80GB Zune

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

I am a proud owner of one of these babies!!! Early Christmas gift. Anything I need to know before firing it up? Tips/tricks for best optimization? I need all the good info, STAT! :D

[blum3]

Let me know how that is. I'm kinda leaning towards getting one, because I don't like iTunes. Especially since I'm giving my mp3 player to my lil cousin since it's less advanced and easier for her to use.

[codedigital]

There's really no optimization.

Just make sure that you install the software on your main PC...and don't think about moving it around too much from PC to PC. The new Zune's are awesome though. Good buy.

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

OMG First Impression:

FM Tuner!!!
Wireless Sync!
Links to your 360 for audio enjoyment!
Links to your Windows Live Tag!
Can create custom Wall Papers!
I'm sure I'll think of more good things.


Not so good parts:

Only supports .jpg images :(
Videos are limited to .wmv .m4v, and .mp4 file types.
Does anyone know how to convert a .avi to a usable file?

[Azeron]

Does anyone know how to convert a .avi to a usable file?
SUPER (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html), will convert pretty much anything into anything, video and audio, it's great and free.

Wireless synch sounds awesome.

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

Oy! I went to the website for Super. I was all ready to go when I got to the system requirements section. Why on Earth does it require 20GB free space on the hard drive???!!!! My hd is only 30GB to begin with so there's no way for me to have 20GB free without dumping all of my pics/music/video files. I really hope that 20GB is a typo. Otherwise, I'll be highly disappointed. :mad:

[Boss]

Oy! I went to the website for Super. I was all ready to go when I got to the system requirements section. Why on Earth does it require 20GB free space on the hard drive???!!!! My hd is only 30GB to begin with so there's no way for me to have 20GB free without dumping all of my pics/music/video files. I really hope that 20GB is a typo. Otherwise, I'll be highly disappointed. :mad:

Sounds like a typo. I have a 30 gig Zune and it only takes up 31.5 MB on my Hard Drive.

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

Ok, good to know. I found another program to use for now. If it fails on me, I'll definitely be using Super.






PS- Does anyone know the resolution (in px) for the 80GB's Screen? I want to create custom backgrounds now. Might even start up a new gallery just for them! :eek:

[Clipse]

PS- Does anyone know the resolution (in px) for the 80GB's Screen? I want to create custom backgrounds now. Might even start up a new gallery just for them! :eek:

320x240 I believe

[Azeron]

Ok, good to know. I found another program to use for now. If it fails on me, I'll definitely be using Super.






PS- Does anyone know the resolution (in px) for the 80GB's Screen? I want to create custom backgrounds now. Might even start up a new gallery just for them! :eek:
320x240 I believe.

[codedigital]

320x240 I believe

320x240 I believe.

Wow...deja vu.

[Azeron]

Wow...deja vu.
Except I use proper punctuation. :p

Damnit Clipse, I was confirming wether the resolution was the same for the 80 GB model, otherwise I would have posted first. :rolleyes:

[Clipse]

Except I use proper punctuation. :p

Damnit Clipse, I was confirming wether the resolution was the same for the 80 GB model, otherwise I would have posted first. :rolleyes:

I confirmed it before I posted. ;)

As for that little period I missed well we can just stick that up your ... :eek:

[blum3]

What's better, Ipod or Zune? I need to prolly get one or the other.

[JJ UK]

@blum3
well from what I have read and seen the Zune has more features, i am still happy however with my 160gb iPod classic, I suppose im just used to it, with my mac I have a widget to automatically get me lyrics and artwork, also it can fit an extensive amount of videos on it, which, even with a small screen is great for when I am on the move, to be honest, if I didnt just get my new iMac i would probably have bought a Zune, its just the imac goes so well with an ipod :p but the choice is yours. id say go to a place that sells both and ask if you can get a comparison.

[blum3]

i got windows. that's why i'm leaning toward a zune. 249 for a 80 gb. not bad. how much did the 160 classic run you?

[JJ UK]

£230, which, at the current exchange rate is like $455 I think

both have their pros and cons I guess, but im just a sucker for the iPod

[blum3]

I don't really care for iTunes is my only thing. It's ok but yeah, I just don't like it I don't guess. Do you have to have a program like that for Zunes? Or can i just take my folder and dump it in the Zune?

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

If/when you get a Zune, you go to zune.net/setup. There you can download the zune software. It's somewhat like itunes. You tell it which folders to observe and it'll dump the related media into zune. Then you just havr to sync up. I like it a lot better than itunes.

[codedigital]

I don't really care for iTunes is my only thing. It's ok but yeah, I just don't like it I don't guess. Do you have to have a program like that for Zunes? Or can i just take my folder and dump it in the Zune?

The Zune software is 300 million times better than iTunes.

Zune will autoupdate the data on your music as well if it's wrong.

I just bought my lady the new Zune for Christmas...the interface seems to be a lot better than my version 1 Zune.

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

Ok, here's a techie question for you all:


I have some movies on my computer already. They are all in .avi format. Now, I downloaded Super (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html) so that I could convert the movies to .wma, a filesource recognized by zune. EVERY TIME I tried to convert any of these movies, they all ended in errors. I got the same result if I used the default Zune profile.

Any thoughts/advice?

I have all this storage space on the Zune. There MUST be an easy way for me to store movie on it. :confused:

[k_dog]

The Zune software is 300 million times better than iTunes.

Zune will autoupdate the data on your music as well if it's wrong.

I just bought my lady the new Zune for Christmas...the interface seems to be a lot better than my version 1 Zune.

FANBOI!!!

iTunes updates the Music Data as well...;)

[codedigital]

FANBOI!!!

iTunes updates the Music Data as well...;)

I was just going off of what JJ said...


iTunes may work better on its native platform...but it sucks on Windows.

[k_dog]

I was just going off of what JJ said...


iTunes may work better on its native platform...but it sucks on Windows.

With that in mind, remember that the same applies to the Zune and it's software.

[codedigital]

With that in mind, remember that the same applies to the Zune and it's software.

Agreed...but he's already stated he's running Windows.




As for your video conversion issue...what error message is the converter giving you?

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

As for the error-

It pops up a WHOLE list of possibilities. It doesn't tell me what the error really is, but says it could be one of about 50 different things. Anything from improper file types to begin with, to there being some sort of corruption somewhere in the codecs, or even improper codecs, to the computer interrupting the process (by sleeping or whatever), to user errors such as canceling the process, etc etc etc. OY! This is a pain. I just want to put movies onto my new Zune! :(

[codedigital]

As for the error-

It pops up a WHOLE list of possibilities. It doesn't tell me what the error really is, but says it could be one of about 50 different things. Anything from improper file types to begin with, to there being some sort of corruption somewhere in the codecs, or even improper codecs, to the computer interrupting the process (by sleeping or whatever), to user errors such as canceling the process, etc etc etc. OY! This is a pain. I just want to put movies onto my new Zune! :(

Did you pay for Super? Sounds like you may be able to hit them up for some support.

Is your laptop sleeping at all when you're doing this?

[EuPHoriC PoisoN]

Super is free. So if there's any support, I'm sure it'll be limited. I didn't put my computer to sleep. I left it open and running the whole time. The screensaver came on though.

[codedigital]

Super is free. So if there's any support, I'm sure it'll be limited. I didn't put my computer to sleep. I left it open and running the whole time. The screensaver came on though.

Try turning your screensaver off(see my note below). Also make sure in your power settings that it's not set to "power down hard drives" or anything like that after a period of time.



As for the screensaver...you don't need it. A screensaver is what we techies call a TSR(Terminate and Stay Resident). Which means it hangs in memory. LCD's do not suffer from burn-in. Really the only functionality of a screensaver is to prevent burn-in on old CRT monitors. Go into your display settings and turn it off! You'll gain some memory.

[code34]

I've been in this whirlwind of iPhone, iTouch, New Zune for about.. 3 days now.

I have an older zune and I decided that the damned iPhone wasn't worth the new phone contract. I also decided the iTouch didn't have enough storage for me. It's cool and all, but come on. 8GB? I want to connect it to my 360 and not worry about storage while I wirelessly sync it. I'm considering a new smaller one to take on the go.

Then again, google maps and different apps on the iPhone and the wifi on both the iphone and itouch are still a draw.

considering buying a new monitor (22" Samung) and a small zune and saything to hell with it.

[blum3]

ugh. i think im going to get a zune. i'm goin to research it today and we'll see how it goes.

[Azeron]

Ok, here's a techie question for you all:


I have some movies on my computer already. They are all in .avi format. Now, I downloaded Super (http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html) so that I could convert the movies to .wma, a filesource recognized by zune. EVERY TIME I tried to convert any of these movies, they all ended in errors. I got the same result if I used the default Zune profile.

Any thoughts/advice?

I have all this storage space on the Zune. There MUST be an easy way for me to store movie on it. :confused:
Um, well WMA is an audio only format (MS's alternative to mp3) so I suggest you try WMV instead. Try that with DirectShow Decode on and it should work, let me know.

[codedigital]

Um, well WMA is an audio only format (MS's alternative to mp3) so I suggest you try WMV instead. Try that with DirectShow Decode on and it should work, let me know.

I didn't even notice that....

Probably a typo though. I don't think it'd let you try to convert video to audio only.

[Azeron]

I didn't even notice that....

Probably a typo though. I don't think it'd let you try to convert video to audio only.
Yes it does, it pretty much lets you convert anything to anything. You can rip the audio tracks off of videos as well. :)