Print
Microsoft has managed to get a few apps ready for the Zune HD at launch. The only downside to this is that the apps show both static and video ads while starting up. Additionally, the start ups are agonizingly slow, resulting in lots of time spent staring at the Kia Soul. The chess game takes about 30 seconds to load. In all fairness though, the platform is brand new and there could still be kinks to work out.
There are currently only nine apps available for download: calculator, weather, Texas hold 'em, Sudoku, Space Battle 3, Shell Game... Of the Future, Hexic, Goo Splat, and Chess. While the ads may be annoying, all the apps are free.
Currently the utility apps, like weather and calculator, haven’t been showing ads. By all reports, the apps look nice, and you can’t argue with the price. Still, would you be willing to put up with these sorts of ads on the Zune HD?
Links:
[1] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/ryan_whitwam
[2] http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/09/zune-hd-apps-are-here-complete-with-pre-roll-ads.ars
[3] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/first_apps_now_available_zune_hd
[4] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/microsoft_conjuring_app_store_zune_hd
[5] http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/all_old_zune_models_being_phased_out
[6] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/advertising
[7] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/gaming
[8] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/mobile
[9] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/mobile_computing
[10] http://www.maximumpc.com/tags/zune_hd
[11] http://www.maximumpc.com/articles/news
[12] http://www.maximumpc.com/user/login?&commentfragment=comments_top_anchor