page deux

Quote :

"perhaps im just talking from my own personal opinion Im never going to watch a movie on a freaking tiny lcd Im never going to sit there and wait for a video to encode to wmv to watch it Im never going to buy files from a service that is somehow worse than itunes (was that even possible?) Im never going to wear cargo pants large enough to haul the thing around in (Shaggy)"

all of those are reasons i won't buy an ipod OR a zune...they're glorified mp3 players and their added "features" just make for added bulk that i won't use and don't want

[Edited on November 20, 2006 at 10:13 PM. Reason : .]

11/20/2006 10:10:07 PM

Quote :

"Im never going to watch a movie on a freaking tiny lcd Im never going to sit there and wait for a video to encode to wmv to watch it Im never going to buy files from a service that is somehow worse than itunes (was that even possible?) "

Oh i agree. I'd never buy one. I dont have enough mp3s to justify a harddrive player or the time to listen to them. I'm just saying its a fine piece of hardware for entry into the market. After all microsoft didn't even design the hardware.

11/20/2006 10:14:57 PM

Quote :

"the wifi is crippled in software, not hardware. anyhow, its a compromise between size and cost. Wether that was the right decision is yet to be seen. If microsoft sells enough to get a market foothold, they'll actually design a custom zune device that will probably be a much better device."

actually the wifi is also crippled because its a new device, no one has them and you can only transfer between users, of which there is a very small number. I see NO reason why a consumer would take a chance on the 30gb zune which has no market success when you could buy the 30gb iPod for the same price.

11/20/2006 10:15:20 PM

^^^ditto, i'll stick with flash based players that load faster and are smaller and do exactly what i need an mp3 player to do... (though would still like radio/cover art on nano, then life would be complete)

[Edited on November 20, 2006 at 10:15 PM. Reason : .]

11/20/2006 10:15:30 PM

anyone know where i can get one and try it out and if i dont like it return it?

11/20/2006 11:37:05 PM

uh.... pretty much anywhere.

11/20/2006 11:51:48 PM

Anyone have recommendations for a good HDD mp3 player with at least 30gb capacity that uses a file-folder structure for browsing and playlisting, rather than organizing based on id3 tags? I'm anal about my organization already, and none of my music has tags, so my understanding is that it would be a bitch to work with that in devices like iPods and Vision:M's?

Size isn't a particular concern, and being a bit larger is actually ok as long as there are also good video capabilities. I tend to wear baggy stuff with larger-than-average pockets anyway, and a major part of why I'm looking into this is for business flights, where it would be nice if I could also watch a movie instead of just listening to music while reading.

So far I'm thinking about a Cowon A2, but am open to other suggestions. Again, the most important thing is support for browsing and playlisting on a directory structure rather than id3 tags.

11/21/2006 2:36:36 PM

It comes in turd brown. I think that pretty much explains its quality as well.

11/21/2006 2:39:31 PM

^^would it be out of the question to tag these items?
i'm failing to see why tagging on top ofyour current organization would mess anything up.

11/21/2006 6:01:34 PM

^generally time has a big thing to do with it. though there should be software that will autotag based on the folder structure

11/21/2006 7:48:28 PM

It's partly a time thing, given that we're talking about 20,000 some odd songs. Plus, I don't like Winamp only showing artist and title in the playlist, I want to be able to see the track number too. Several other reasons, but yeah, I'd prefer not to tag them at all. But I understand there are some pretty good players out there that support file structure browsing, I just didn't want to miss out on any if people know of a particularly good one.

11/21/2006 9:46:58 PM

Quote :

"Plus, I don't like Winamp only showing artist and title in the playlist, I want to be able to see the track number too."

um, you should realize that you can customize about every aspect of Winamp.

to fix your title "preference", go to Winamp's "Preferences", under "General Preferences" look under "Titles" and check the "Use advanced title formatting when possible" Box in the lower section titled, surprisingly, "Advanced Title Formatting". then look at the text entry box below, and using the help tips below it customize the title display to your precise desire.

this is one reason why i still use Winamp for all my general music playing needs.

also, if you'd like something for a minimalistic Winamp view that only shows album art and is skinnable too, check this (free) plugin out: CD Art Display http://closetosoftware.com/

11/21/2006 11:59:41 PM

Not tagging MP3s is the most backwards cave-mannery possible. Metadata ftw

11/22/2006 1:12:18 AM

Quote :

" though there should be software that will autotag based on the folder structure"

I'm pretty sure that there is.

11/22/2006 3:28:05 AM

Quote :

"they're glorified mp3 players and their added "features" just make for added bulk that i won't use and don't want "

Umm... the relative prices of the iPod hasn't changed since it's release, and the video iPods are actually smaller and have longer battery life than their predecessors.

The video is kind of a tacked-on feature, but it doesn't really affect the size/performance/usability of the iPod in any way from its mp3 player form.

I wouldn't really use the video playback feature myself though.

11/22/2006 3:30:12 AM

i've been using http://www.id3-tagit.de for a while now

11/22/2006 4:50:28 AM

Quote :

"um, you should realize that you can customize about every aspect of Winamp. to fix your title "preference", go to Winamp's "Preferences", under "General Preferences" look under "Titles" and check the "Use advanced title formatting when possible" Box in the lower section titled, surprisingly, "Advanced Title Formatting". then look at the text entry box below, and using the help tips below it customize the title display to your precise desire. this is one reason why i still use Winamp for all my general music playing needs. also, if you'd like something for a minimalistic Winamp view that only shows album art and is skinnable too, check this (free) plugin out: CD Art Display http://closetosoftware.com/ "

But what version of winamp are you using? I still stick with 2.9x, and don't have the options you're talking about.

I had a feeling the thread would get sidetracked. I'm glad you all love your metadata.

11/22/2006 1:40:41 PM

^well then yea, i can see your problem if you're still using 2.9

for the record, foobar2000 might be more up your alley if you're looking for low profile with customization, not to mention it's still being developed after years and is still rock-solid and small with many features.

http://www.foobar2000.com

11/22/2006 5:32:11 PM

i got a zune a few days ago and i'm enjoying it. i have the standard complaints. it is a bit bulky but it actualy fits into my man hands a bit better than the ipod. the larger screen is a big plus, i'd still prefer to watch video on a real screen but the extra .5 inch takes watching video on a mp3 player a step closer to being practical. I like the zune software better than itunes tells you when stuff is already on you device , converts stuff that isn't in the correct format the marketplace is a bit lacking htough(not that i buy ish from there) one thing is that the zune is not completly new and untested the internals are pretty much a toshiba gigabeat. so it's not a completly new and untested product. microsoft changed the controls, added more screen and more upmh by speeding up the processor which makes it FAST, i noticed videos load noticlebly faster on the zune than on the ipod. anyway it's still not an ipod killer but it could see it definatly becoming more of a contender as more accessories and content become availible, not to mention more users to take advatange of the wifi features.

11/25/2006 7:17:20 AM

Quote :

"and will display cover art,"

what do you mean won't display cover art? my ipod shows cover art so confused. anyways saw one at walmart not fit and finish reminds me greatly of my first ipod many years ago. Hopefully this will light a fire under apple and get itunes w/ a subscription setup

11/25/2006 7:56:36 AM

Quote :

"Not tagging MP3s is the most backwards cave-mannery possible."

11/25/2006 12:14:00 PM

i don't even put mp3s into my collection until they're completely tagged, including album, year, genre, and composer

true story

11/25/2006 12:55:35 PM

Quote :

"Umm... the relative prices of the iPod hasn't changed since it's release, and the video iPods are actually smaller and have longer battery life than their predecessors."

ridiculously high pricing, crappy components, and shitty software aside, i get better battery life on my creative than an ipod and i can use playlists (which, for me, is what sold the creative...especially since i've already got the playlists on my computer anyway)

11/25/2006 12:58:42 PM

Quote :

"and i can use playlists"

?

when did apple drop this from the ipod?

11/25/2006 3:18:29 PM

Playlists? WTF?! Why didn't Apple ever integrate this?!!!!1

11/25/2006 3:47:14 PM

its eaiser than taking a picture of my ipod but unless yours is different than mine the play list can be on both the computer and *gasp* the ipod even have that fancy on the go playlist thing darn tootin

11/25/2006 4:34:47 PM

^ yeah, seriously. I can even create playlists ON my iPod (*gasp*).

11/25/2006 4:49:18 PM

I WUZ NOT AWEAR OF THIS!!!!1

[Edited on November 25, 2006 at 5:45 PM. Reason : ]

11/25/2006 5:44:44 PM

They've got some Zune's at the bookstore. Don't think anyone has bought one. They'll probably be going right back to the distributer if they're still there at christmass break.

Other than the iPod, the fastest moving MP3 players there have been the iRiver CLIX, Kanguru Flash MP3 Players (dirt cheap), followed by PSP's and various Palm devices. Kind of surprised how little interest there has been in the Zune. They're definately not awful and plenty of people hate everything to do with Apple. Of course, a lot of those people hate everything to do with Microsoft.

11/26/2006 3:00:31 PM

i just bought a 4gb insignia, i liked the ui better than ipod

11/26/2006 5:31:22 PM

It still amazes me how everybody says the Zune isn't that big, however they compare a 30 Gb Zune to an 80 Gb iPod.

A photo of a 30 to 30 would should how frigging HUGE those beasts are.

11/26/2006 8:00:34 PM

there is a website selling them for 108 dollars

11/26/2006 8:56:38 PM

i got to play with one without that security cable and its a lot lighter than it looks :shrugs:

11/26/2006 9:47:21 PM

HAHAHA ALREADY ONE FOR SALE IN PHOTO GALLERY NEW PICS

11/30/2006 3:09:54 PM

its lighter because its entire casing is plastic.

11/30/2006 3:25:10 PM

:shrugs:

12/3/2006 11:53:20 PM

I just got the new Red 8gb Nano. I friggin love it.

12/4/2006 12:13:06 AM

that one ipod concept version (one big touch screen ) is pretty slick, if they made that and the controls were good i'd buy one

12/5/2006 10:59:45 AM

nano supports album art...

i don't use itunes, but alot of the linux apps put album art on the nano for me...

12/5/2006 11:53:19 AM

the zune isn't That big compared to even the 30gb ipod. once you consider tha the screen is 44% larger u prealize alot of the difference in size is screen there no way to have a bigger screen and a smaller device. it is a good bit thicker though but wifi and fm radio are stuffed in there too. i have no caomplainst sabou the size bc as i said before it actualy fits my larger hands better than the ipod.

12/5/2006 2:30:34 PM

Quote :

"as i said before it actually fits my larger hands better than the ipod."

lol just another opprotun moment for guys to mention how "BIG THEIR HANDS ARE"

12/5/2006 2:38:47 PM

^ and consequently

HOW BIG THEIR DICKS ARE?

12/5/2006 3:58:40 PM

Oh God who cares.

I just want an MP3 player thats not going to make my roommates LOL@me like my iriver does everytime its UI comes up.

12/5/2006 4:24:11 PM

L2Rockbox!

I agree though, iRiver has always had awesome hardware with mediocre firmware. I won't replace my H140 running rockbox until it dies though.

[Edited on December 6, 2006 at 3:53 PM. Reason : Spelling ftl.]

12/6/2006 3:51:46 PM

Quote :

"Oh God who cares. I just want an MP3 player thats not going to make my roommates LOL@me like my iriver does everytime its UI comes up."

we still love you. get an ipod.

you try to be creative and end up with well, a creative product or worse yet a zune.

you wont save any money by getting a zune. you will get worse software (how you can pull off a software release worse than itunes is mind boggling). you will gain wireless (because the zune is so popular). you wont gain any space. you get a bigger screen. have fun figuring out how to use any microsoft program to transfer a dvd to it.

they cant even release a decent application to encode an mpeg2 into their "bees knees" wmv hd codec.



[Edited on December 6, 2006 at 6:31 PM. Reason : im getting a mac]

12/6/2006 6:29:13 PM

Quote :

"Oh God who cares. I just want an MP3 player thats not going to make my roommates LOL@me like my iriver does everytime its UI comes up."

http://www.rockbox.org/

12/7/2006 1:17:39 AM

Have you used RockBox? Besides, its a total /fail for H10.

Anyway, I picked up Zune and I've got to say the thing is actually very sweet. Its bigger then the Ipod but I don't plan on walking around with an mp3 player and the Zune fits into any of my pockets perfectly well. The zune software is reportedly an abortion, but having used Napster, Rhapsody and Sony Connect (oh jesus), I'm not having too hard of a time with it.

I'll give an update in about a month when the newness has worn off.

12/10/2006 1:28:54 AM

^please do. I'm thinking about getting one myself.

12/10/2006 8:39:46 AM

Quote :

"what i want in my portable player - easy mini-USB connector without adapters and all that, for wall-charging and PC sync - driverless recognition on PCs, at least for basic file transfer functionality - no touch scroll bullshit like the zen m or ipods have. tactile buttons with good click feedback so it's easy for me to find something. i kind of like the zune's buttons. - very thin - at least 30gb - nice screen for videos - widescreen is a plus. i like the vision's screens. - able to play mpeg4 (divx, xvid), mpeg2, mpeg1 at least - able to play audio by folders - ID3 tag grouping is a plus i haven't found one that can do all that yet. i'm holding out til i do."

does the zune have driverless recognition on PCs?
and can it play audio by folders?

i may hold out for the 2nd edition of zunes if i can wait that long

----------------------------------------------------------------------

a nice review by a mac fanboy: http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,72281-0.html?tw=rss.index

12/12/2006 6:59:14 AM

yea everyone who bashes the zune is retardly biased towards apple . i understand there has to be a little bias and comparison it to the industry leader, but come on. i read 1 where the reveiwer serioulsy slammed the zune and then went on to talk about how other players out there are better in cluding the gigabeat which is the same damn thing as the zune w.o the 3" screen or wifi. so yea i think it's awesome i can't wait till some1 craks this baby so we can acces hot spots and do wireless syncs and ish like that.

12/12/2006 8:31:40 PM