1 million DRM-free songs? I wonder how that fits in with the '3 days or 3 plays' model. Is Microsoft still doing that or did they loosen up?

Zune for sure ... the iPod touch, if its anything like the iPhone's I have used, are annoying to operate. Add to the fact that Microsoft has far more features and its really a no brainer. Apple is selling a trend while Microsoft is selling great features.

The best thing about the new Zunes is the early Zunes will get all of the software features (including wi-fi features) in an update. That's really the best news out of this update. I don't need 80 GB and I need more than 8GB, so... I'm happy.

Ha, Zune? Forgetaboutit. Wireless syncing? Did you notice that it needs to be PLUGGED in to do that?

Look, this is really what they should have launched LAST YEAR. As it is now, it doesn't have any features that are compelling. WiFi, but no internet connecting? On an iPod touch you can at least browse the internet. On the Zune......you get what? Can you check your gmail? No. Can you connect to a hotspot and read your favorite pages while listening to music? No.

So, it's Apple. I wish Apple had released a hard drive based iPod Touch. 80 gigs using it's touch interface would have been really neat to have.

you tend to see more and more that people expect to have more things into one device. Ultimately it is used for music so I don't think Microsoft intended to making it a browser type device. You can use Windows Mobile for that. Either way I've been an ipod fan for awhile now but these Zunes do look pretty. I have yet to play with one though. I know my fiancee would totally go for that pink one.

The zune. I've been less-than-amazed by the iPods that I have used, even as long ago as 4th gen. Wireless syncing really couldn't matter less to me, but I like the overall appearance of the flash based Zune (especially that red one) and the screen of the zunes more. Also, spurred by the extremely heavy competition of ipod, I think Microsoft may have made a better product this time, and is even supporting early adopters. And finally, that new ipod nano is fat.

Actually no, it doesn't. It only has to be plugged in to sync automatically. You can still initiate a wireless sync manually without having the AC adapter connected.

to Eric:

The Zune does not have to be plugged in to do wireless sync. It only has to be plugged in to do "AUTOMATIC" wireless sync. When you are not plugged in, you just have to manually choose to sync. This is perfectly normal, basically, it means that when it is in it's cradle, it will automatically keep you sync'd, when you are walking around, it will only sync when you ask it to. This is a battery saving feature, not a limitation.

Check the zune details at:
http://www.zune.net/en-us/meetzune/holiday2007.htm
(its in the [1] note at the bottom of the page)

-David

I wish Apple had released a hard drive based iPod Touch.

Amen!

For now, I'm still using a 60 GB iPod 5G, and I intend to keep doing it until something like that comes out (from any manufacturer).

Btw: is the new Zune as thick as the old Zune? That was a deal killer for me.

Another series of mp3 that might be worth checking out are the YP-P2 and YP-T10 from Samsung that are suppose to be comming out soon. YP-P2 is especially attractive with its touch screen operation and bluetooth connectivity. Both allows you to view photos and video, and of course listen to your music. They also feature FM tuner, voice recorder and support many media formats.

So Apple fanboy or what? Get your facts straight before you post useless information. It does not have to be plugged in to wirelessly sync although if it is plugged in it will automatically wireless sync after not being used for a short while otherwise you can have it sync wireless on its own without having it plugged in. You know what I wish? That Apple would release something worth owning.

I like Zune because it's like an Ipod.

The Zune does NOT need to be plugged in to Wireless Sync. If you are not plugged in it simply requires you innitiate the wireless sync so that way you don't inadvertently find your Zune dead from battery discharge.

If the Zune is plugged in to a power source...it will Sync automatically without any user interaction.

I really could care less about browsing the internet on my music player. That's what my laptop is for. Wireless syncing is a much more practical use for Wifi that will benefit all users of a music device rather than viewing websites on a 3.2" screen.

And good luck using the Ipod with one hand. The Zune interface is much more simple to use and Apple has nothing on the upcoming Zune software with built in social features. The Zune also has $14.99 all you can eat subscription service which is great for music lovers.

@Eric:

First of all, it doesnt need to be plugged in to sync, it automatically syncs when plugged in, or can be manually initiated when not plugged in. Either way, your wrong.

This is a music player (and video). It isnt a PDA (the touch isnt even good at pretending to be one of those). It isnt a cell phone (i.e. the iphone). It also has 64 more gigs than that device that can do all the crap you listed.

Sure the Touch can go to websites, but how many movies can it store? How many songs? How about the audio quality, which has gotten nothing but poor reviews; and this is suposed to be a music player?

BTW: ive used the touch. Its horrid. The browser reminds me of the browser on the PSP (minus the out of memory errors). Its slow to load, a pain in the ass to scroll through pages, isnt fluid at all. Coverflow is a showoff app. Those transitions will mean nothing once youve seen them 1000 times.

That device exists to show off to all the dumb ass people out there that are impressed with bright colors and unnecessary animations. They dont help you get anything done.

The problem with you people is that you are "wowed" by the garbage contained in that Touch, all the while being willing to sacrafice "essential" features such as decent audio quality for the show off factor.

Go ahead. Get your sh*t sounding iPod touch. Ill buy something that does what its suposed to do, and something that will do it right.

funny that microsoft is now selling features and apple the trend, completely reverse when it comes to the OS. What I liked about the previous zune was the ability to send music files amongst other zunes. Albeit, Microsoft put a 3 day time limit, it was pretty easily cracked. if the same can be done with this Zune, I'd easily prefer it over an ipod touch. Your fooling yourself if you buy a non-expandable 16 Gb mp3 player for more than the price of a new 80 Gb zune.

Nice that the media induced ipod craze is being challenged by something worthy. The iphone is crap.