enabled.
Want a Zune but have a Mac? Sorry. Well, unless you dual boot into Windows. Currently the Zune software is not available for OS/X. iTunes is avaiable for both Windows and OS/X users. This is something that Microsoft could gain a lot of ground in if they just made the Zune software for OS/X. What a shame. Obviously iTunes wins this shootout even though ~91% of users own a Windows based machine.
So, there you have it. Unless you're using only OS/X, want better car native integration, or want consistent colour choices, go with the Zune. I'm telling you that you'll be pleasantly surprised.
just one second, seeing if everything was inputted correctly.
