Zune HD to Get Updated Firmware with Xvid Support and Streaming Playlists
Zune HD to Get Updated Firmware with Xvid Support and Streaming Playlists
Posted 01/12/2010 at 5:03pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Microsoft seems to be pushing ahead with software updates to the Zune HD. In an upcoming spring firmware release, the player will get support for XviD encoded videos and streaming playlists. If you have a hard drive full of XviD files (that you may or may not have gotten via BitTorrent) this is certainly good news, as you won’t have to convert them whenever you want to view them on the Zune HD. Support for the similar, but proprietary, DivX codec is unlikely.
The streaming playlists will be an extension of the Smart DJ offering already in the Zune desktop software. This will allow the device to offer playlist suggestions much like the iTunes Genius feature. Smart DJ will pack a little extra surprise, though. When the player is in range of Wi-Fi, Smart DJ can stream songs right from the Zune Marketplace without the need for local storage. Does this make the Zune HD a more appealing device in your opinion?
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aftono
January 16, 2010 at 11:50pm
What about the other formats such as DivX, MOV,VOB,ASF...
Do i Still need a video converter?
mikeart03a
January 13, 2010 at 12:09pm
I've been looking at them myself and they seem to be pretty solid players. Too bad I got a new 16gb touch in the summer... Ah well, once this thing dies (like my old 8gb did anf I didn't have it for a year) I may get a zune for a change. I'm also getting tired of the iTunes nag and bloat fest.
- mike_art03a
System Specs - AMD Athlon 64 x2 5400+ 2.8ghz (OC 3.2ghz), 4gb DDR2-800 RAM, ASUS M3N78-VM Mainboard, 500gb Seagate, HD, Lite-On BD/HD-DVD ROM DVD+/-RW, nVidia GeForce 8500GT 256mb, VixSys HDTV tuner card, Creative SB Audigy
ThunderBolt
January 13, 2010 at 6:33am
Then I'll get the Zune. I thought about iTouch, but I would feel like a traitor because Apple sucks. FYI, my gf got me the ipod.
jfigura
January 13, 2010 at 6:04am
This is defenitely the one thing Microsoft has done well. The Zune players are fantastic. My wife and daughter were immediate converts as was I. The wife had a 3rd Gen U2 Edition ipod, me and the kid had Gen4's with video --- We had fun on Christmas day by smashing the damn things with a sledge hammer and then uninstalling itunes. This house is done with Apple and down with the Zune ;)
kevaskous
January 13, 2010 at 4:30am
because I canot delete posts and replying to a comment doesn't work if you're not logging in yet :D
deadsolid
January 12, 2010 at 8:37pm
Needs more network support too. I cant get onto my schools network because it "isn't a supported network type".
Apps, better browser, and more third party support. Accessories, accessories, accessories. The 600mhz Tegra can handle up to 12 megapixel sensor. Why isnt there a camera attachment? I also assume it wouldn't be to hard to create a portable speaker system that can fit in your pocket and not look like shit at all the same time.
This is simple stuff. Microsoft has the money. Why do they not use it? This device could easliy trump the iPod Touch. And if there is a company that could do it, it would be Microsoft.
Shadai
January 12, 2010 at 11:39pm
Apps, better browser and more third party support? Accessories? Camera?
Seriously?
You want all that? Go sell your soul to the House of Jobs and buy an iPod Touch. The reason the Zune HD is so good is because it cuts through all the BS and does the one thing a PMP is supposed to do well. You know, play music. I understand that the cult of Jobs forgets thats even the issue since they are too busy in Starbucks getting high off the smell of their own excriment so they come up with something, anything in the way of how superior they are over you.
I used to own an iPod, and I liked it. Not even afraid to admit it. But I bought the Zune HD because it was a better PMP and it got rid of iTunes and its thousand of reminders to install its stupid updates every week cause the Palm Pre figured out another way to sync to it. Oh yeah, and didn't have to install Quicktime and not have to be reminded to be sure and install Safari! The Zune HD, the software and the Zune Pass are fantastic and I haven't been this pleased with a purchase in... well, ever. I actually did a double take when I started playing with the Zune HD to actually confirm it WAS created by Microsoft. Something that actually works well done by Microsoft? No way.
I use my PMP for, you know, playing music. I don't need it to tell me where my local barbershop is, make phone calls via skype, browse the web, or play video games. Why? Because I have cell phone, without AT&T's crappy service. And if I wanted to play video games outside of my desktop computer, that's why I have a DS and a PSP when I choose to bring/play it. Those games are better then any iPod Touch game I've ever seen.
As far as accessories go, I got what I needed. Charger? Check. Headphones? Check. Case to carry it? Check. Way to hook it into my car stereo? Check. Yep, we're done here.
Microsoft has created something great because they didn't try to get too fancy. They made a PMP player. And they made it good. It was simple, and that is why its is great. KISS.
gendoikari1
January 13, 2010 at 4:45pm
I agree with all of that, 'cept for the camera bit.
Lost hopes:
Warcraft IV
Timesplitters 4
Star Wars: Battlefront III
Mercenaries 3 (but with LucasArts)
kevaskous
January 13, 2010 at 4:30am
I had to login to say I <3 you. Someone else who has a clue :D But you did forget to mention that even the things Ipod "adds" alot of it also half assed :D I've owned three, never paid a cent for any, and I still got rid of them, for free, felt bad selling that crap to anyone. I'll keep mp3 CD's until my poor ass can afford such a beast again.
gendoikari1
January 12, 2010 at 6:12pm
I want FLAC. And more apps, too.
Lost hopes:
Warcraft IV
Timesplitters 4
Star Wars: Battlefront III
Mercenaries 3 (but with LucasArts)
Andrew03
January 12, 2010 at 5:44pm
How about flash support? Or Microsoft Silverlight? Netflix streaming would be amazing.
Shadai
January 12, 2010 at 11:41pm
I would love my Zune player even more if it somehow included Siverlight so I could stream off the zune.net website with my Zune pass. But if the smart DJ really does pull from the store when in wi-fi, I'll take that too.
vistageek
January 12, 2010 at 7:30pm
If they added those things, I would buy a zune hd for 50% more than it currently costs.
bbecker42
January 12, 2010 at 5:38pm
All this thing needs for me is a Pandora app and a better browser.
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