First off, I have been a Zune owner since December 2006. That means I owned the first generation device. I also enjoyed the first generation software.

Now on to our Zune HD summary…

Don’t forget the primary principle of the Zune: sharing.
Source ->

It is quite unfortunate that I must preface this sum-up on a bad note. Zune to Zune sharing is dead (along with multiplayer games). This is quite disconcerting because I felt Zune was synonymous with sharing; music, podcasts, pictures. This was even the premise for this website: Zune Jamaica. Now that direct Zune to Zune sharing is disabled with the Zune HD, its advantages over Apple’s iPod is obviously diminished (especially since the iPod Touch is now able to support multi-player games).

The good; the bad and the ugly:

Good / pros:
1. Sexy (small, very nice user-interface)
2. Apps/Games
3. HD Radio (won’t work in Jamaica though)
4. HD Video out (not personally tested)
5. Better Marketplace integration
6. Can delete content directly from HD
7. Can save now-playing playlist
8. Equalizer is back
9. Pins/History & New list on home screen
10. Good battery life (not verified)
11. Best screen in the business.

Bad / cons:
1. Zune to Zune sharing gone (no mulitplayer)
2. Little games/apps
3. Apps come with advertisements
4. No app store
5. Can’t change background (only lock screen image)
6. Browser is crappy
(no flash, copy & paste, no saving of images, no pdf/word etc viewing, no tabs)
7. Direct sunlight renders HD difficult to read.
8. Keyboard is crappy
(unlike iPhone/iPod Touch, can’t hold and move up a row & no auto-correction.)
9. Screen Lock is useless.
(after 5 inaccurate attempts; Zune is wiped)
10. Still no lyrics support.

-note- Podcasts, and Audiobooks were not tested.

Zune HD Look Feel is it’s main advantage
Pictures are louder than words:

Zune HD in Hand

Zune compared to the Zune 80

Zune v iPhone

Final Word

While I am impressed with the overall look of the device, appreciative of the desktop software’s improvements, I fear Zune as a real alternative to Apple’s line does not look good: The larger capacity device is gone, Zune to Zune sharing gone the smaller capacity devices are gone; the direct competitor the iPod Touch is a much more mature device with over 65,000 applications, and a bountiful batch of accessories.

If you are an avid music listener, cannot live without the Zune Pass, and can stomach using a touch screen device, then the Zune HD is for you. It is unfortunate that the tactile Zune Devices will be discontinued (no more updates to the device firmware); forcing you to buy a Zune HD to enjoy Zune’s services.

I personally will not buy the HD because it has no physical real buttons (Zune Pad). My relationship with the Zune is slowly coming to an end.

Bonus Video!

Read the review ->

It’s thin, light, and gorgeous, with super-slick menus and eye-popping video capabilities to boot. Take a gander at our exclusive interface snapshots and hands-on impressions. Also: FCC filings reveal 16GB and 32GB versions of the Zune HD.

Read More ->