The hard disk drive-based orignial Zune player is bulky, quick to run out of battery power, and its Wi-Fi sharing turned out to be a bit useless. This adds an extra burden to the first flash-based Zunes: they not only have to compete against the iPod nano and other fierce competitors but also represent a genuine improvement to the Zune line as a whole. As it turns out, both the Zune 4 and Zune 8 come close enough to the iPod's design that Apple may feel pressure for the first time.
The Zune 4 and 8 has the same plastic front as the original, metal back philosophy of the original iPod nano and are only slightly thicker at almost exactly a third of an inch. The whole design feels sturdy without becoming heavy, and is easy to use. The tall but narrow design is genuinely comfortable and is easy to use without directly looking at it.
The Zune 4, 8, and 80 also boasts its Zune Pad. The surface essentially works as a hybrid directional pad and touchpad. Clicking an edge advances it one step at a time, making it perfect for small lists and menus; but in large lists, it responds to gliding or swiping motions that let you reach a particular point in a list far more quickly. In combination with the menus, it makes using the Zune 4/8 almost very easy to use: it can move as quickly or as slowly as you like.
Microsoft also boasts that FM radio as one of the Zune's advantages, but the usefulness of this addition is mixed: it can be convenient when an album finishes before you reach home, but like any portable radio, the reception is not very impressive on this smallest Zune. Microsoft has added Wi-Fi sync to the player, though it too has its limits: for the feature to work, users have to both plug the Zune into a power source (such as the official dock) and manually start the sync process.
There are clear areas where Microsoft could have improved the design: a better screen, better battery life, stronger wireless features, and a few minor interface changes would have helped the device fare better against the newest iPod generation. With these in mind, however, the new flash Zunes (and to some extent, the Zune 80) have made giant strides compared to the Zune 30 and are certainly more capable than many of the players that sit nearby on store shelves.
The Zune 4 and 8 has the same plastic front as the original, metal back philosophy of the original iPod nano and are only slightly thicker at almost exactly a third of an inch. The whole design feels sturdy without becoming heavy, and is easy to use. The tall but narrow design is genuinely comfortable and is easy to use without directly looking at it.
The Zune 4, 8, and 80 also boasts its Zune Pad. The surface essentially works as a hybrid directional pad and touchpad. Clicking an edge advances it one step at a time, making it perfect for small lists and menus; but in large lists, it responds to gliding or swiping motions that let you reach a particular point in a list far more quickly. In combination with the menus, it makes using the Zune 4/8 almost very easy to use: it can move as quickly or as slowly as you like.
Microsoft also boasts that FM radio as one of the Zune's advantages, but the usefulness of this addition is mixed: it can be convenient when an album finishes before you reach home, but like any portable radio, the reception is not very impressive on this smallest Zune. Microsoft has added Wi-Fi sync to the player, though it too has its limits: for the feature to work, users have to both plug the Zune into a power source (such as the official dock) and manually start the sync process.
There are clear areas where Microsoft could have improved the design: a better screen, better battery life, stronger wireless features, and a few minor interface changes would have helped the device fare better against the newest iPod generation. With these in mind, however, the new flash Zunes (and to some extent, the Zune 80) have made giant strides compared to the Zune 30 and are certainly more capable than many of the players that sit nearby on store shelves.
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