| There are many folks that hate both Apple and | | | | iTunes files to MP3 or convert Zune WMA files to |
| Microsoft portable media products. Apple makes iPod | | | | MP3. Both systems support JPGs (for still images) and |
| and Microsoft makes Zune. Fortunately for the | | | | MPGs (for video). |
| consumer, there are other good portable media | | | | There are advantages that Zune has over iPod. |
| players out there now but do not have the same | | | | Approximately 60 hours more video can be stored in |
| visibility as Apple and Microsoft products. Discussion | | | | the 30GB version. Zune has a larger screen size and |
| about these other portable media players like | | | | is capable of portrait mode display. Zune has |
| SanDisk's Sansa series and Creative's Zen series | | | | wallpaper, FM radio, wireless connectivity, and faster |
| devices are beyond the scope of this article. This | | | | battery charge. Zune Plays WMA audio formats and |
| article is about basic iPod and Zune similarities and | | | | WMV video formats. It has one more standard case |
| differences. In addition, sources for purchasing music | | | | color: brown! |
| online for iPod and Zune will be briefly discussed. | | | | There are advantages that iPod has over Zune. iPod |
| The iPod is a portable media players designed and | | | | plays games, is compatible with the Audible, Apple |
| marketed by Apple and released to the public in 2001. | | | | Lossless, AIFF, and WAV audio formats. It plays H.264, |
| Currently, as a digital audio player, the iPod is the | | | | M4V, MP4, MOV, MPEG-4 video formats. It is slightly |
| best-selling music player in history. Zune is Microsoft's | | | | smaller and lighter than Zune. The iPod software |
| digital audio player, released in 2006, directly competing | | | | works on PC and Mac. Zune only works with PCs. |
| with Apple's iPod. Each of these portable media | | | | The primary websites for music downloads are iTunes |
| players deliver what it was intended to do which is to | | | | Store for iPod and Zune Marketplace for Zune. Both |
| play music or audio, display images, and play video. | | | | sites offer music downloads of 0.99 cents per song. |
| Each has their pros and cons. | | | | With Zune Marketplace, you can buy a monthly |
| There are many Zune and IPod similarities and I will list | | | | subscription for $14.99 a month for unlimited downloads |
| major ones. They each have the same starting price | | | | as long as you have a subscription. |
| of around $249, disk storage, picture capacity, screen | | | | But there are other online music stores out there so |
| resolution, and aspect ratio. They play audio, pictures, | | | | you are not limited to Apple and Microsoft. Do an |
| and video. They have USB connection (to another | | | | online search for "online music stores" and determine |
| device, typically a computer), battery, and similar | | | | what works for you. |
| battery life. | | | | The stores that I recommend are offered here and |
| Both devices support MP3, MP4, M4A, M4B (for audio), | | | | have one time fees: |
| and MOV (for video) file formats. The Zune favors | | | | For iPod music and video downloads, click on |
| Windows Media Audio (WMA) while iPod has its | | | | For Zune music and video downloads, click on |
| protected AAC format. When it comes to exchanging | | | | Have fun with what ever portable media player you |
| files, you will need software tools to convert your | | | | choose! |