TUNE DIGITALLY

Review by E. Yasi:

Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

Points of comparison:

- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast

OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.

- HD Radio

If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it's not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it's playing what you here, and if you don't like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don't have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it's very enjoyable.

- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won't have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.

- Zune Pass subscription service

This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it's pried from my my desperate grasp. For a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you're paying only for that access. It's better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there's no reason you can't use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It's not either/or, it's a wonderful "AND", especially if you're the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.

- Wireless sync

In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.

- Smart DJ

Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its 'Channels' feature, and Apple followed with its 'Genius' feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a 'Channel' feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a 'Smart DJ' feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what's even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It's wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.

- Web Browsing

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.

- App Store

Hands down, Apple's app store wins by a mile. It's a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

- Zune Marketplace and iTunes

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like 'Mixview' that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you're listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of "neighbors" will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune "Social" is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

- UI

The HD's UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn't always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has 'gone to sleep' while you're listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.

- Summary

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it'll do even better in those areas, but for now it's a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod's strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

If you're still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you'll know which is right for you.

- Current Zune Owners

(See, I didn't forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn't an issue. Don't hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can't afford both, then you'll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don't forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!

Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we're seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won't cut you out entirely, but if they're going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.

Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.

Review by enders4you:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MCY118RZQL1H Here is a simple video on the features and what the Zune HD player can do . . .

Review by E. Yasi:

Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

Points of comparison:

- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast

OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.

- HD Radio

If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it's not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it's playing what you here, and if you don't like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don't have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it's very enjoyable.

- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won't have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.

- Zune Pass subscription service

This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it's pried from my my desperate grasp. For a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you're paying only for that access. It's better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there's no reason you can't use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It's not either/or, it's a wonderful "AND", especially if you're the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.

- Wireless sync

In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.

- Smart DJ

Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its 'Channels' feature, and Apple followed with its 'Genius' feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a 'Channel' feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a 'Smart DJ' feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what's even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It's wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.

- Web Browsing

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.

- App Store

Hands down, Apple's app store wins by a mile. It's a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

- Zune Marketplace and iTunes

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like 'Mixview' that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you're listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of "neighbors" will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune "Social" is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

- UI

The HD's UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn't always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has 'gone to sleep' while you're listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.

- Summary

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it'll do even better in those areas, but for now it's a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod's strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

If you're still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you'll know which is right for you.

- Current Zune Owners

(See, I didn't forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn't an issue. Don't hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can't afford both, then you'll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don't forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!

Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we're seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won't cut you out entirely, but if they're going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.

Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.

Review by enders4you:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MCY118RZQL1H Here is a simple video on the features and what the Zune HD player can do . . .

Review by Stan Johnson:

*TAKE NOTE: Don't turn your radio on UNTIL you have found a clear FM station with the Zune Car Pack 2. Turning your radio on FIRST seems to prevent the device from finding any clear FM station.

*Some people have had luck tuning with the radio on. The important thing to remember is you are tuning a radio and just like a real radio it may take a little effort to tune it.

None of the harsh negative reviews are accurate IMHO and with respect to these people. It really makes me wonder of their validity in every single claim. The reviews greatly differ from the excellent and flawless product I just received and used. It could be that these well meaning people simply missing something on how to use this very simple and EXTREMELY effective device. My experience was a 100% POSITIVE with ZERO trouble! The Zune Car Pack 2 actually shocked the hell out of me because of the negative above reviews (I was already prepared to send it back). Like most everyone I read the user comments before I buy anything. I called Amazon to verify I could send this product back before I bought because of the horrid reviews above. Sometimes I will gamble anyway with a product purchase like this and this time and it paid off BIG. I got exactly what was advertised and what I wanted in my car.

1) I live in a VERY URBAN area. Nearly every single radio frequency is occupied. I plugged in the adapter hooked up the Zune used the auto-tune to find a clear station. Turned on the radio, tuned it to match the clear frequency and the sound was flawless. I honestly could not tell any significant difference from direct input. No kidding it works that well and that easy. There are also online resources that can locate some good clear FM frequencies by zip code if you should need extra help. The Zune Car Pack 2 finds the clearest stations for me everytime.

2) No static at all! Believe me I tried to get it. I shook my Zune like a nut, I shook the transmitter like an ape, I even placed metal objects on the cord and put the transmitter in every weird place I could think of. Perfect no static. I could not make static no matter how I tried (Man, I forgot to wrap everything in aluminum foil...now that may have a chance)! I tried my hardest to make this accessory sound bad and hear the static claims in the previous posted reviews. But the Zune Car Park v2 remained superb.

3) The Zune pad the is designed to hold the Zune on the dash or somewhere flat. Now I had my doubts about this set-up because I drive rather aggressively. I dusted off my dash and place the Zune on the pad. The thing is rock solid and I would trust it in almost all driving circumstances with confidence except for a hard hitting accident. A fender bender won't move that Zune a bit.

Try it out for yourself. You can always send it back to Amazon if you do not like the way it functions.

Plug in the adapter in the cigarette lighter, plug in the Zune, use auto-tune to find a clear station, turn on the radio, tune it to match the clear fequency and WOW!

The Zune Car Pack 2 is easy, static free, and movement DOES NOT effect the sound at all. As I said before I TRIED my hardest to get static but could not (with the exception of wrapping everything in aluminum foil).

The Zune Car Pack 2 is an excellent product in every respect.

That is what my real-world URBAN experience PROVED to me. I also learned you cannot always trust the reviews you read. Though I would not like to shop without them.

Give it a try as there is really nothing to loose----

I think that the problem is the device is so simple that people are not following the correct process for the device work properly (and the instructions could be better).

Remember to get the clear station tuned with the Zune Car Pack 1st and then turn on your radio and tune to the clear frequency.

Review by William Cuthbertson:

After being a bit hesitant to pick this up considering the density of the city where I live, I'm really pleased with the quality of the build and the sound of the v2 Zune Car Pack.

It was a bit finicky in bad weather, but the sound quality overall is comparable to any strong radio station broadcast. I also like the that this car pack seems to be made of durable, attractive materials. There's attractive backlighting on both the plug (to indicate power), and the small tuner that indicates the station, and the tuner is very visible for night driving should you need to read the station.

The rubber pad to prevent your Zune from sliding around works terrifically. Despite speed bumps and sharp turns, the Zune stays on the rubber pad.

Again, I'm very pleased with the Car Pack - especially considering the price has dropped now to about dollars. Well worth it, in my opinion, even in a city as large as Chicago.

Review by E. Yasi:

Between me and my husband we've owned more MP3 players over the years than I can count, including Sansas, iRivers, iPods (classic & touch), the Ibiza Rhapsody, etc. But, the last few years I've settled down to one line of players. Why? Because I was happy to discover how well-designed and fun to use the underappreciated (and widely mocked) Zunes are.

I'll gear this review to 2 types of people: current Zune owners who are considering an upgrade, and people trying to decide between a Zune and an iPod. (There are other players worth considering out there, like the Sony Walkman X, but I hope this gives you enough info to make an informed decision of the Zune vs players other than the iPod line as well.)

Zune and iPod: Most people compare the Zune to the Touch, but after seeing how slim and surprisingly small and light it is, I consider it to be a rather unique hybrid that combines qualities of both the Touch and the Nano. It's very colorful and lovely OLED screen is slightly smaller than the touch screen, but the player itself feels quite a bit smaller and lighter. It weighs about 2/3 as much, and is noticeably smaller in width and height, while being just a hair thicker.

Points of comparison:

- Brighter OLED screen with more vivid color and better contrast

OLED screens can wash out in direct sunlight more than others, but in almost any other situation they are clearly preferable, and have a marvelous eye-catching picture that needs to be seen to be appreciated. The screen has slighly lower resolution than the iPod Touch, but is also slightly smaller, so in the end video looks a little less pixellated when viewed closely, and very vivid.

- HD Radio

If you live within the reception area of some HD radio stations this can be a surprisingly nice feature. For me it's not so much the slightly better sound quality as it is the additional streams of content that make this fun. For example, if you tune into an FM station, then it's playing what you here, and if you don't like it too bad. With an HD station, you may tune in and it will be shown with up to three signals to chose from labeled HD1, HD2, and HD3. HD1 may have whatever is playing on the FM version, HD2 may be news, and HD3 might be some alternative music w/ a different theme. For example one of our oldies station in the Boston area broadcasts a love-song themed selection on HD3. One caveat: if you don't have a strong enough signal, these HD versions can cut in and out, making them frustrating to listen to. But, when the signal is strong enough it's very enjoyable.

- 720p video output via (an over-priced) dock. When transferring video content to the Zune you can specify if it should be sized appropriately for playback on the Zune or TV, so if you do plan to just watch on your Zune you won't have the video taking up huge amounts of storage.

- Zune Pass subscription service

This is my favorite feature that will keep me using a Zune until it's pried from my my desperate grasp. For a month I get 10 DRM-free MP3 songs to keep, and unlimited access to millions of songs. As long as you would have bought at least 10 songs anyways that means you're paying only for that access. It's better than Pandora, Slacker, LastFM or other services because you can listen to full CDs, specify playlists and tracks in the exact order you want, AND can either stream this music or store it on your Zune to listen to later, even if out of wifi range. Lots of people present subscription services as something you do INSTEAD of owning music, but at this cheap a price there's no reason you can't use this as a supplement to whatever purchases you make. It's not either/or, it's a wonderful "AND", especially if you're the type who likes to explore and enjoy a broad range of music.

Apple now has Rhapsody as an app, which is a great start, but it is currently hampered by the inability to store locally on your iPod, and has a dismal 64kbps bit rate. If this changes, then it will somewhat negate this advantage for the Zune, but the 10 songs per month will still be a big plus in Zune Pass' favor.

- Wireless sync

In addition to wireless net access, you can sync your Zune to your PC wirelessly, which can be quite convenient on occasion. The new Zune HD seems to have better wireless reception than my prior Zunes.

- Smart DJ

Rhapsody first popularized a playlist construction service with its 'Channels' feature, and Apple followed with its 'Genius' feature. The idea is that you specify a song or artist, and the service will construct a playlist of similar music of both familiar and new artists for you to enjoy. The prior Zunes had a 'Channel' feature too, but I found it lacking in sophistication and accuracy. The 4.0 Zune Marketplace upgrade (the Zune equivalent of iTunes) now has a 'Smart DJ' feature that is a much improved version of the old Channels. I actually find it very useful now, and what's even better is that if you have Zune Pass you can specify whether it should pull music exclusive from your collection, from the Zune Pass selection, or from a combination of both. It's wonderfully flexible and lots of fun.

- Web Browsing

The new Zune browser is surprisingly good, but not as good as the iPod's. It works well, but isn't as fast as Safari, and has a clunkier interface. If you occasionally plan on using the web browser that's not an issue, but if you're planning to browse the web alot from your PMP then the iPod's larger screen and better browser may be important.

- App Store

Hands down, Apple's app store wins by a mile. It's a huge selection of all sorts of apps vs a rather sad selection of a handful for Zune. Microsoft has plans, especially in the realm of games, but I'm not sure I'd want to bet on the future if this aspect is important to you. The iPod is a much better choice in that case.

- Zune Marketplace and iTunes

This is getting a bit more subjective, but I much prefer the Zune Marketplace. The interface is colorful, has more flair, and some cool features like 'Mixview' that let you quickly see related albums, songs, or other users related to what you're listening to. Clicking on one of those will center on that item, and another set of "neighbors" will come into view, allowing you to navigate around exploring by similar artists, songs, or users. Speaking of users, the Zune "Social" is also great fun, letting you find others with shared tastes and becoming friends with them. You then can listen to a playlist created based on an amalgamation of what all your friends are listening to, which is also enjoyable. Those concerned with privacy will be relieved to know you can prevent the public from seeing your personal listening habits if you so choose.

- UI

The HD's UI was a bold move that paid off. It may look cluttered and overly busy in screenshots, but to see it in action is to appreciate the design. It isn't always obvious, and the provided documentation is sparse, but a little experimentation will show you a UI with lots of flexibility, like a menu of favorites, newly added music, and a user-definable set of shortcuts to your favorite playlists, artists, HD Radio stations, etc. One quibble: it takes one too many clicks and touches to bring up the now playing screen after the display has 'gone to sleep' while you're listening to it. Other than that, the UI is delightful.

- Summary

The Zune concentrates on being a Portable Media Player. Not a web browser. Not a game machine. Maybe in the future it'll do even better in those areas, but for now it's a fantastic way to organize and listen to your music and videos, and is without peer in that regard. The iPod's strengths are its web browsing and apps. If those sound more compelling, perhaps it is your best choice.

If you're still on the fence: grab your favorite earphones, head down to a Best Buy and ask to plug them into a Zune then an iPod and see which one sounds better to you, and which interface makes you smile more. Then you'll know which is right for you.

- Current Zune Owners

(See, I didn't forget you!) I think owners of any of the older flash players will be delighted at the upgrade, as long as money isn't an issue. Don't hesitate. Those who value the higher capacity of the 80gb or a 120gb will have a tougher choice. If you can't afford both, then you'll have to weigh the ability to be able to have all (or at least most) of your music stored on the device vs the HD radio, better display, and sleeker than a seal UI. As I said before, this new Zune is surprisingly small and light, and you should find one to get a feel for in person too, because then you can really evaluate how compelling those new features are to you. Oh, and don't forget it has an Equalizer if that matters!

Keep in mind: Microsoft has made it clear that the HD line is the future. They were great about giving new features to the older models in the past, but we're seeing a clear signal with the 4.0 Marketplace. Most of the cool new stuff is only going to the new kid on the block, and I think that will continue to be the case. They won't cut you out entirely, but if they're going to concentrate on making the HD succeed, then I suspect that is where most if not all of their future focus and effort will go.

Sorry for the huge review, but I'm really loving the new Zune, and hope this, as well as the excellent reviews some other people have written, will help you decide if it's the right choice for you.

Review by enders4you:

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2MCY118RZQL1H Here is a simple video on the features and what the Zune HD player can do . . .

Review by Sarenah:

I had previously purchased the crystal clear screen protector from Lexerd, only to have a large scratch on it within three months. So I went ahead and bought this three pack, and it worked just fine. Unlike the Lexerd screen protector, this one is actually large enough to fill the entire glass cover.

It was simple enough, simply clean your screen, peel off the first side, place it on the screen, and when you have it aligned perfectly, use the provided card to push out any air bubbles. However, I did not have any cards included in my pack of three, but no big deal. I just used a credit card I had on the side. Then you can peel off the second side, leaving you with a nice and smooth screen protector! Do note that there are numbers on the covers on either side, to indicate which side you peel off first, placing down onto the Zune.

Review by Greg:

Definitely glad I got the 3 pack for a few bucks more as I screwed up the first try. The pack says they're washable/reusable, I'd have to disagree after my experience with the first one.

The instructions on the packaging are very clear. Unless you weren't paying attention to them, I don't see how anyone could get confused. The front and back of the screen protector are clearly labeled so you can pull back the backside and press it on top to down. Also on the packaging I noticed several claims to the product's abilities. Lets go through some. To the right I'll put my opinion of the claim,

Anti-Glare...........................Yeah, cuts glare good

Dust Repelling.......................Yeah, it keeps it dust free pretty well

Fingerprint free.....................Not so much, even with pretty dry clean hands you'll still get minor smudges or prints, but they do wipe off real easy

Improves Handwriting Recognition.....Zune HD doesn't do handwriting recognition, but I did recognize the touch screen being more accurate and easier to slide my finger on with the product on. Right away I was making fewer errors when clicking/tapping links on the web

Washable and Reusable................I've mentioned this already, I seriously doubt it'd be worth the trouble even if it is possible by the looks of it

All in all I'm satisfied since I didn't actually expect it to live up to the claims on the packaging, and since the "Improves Handwriting Recognition"/Accuracy Improvement claim turned out to be true it was just icing on the cake.

Review by Chad386:

The version 2 home a/v pack is definitely the way to go if you have an 80gb or 120 gb zune. (Keep in mind that currently, only the 80 and 120 gb zune can output video via component cabling.) Something none of the other reviews have touched on is the fact that this model is the one that contains component out jacks on the back of the zune dock. You can, therefore, use any component cable (not supplied) for DVD quality output of movies, etc.

I can attest that the output looks absolutely fantastic on a 50 inch HD widescreen set. My wife could not see any difference in it and our high end upscaling DVD player. Of course, a lot depends on how you encode the video and the quality of the source. But assuming you get that right, you will be very pleased with the look of the video. (720 x 576 resolution with component) Also, the menu system itself doesn't look all that hot. But a nicely encoded video will sure treat your eyes once you fire it up. you have lots of choices now on encoding since the Zune 3 firmware supports .wmv, mpeg-4, and h.264 video files.

I have put about 10 movies on so far for our 2 year old to watch on an upcoming trip. Now, the audio output is strictly stereo; but I don't think that's much to complain about since what hotel or guest room is going to have you a surround speaker system set up.

Another reviewer has also stated that this kit does not work with the Zune 120 gb. He is very wrong. It states right on the front of the box that the kit works with all zunes. (and lists it specifically as well) The way they do this is by including various "faceplates" for the different zunes. I was worried about this initially, but they conform very nicely and you can't even really tell they are removable once they're in. It comes with a 4g/8gb labelled plate, a 30 gb labelled plate, and an 80 gb labelled plate. The 80 gb plate is the one to use for the 120. It fits perfectly. I've had no issues docking this thing at all; so don't quite understand the other comments regarding that.

Remote works very well with decent range. If you have an 80 or 120 gb zune and are looking to have an easy way to watch dvd quality movies on a TV while travelling, this kit is perfect for you.

UPDATE 12/10/08: I just got back from a trip where I got to put the kit to use. Everyone thought I was playing the movies from a DVD. The Zune functionality was also great seeing as how I was showing slideshows of a recent trip complete with music. When listening to music, the Zune puts up the album art that it scavenges from the online database; very cool. Couple things to point out.

1. The composite video out can't hold a candle to the component out. Spend a little extra to get a nice set of short, component cables. Also, the Zune sync software includes an option in settings to optimize video for TV output. Make sure this is enabled. It takes a little longer to sync video this way, but well worth the time.

2. If you are having an issue with volume through your tv when watching movies, make sure your actual zune unit volume is turned all the way up. Since the kit uses the headphone jack on the zune, volume is 1st dependent on how high you have the zune volume set. If your zune vol. is turned way down, you can max out your TV's volume and still only get a trickle of sound. So, in essence, you have 2 volumes to deal with: TV volume and Zune volume. May seem obvious to some, but it is easy to overlook when doing all the other connections while your 2 year old is yelling to see "Snow White."

3. If you don't see any picture on the TV after cabling the component jacks, there is a little switch on the back of the Zune dock that must be pushed toward the component jacks. Also, the black plate that hides the component jacks will not go back on the Zune dock until the switch is pushed back into its default composite position.

So overall, the Zune and home kit v2 performed wonderfully. I can re-emphasize the importance of this kit for any Zune owner.

UPDATE 1/10/09: Clarification on video output capability of Zunes. All currently available Zunes have video playback functionality on the Zune screen itself (4,8,16,30,80,120). Only the 30, 80, and 120 Zune can output video to a TV. Note, however, that the Zune30 is no longer manufactured. Also, if you are buying this kit for a Zune30, the Zune30 does NOT support component output; it supports composite only output(yellow plug). You need the Zune80 or Zune120 to use the component (HD) functionality. Just wanted to add this in since when I bought my Zune, I found this information very hard to come by on the interwebs.

UPDATE 9/20/09: Zune HD has launched and has its own dock. It's currently pretty pricey, but will drop just like the old dock did with a little time. For what it's worth, the new dock is backward compatible with the old Zunes. If you have a Zune HD, you'll need the new HD A/V dock. In addition to having a little different form factor, this new HD dock actually has an HDMI port AND a digital fiber optic audio port(toslink). This is a big deal.

Basically, you're going from 480i resolution (stereo sound) with the Zune 80/120 to 720p rez and surround sound, conceivably Dolby 5.1. This is a dream come true for travellers. Also you're getting a true digital connection simplified with the HDMI vs. the 3 component cables which is not truly a digital connection. Now the Zune HD uses the same interface on the bottom of the unit: i.e. connection with docks, car stereo cables, etc. so your existing stereo conversion cable you invested in is still gonna work fine. (mine is a Soundgate)

Also, it's worth noting that Microsoft is discontinuing my Zune, the Zune 120(as well as the previous zune models), in favor of this new lineup of the Zune HD. So if you want an older zune model, now's the time to pick it up. One other neat thing for those of you that took my advice and bought this AV kit for your Zune 2 is the new Zune HD shifts to a new custom UI whenever connected to a TV, instead of just displaying what's on the zune itself. Since I'm not what you'd call an early adopter, I'm not able to publish reviews yet on the Zune HD or new dock. Maybe I'll get one for Christmas.

Review by psychomuse:

Like everything these days, this costs way too much. It should, in fact, have been included with the Zune. It adds so much value to it.

It is a very well-made product. The AV cables are nice and thick. They appear sturdy and resistant to kinks. Believe me, there are some really scrawny AV cables out there. These look like Monster cables. The dock fits all models of Zune with removable trays that accomodate the different sizes. My Zune 2 sits in it like a baby in a car seat. Very secure with no connection problems.

The power charger works without getting in your way. Plug the device in and whenever you dock your Zune, it will stay fully juiced up for your next journey.

The remote, while not fancy, is really great. It duplicates all of the Zune's controls minus the touch-sensitivity. You click and hold to scroll instead. It works so well, I don't miss the squircle at all. Most surprising, it works from across my living room without fail. I like the remote so much, I'm going to try using it when my Zune is connected to the car kit.

All materials are high-quality and I suspect they will last as long as the Zune. The AV kit works perfectly and I believe it is an essential part of the Zune. I almost took a star off for the high price, but it's such a great product and enhancement that it really is deserving of all five stars.

Review by Eaglecook:

I picked this skin due to the low cost so I was expecting a cheap thing that I could use until I got a better one. As it turns out, this is a better quality, better fitting skin than some that I have seen for twice the price. When I saw that there was no opening for the on/off button or the volume button I thought that it was negative. After using it, I now think it's acctually better because it's easy to push the buttons through the gel, and it's one less place for it to rip or tear. The cut-out on the bottom is nicely done with no jagged edges to catch on things as I have seen in other skins. This fits my Zune HD perfectly. Well done, excellent value for money!!

Review by Christopher Hallum:

For the price nothing can compare, there is no cut out for the side rocker button or the power button on the top, they are however marked. Frankly if you cant remember where they are located I don't know how you operate your zune. This doesn't hamper functionality at all, absolutely no complaints for the prcepoint. The skin is even a mold imitation of the lines of the player so it retains much of its look and adds very little bulk. If you just psent all your fun money on the zune, get this inexpensive case to protect it.

Review by Software Security Guy:

I'm sure my views are heavly tainted by how I use things which is lots of air travel, so take that into account when you consider this review.

I got this gear bag and was a bit dissapointed with the overall bulk. I admit it has plenty of space, but the bag itself is too big to be convienient to carry on planes, or even a car unless you live out of it.

It certainly holds the Zune. It is also molded to hold the upgraded earphone case in a similarly molded space.

The extra 'bulk storage' space is huge. Perhpas too huge. one thing that bugged me is that with my Zune in it's DLO protective case it doesn't fit in the cutout so I have to remove it to get the Zune to fit properly.

Now in all fairness I'm happy that I can store the DLO case, armband and clip in the bulk storage area simply because I have to. But I have a pair of LE Super.Fi earphones. They come with their own case that won't fit in the earphone cutout and therefore takes up most of the bulk storage space. With that in there, the DLO case won't fit in the bulk storage area. So it's eather leave the Zune in the DLO case and not put it in the gear bag, or remove it from the DLO case and have to carry it seperately.

Overall it's a good sturdy case. But it's not big enough to hold all the real accessories you'll use, and it's too big to carry around easily. I think this product could have been made smaller for just the Zune and earphones, OR made big enough to have a handle and put all your Zune gear in it.

Review by J. M. Lavender:

It is well organized and quite roomy, though it resembles a shaving kit more than a case for a media player. It has a padded socket for the Zune with an elastic strap to hold it secure. It also has a custom fitted place for the earphone case and the AC adapter. The general use storage has plenty of room for the synch cable, remote, additional earphones and such.

I recommend this item without reservation. It is one of the components in the Zune Travel Pack, and I encourage anyone interested in this item to conisider this excellent selection of accessories for the Zune instead of buying them individually, which can be pricy.

Review by Joel Katte:

If someone like me, who transfers his home videos onto VHS tapes and prefers to listen to audio cassette books in his car, can read this book and feel armed and ready to compete in the ePublishing world, then author Steve Weber's 2009 publication of ePUBLISH is a resounding success! Because I highlighted and dog-eared nearly every page half way through the book, I stopped because, afterall, what's the point? (Of course, I had the old school paperback version. What would you expect from someone who cannot let go of the childhood familiarity of VHS and audiocassettes?) Everything in Weber's book is noteworthy, and I can easily use it as a reference as I attempt to podcast, create book trailers, join www.Amazon.Com 's Affiliate Program, Twitter, seek Beta readers, Kindle, and embed a widget. Honestly, these are only a few of the steps Steve Weber has inspired me to take as I embark on my publishing career. He will do the same for you. Next on the top of my "books to be read" pile is a paperback of Weber's PLUG YOUR BOOK! Plug Your Book! Online Book Marketing for Authors, Book Publicity through Social Networking Someday, just maybe, Weber might even inspire me to read an eBook, but then what would I do when I feel compelled to highlight and dog ear?

Review by Lisa P. Morgan:

I was really surprised by this little book. When I first got it, I thought "Wow, it's so small." But after I read the book over the next two days, I was saying "Wow, it's so packed with useful information!" This little book is BIG in information. This purchase was one of my best on Amazon to date. The author is so generous with the information he gives you about all the ins and outs of getting your published in a variety of online mediums like via the Kindle, print on demand, iPods, etc. It's easy to read and all of the information is useful. I give this one a double thumbs up!