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Last night I upgraded Windows Media Center with the most current patches and installed the Zune Software. Like most of the software packages, it scanned all my drives and built a library of all my media supported by the Zune. The software the started a transfer of all this media to the Zune. I then used the 14 day pass to check out some new music. I ended up downloading quite a few albums to the Zune. If you are wondering? Weird Al?s newest, Buckcherry, Hinder, Korn, and some others you probaly haven?t heard of. 1700 songs with 17gb free now.

Day 2 starts with one of the most important tests of all, ?Does the battery work for me??.

I started the day at 7:30am and used a Belkin FM Modulator to pipe the Zune?s audio to my car stereo. I then got into work and messed around with all the media I transfered last night. (boy, I sure need to purge) I have been playing the Zune through some powered speakers in my office almost all day. It is now 3:00pm and it?s still playing. I was bored of the new albums, so I am now listening to the radio. The battery indicator shows about 25% life right now. (give or take 5% I guess)

If this charge, the 1st full charge i?ve given it, lasts until quitting time, we have a winner in my books. The Dell DJ Gen 1 did this test for 20+ hours, too bad it is no more.

This video was available on November 1st but for those of you that never saw it and are thinking of the Zune, I thought it would be nice to pass it along.

What makes this one different? I think editor James Kim has just a different excitement in his manner as he presents the Zune in this short 2 minutes 24 seconds video. The is a very brief ad in the beginning?C/NET has to pay their bills I guess.

Check it out ?. it?s pretty good! You can see James? video on Microsoft?s Zune zooms into CNET Networks here.

After a short time with the Zune, I wanted to post my initial impression before they get out of my head. (I have alot of things I am looking at this week)

UPDATE : I want to know who selected the videos and audio for the preloading of these. Never heard of any of them and not into much of it.

• Packaging - Superb, one of the coolest boxes around. Looking good so far huh?
• Included in the box
  • The Headphones are decent. They are as decent as those that came with the iPod and the Dell DJ.
  • Documentation is good.
  • CD - Haven?t installed application yet.
  • 14 Day trial - seems cool, but will check it out when I install software.
  • Little Carrying pouch - who cares? It?s ok though.
• The Zune
  • The looks. Well, this doesn?t impress me much. The pictures made it look better, but the translucent outer shell doesn?t make it ?sexy?. To me, and many others I am sure, it doesn?t matter as long as it works and the screen is nice.
  • Construction - Time will tell, but it feels somewhat cheap feeling.
  • Design - The look of the iPod Scroll Wheel is not needed. Since they are buttons anyhow, there was no need to make it look like a Scroll Wheel. The layout works. The buttons are all easily reached one-handing the Zune. The buttons on the left and right of the Scroll Wheel look-a-like have a raised circle around it to help find your place in the dark I guess. The Black version is the nicest looking so far. I do not like the white versions contrasting black buttons. The lines where the upper and lower housings come together on the sides has a seam you can feel. One thing I do like about the iPod is its solid feel.
  • The Screen - This is where my money is. The screen is fantastic. Bright, Large, and I just like it!!!
  • Performance - whatever they got in there is running this big screen quite nicely. As Gizmodo says, ?It scrolls like Butter?.
  • Sound - Perfect with the Xtrememac FS1 Ear Monitors, the Sony $89.00 headphones I have, and the Ultimate Ears I got at Mobius.

What is left?
What is left to say? Time will tell on its use. So far, I am ready to jump on board, but it still depends on some variables. I need to see how this works with the Zune Marketplace and other services, as well as how it does with my Original MP3 library (most of which came from actual CDs) Battery life needs tested. Does it slow down considerably when packed full of media?

Either way, I give the Zune an initial C+ on efforts of its own merit. I will bump that to B- since it?s not an iPod

I posted my initial impressions already, now for the video of the unboxing earlier today.

Ok, so your interested in the Zune ? like just about everyone else. So the question is, how good is it? The folks at Gear Live have a Bleeding Edge video interview with a Zune beta tester at the Podcast Media Expo.

This is about as complete a Zune video as you will find anywhere - nice shots of the interface and navigation scheme of the device are all included, along with a little magnetic headphone love.

On a related note, be sure to check out their Zune Hands-On gallery.

Special thanks to Jason Dunn over at Zune Thoughts for pointing me in this direction.

This is a long video that could have been done as an audio podcast, but video is easier for me

In this video, I answer some of the questions asked as well as talk about what I like and don?t like. Enjoy

looks like alot of music to be had here! Look at this Zune in this comparison shot, it?s bigger but look at that screen, its HUGE, I love it! I am going to wait to get real giddy until I get mine, but this comparison shot has me all excited again!

Source : Engadget