Posts Tagged ‘Zune Hd’

Facebook App Released For Zune HD – Doesn't work

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

ZuneHD

So Microsoft has finally got around to releasing a Facebook app for the Zune HD, something I think all owners have been clamouring for since its release. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work, well at least not yet. At the moment all I can access through it are my notifications, the albums I’ve uploaded and my basic info. Microsoft are certainly aware of the problem as you can see from Zune’s twitter feed, so fingers crossed it shouldn’t be that long until it’s fully functional.

I’ll do a proper review once the app’s up and running in a way that’s actually works but initial impressions are good. The UI is nice and clean, as you come to expect when using the Zune, and as far as I can tell includes all the functionality you’d want from an app like this.

Now come on Microsoft, as far as I understand it the reason you’ve not opened up third party app support is so you can control the quality of the apps. I imagine someone’s getting a fair old face-slapping somewhere right about now!

P.S. To all you iPhone/iPod Touch owners, I know you’ve had a Facebook app since time began, forgive me for getting excited about something so mundane! :)

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Posted in Reviews, Software, Tech | 1 Comment »

Zune HD; No Need To Convert Your Videos Any More

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

ZuneHD

A couple of weeks ago the Zune software was updated to include support for a vast array of new video formats. I for one completely missed it, so I figured it was worthwhile pointing it out.

Don’t get too excited quite yet, it’s not the Zune HD’s hardware itself which is supporting the files – just the software. When you add your video library folders to the software, all the files show up, and if you then choose to sync one it converts it on the fly. There are also rumours of a purported update for the Zune HD itself, later this spring to natively support these files… we can only hope!

The conversion speed itself is about as fast as the methods I’ve used before the update and the quality is at least as good. Obviously this solution is much nicer than converting the files yourself, eliminating the need to have two versions of everything on your computer. That, and the fact that simply clicking ‘sync’ is a lot easier than messing around with format changers.

Personally I think this is a fantastic update, only made better if the Zune HD does indeed start supporting these files natively, eliminating time wasting conversion completely. It certainly adds a plus point for Microsoft’s player when trying to decide whether to get a Zune or an iPod.

What do you think? Impressed like I am, or do you think it’s not actually all that fantastic? Let us know in the comments below.

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Posted in Reviews, Software, Tech | No Comments »

Using A Zune HD In The UK

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Zune HD

People have many reasons why they don’t want an iPod, from not liking iTunes to wanting to be a bit different to the rest of the world. If you live in America, one of the great alternatives would be the Zune HD – but unfortunately for us UK based folk, Microsoft (in their infinite wisdom) have decided against bringing the Zune here, at least for the moment. About a month before Christmas I started hankering after one, so started researching its pros and cons, especially those related to use in an ‘unsupported’ country. Having subsequently bought one, I thought I’d share what I experienced.

Lets start with the good news… getting one is easy! I advise a UK based Ebay powerseller (I used a guy called thecheetahexpress). Make sure their reputation etc is good, I find powersellers to be very professional. You could also buy one off Zunethings.co.uk if you’d rather not use Ebay but it will almost certainly cost you a reasonable amount more.

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Posted in Reviews, Tech, Tutorials | 9 Comments »