Apple iPad Apps
New Zune HD is without a doubt the best mp3 player that Microsoft has ever developed. Full-touch screen Zune, Wi-Fi internet experience, and the Zune Marketplace has been positioned to directly compete with the iPod Touch. Although the Touch is the defending champion in the digital media player, Zune certainly caused a stir with a new design. So how does it stack up? Let’s look at some considerations.
The Zune HD interface is extremely attractive and intuitive. It is every bit as responsive as Apple‘s device. You can easily find your most played and favorite music with some well implemented bookmarks.
Screen:
The iPod has a slightly larger screen, 3.5 “, compared to the Zune screen at 3.3″. Both are very good at displaying images, and great image viewer in both. You can play one device to view your photos in portrait or landscape mode, and you can zoom in and out with a pinch of your fingers. One important difference is that the Zune HD display colors, black and richer than the iPod Touch.
Internet:
Zune HD using the mobile version of Internet Explorer browser, unlike the mobile Safari browser on the iPod Touch. Microsoft finally been able to create a mobile browser is every bit as exciting and passionate as Apple. One major difference is that Microsoft’s browser displays web pages in a mobile version by default, while Safari always give the real deal.
Apps:
Zune HD comes with Zune Marketplace, which is very similar in look and feel to the App Store iPod. However, the Zune falls far short in this category. Apple already has a 2 year head start on Microsoft, and it shows. App Store is filled with thousands of Apps, while the Zune Marketplace has only a small part of the selection.
Music:
Purchase music in Zune is every bit as easy on the iPod Touch. Once you’ve set up your payment information, as easy as pressing a button to download a song in seconds.
Radio:
This is where the Zune really shines. Although the iPod Nano now comes with an FM tuner, iPod Touch still lacks one. Not only the Zune HD comes with an FM tuner, but also the first phone media player to have HD radio. You can easily mark a song playing on the radio if you want to download at a later time.
