• Zune HD vs iPod Touch 2G

    Zune HD vs iPod Touch 2G

    Samir Makwana, Aug 19, 2009 1249 hrs IST

    Will the well-deserved Zune HD stand up head-to-head against the (2 Gen) iPod Touch?

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The Microsoft vs. Apple war will start from next month as both companies are due to introduce the next generation of portable media players. It's an unsaid fact that Apple changed music listening habits and preferences with its portable music player iPod. Later in 2007, iPod product family shifted to a different paradigm with introduction of iPod Touch (first generation).

Microsoft, on the other hand, continued to release higher capacity Zune models meanwhile. However, this year, Microsoft got the geeks and tech evangelists to the edge of their seats with new Zune HD portable media player. Apple's iPod Touch has been unanimously ruling the music industry and was preferred by music lovers as well as ardent gadget geeks.

When we put both portable media entertainment gadgets together, it becomes difficult to define which one is better. What people now look for is complete portable entertainment experience at a good (read: reasonable price). With Zune HD coming soon, will it shake the iPod Touch's position or will iPod Touch continue to be first preference? So, we decided to do a feature comparison of both portable media player.

Touch Screen Display and Body




Apple revolutionized touch screen experience with multi-touch screen and its 3.5-inch massive display. The second generation iPod Touch was comparatively slim (61.8mm) than the first generation iPod Touch. Microsoft took a while and has come out with slimmer Zune HD which is just 52.7mm wide. Both devices are slim but have different shaped single Home key. Also, Zune HD is comparatively lighter with 74 grams as compared with the iPod Touch weighing 115 grams.

OS and GUI
Everybody loves the iPhone OS which has the same Darwin foundation used to derive the Mac OS X. Before the first iPhone OS SDK was released, Apple referred the iPhone as 'based on OS X' for marketing. Everybody loves to have the iPod Touch with mini OS X installed for zippy and fluid interface experience. Gradually, Apple has been improving the iPhone OS experience with milestone updates bring essential features like Voice recording, Search, Copy-paste of text, and so on.

Microsoft has built the Zune HD UI on its Windows CE platform and the mobile browser is assumed to be based on desktop version of Internet Explorer. Microsoft considered the demand for touchscreen based player and hence brought multi-touch support for browsing in Zune HD. The geek crowd would like to see some similarity with Microsoft's Windows Mobile 7 operating system.
Since both devices have multi-touch support in certain areas at least, it will be the graphical interface experience for zooming, panning, copy-paste of text, et al that will define what users would prefer for mobile web browsing.

Music and Apps




The 32GB Zune HD model can hold up to 8,000 songs while the second generation iPod Touch 32GB can hold up to 7,000 songs. As of now, we haven't got our hands on with Zune HD so can't say much about the audio quality. Apple iPod Touch supports AAC, Protected AAC, MP3, Apple Lossless, AIFF and Wav music file formats. Zune HD supports WMA both- Standard and Lossless, AAC and MP3 file formats on the fly. In the music department, Zune HD scores over iPod Touch with presence of HD Radio.

The much needed 3.5mm audio jack gives freedom to hook in headphones of choice in both devices. Music and video interface of Zune HD was leaked on the web recently.

Apple undoubtedly has the largest number of Apps in its App Store and those who're thinking that Zune HD would lack Apps, time to think again. At this moment, iPod Touch wins brownie points over Zune HD mostly on basis of large number of Apps availability.

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Related Links
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Microsoft's New Zune Would be Zune HD
Zune 3.0: More Storage, Wi-Fi Downloads
Tag keywords
Zune Zune HD Microsoft iPod Touch Apple



Discussion Board
(8) Comments
bob
,Phillidelphia, on Aug 22, 2009 09:25 AM
I don't understand why people think that the Zune HD has to "beat" the iPod Touch. The Zune HD could be just as unsuccessful as the previous Zunes and I wouldn't give a hoot. I still love my 30g Zune. I don't need to see a bunch of other people walking around with Zunes instead of iPods. I don't need the Zune to be "popular." Anyone who buys a products because it's "the cool thing" is a tool.
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Joe
,Lyman, on Sep 01, 2009 11:49 PM
Well said. Half the population that buys an iPod has no idea how an mp3 players works, and only buys it because everyone else does, anyway. You wanna be trendy? Go buy an iPod, you want better technology? Buy a Zune.
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Lilmac
,clifton, on Aug 26, 2009 12:35 PM
If you realy want something that cover all of the “MEDIA/GAMINNG” feild, I would get the PSPgo. Granted it isnt a touchscreen, but it conquers the gaming hands down and you can put ANY type of media on it and i meen ANY. On a seperrate note, I dont know any one who used up more than 16 gigs and even if you do it is easy to expand the memory. The PSP has always had an Intenet radio, even before the ipod. It is almost the odd kid out of the group if you ask me. The PSP is unbiased when it comes to formating. The format on the PSP has always been easy the understamd and the themes are very cusumizable. Its pricing is comprable to the Zune/ipod. I am just trying to bring in some thing apart from the fandoy bable and give some real informed opinone. P.S. I have never been a fan of the ipod/zunes anyway. I always thought the two of the are a power strugle between Apple and MicroSoft where the both neglect the custume and I am no a reel Sony fan either. The stuff my family and I get from those companies always have their own problems.
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Ariel
,new york, on Aug 24, 2009 03:29 AM
well im going to change to Zune again, i can't wait to buy it.
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rocky
,mumbai, on Aug 21, 2009 02:07 PM
Zune cant beat ipod touch. Touch is clearly light years ahead than its competitors. And if the rumours of touch 3g with camera comes true, then zune is gonna have some touch time baby ;)
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sri
,chennai, on Aug 19, 2009 11:38 PM
apple introduce new products they change massive in music players,phones..etc .but one thing is no one is lead longer time.
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Prathamesh
,Mumbai, on Aug 19, 2009 06:20 PM
Hey how dare you forget creative's zii egg... That's got 32 gig memory + extendable via sd and android os and full hd support
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vengat
,Coimbatore, on Aug 19, 2009 05:59 PM
I believe Zune HD has Nvidia Tegra chip inside it. So gaming should be mind blowing
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