| For many years, there has never been a | | | | October 2007. They sport a new touchpad |
| technology battle so public such as the one | | | | surface, can sync without cables, support |
| between Apple and Microsoft. The two | | | | podcasts (made famous by Apple), and even |
| companies have been at it for the longest | | | | supports WMV and Mpeg4 formats (the Mpeg4 is |
| time, since the time of the computer boom in | | | | the only video format that can be used on |
| the 1980s, in fact. They have each been | | | | iPod). The Zune 80 has a large 3.2 inch |
| releasing their own brand of software and | | | | screen and now new firmware for the latest |
| hardware in a seeming friendly competition of | | | | device has been released to improve its |
| who is better than whom. But this all | | | | performance. |
| changed when Apple introduced the iPod. It | | | | |
| instantly swept the world off of its feet and | | | | Now here is a player that seems to be giving |
| took the tech and non-tech population by | | | | the iPod a run for its money. The Zune |
| storm. After all, how could something so | | | | clearly has more support and is not too |
| small and sexy hold so much entertainment? | | | | strict with formats and it can do a whole lot |
| | | | more than the iPod can do, including wireless |
| For years, Apple took advantage of this | | | | syncing which is a feature many people should |
| newfound glory and continued releasing | | | | enjoy. Basically, it seems Microsoft has |
| smaller and better models of the iPod, each | | | | finally given a solution to free people from |
| of them sporting larger storage systems in | | | | the "tyranny" of Apple's iPod. |
| thinner and sleeker models. All of this | | | | |
| time, Microsoft stood idly by and | | | | Apple's Answer |
| concentrated on other things such as mobile | | | | |
| software and their own Windows OS. Then in | | | | However, since the introduction of the Zune, |
| 2006, Microsoft dropped a bombshell: they | | | | Apple has been busy with their devices as |
| released the first ever Microsoft-driven mp3, | | | | well. They have made the iPod smaller and |
| picture and video player, the Zune. | | | | thinner, with even more storage than one can |
| | | | handle. Their latest iPod classic can take |
| It was a silent release and there wasn't much | | | | in 160 gigs of music and video data! But it |
| hype surrounding it, unlike Apple. CEO Steve | | | | doesn't end there. Although the iPod still |
| Jobs makes it a point to introduce Apple's | | | | does not sync wirelessly and only supports |
| products to the world with such gusto, to | | | | the same video format without opening to |
| keep the market hungry and wanting for more. | | | | other formats, Apple has made sure that the |
| So what is the Zune exactly? And why has it | | | | iPod still has a place in the consumer |
| caught the attention of many iPod users as | | | | pocket. How? Look at the iPod of today. |
| well? | | | | The iPod Nano now plays video (something that |
| | | | was unexpected); Apple introduced the iPhone |
| The Player | | | | which is not only a phone but an iPod and an |
| | | | Internet communicator; Apple later introduced |
| Microsoft's Zune is a digital multimedia | | | | iTouch which is an iPhone without the phone |
| product that has taken its place in a world | | | | capabilities, is thinner but sports the same |
| crowded with iPods. All three styles of the | | | | touch screen technology that everybody is |
| Zune can play music, display images and play | | | | learning to love. |
| videos; all can receive FM radio signals and | | | | |
| even shows station information; and all can | | | | So it goes without saying that although Zune |
| share files wirelessly with other Zune units | | | | has introduced something to go up against the |
| and even with Microsoft's gaming platform, | | | | giants in the mp3 market, Apple has taken a |
| the Xbox 360, but only via a USB cable. | | | | different step and re-invented their iPod. |
| | | | Is Apple still ahead in the game? Everyone |
| The latest models are known as the Zune 4, 8, | | | | is entitled to his or her own opinion. |
| and 80 and were all announced for release in | | | | |