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Zune vs iPod ComparisonZune is an iPod killer? How does
Microsoft Zune player stack up against Apple's latest video iPods?
According to iPod's and Zune's
Specification, let's compare them side by side.
Zune vs iPod (80GB) photo comparison
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| Result: Screen size on the
Zune is a slightly larger 3-inches than iPod's 2.5-inches, and iPod
is slightly thinner, shorter than Zune, while both have the same
width. |
Zune vs iPod specifications comparison
| Features/Specifications |
Zune |
iPod |
More details |
| Vendor |
Microsoft |
Apple |
|
| Manufacturer |
Japanese - Toshiba |
Chinese - Inventec |
|
| Price |
$249.99 (30GB) |
$249 (30GB)
$349 (80GB) |
|
| Colors |
White, black, brown |
white, black |
|
| Display |
3" LCD, 320x240 |
2.5" LCD, 320x240 |
iPod features a 2.5 inch diagonal screen, while the Zune has a
slightly larger 3.0 inch diagonal screen. |
| Height/Width |
4.4 x 2.4 inches |
4.1 x 2.4 inches |
|
| Weight |
5.6 ounces |
4.8 ounces (30GB)
5.5 ounces (80GB) |
|
| Depth |
0.58 inches |
0.43 inch (30GB)
0.55 inch (80GB) |
|
| PC / Mac |
PC only |
Mac and PC |
Zune only supports Windows. iPod, on the other hand, supports
both Windows and Macs. |
| FM raido tuner |
Yes |
No |
FM Radio Capability - Zune comes with a built-in FM tuner. If
you want to listen to radio on your iPod, you have to buy an
accessory. |
| Audio and Video playback |
Yes |
Yes |
|
| Audio formats |
WMA, MP3, AAC |
AAC, MP3, Audible, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV |
|
| Video formats |
H.264, MPEG-4, WMV |
H.264, M4v, MP4, MOV, MPEG-4 |
|
| Image formats |
JPEG |
JPEG, BMP |
|
| Podcast Playback |
YES |
YES |
|
| Tactile Control |
YES |
No |
|
| Scroll Wheel |
No |
YES |
The iPod clickwheel is simple to use, and an intuitive
interface. The Zune circular buttons, are merely a directional pad.
While video of the Zune UI looks stylish and eye catching, without a
“clickwheel?styled nav control, it won’t be as smooth as the
iPod. |
| Battery life |
Unknown |
14 hours (3-1/2 for video) (30GB)
20 hours (5-1/2 for video)
(80GB) |
|
| Battery |
Li-Ion rechargeable
built-in |
Li-Ion rechargeable,
built-in |
The iPod sports a 14/4 hour battery life, while Microsoft’s Zune
comes in just slightly under with 12 hours of power. |
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0, Wireless |
USB 2.0 |
|
| Wireless community features |
"DJ" - streaming audio to up to 4 other nearby players. Sharing
of promotional copies of songs to other nearby players |
No |
WiFi Connectivity - The current iPod features no Wifi
connectivity whatsoever, Zune, however, is 802.11g Wifi
enabled. |
| Wireless |
802.11b/g |
No |
|
| File Sharing |
YES |
No |
|
| Landscape Video |
YES |
No |
|
| Portrait Video |
YES |
YES |
|
| Preloaded Audio |
YES |
No |
|
| Preloaded Video |
YES |
No |
|
| Custom Background |
YES |
No |
|
| Online Service |
Zune Marketplace |
iTunes |
With iTunes, if you want to buy music, it will cost you .99
cents per song, or you can purchase by the album. With Zune, you’ll
be able to choose from buying songs individually, or purchasing an
“all-you-can-eat?subscription, allowing you to listen to as much
music as you want. |
| XBOX Marketplace Integration |
YES |
No |
|
| 3rd Party Accessories |
YES |
YES |
|
| Special Edition |
No |
U2 |
|
Result: If the social aspects of Zune are
appealing to you, and you’re a Windows user, then Zune is probably your
best choice. If you’re not interested in the Wifi features, you will
definetly want to look at the iPod, but in several important areas (screen
size, download choice, price? Zune is a clear winner. |
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Zune vs iPod comparison - Microsoft Zune is iPod killer? Let's
compare Zune and iPod from photos, technical specifications and key
features, including price, video, audio playback, wireless, wifi, fm
radio, etc. 
