Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation)

Apr 29

Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player Black (2nd Generation)

Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B000WFZSBE
Manufacturer: Zune
Release Date: 2007-11-13
Average Customer Review: (From 133 total reviews)
List Price: ~~$199.00~~
Amazon Price: $128.99 (49 new 7 used available)
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours (Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping)

Price is accurate as of the date/time indicated. Prices and product availability are subject to change. Any price displayed on the Amazon web site at the time of purchase will govern the sale of this product.

Features

8 GB digital media player stores up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures or 25 hours of video
Features wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing so you can swap tracks and other media
Big, bright, 1.8-inch color screen
Compatible with Zune Marketplace for media downloads and subscription services
Automatically imports your existing music, pictures, and videos form iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats

Accessories

Editorial Reviews

Product Description:
Super slim and ultra-portable, the Zune 8GB Video Player makes it easy to take your music, videos, pictures and podcasts wherever you go. Listen to your favorite radio station with the built-in FM tuner or wirelessly share tracks with your friends to discover new music on-the-go. Browse the Zune Marketplace to choose from millions of songs, albums, DRM-free MP3s (without digital rights management), music videos, podcasts and more. Refresh your Zune with new content anywhere you charge your device. Connect to your PC through your home wireless network by setting your Zune to automatically sync the latest podcasts, music and more from your stereo dock, AC Adapter or speaker dock accessory. Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures and even audio podcasts. Listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times and even pass along songs you receive to other friends who have a Zune. If you like a song you receive, you can easily add it to your wish list and then buy it from your PC the next time you sync. With the built-in FM tuner you can listen to your favorite local FM radio stations while seeing the name of the song and artist currently playing on select frequencies Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 and customize the soundtrack in your favorite games

Amazon.com Product Description:

Music and entertainment, your way. That’s what the Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player is designed to deliver. The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and unlike the iPod, it even has a built-in FM tuner so you can keep up with local news and sports. Your Zune gives you the power to wirelessly share full-length tracks, playlists, pictures and podcasts with your other Zune-wielding friends, and it is available in four bold colors. And when you receive songs that you just can’t get out of your head, you can easily tag the songs and buy them the next time you sync up. Whether you’re listening to music, radio, or rocking out to the latest music videos on the bright, roomy screen, the Zune allows you to tailor your entertainment, right in the palm of your hand.

The Zune easily connects you with your music, videos, and pictures wherever and whenever you want, and it is available in four bold colors.

Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts with other Zune users.

Shown with Zune dock and remote, sold separately.

Store up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video.

Get all your favorite music at the Zune Marketplace.

Simple, Innovative Controls
The Zune is a breeze to use with new, intuitive touch controls. Don’t subject yourself to cumbersome, slow scrolling. The innovative new Zune pad makes browsing your music, video and picture collections fun and effortless. You’ll fly through your favorites and get to just what you’re looking for in no time flat. This powerhouse device stores up to 2,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 25 hours of video. (Please note that music estimates are based on 128 kbps WMA files, with length of 4 minutes each; pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; and video estimates are based on 500 kbps WMV files with 128 kbps WMA audio tracks.)

That’s a lot of entertainment, and you’ll appreciate it even more with the Zune’s awesome screen. The super-slim, ultra-portable Zune sports a durable, 1.8-inch color screen that provides uncompromising portable video viewing. This Zune also comes equipped with headphones and three pairs of foam headphones covers. Your favorite music, videos, and pictures have never looked and sounded better.

The Zune Community and Marketplace
We’re all exhausted by the cables and wires that tangle up our lives. Luckily, the Zune is one device that doesn’t require another cord. You can easily connect to your home wireless network and sync your Zune with your PC collection of digital goodies. You can also sync using the dock, AC adapter, or speaker dock accessory (not included). This attractive, powerful device does much more than connect you to just your collection. The Zune is all about sharing and community. At the Zune Online Community you’ll discover, share, and leave your musical mark. Create a Zune card and Zune profile page to reflect your musical identity. From the Zune Online Community you can invite friends, share song recommendations, post comments, and browse member pages to unearth new tunes and connect to others who share your musical tastes.

When you’re ready to purchase music and load your device with new tunes, turn to the Zune Marketplace. With over three million songs, DRM-free MP3s, music vidoes, audio/video podcasts, and more content added every day, you’ll certainly get your fill. The store is always open and just a mouse click away. You can also choose between the download or subscription packages–buy individual songs and albums, or snag a Zune Pass subscription with all you can eat access to discover and explore the nooks and cranies of artists and genres.

Zune-to-Zune Sharing
Once your Zune is loaded with good stuff, you’ll be ready to embrace wireless Zune-to-Zune sharing. Share full-length tracks of your favorite songs, albums, playlists, pictures, and even audio podcasts. You can listen to the full track of any song you receive up to three times. And you can even pass along songs that are shared with you to other friends. If you find a song you really love, you can easily add it to your wishlist and buy it later when you sync to your PC. When it comes to syncing and importing your music, the Zune makes it easy. Zune software can automatically import your existing music, pictures and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in a variety of formats, including your existing playlists and song ratings.

FM Radio, TV Shows, and More
The Zune will also automatically import TV shows or movies recorded using a PC running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista. Record all your favorites, sync to your Zune, and hit the road with your favorite TV shows right in your pocket. The Zune also features a built-in FM radio tuner so you can listen to local FM stations or tune in programming while you’re at the gym. Advanced tuning capabilities allow you to see the name of the song currently playing on select frequencies. Another awesome feature is the Zune’s compatibility with the Xbox 360. Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 to customize the soundtrack in supported games. You can also stream music, pictures and vidoes from the Zune software on your PC to your Xbox 360 console using a wireless connection. Whether you’re staying in or going out, travelling or working, the Zune can be right there with you, providing loads of entertainment direct from your pocket.

What’s in the Box
Zune 8 GB Digital Media Player, headphones, sync cable, and three pairs of foam headphone covers.

Customer Reviews

Great - with a couple downfalls by D. Dragon
I have been very happy with this product. The interface is much simpler than the ipod. I really like the fact that you can make your own background from personal pictures, etc. The touch pad is very easy to use and makes scrolling through data a breeze.

I only have a couple complaints about it. One is the fact that it doesn’t support some formats for audio and video. I have had to use a third party software to convert the files to compatible formats. The Zune software is easy to use, but it doesn’t do a very good job of ripping music and retrieving data for the cd.

Other than those couple complaints, I have loved the zune.

My Favorite Mp3 Player by P. McGuire
I’ve used several iPods (2nd-3rd gen), I’ve borrowed my friend’s iPod nanos, and I have used the first Zune (30GB). So I expected a lot from this little device.

Installation of the Zune software was a lot easier than I remembered it with the first generation Zune. Getting everything setup took around 3 minutes. Very easy!

Getting my music to the Zune took a little longer. The Zune marketplace did not allow me to easily copy Windows Mediaplayer playlists or copy/paste folders to specific playlists.

The sound is perfect… I have a set of Grado-60 headphones and Ultimate Ears fi-5 EBs. No complaints on the sound. The volume is plenty loud - I can hear everything nicely at 6 in a quiet room and 10-12 in a car doing 70mph.

The main reason I got the Zune 2nd gen was the podcasts. It is everything I dreamed of… CNN, The Economist, NPR - ALL automatically downloads to my Zune everyday and old podcasts are automatically removed. All I have to do is plug it in and it goes to work! I’ve got over 2GB of podcasts on my Zune right now.

The screen quality is seriously impressive. Even though it is super small my co-workers watched several of the movies that came with the Zune - they were really impressed (so am I). It is REALLY sharp for such a small screen.

Battery life - I always have this plugged into my computer whether at work or at home so I’ve never gone below the first “bar” of battery life.

Sorry, haven’t used the wireless feature - my family is getting a few Zune 8GBs so I will try and report back.

Definitely recommend this over the iPod. Why? I’ve had enough iPod vs Zune wars with my co-workers to last me years… I think Zune Marketplace is easier to use, I like the feel/look of the Zune better, and the ability to listen to the radio has always been a big plus for me (when I get tired of my music). Never understood why the iPod didn’t get FM… I really hate iTunes - though it does have tv shows. The iPod can also be used like a USB drive - something you can’t do with the Zune (WHY???).

Absolutely worthless product by Keash Doc
This is by far the most worthless product I have purchased. Microsoft really should have gotten their act together before they marketed this product. I am a very computer-savvy person but it took me almost 3 hours !!! to install the Zune software - every install would result in different errors and necessitate extensive Windows updates!! What MP3 product software requires such an extensive software update to be able to use something as basic as an MP3 player. Even after all this effort, the power-on button would respond very inconsistently and the MP3 player would randomly lock at the Zune logo. The button design of this MP3 is beyond pathetic. Try calling Microsoft Zune support - you get a 14-year-old kid in a 3rd-world country with a squeaky voice who has no logical skills to troubleshoot any problem but simply reiterates a pre-programmed script that Microsoft has told him to say for each catch phrase the consumer says. If Microsoft thinks they have anything even remotely close to a viable and simple-to-use MP3 player, they really need get their head out of their A* and relook at the other MP3 players on the market. IF anyone is considering this product, I would advise you look at other MP3 players which offer a simple yet elegant design and don’t require almost a complete reinstall of your windows operating system.

Good product with poor product support by John Koch
This is a very good MP3/portable music player. It has performed wonderfully. The features like the FM receiver are most welcome, and I find navigating and organizing my songs much more intuitive than the ipod player. It’s very small and thin and attractive (I got the green version). The charge life is very long as well… I have never run out of juice before recharging the Zune at home.

OK - here are the drawbacks: The Zune software, which you must download to your computer, is, well… quirky. Those with older video cards on thier computers will have issues - in other words, the graphics and screen resolution are going to have problems… so before you use Zune, do yourself a favor, and upgrade to a newer, more powerful newer-generation video card if your computer is several years old. Also, the Zune software is very minimalist and “zen”-looking, so navigating is a bit tricky at first. Remain patient. Eventually, it’ll become easy to make your way around.

My biggest complaint is the sheer lack of Zune 4GB/8GB product support - in the form of accessories. Everywhere you turn, there are thousands of various accessories for ipod and its various versions. But for Zune (especially the newest generation 4GB/8GB)? Butkis. Nada. Or damned little. Why roll out a new player if you aren’t going to have the required (and necessary) “toys” to make the player useful? Honestly, I can not recall a product being rolled out for sale - BEFORE any accessories come to market! I’m speaking of cases, speakers, gell case protectors, earphones, etc. Go ahead, try and find 4GB/8GB accessories out there. I dare you. You may find a few on-line, with intense web navigation, but the selections compared to ipod are tiny in comparison. A few crumbs here and there.

Also, do yourself a favor, and spend the extra money and upgrade to the 8GB version player. The 4GB fills up in a hurry, especially if you plan on storing any byte-hungry videos in addition to your music collection.

Overall, this is a very good personal MP3 / Media player, but with very shoddy product support (accessories) and quirky software. I’d recommend it with some reservation. It’s a better player than Apple’s offerings, but does not have the popular product support of ipod at the date of this writing.

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