iPod vs Zune

The iPod (from Apple Inc.) and the Zune (from Microsoft) are both sleek, portable digital music players.

While Microsoft had originally introduced a 30GB Zune, they announced a new slate of Zunes on Oct 2, 2007 including $150 4GB and $200 8GB flash-based players, and a $250 80GB model that's slimmer than the original Zune.

Microsoft also announced the launch of a social networking website - Zune Social - to encourage the sharing of samples of songs online, even for fans who do not own a Zune player. Members of the network will also be able to use a small application on their computers to display which songs they have been listening to, and that information can be posted on certain Web sites outside the network or sent by e-mail to friends.

Comparison chart

Improve this chart	iPod Currently 3.39/5 1 2 3 4 5 Rating: 3.4/5 (200 votes)	Zune Currently 3.44/5 1 2 3 4 5 Rating: 3.4/5 (86 votes)
Price:	Shuffle-$49, Nano-$129-$149, iPod classic $249, iPod Touch - $199-$399	$150 (4GB), $200 (8GB), $250 (80GB), $249 (30GB when introduced).
OS Compatibility:	MAC, PC	PC
Colors:	Shuffle & Nano-Grey, Pink, Green, Blue, Orange, Red (Nano only), iPod and U2- White, Black	White, Black, Brown (discontinued), Baby Pink
Other products:	Shuffle, Nano, iPod, U2 iPod	None
Audio Format:	mp4, wav, mp3, aac, m4a (iTunes protected), Apple Lossless	mp3, mp4, aac, wma
Photo Format:	jpeg, bmp	jpeg
Video Format:	mpeg-4, h.264, m4v (iTunes protected)	wmv, mpeg-4 , h.264 , divx(with hack)
Vendor:	Apple	Microsoft
Battery Life:	Shuffle-12hrs , Nano-24hrs , U2&iPod- 14hrs	14hrs
FM Radio:	No	Yes
Unit sold (H1 2007):	20.35 million	1.2 million

edit Music Sharing

One of the big pluses of the Zune is that it is WiFi enabled and allows users to share songs with other Zune-owners. In the original Zune, and the Zune Marketplace (similar to the iTunes store), the songs were copy-protected with DRM. Microsoft is now offering the DRM-free songs that can be shared by Zune owners unlimited number of times. However, a song downloaded to the Zune through this feature can be played only 3 times.

Comparison chart

edit Music Sharing

edit See Also

edit References

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