Zune and UMG

[Theory?]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061109/tc_nm/media_microsoft_universalmusic_dc

Basically, in a nutshell, Microsoft is essentially paying a sort of "agreed tax" to the Universal Media Group (one of the largest conglomerates of major labels, next to EMI, and BMG) for every Zune sold. I don't really know where they're going with this, but...yeah.

[KN]

Microsoft. Yo, dudes. Hey!

You don't have to fail right now. You can fail later. At any time. Take it easy. Sloooow down. You have PLENTY of time to fail!

[kurisu7885]

The ZUne already pissed me off sincen othing is compatible with it unless you buy it fro mthem, so I don't give a horse dookey about it.

[Theory?]

The Zuneis such a flagrant pile of garbage that it shocks me to think a company with so much money and so much market share riding on this product would make such an inferior piece of ****.

And that's from someone whos ready to throw his iPod out the window.

[kurisu7885]

The Zuneis such a flagrant pile of garbage that it shocks me to think a company with so much money and so much market share riding on this product would make such an inferior piece of ****.

And that's from someone whos ready to throw his iPod out the window.

I trust my RCA Lyra more than either of those. I woudl like oen of those ones with a hard drive, liek a Crative Zen, soemhting that can use my existing music collection.

[Theory?]

Here's my ideal MP3 player:

Format support for: FLAC, AAC, MP3(LAME and other), OGG, and WAV/AIFF both 16 and 24-bit.

A non-filetree based library structure

60+ gigs (ideally 80-100)

Support for Unicode, ID3v3 and lower, Cuesheets, .m3u playlists, and multiple on-the-go playlists.

Built-in mic and line-in port for real-time recording. Encodes recorded files as CD-Quality (44.1/16) WAV files.

A shuffle system that more closely mimics those seen on players like iRiver's players (or just iTunes in general. I want to be able to pick songs mid shuffle and have the global shuffle continue after...get it?)

Acceptable battery life (maybe 8-10 hours of continuous play?...maybe?)

Color screen? meh.

Video, pictures? meh.

Why is this player so hard to make? I've seen elements of it in other players. I need a Frankenplayer!

[kurisu7885]

Here's my ideal MP3 player:

Format support for: FLAC, AAC, MP3(LAME and other), OGG, and WAV/AIFF both 16 and 24-bit.

A non-filetree based library structure

60+ gigs (ideally 80-100)

Support for Unicode, ID3v3 and lower, Cuesheets, .m3u playlists, and multiple on-the-go playlists.

Built-in mic and line-in port for real-time recording. Encodes recorded files as CD-Quality (44.1/16) WAV files.

A shuffle system that more closely mimics those seen on players like iRiver's players (or just iTunes in general. I want to be able to pick songs mid shuffle and have the global shuffle continue after...get it?)

Acceptable battery life (maybe 8-10 hours of continuous play?...maybe?)

Color screen? meh.

Video, pictures? meh.

Why is this player so hard to make? I've seen elements of it in other players. I need a Frankenplayer!

If only we could make one and get it programmed halfway decently.

[Theory?]

Yeah, construction would be the easy part. What you need is a team of payed coders to make the system...and make it flawless.

I would say make it closed source, but release and SDK for people to develop modules for the system. Maybe someone can add video functionality, skinning, etc. That would be pretty neat IMHO.

It seems like such an obvious thing to muster. Companies need to pay more attention to Cnet and user response, because all I ever see is companies releasing the same bogus products that all fail for the exact same reasons.

I would gladly invest money in the development of this player if I could find a good coding team.

[kurisu7885]

Yeah, construction would be the easy part. What you need is a team of payed coders to make the system...and make it flawless.

I would say make it closed source, but release and SDK for people to develop modules for the system. Maybe someone can add video functionality, skinning, etc. That would be pretty neat IMHO.

It seems like such an obvious thing to muster. Companies need to pay more attention to Cnet and user response, because all I ever see is companies releasing the same bogus products that all fail for the exact same reasons.

I would gladly invest money in the development of this player if I could find a good coding team.

Same here, I wouldn't mind being in on the development, like regarding usability

[Theory?]

I think they key is to develop the product from the outside in. You need to develop the physical product people will be using FIRST so you can code for it's functionality. The design would need to be ergonimically sound and very accessible with as minimal a learning curve as possible.

Also, the package should include as few cables as possible. This is the one thing I LOVE about the iPod. The box had 4 things, iPod, headphones, computer cable, and adapter for the charger. Now, for some reason, the ones Apple packages come with a firewire cable for power and a USB cable for transfer, but my HP iPod only came with a USB cable and a USB power dongle (probably because it was for PC), but the point is, the less crap people have to open and the fewer cables people have to keep track of, the happier they are. I would even say, just make a cradle like most Palms, where two cables come out the back, one for power, one for computer. So it's just one neat thing that sits on your desk. Oh and the power adapter CANNOT be a wall wart. Put the converter in the middle of the line. Wall-warts are the bain of my existance.

[kurisu7885]

I think they key is to develop the product from the outside in. You need to develop the physical product people will be using FIRST so you can code for it's functionality. The design would need to be ergonimically sound and very accessible with as minimal a learning curve as possible.

Also, the package should include as few cables as possible. This is the one thing I LOVE about the iPod. The box had 4 things, iPod, headphones, computer cable, and adapter for the charger. Now, for some reason, the ones Apple packages come with a firewire cable for power and a USB cable for transfer, but my HP iPod only came with a USB cable and a USB power dongle (probably because it was for PC), but the point is, the less crap people have to open and the fewer cables people have to keep track of, the happier they are. I would even say, just make a cradle like most Palms, where two cables come out the back, one for power, one for computer. So it's just one neat thing that sits on your desk. Oh and the power adapter CANNOT be a wall wart. Put the converter in the middle of the line. Wall-warts are the bain of my existance.
Agreed on the power adapter, and about the only thing Idon't liek about the Ipod is that wehel, is that actually easy to use? As I just liek the normal buttons.

[Silver_Derstin]

The thing I hate about Ipods is that you don't use it, you ****ing WEAR it. It's not a mp3 player, it's a clothing accessory.

[kurisu7885]

The thing I hate about Ipods is that you don't use it, you ****ing WEAR it. It's not a mp3 player, it's a clothing accessory.

Like the PS3 controllers on a platinum chain

[Theory?]

The thing I hate about Ipods is that you don't use it, you ****ing WEAR it. It's not a mp3 player, it's a clothing accessory.

Actually the iPod itself isn't the clothing accessry it's those god-forsaken ear-buds. People run those things under their shirts to conceal the wire and let the buds dangle when not in use. It's people concealing their wires. You know who else conceals their wires? Robots.

Luckily for me my school gave me a set of Sony Circumnaural Professional Headphones. The cable is long as hell and dangles down to my ankle, but the headphones sound INFINITELY better than the ear-buds, and they aren't in the least bit fashionable.

But on a serious note, those earbuds will DESTROY your hearing. That's why professional cicumnaural headphones have all that padding to create dstance between the headphone's diaphragm (the moving coil that generates sound) and your ear, unlike earbuds which place the diaphragm inside the ear canal. That's INCREDIBLY bad for your hearing (and this goes for any earbuds, not just the iPod ones). If you care at all about your hearing, spend some cash and get a decent set of non-bud headphones. Even those trendy Sony ones that wrap around the back instead of the top are better than the buds.

BAN THE BUD!

[kurisu7885]

Actually the iPod itself isn't the clothing accessry it's those god-forsaken ear-buds. People run those things under their shirts to conceal the wire and let the buds dangle when not in use. It's people concealing their wires. You know who else conceals their wires? Robots.

Luckily for me my school gave me a set of Sony Circumnaural Professional Headphones. The cable is long as hell and dangles down to my ankle, but the headphones sound INFINITELY better than the ear-buds, and they aren't in the least bit fashionable.

But on a serious note, those earbuds will DESTROY your hearing. That's why professional cicumnaural headphones have all that padding to create dstance between the headphone's diaphragm (the moving coil that generates sound) and your ear, unlike earbuds which place the diaphragm inside the ear canal. That's INCREDIBLY bad for your hearing (and this goes for any earbuds, not just the iPod ones). If you care at all about your hearing, spend some cash and get a decent set of non-bud headphones. Even those trendy Sony ones that wrap around the back instead of the top are better than the buds.

BAN THE BUD!
I have the type that hang overt the ear with a clip nad have the foam padding, I love them and they never break.

[KN]

I hate how you have to remove the useless foam protector thing from the buds in order to see the incredibly tiny L or R that tells you what ear to put the damn thing in.

[Thefremen]

Actually the iPod itself isn't the clothing accessry it's those god-forsaken ear-buds. People run those things under their shirts to conceal the wire and let the buds dangle when not in use. It's people concealing their wires. You know who else conceals their wires? Robots.

Luckily for me my school gave me a set of Sony Circumnaural Professional Headphones. The cable is long as hell and dangles down to my ankle, but the headphones sound INFINITELY better than the ear-buds, and they aren't in the least bit fashionable.

But on a serious note, those earbuds will DESTROY your hearing. That's why professional cicumnaural headphones have all that padding to create dstance between the headphone's diaphragm (the moving coil that generates sound) and your ear, unlike earbuds which place the diaphragm inside the ear canal. That's INCREDIBLY bad for your hearing (and this goes for any earbuds, not just the iPod ones). If you care at all about your hearing, spend some cash and get a decent set of non-bud headphones. Even those trendy Sony ones that wrap around the back instead of the top are better than the buds.

BAN THE BUD!

If you ban the bud then what are we going to be left with? Sticks and stems.

I have some of those sony headphones, and they're ****ing good as hell. Also, very tough.

[BetaSword]

Here's my ideal MP3 player:

Format support for: FLAC, AAC, MP3(LAME and other), OGG, and WAV/AIFF both 16 and 24-bit.

A non-filetree based library structure

60+ gigs (ideally 80-100)

Support for Unicode, ID3v3 and lower, Cuesheets, .m3u playlists, and multiple on-the-go playlists.

Built-in mic and line-in port for real-time recording. Encodes recorded files as CD-Quality (44.1/16) WAV files.

A shuffle system that more closely mimics those seen on players like iRiver's players (or just iTunes in general. I want to be able to pick songs mid shuffle and have the global shuffle continue after...get it?)

Acceptable battery life (maybe 8-10 hours of continuous play?...maybe?)

Color screen? meh.

Video, pictures? meh.

Why is this player so hard to make? I've seen elements of it in other players. I need a Frankenplayer!

Look up an iRiver H340 (if I remember correctly) on eBay. Purchase it. Install Rockbox. There's your dream MP3 player right there.

Format support? Check.
Non-file tree? Check.
60 gb? Check.
Support for I believe all those playlist type things except cuesheets? Check.
If I remember correctly (and if it's like the H120), built in mic and line in? Check.
Shuffle system like an iRiver? I do believe that's a check.
Color screen? Yep.
Videos and pictures? Yep.

So yeah. Course, if you want a 40 gb drive and no color screen, you can also go with the H140. Both good players, both support Rockbox.

[Theory?]

Look up an iRiver H340 (if I remember correctly) on eBay. Purchase it. Install Rockbox. There's your dream MP3 player right there.

Format support? Check.
Non-file tree? Check.
60 gb? Check.
Support for I believe all those playlist type things except cuesheets? Check.
If I remember correctly (and if it's like the H120), built in mic and line in? Check.
Shuffle system like an iRiver? I do believe that's a check.
Color screen? Yep.
Videos and pictures? Yep.

So yeah. Course, if you want a 40 gb drive and no color screen, you can also go with the H140. Both good players, both support Rockbox.

NO! Don't EVER say that name again.

I had a 340, no I had several 340's...they all broke, so the last replacement I got, I left the box closed and sold it on eBay. I bought my iPod with the money I got from that auction. iRiver can suck my nuts.

Secondly, Rockbox is filetree based IIRC. I was very tempted to put it on my iPod, but I don't have a backup in case it doesn't work. I still have my iRiver iAudio X5, but its ony 30 gigs. I keep a lot of my live stuff on it and all my FLAC's, but thats more of a backup thing than anything else.

[ZippyDSMlee]

I already posted on this >>

http://www.gamepoliticsforums.com/showthread.php?t=564

its time the goverment made a simple coherent tax to protect the artists the consumers and the bastards against each other a 1% tax on net/Digital devices/new computers and blank CD/DVD media and shareing and downlaoding fully free and leagle however saleing of copies and such is a crime.