Possible Zune "2.0" announcement tomorrow.

[blurredvision]

http://www.dailytech.com/Artic...id=9117&red=y#comments

That's the link to DailyTech, who simply copied a report from BetaNews. Who knows if it's true.

Is there anyone out there who actually likes the Zune as much as I do? I really don't mean to be a Microsoft whore (I'm a big 360, Zune, and Vista fan), but I went through the Nano and Vision M before I kept the Zune. Of course, this new Zune will have to meet a couple of requirements of mine before I'd upgrade, as the Zune I own now is perfect for my needs.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
http://www.dailytech.com/Artic...id=9117&red=y#comments

That's the link to DailyTech, who simply copied a report from BetaNews. Who knows if it's true.

Is there anyone out there who actually likes the Zune as much as I do? I really don't mean to be a Microsoft whore (I'm a big 360, Zune, and Vista fan), but I went through the Nano and Vision M before I kept the Zune. Of course, this new Zune will have to meet a couple of requirements of mine before I'd upgrade, as the Zune I own now is perfect for my needs.

I love my Zune. I listen to it every day on the way to/from work and it's never let me down. My only gripe with it right now is 30 GB just isn't enough space.

In order to get me to purchase a new Zune, it will have to have a minimum of an 80 GB hard drive. I'd prefer a 160 GB drive though. I don't know if hard drive size alone would get me to upgrade just yet. Better battery life, some new features maybe. It would also be nice to get some firmware/software updates for the current Zunes. The zune software is slow and buggy, although it definitely gets the job done.

I almost bought an 160 GB iPod classic, but the screens are just too damn small. I'm used to the nice screen of the Zune.

 

[blurredvision]

There are some leaked pics of the next Zune, and it pretty much looks like the first one, albeit with a "squircle" instead of a simple circle. "Squircle" wasn't my name, that's what is going around in the Zune circles though. The flash-based Zunes are supposedly similar in size to the iPod Nano (which one, the old smaller one or the new small "fatty" nano, I don't know), and the hdd-based Zunes are about the same size as the first, just thinner. There definitely will be an 80GB version, I've read somewhere that there will also be 160GB version to match the iPod's prices (this is all speculation in the end, though...I'm not active in the community to know how good these rumors are). I'm more interested in the software upgrades, though.

Also, there are pictures out there showing the original Zune running the 2.0 firmware, and the rumor is that it will include all the new features of the new Zune. When it will be released for the original Zune is unknown, though.

If the 2nd gen Zune adds what I want, I'm upgrading and giving my current player to my wife so she can listen to music in her car (she doesn't have a cd player). I've subscribed to the Zune Marketplace unlimited download service for a year now, and we can have 2 players on it, so might as well take advantage of it.

My wants list:

• Better video organization! I've not even used video on my Zune that much because it's simply a big list with all the videos you have. Once you start getting 20 or 30 videos on it, it gets a little cumbersome having them all in one list without organization abilities. I'd like to rip all of my Office season DVD's, but I didn't want a huge list.
• Divx support would be awesome. Microsoft is adding it to their STB media center extenders, and rumored to be adding it to the 360 in the upcoming fall update. Why not add it to the Zune as well?
• Overhaul the wi-fi feature. Hell, copy the iPod. Allow unlimited transfers between non-DRM tracks, and add a wi-fi marketplace so you can download music on the fly. If this isn't in this 2nd gen Zune, I expect it to be added by mid-next year.
• Since we're most likely starting out at an 80GB player, for the love of god, give us the simple ability to put files on there and take them off without having to go around. The Vision M has it, plenty of other players have it, I don't see what the problem is.

 

[bucwylde23]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
There are some leaked pics of the next Zune, and it pretty much looks like the first one, albeit with a "squircle" instead of a simple circle. "Squircle" wasn't my name, that's what is going around in the Zune circles though. The flash-based Zunes are supposedly similar in size to the iPod Nano (which one, the old smaller one or the new small "fatty" nano, I don't know), and the hdd-based Zunes are about the same size as the first, just thinner. There definitely will be an 80GB version, I've read somewhere that there will also be 160GB version to match the iPod's prices (this is all speculation in the end, though...I'm not active in the community to know how good these rumors are). I'm more interested in the software upgrades, though.

Also, there are pictures out there showing the original Zune running the 2.0 firmware, and the rumor is that it will include all the new features of the new Zune. When it will be released for the original Zune is unknown, though.

If the 2nd gen Zune adds what I want, I'm upgrading and giving my current player to my wife so she can listen to music in her car (she doesn't have a cd player). I've subscribed to the Zune Marketplace unlimited download service for a year now, and we can have 2 players on it, so might as well take advantage of it.

My wants list:

• Better video organization! I've not even used video on my Zune that much because it's simply a big list with all the videos you have. Once you start getting 20 or 30 videos on it, it gets a little cumbersome having them all in one list without organization abilities. I'd like to rip all of my Office season DVD's, but I didn't want a huge list.
• Divx support would be awesome. Microsoft is adding it to their STB media center extenders, and rumored to be adding it to the 360 in the upcoming fall update. Why not add it to the Zune as well?
• Overhaul the wi-fi feature. Hell, copy the iPod. Allow unlimited transfers between non-DRM tracks, and add a wi-fi marketplace so you can download music on the fly. If this isn't in this 2nd gen Zune, I expect it to be added by mid-next year.
• Since we're most likely starting out at an 80GB player, for the love of god, give us the simple ability to put files on there and take them off without having to go around. The Vision M has it, plenty of other players have it, I don't see what the problem is.

• 
  
  I found some pics of some in-store display units (fake ones) and it looks like the flash-based zune will look similar to the previous gen nano. That is, if the pictures posted on Engadget aren't fake.
  
  I've also been subscribing to the zune downloads since I got my Zune in February. The music library has really improved a lot. Almost everything I want I can find without having to pay extra.
  
  I haven't used the video feature at all except when I first got it to test it out. The reason is that my zune has been full from day 1 with music. I like to keep all of my music with me since my wife and I have different tastes in music quite often. She likes to take it with her in the car also instead of having to change CD's all the time.
  
  If they do offer a 160 GB Zune with the ability to use it as a portable storage device I'd be out to buy one on release day.
  
  Since you posted a wish list, here's mine
  
  -80 & 160 GB hard drives
  -Better battery life. I haven't had a problem with battery life so far, but it's still something that should be improved.
  -Unlock the use of the WiFi for some purpose that is useful
  -Option to use the extra space as portable storage
  -Better shuffle. I know in the last update they tried to make the shuffle more random, but it still likes to select songs from the same exact artist/album a lot.
  -Please display the release year of albums. Some artists in my library have 5-6 CD's and it helps me to pick the one I want by looking at release years.
  
  That's all I can think of at the moment

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: chrisg22
-Better shuffle. I know in the last update they tried to make the shuffle more random, but it still likes to select songs from the same exact artist/album a lot.

I had forgotten all about the horrible shuffle, but in my case, it's long gone. I remember hating the shuffle when I first got this thing, it was one of the few things I disliked about the player. But one of the firmware updates targeted that specifically, and in my experience, the shuffle is very good now. I've not had any complaints since that update.

I guess the rumor now is that it will be "announced" at midnight tonight (I don't know why Microsoft wants to announce crap at midnight nowadays).

 

[blurredvision]

Here are a few bullet points from zunescene.com who has gotten this info from a reliable source:

• Wireless sync will be included in all models including 30gb version
• Zune Marketplace will have an expanded library including videos
• Zune Marketplace will feature podcasts (zunecasts?) for the first time.
• The new "squircle" button is called Zune Pad
• Prices are $149 (4gb) $199 (8gb) $249 (80gb)
• 80gb Zune is slimmer and features a 3.2 inch screen.

Sounds good to me. I hope to see some more good things tonight.