I am shopping for my Dad. He is interested in a mobile device for music while hes exercising and also the ability to watch videos on and stuff.
I personally am a iPhone/iPod fan but my debate is usability. I know to put a video on a iPod, unless you are downloading it from Apple directly is touch unless you are tech savvy to convert or use other apps on the phone.
How does this match up to a Zune or other devices you have used? What software is needed to copy music? How open is the formats? Etc.
I’m not sure about the formats but the Zune is cheaper and the HD looks very nice. Microsoft was just a little late to the party. I prefer the Zune media player to iTunes (which if you have an iPod you are pretty much stuck with) and I’m guessing the Zune is a little more open with copying and retrieving music from their device. I think if your old man just wants to transfer music too his iPod and listen to it and isn’t going to be pirating movies and converting them and shit, then the iPod touch will probably be better. Personally I’d get the zune cause I’m not a huge fan of Apple and because I think it has a better interface/media player.
I would lean towards the iPod Touch, since the new version is quite the fantastic device. Hardware is superior to the Zune HD by quite a bit, and it has TWO cameras, exciting.
You can get apps such as GoodReader for iOS that allows you to play a bit more than iTunes will allow, and it has a stand alone app for Windows and OS X to put files on it. Or VLC for iOS, which plays a acceptable variety of videos without conversion. For Music, iTunes works quite great if you ask me. Its just really shitty how little video formats iTunes supports.
If it was the Gen 3 IPT vs Zune, its a close call. Assuming you’re getting a new one, the 8/32/64 GB iPod Touch Gen 4’s are fantastic and do most anything you want with a little know how.
since i know you know what the ipod can do i will just post what the zune can do
Zune’s native file compatible formats are:
* JPEG for images;
* WMV (Used by Zune Marketplace)
* MPEG-4 – supported on all models except the Zune 30 device
* H.264 – supported on all models except the Zune 30 device
* Avi video (Xvid) support is included on the Zune HD (firmware versions 4.5 and later).
* MP3 (used by Zune Marketplace)
* AAC (unprotected)
* WMA Pro (2-channel)
* WMA Standard (used by Zune Marketplace)
* WMA lossless
if the file/s he wants meet that of the zune then all you have to do is put it in folder that is watched by the zune software and it will load it up and you can sync it from there. there is suppose to be a new zune HD coming out that is based around the WP7 software so all the new apps for that will be accessible to the zune where right now they are not
With the new VLC media player app, you can put any kind of format on the ipod without converting it,no need for jailbreaking its available free from the app store.
I’ve used every generation of ipod touch/zune and the ipod is superior in the web browsing/apps department.The ipod does have a more friendly UI (IMO),a/v quality is good on both.The HD only has like 36 apps available which is kind of disappointing.The new iTouch’s dual cameras are very nice as well.
Ya the VLC app makes it really easy. Just trying to prevent becoming full time tech support for him. Haha. I am leaning towards the iTouch tho for the facetime, camera, etc.
Its claimed to be getting pulled because it violates the GPL that VLC was originally released under. They said anyone can redistribute, change, add to, etc with the software code since VLC is open source but it can not add any price or other restrictions. Apple encodes all the apps in the store with its DRM which they are claiming violates the GPL.