In Use:

In this section we'll take a look at the 30GB Microsoft Zune in action, and we'll also take a quick look at the software interface used to get all your media on to the device.

The Zune has a simple menu driven system that makes learning, and subsequently using, the device rather easy. You can access your media by type (music, videos, pictures, FM radio), as well as accessing games, social applications, the Zune online marketplace, and device settings. Speaking of settings, there is a rather extensive list of settings that can be adjusted to personalize the Zune to your tastes. One setting is for display brightness, and while I found that "medium" was good for my typical usage, it did result in the pictures of the device looking a bit dark.

The below left image shows the main menu, while the below right image shows music being browsed by artist.



The next set of images go deeper into music playback. In the below left image we see that once you select an artist, that the albums are listed with their cover artwork to the left. Once an album is selected you get a list of songs, and by playing any given song you get a screen like you see in the below right image. Album art takes up the bulk of the display, with information like song play time, artist name, album name, and song title listed below.



Audio quality is very good whether you use headphones or output through the USB connector on the bottom. Shortly after receiving the Zune, I decided to buy a kit to integrate it with the head unit in my car. I can now listen to the songs on the Zune through the car's stereo, and can also access the controls on the device through my head unit or steering wheel buttons. It sounds great, and is a convenient way to add even more music choices to my commute.

While I see the Zune as being primarily about digital music files stored on it, it is obviously capable of much more. You can use the wireless features to access your content on your PC, share content with other Zune toting friends, or to download new music. In addition, there is a digitally tuned FM radio built in to allow you to listen to music the old fashioned way!

As far as portability go, I don't see the Zune as the device you might want for jogging, or other activities where size and weight are an issue. As far as media players go, the device is rather bulky, and not all that light weight, so being docked at your desk, in your car, or with the home stereo may be some of its most natural settings.