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150°

Zune HD apps are here... complete with pre-roll ads

Apps function just as you'd expect-they're small programs that look great and really take advantage of the nice screen. They are all professionally designed by Microsoft, though a couple are really worthless (ahem, Shell Game... Of the Future), but hey, they're free!

Or, rather, they're "free," since Microsoft has apparently decided to sell ads against them. The ads show up during app launch, which takes an astonishingly long time. Booting Chess took 30 seconds, though I suppose one could be grateful for the Kia Soul video that gives the eyes something to do.

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arstechnica.com

rrodhaha - contributor
Published: 92 days ago | News | Xbox 360 | Mobile

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Grand Master Yoda - 92 days ago

1 -

So cheap, Microsoft is.

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K1W1 - 92 days ago

1.1 -

cheap?

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JaggedSac - 91 days 23 hours ago

1.2 -

That is how it is on the current Zune. Nothing new here, move along.

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PROFIT - 91 days 22 hours ago

1.3 -

ill just watch and see what happens.

though i kinda have a feeling of whats ahead for the zhd

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I_am_rushin - 91 days 22 hours ago

1.4 -

I got my ZHD yesterday and haven't had a single video ad yet. Maybe it's because I keep wifi off?

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blindfromthesun - 91 days 22 hours ago

1.5 -

Wait...so people are complaining about free apps because of a 6 second Hyundai advertisement?

I have 9 apps for free. Thanks Microsoft :-)

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LONEWOLF231 - 91 days 21 hours ago

1.6 -

Yeah man i got mine yesterday as well. This is only the beginning for ZHD and as stated before the future looks bright. Ohh and yeah the screen looks WAY better than the Itouch.

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PROFIT - 91 days 21 hours ago

1.7 -

yes the oled screens totally take a dump on the iphone as far as rich detail and colours.

how do you guys like the interface so far?

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sltPoison - 91 days 20 hours ago

1.8 - I love my Zune HD

I purchased the 32 GB Platinum and it is great. The interface is great looking and smooth thanks to the NVIDIA Graphics. This is coming from a previous iPod touch user BTW.

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PROFIT - 91 days 20 hours ago

1.9 -

lol, the ipod touch is garbage so i gave it to my girl. too restrictive in my opinion, but some people love it.bleeeehhhhhhhhh

hmmm, i expected the nvidia chip to help alot with the processing.

it will be interesting to see the games coming out for the zhd.

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2 JokesOnYou | 91 days 23 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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mintaro - 91 days 22 hours ago

2.1 -

Would you recommend it? Im thinking about a Zune HD and an iphone right now and im not sure which one to get.

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xTruthx - 91 days 22 hours ago

2.2 -

Same here, I havent bought a zhd becuase I heard they where releasing the next gen ipod touch

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blindfromthesun - 91 days 22 hours ago

2.3 -

@mintaro

Perhaps I'm biased as the Zune HD is my first PMP, but its simply a sight to behold (and control). The screen alone is worth it. The UI is gorgeous and intuitive. Its very unique and very different from the iPod Touch. I would play around with a Zune HD (Best Buy?) before making a purchase and/or read a review or two. Here's a link to one:

http://gizmodo.com/5360126/...

I haven't been able to put mine down.

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Captain Tuttle - 91 days 22 hours ago

2.4 - JokesOnYou...

How's the browser? Have you watched a video yet?

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IdleLeeSiuLung - 91 days 22 hours ago

2.5 - I was never a fan of the previous Zunes as they were ugly, but this is just pure beauty!

I want one, but man it is too expensive for PMP. Why aren't these things cheaper in general?

I blame Apple for dominating the market and MS for not being a better competitor. Maybe this will change.

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2.6 JokesOnYou | 91 days 22 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show

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Captain Tuttle - 91 days 22 hours ago

2.7 - Thanks man, I'm jealous...

Just not in the budget yet.

Damn, 2 bubbles? What happened?

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FragMnTagM - 91 days 18 hours ago

2.8 - I have one as well

and it is very well put together PMP. The internet on it works good, the HD Radio is nice, OLED screen is bright and crisp, and the battery is still going strong from a 2 hour charge yesterday. I have been playing with it non-stop.

The new DJ mode on the Zune software 4.0 is really nice touch. I can't wait to see what it has in store for the XBOX 360 integration coming soon.

I'll give you a bubble JOY as you are one of the most level-headed people on this site.

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DARK WITNESS - 91 days 5 hours ago

2.9 -

bubble to you JO. your a legend in my book

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kewlkat007 - 91 days 22 hours ago

3 - I remember when I boguth the 1st-gen Zune when it came out and returned it the next day...

Well aesthetically speaking, I did not like it and thought I would wait...man I've been patient..

I've gone through 4 ipods and started with Creative as my first player...

I'm gonna give this one a try..

@above "Zune HD or an iphone" dude, the Zune HD is not a phone, so if you need a phone + extra, go with the Iphone.

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FragMnTagM - 91 days 18 hours ago

3.1 - Get a nice phone that doesn't require 100 dollars a month

and a Zune HD.

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QuantumWake - 91 days 21 hours ago

4 -

The Zune HD looks really good. It has a nice slick design to it. I for one am stuck with the Zune 80. I don't plan on getting the Zune HD since I really don't have the money right now. But I guess if you are barely getting into the Zune trend, the Zune HD is the way to go. Once again, it looks really sexy! ;)

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Ldubbz - 91 days 21 hours ago

5 - Hmmm...

On one hand, I really like the Zune HD's OLED screen, and browsing, form factor, HD Radio, etc.

On the other, no Mac support is killing me. also, why the hell call it the Zune HD, but dont even include the HD cables for playback?! And what about Xbox support? I figured this thing will network with your 360, but I havent heard any specifics yet.

Does it see your 360 on Wi-Fi if both are on the same network? While I can assume it will interface with your Xbox 360 using USB, can it also allow the Xbox to playback those HD files as well, negating the need for the expensive HD cable?

JOY I know you have one, or if anyone else knows any of these answers it will be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: and if they're only selling 16 or 32GB models, why no removable media, SD or mini-SD? Bastards!

I thought they would be trying to cross-market this with the 360...but after looking at the Zune site, there's not even one mention of the 360 in there. What gives? Seems pretty silly to me to not tie the two together.

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FragMnTagM - 91 days 18 hours ago

5.1 - In the packaging, it does mention the 360

Quote from the packaging, "expand your entertainment with Xbox 360 Buy movies &TV shows and playback on your TV, PC, or Zune player. Get smooth HD video streaming from Zune on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Play music from your Zune player on Xbox 360 while you game."

Yes the HD podcasts I downloaded for free are playing on my 360 (through USB) on my Samsung LCD TV and it looks nice.

It also lets you browse the Marketplace from the Zune and preview new music before you buy it. I haven't tried the Zune Pass, but it is tempting as I like listening to music a lot.

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Ldubbz - 91 days 1 hour ago

5.2 - Nice

Thanks for the info mang! Enjoy that sucker

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agent_plang - 91 days 19 hours ago

6 -

Whaaaaaaaaa? 30 seconds to launch an app so they can have you sit through ads?

Extreme failboat.

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FragMnTagM - 91 days 18 hours ago

6.1 - Not so.

It takes roughly 15 seconds of a Kia Seoul video while it is loading the game. It is not a big deal unless you have ADD or ADHD.

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agent_plang - 91 days 15 hours ago

6.2 -

What the hell? You have to have ADD to want a device to load something as quick as it possibly can?

My god...you know, you can still like the device AND acknowledge the crappy sides too. Would that blow your mind or what?

I love my iphone but the thing sure does have some sh!t wrong with it. The Syncing for media loading is stupid, the actual PHONE component can be buggy, etc...

Seriously dude. 15 seconds of load, or 30 seconds, or whatever...a DRAWN OUT load time,
is -->C R A P<--.
Admit it.

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darrensworld - 91 days 18 hours ago

7 -

This is only my opinion, but I really think MS should have come up with an altogether new name for this device instead of slapping HD on at the end. Zune isn't a catchy or attractive name, doesn't MS use focus groups to find out this kind of stuff?

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kraze07 - 91 days 13 hours ago

7.1 -

Does slapping Touch at the end of Ipod make it that much more attractive?

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kr9091 - 91 days 5 hours ago

7.2 -

@kraze
actually....it does =]

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