Excellent points, clock, games, fm recording and web browser are not needed on these devices. They also lower the battery life if you want to use them.

Actually I wouldn't mind an alarm clock feature. I'm one of the few people I know that's more prone to carry an MP3 player than a cell phone. Also, during a recent trip to Asia (no cell phone) I ended up staying in an inn with no alarm clocks or wake-up service. Unfortunately my D2 didn't have one either.

like half of these i do not agree with.

memory expansion, sorry this could be useful seeing how SD cards are comming up to around 16gigs? or more?

FM recording, lo-fi radio recording? sorry, i use the radio to find out information, for example i was listening to a song, and was not sure what it was so i recording it with my Iaudio 7. found out what song it was later by letting a friend sample it.

clock, i dont want an alarm clock i just want the time, i rarely wear a watch and personally if i care my zune with me instead of my Iaudio 7 i regret it for lack of a clock. like recently went to the doctors and brought my zune to watch a movie incase it ran long(always does...) i happened to want to know the time, and sadly they do not have a clock their.

games, If you want to play games, go buy a DS. microsofts big gaming competitor is sony, if microsoft could cut a big of sales off the PSP i bet they would if it was easy.

I really want radio and a simple clock.
Alarmclock would be nice.
I dont have a mobile and i will never have one.
I carry music whereever i go, its more fun then the disease "phone"

You do not have to agree with these. What im saying is keep these features out of the Zune not to clutter the player and to focus on the music experience.

If you want those features, dont buy a zune- it is great that we have other choices.

I disagree with your argument against a clock. I haven't owned a watch in 20 + years and I do have a cellphone most of the time. The 99% of the time that I use a mp3 player is either when I'm doing yard work or on vacation. I don't really need or want my phone when I do yard work, but it is nice to be able to check the time. I can't use my phone on a plane, and I like to have a vacation from my phone most of the time when I'm on vacation from work. I would be dissapointed if my new MP3 player didn't have a clock option.

I agree that voice and FM recording (or FM in general) and also Games are pointless.

I think that seamless (I'm talking to you, Creative!) memory card intergration is a must for any flash based MP3 player. Who wants to delete songs when your player fills up?

I think built in Bluetooth is a nice option that very few players have. I've never tired bluetooth headphones, but if they sound good, I would be happy to not deal with cords when I do yard work.

From what I've seen of the ipod touch, the web browser looks good enough (because of the touch screen zoom function). If someone other than Apple made a PMP like the touch, I would be very tempted. I wish MS was smart enough to make something like that and build in support for Outlook syncing and Word / Excel file viewing.

Personally, I'm disapointed with the features on the new Zunes. I've had my hopes up for a long time that it would be my next MP3 player. But, they have nothing special compared to other players that are the same price or the cheaper SanDisk players.

I get your point, but do you really think that Zune is going to compete with other brands by leaving options away? That's just a very unsure marketing strategy.

By the way, personally I like all kinds of little gadgetty extra's, but I understand your way of thinking.

About the cognitive dissonance, that's really cool. I recognized it myself and it's funny to find out that it is a known phenomenom.

Grahm, good points and applaud you for your thoughts.
Although I disagree on the external Memory Expansion Slot option, but I'm just one person.
I find this quite handy for my needs, but some folks find the increase boot times as not worth it.

Your points also bring to light the resources needed for the “fluff” excess the bloatware brings. Jack of all trades means master of none…

I really just want an Audio player, not a toy: just a good tool.

This brings me to the main point of my rebuttal, any player which forces one to install a software manager to “correctly” sync a player is the biggest issue, IMHO.

Rant on/
It is beyond pathetic to force the consumer to install a “simplistic media manager” to (un)organize your media. WMP is bad enough, but the resource pig of Zune version is just plain rude, crude, and unnecessary!
This is why the new generation iPods suck. Of course in WMP’s defense, Itunes is the ultimate piss poor media manager, which is a dumb down SW for clueless dweebs who deserve crappy media (dis)organizers. Truly the plastic crowds savior, all show but no go.
Rant off/

Sarcasm on/
The sad fact is consumers are rewarding intrusive mp3 HDW manufacturers who shove one size fits all bloatware down our throahts by voting with their wallets. We truly are lemmings…
Sarcasm off/
I vote with my wallet…

I disagree on the memory expansion since the Zune is only at 8 GB.
A feature that I would love is WiFi-based remote control of the music player on my computer. When I am mobile, I use an MP3 player and I can change songs or pause as required. When I am in the house, I would like to be able to change playlists, skip ahead, repeat etc. My computer is in the office and close to nothing else. All it would take is some software running on the Zune and my Windows machine.

just make all these add-ons free or cheap downloads, kinda like firmware updates

its not that hard really

It would not hurt to throw a clock option in. Would come in handy like someone said when you are phone-less while engaged in physical labor or exercising. Web browsing is supposed to suck on a 4" QVGA. The whole idea is being able to check your gmail, hometown paper, twittering etc etc while you are on-the-go or traveling. My PSP gets the privilege to travel with me. It sucks and slow but it works. Microsoft has Apple beat in this one non-implemented area. All Zunes have wireless. Only a small number of Apple's devices have wireless. Be A Leader Not a Follower. Bluetooth is great. I have my Zune in pocket with a bluetooth transmitter. Sounds good enough to keep me happy in a large industrial setting for eight hours. I charge my devices when I sleep and they last all day. Another crazy benefit is being able to take a number 2 without ripping your ears out with the corded phones or removing them.

Thumbs up for the cognitive dissonance reference. (This year is the 50th anniversary of Cognitive Dissonance.)

It explains more than fanboyism. Also partisan politics; including folks who always approve of whomever they voted for, even after the politico is convicted of a crime.

Memory expansion slot: also uses up battery, slows startup.

Bravo Enzo.....well said and agree completely.

I agree that Bluetooth, FM recording, and even wifi is not needed. I say make the device as small as possible with good sound. I wouldn't mind it though if you load custom software on it to do with it what you wanted.

Wow Enzo.. nice opinion article designed to evoke a response from many who have pet feature wishes.Many toes have been squashed and the recipients of the toe-squashing are hue and cry to defend their favorite add-ons.
I certainly understand your voice to a purist path of simplicity.. who can fault the logic of doing less, but better? Though I must say you strike a decidedly luddite pose on this one.. and thus is the quandry. Enzo = luddite does not compute. A inexorable grind towards convergence seems a given path.. are you running on the Anti-Convergence ticket this year? ;-)

I agree with the Cognitive Dissonance Theory but I also believe that it doesn't really apply to touchscreen interfaces. Upon further examination, its easy to understand the seductive lure of touchscreens. After all, they DO have the following advantages:

* On a Matrix style menu of 3 rows and 3 columns (Sony Video Walkman for example), it would take a minimum of 5 button presses to navigate from corner to opposite corner; A single scrolling list of menu options also requires multiple presses. Touchscreen interfaces work better because all you have to do is touch the icon.

* Touchscreens are better for quick access to a particular section of a song/video.

* Touchscreens respond faster than a mechanical button. I was shocked at how fast I could alternate between up and down presses on my Samsung K5.

* Even though a touchscreen keyboard is nowhere near as accurate as a standard computer keyboard, its still WAAAAY better than using a 4-Way tactile button scheme. Consider typing the word "LAME" using a 4 way controller -- On a QWERTY layout, it would take a minimum of 24 button presses to navigate and enter every letter!

When people go to the store and try out a touchscreen, its easy to forget that they are using this technology in its ideal setting, i.e. a stationary and focused position. When I received my K5, I was shocked at how quickly and accurately I could get from point A to point B... But I was even more shocked at how difficult it was to use in an OTG situation!

All in all, this is just to say that touchscreen interfaces DO have their advantages and I think its a little unfair to categorize them with the phenomenom known as cognitive dissonance.

With that said, I COMPLETELY agree with Enzo -- Touchscreen interfaces are a poor choice for DAP's!

... I just wanted to play 'Devil's Advocate!' :P

@Utew:

I wanted to wait 14 days before posting this so that I could impress you with my ability to use the word "fortnight" in a sentence! Anyways, this is just to say that I've always enjoyed reading your posts... Scrabble players must hate you! :D

voice recording
i personally use the voice recording during my university lectures. it helps when i review for a big exam or assignment. thus i always look for a good recorder when buying an MP3. i ended loving my ZVM because of the way it handles the recording as well as how it labels it based on date and time of day taken. and no it doesnt kill my battery. my battery still lasts a week of decent use even when recording.

memory expansion
im thinking of switching over to a flash based player so i can go to the gym with it. and because at most, the current standards are only up to 16 gigs, i want one that is upgradeable. i have over 40 gigs on my comp and i listen to about half of it often enough that i dont want to keep changing it out.

bluetooth
besides the headphones i like the potential uses of bluetooth. it'll permit more than one person to be listening to the same MP3 player, small wireless uploads from the comp, and wireless data transfers from your phone like movin a pic you took from your phone.

i look for these at the least when deciding about a new MP3 player.

Christ,why wont they invest on a mp3 player with all those useless features,that somhow
''appeal'' to the consumers and a simple version of it,with the basic music,videos,pictures.Like how Creative did with the zenV & zenV+.I own a Zen vision M and i wouldnt trade it for anything! however if the new Zune keeps it basic, i might consider a trade.

how about dumping playing by artists and fields like that... I had one older player (frontier labs) and a cheap MyMusix that would play them in the order I WANTED... not by alphabet or such. just got an insignia sport.. nice and plays videos and can take cards too but trying to get it to play my way.... oy vey!!!

While I have no use for games and FM recording, features like a clock, radio, touch screen, and maybe even wi-fi are practical. I own a ZVM, and use the clock, say, when it's too dark to see my watch. I also still listen the radio for talk programs and music I don't have. And I'll admit, touch pads are just plain cool when they're responsive. If Creative made a touch screen player with 30+ GBs of storage, I'd definiately get when my player craps out. Wi-fi Internet access useful if, for example, I need a map site.

"If you want those features, dont buy a zune- it is great that we have other choices."

I think Microsoft would like you to buy a Zune and so will provide these features.

As for these features:
I use the clock and stopwatch on my morning run (I don't take my watch or phone)

I play games if I'm too tired to read a book on my daily commute.

I recorded my washing machine as the sound helps put my 10 week old daughter to sleep. Maybe my phone could have done it but then I'd have to transfer.

I use FM recording all the time. My DAP is my radio and if I like what I hear I record to catch the name of the tune.

Memory expansion - I'd love this feature. I'd be able to transfer music to my wife's laptop just by slotting in the card. We have different DAPs with incompatible software.

My DAP works for so many situations so I'm happy and I'll probably stick with the same company if I upgrade. And they like that.

I'd like a clock just because I'd like a sleep timer. It's really obnoxious listening to music, falling asleep, then waking up to a dead battery.

Zune 2 4 teh wins! Grahm just pwned the iPods face in, way to go. I have to completely agree with this article, definitely puts a light on the new Zune.

I agree with this as well; I hate how everything these days is packed with useless features. Where can I get a cell phone that is for making phone calls? Though you know over time that the Zune will be packed with all these things. Instead of forcing these options on us, why not make the Zune customizable? Those who want a basic, simple media player can get that, and those who want some insane wi-fi music recorder/web browser/coffee maker can have that if they want. All it would need is a change in the software, after all. The ability to customize would definitely be a plus to many people looking to buy something.

One thing that I would like to see is some software that doesn't need a high-end computer just to be able to manage your music, and is easy to use. The Zune software makes me long for iTunes.

I disagree completely. Keeping features off these things is exactly what’s WRONG with devices these days. These players (and most others) have all the hardware they need to be FULL computers. This Zune for instance has wifi, storage, a fast enough processor, a mouse pad of some sort, hell; it even runs a version of windows. Why is it attractive to software limit the functionality of consumer electronics? I can see if from the manufacturer side. Limit it to sell other kinds of devices. But as a consumer I would much rather buy a Zune that i could use as a full on PC rather than one that only includes music playing functionality. I would call that latter a poorly executed piece of junk. Why kill convince over making some cute specialized device? I want to look into some website, so now I have to find a computer somewhere, even though I’m holding one in my hands. That’s just thoughtless.

Battery life? That’s wouldn’t be a problem if they designed a decent system for the device that shut things down while not in use. Its not an issue of how many features you have available to you, rather, its got more to do with how many you’re using at a time.

Clock/Alarm/Sleep timer should be on every DAP. Give the user the option to disable them, but they should be there. Yes I currently use my phone as my clock and alarm clock, but this is because my Sansa won't. Sleep timer is a must for dozing off while listening to tunes or at least on the fly playlists, which I don't know if they Zune does.

Buy an old iPod for christs sake.

What Microsoft should do is make it possible to choose what you want. Either by offering 2 different firmwares or by being able to switch from a basic mode to a advanced mode in the settings. Want a simple audio player... fine, set it to basic. Want to be able to do voice recordings etc., activate the advanced features. MS should also focus on the basic features. Then, when everything runs perfectly, add features people might need, like voice recording (great for lectures, and I want to see how you record a whole day of leotures on your mobile phone). USB host might be useful. etc. Also, in the settings make it possible to deactivate what you don't need. I don't need a AB replay feature on my iRiver, so I just deactivated it. Keeping it simple, if possible, but don't keep it SO simple that it's useless.
You say buy a different player if you want all those features... but I happen to like the new Zune and don't see many alternatives.

I see no big deal in putting a few "wasted" pixels putting a clock on the zune. It's not like the font for the time will be as huge as the font for the menu screen. If Microsoft decides to get these people to stop whining they'll just put the stupid clock in. Having an alarm would be awesome. There's nothing like waking up to one of your playlists in the early morning. Such a feature is useful only if you have speakers for the zune though. Although it does seem like superfluous junk on an mp3 player, with a screen like the zune 80's having a browser to read an online newspaper would probably be nice. The second generation zunes seem to be lacking in the very basic audio features that really wouldn't be a sin to add. Such as a freakin' equalizer!

Other than that, I agree with everything else. Games especially, which are a complete and utter waste of space.

Sly, anyone that uses "fortnight" in a sentence has my attention... ;)
..and thx for the kind words.
You pinned the tail on the donkey with your comments about tactile control vs. touchscreens and the differences thereof.. my experience echoes yours to a "T".
Whether Enzo's comments/feelings are whole-hearted or posed to extract comments/generate discussion.. they have had the desired impact, as his ruminations have extolled response. Good journalism has this kind of impact and this kind of article should be evidenced more often.
Thanks Grahm for stirring up an issue that is on my.. and many others minds. =)

Latest portable gadget trend?
GPS? ASTC tuner (digital tv)?
Video recorder? Streaming content? VOIP?

Hmm, Dunno. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Many features need to be enabled by FIRMWARE based upon the existing hardware, so you are pretty much limited in what you can do, unless you redesign your chips/flash batteries for greater and greater capacities.

While it's true the vertical brick formfactor PMPs are not easily used for webbrowsing (better left for wide-screen pmp's), you can do media streaming, which some already do. The IpodTouch isn't all it's cracked up to be.. just a company on crack forcing their will upon the cult of Apple fans once again and in retrospect we will see how silly some of these things were many years down the road.

This post makes very little sense. Your talking like all these companies work together to fill the market.

Microsoft wants to take market away from Sony, Samsung and SanDisk... Why would they leave features to them if it could make a buck.

Thats what it comes down to here... Think about your answers before you post.

A lot of your article doesn't make sense.

Clock / Alarm
I glance at the clock on my ZVM all the time while I listen to music. It is VERY handy.
Also, the alarm feature is nice for travel, or anything else you need a timer for (cooking, etc). Clock radios are nice, but even if they can play CDs, there is still a very limited amount of music that you can choose to play. 60GB of music or custom-recorded audio is a definite plus.

Games
You're absolutely right here. Games suck on PDAs, PMPs, Cellphones, and everything else that wasn't made for gaming.

Web Browser

You're absolutely right here. Internet browsing sucks on PDAs, PMPs, Cellphones, and everything else that wasn't made for internet browsing.

Voice Recording

Useful for recording lectures, live music, etc. Whenever I'm in class but just too tired, I turn the recorder on and take a nap. My ZVM captures my profesors' lectures very well. Sometimes I record the lectures so I can improve my notes when I get home. You are wrong that this is not useful.

FM recording

One acronym: NPR.
Quality radio that I often don't have time to listen to when its being broadcast. Plus, since it's recorded, I can listen to it over and over again whenever I want.

Memory Expansion Slot

As fast as flash is expanding, we'll soon be able to expand a 60 GB PMP to nearly 100 GBs with a wafer the size of a postage stamp. With video (which takes HUGE amounts of space) becoming the ultimate form of non-interactive personal entertainment, space is going to become EXTREMELY important. We aren't talking about a few gigs here, we're talking about HUNDREDS.

Bluetooth

Useless and very expensive.

Touch Screen

Useless and very expensive. But looks cool.

This could have been a great article if you had put some actual thought into it. Better luck next time.

Grahm, you're falling off. What is this?

I'm having a hard time believing that you honestly don't fault the Zune for not having some of these features. It seems like YOU are a victim of cognitive dissonance.

Contrary to what some of you think, bluetooth is a good thing. By that same arguement, let me ask you why has so many technology achievements that involved "no wires" of some sort?

In the past 20-30 years we've seen: IR tv remotes, satellite TV, global positioning, wi-fi, car keyless entry, remoter starter, radar / sonar, radios operating on frequency, garage door opener, laser guided missiles, voice activation on cars/phones ..... too many to list.

Cmon, who wants to deal with headphone wires that get snagged and tangled? For crying out loud, every cellphone on the market is pretty much Bluetooth. Why does this not apply to mp3/pmp? At least Samsung and Insignia have enough sense to realize BT is slowing becoming a necessity.

"Grahm, you're falling off. What is this?

I'm having a hard time believing that you honestly don't fault the Zune for not having some of these features. It seems like YOU are a victim of cognitive dissonance.
"

First off i don't suffer from Cognitive Dissonance since what i do is review MP3 players, i never bat an eye at spending several hundred dollars a month on digital audio players in order to give readers a 100% fair assessment. Additionally a person that would suffer cognitive dissonance would not haphazardly tear into an $300 MP3 player knowing that it might not go back together just so the readers and member of this can check out whats inside. When buying an MP3 player i have no expectations to meet. I "waste" money on MP3 player in order to give the readers a fair evaluation so they do not have to waste money and thus suffer from cognitive dissonance.

I think the whole point of this article and what a lot of you are missing is that, the Zune is not for the hardcore crowd and its not for people that was ALL the bells and whistles. I am by no means saying that the Zune is the supreme champion nor am i saying it is better than other players with tons of features. I am merely saying that it is nice to have a choice of an uncluttered / unconverged MP3 player on market. If you want something packed with features, buy a different player.

The Kenwood players seem to be in the purist vein, at this point in time.

Hardcore could be taken several different ways regarding portable digital devices. IMO the lack of lossless playback on any player would relegate those players immediately null and void in the "hardcore" department, from my perspective.

However, having the "most" number of features could describe a hardcore burrito-supreme-plus player extraordinaire also. All depends on your viewpoint. ;)

Ahhh, sorry. I realize that was a bit harsh.

However, those features surely don't make it a convergence device (with the exception of the web browser) and clutter is relative to the user. Having said that, I don't see why the functions haven't been included in a firmware update. It may be too soon to bark at M$ for that, so I hope it lies in the horizon.

What's up with manufacturers deciding for their customers what they want and not letting them choose? And don't say, "but no one makes you buy a Zune". This is true, but the only alternative in the high capacity sector of the DAP market is the iPod, which has only two of the eight things and lacks some of the Zune. If the market is pretty scarce, why not put yourself a clear head above the competition?

I have to wonder if when the first video-enabled DAPs were coming out, you considered the playback a bloated gimmick.

I'd like to see games and an alarm/sleep timer on the zune. yes i carry around a cell phone but i like to fall asleep to my music and not have it waste battery all night. I take my mp3 everywhere and listen to it on random. Games i'd like that but i also have a PSP so it doesnt matter to me. I have FM recording and voice recordin on my ZVM and i've never used the voice but the FM is good. when theres a song i like on the radio i record it and i can find it later. All the other stuff i dont need. But a clock/alarm/sleep timer is greatly needed for me. idc about the time or the alarm, just the sleep timer. thats one reason why i'm gonna miss my ZVM once i get a Zune 80, if they ever get in stock.

Games and a touch screen are not really need on a music device. Creative's players don't have them and don't need them.

They used to offer FM Recording, but have removed. I find the FM Recording useful on my ZVM as not everything from a radio show is not podcasted. Their players come with Microphone, which I rarely use and FM Radio. The new ZEN has support for SDHC card. Of course it comes with clock, calendar & contacts like the iPod.

Enzo, nice write-up, but I do disagree with much of what was written

The first problem I see with your list is that some of those features should have been there since the original Zune. Would you really find a built in clock/alarm a distraction to the media-centric platform the Zune provides if it was there from the start? Would you have written how distracting those pixels were in your Zune review? I really have to doubt that.

What if originally, the built-in WiFi also allowed you to browse the web? Would it really put a damper on WiFi sharing? From my perspective, more people would have bought it if it had more WiFi features, and thus more people who would have actually done some Zune to Zune "Squirting".

You don't want FM recording, but say the Zune never had an FM tuner, wouldn't you most likely have that on your list too? You could easily say you don't need a radio that you could get for 5.00 on a $250 player, the same way you've said that about FM recordng, voice recorder, and games.

It's original absence provides enough justification for you to say that you don't need it, when in fact if it was there to begin with it wouldn't harm a single thing.

You know as well as I do that this industry is heading towards convergence. Those added features would be more beneficial to the Zune. than hurting them trust me. The fact is, more and more people want a device that can do it all. They want more bang for their buck, and having those added features will likely translate into added sales.

In your mind, the absence of these features, makes the Zune stand out. It allows it to fill a certain niche, but who said the consumer just wants a media centric device anymore? With Apple pretty much dictating the path (as unfortunate as it is), a device that does more will be more attractive to the consumer. Simple as that.

Thanks,

Michael
DAPreview.net

All this 'feature cramming' we are getting on all of our digital devices these days says something sad about our generation; that we are impatient and have short attention spans. all the itunes purchases (and not to mention the 'illegal' downloading) just proves the point that we are a bunch of "attention deficit two year olds". remember the days when you had to wait to listen to a cd, to watch tv or go to the cinema. now you simply click and go. sure it leaves us more time to 'get on with everything else', but how much of that extra time is spent downloading more? 2" screens are starting to dominate and what will we do when we have absoulutely every useful digital device concieveable crammed into a 10x5cm box? cram it with useless features! Thank you apple, sony, microsoft and iriver.

accepting no responsability for previous rant,
Jordan :)

"We already have enough devices that will tell us the time. Who leaves the house without a mobile phone these days? Guess what? It will tell you the time of the day and wake you up in the morning. We do not need even a few pixels cluttering the screen of our music players."

Guess what, I don't have a cellphone.

It's because that YOU find something useless that other people will find it useless. Personally, I think that telephones(especially cellphones) are useless, should we ban phone?

Implied in this article is the idea that if a device provides other services besides playing music, it can't provide a quality "music experience". At the risk of blaspheming this website, the iPod Video is a perfect example of the fact that this isn't true. It's audio quality is excellent, and it also provides games and other apps.

Why shouldn't I have a device that plays music (well), videos and games? One only plays games when "bored"? Couldn't the same argument be made about listening to music? What's the point in carrying around multiple devices when one device can do them all perfectly well?

I've seen many articles that imply that if a device isn't completely dedicated to music, it doesn't function well as a music player. I've never seen a reasonable arguments as to why this should be accepted as fact.

Implied in this article is the idea that if a device provides other services besides playing music, it can't provide a quality "music experience". At the risk of blaspheming this website, the iPod Video is a perfect example of the fact that this isn't true. It's audio quality is excellent, and it also provides games and other apps.

Why shouldn't I have a device that plays music (well), videos and games? One only plays games when "bored"? Couldn't the same argument be made about listening to music? What's the point in carrying around multiple devices when one device can do them all perfectly well?

I've seen many articles that imply that if a device isn't completely dedicated to music, it doesn't function well as a music player. I've never seen a reasonable arguments as to why this should be accepted as fact. It just seems like an elitist technophile cliche to me.

1 feature I would like to see on the zune: Custom EQ. In just over a month it will be 2008, which to someone like me born in the 70's is THE FUTURE. Lemme see....touch sensitive pad...check. Sync music THROUGH THE AIR...check. Nice fancy glass screen....check...customizable eq to maximize music enjoyment...huh...this is 2008? Right? I see I shall remain a sony whoar...

Unfortunately the Zune will not be getting a custom EQ. At least not in the current players. The hardware was optimized for battery life and the EQ was balanced at flat. If you are waiting for an EQ, you wont get one this generation of Zune.

I thought that was something that could be rectified in firmware and I know it has been discussed with the Zune team...darn.

Also, kudos to Graham Skee for fitting Cognitive Dissonance into the article. Good show!

I always want voice recording, so I can record concerts that I go to, and play back the memories later. But hey, I'm not a Windows user, so I won't be buying a Zune anyway ;-)

I agree with every item on your list save one...

SDHC/microSDHC expansion slots on flash-based players should be standard on every player sold.

They make little or no sense on high capacity HD players, but offer flash player buyers the advantage of (limited) future-proofing.

Clock/Alarm
-----------------
Not sure I completely concur, especially on the smaller units. I really like the stop watch feature of some players. (Especially if you're out running, doing laps, etc.

So I think clocks, alarms, etc., are nice offerings.

But I'll make the caveat that they don't need to utilize screen.

Games
-----------

Mixed feelings here. Most games for these sorts of players just suck. So no need. But man, with more and more units having Wifi ability, this could be a rocking feature.

However, I think it'd be more successful if manufacturers:

a) did not just port games that work on other platforms (ie: solitaire, tetris). But rather designed games that fit the platform - an interesting example is that the new iPod Nano's have a Tetris clone game. But unlike the nightmare of the old Pong and Tetris games on iPods, I actually found this new one workable. Why? Because this new Tetris adaption is circular akin to some of the old 80's nob games. Therefore, the dial pad control of the iPod works much better with this new game and makes it actually enjoyable.

b) simple wifi games akin to the old Atari "Combat" is the way to go IMHO. Much akin to Nintendo trying to brings games back to "fun" versus "graphic candy".

FM Recording
-------------------
Radio? what's that...nah, I'll pass on the static thank you very much.,

Web Browser
-------------------
Fine for the more PDA based media players. Can be quite useful to some. But I feel there is little value unless they have a celluar high-speed connection that allows access remotely. (ie: view trailers from a movie theatre, etc)

Memory Expansion Slot
--------------------------------
For a media player, not so much. For more hybrid units, eh... However, if said unit can "read" & import photos, audio, and/or videos. Then it becomes useful.

****************************************************************************

All that said, I miss hard physical dials. Give me a balanced spin dial, with bearings and all. That I can spin with a flick of finger and watch it smoothly continue rotating several rotations. And stop at a dime's notice. With minute analog control....this is the best. The more tactile feedback with have in our controls, the easier the control is.

if zune does have games than just dont play them.

whats wrong with fm recording? some people love to record some morning shows and listen them later.

Bluetooth is really helpfull if u have problems with wires.

I agree touch screen is minus to durability becouse it breaks easily and replacement usualy cost half price of new player

Disagree with the Bluetooth. Some people (a lot?) want the ease of use of having built-in Bluetooth to connect to wireless headphones. I'd welcome the feature instead of needing to deal with messy adapters.

I disagree almost wholeheartedly with this article. I believe Microsoft can and should pack the Zune full of features; I simply think they should focus on usability as they do.

The example that readily comes to mind is the Xbox 360. That box is chock full of features, yet it is quite simple to use. If they can replicate that with the Zune, they have a winner.

Grahm, I love ya buddy, but I'm having a hard time agreeing with you on this one. Most of these features are built into the the firmware SDK anyway, so it doesn't take much effort to implement them at all. And most of them are fairly passive--if you don't want to use them, they aren't really in your way.

You keep saying "if you don't like it, buy something else". I don't think that's what Microsoft is going for here. I think they would much prefer you buy the Zune and not use all of the features they put in, rather than point you in the direction of another manufacturer.

I think this is a stupid argument. If you don't like the extra features, dont use them, but dont expect microsft not to include them just because you do those things with other devices. The average joe doesnt look at these tech sites, apple won customers over with ease of use, clever marketing, and sexyness. If the zune gets these things right, theyll win over customers. The reason apple did well without those features is not because they werent there, its because they got the three things right that all succesful gadgets and such like have done.

Very good article!

We buy a music player for, go figure, MUSIC! It's sad the iPod is so bad at doing exactly what it's sold to do, as I find the sound quality on that MP3 player down right aweful. The Zune is much better, and I hope they continue to work at making it the best SOUNDING player available.

I completely agree...but 2 features I would like 2 see would be line in recording and gapless playback.

I agree with everything but the web browser, this is something i really need. My school has wifi and since i don't feel like bring a laptop to school but would like to browser the web it would be nice to have.

Disagree with almsot everything said. Graham Skee, that was possibly the worst journalistic piece I have ever read, you come across as very immature in your writing? Hope its not your day job.

The games comment is laughable, I think almost everyone in the world who owns an ipod/ mp3 player that plays games, plays them when they're the only ones on the train etc. And everything else you mentioned are just so subtle, they don't have to be used. I don't get you're point about how the lack of a calendar and alarm clock is better than there being one, that you don't have to use, but people who want to use it can.

The only reasonable points you make are about the touch screen and wifi. the touch screen on the ipod touch is pretty reasonable and intuitive to use. Wifi is actually pretty good aswell, good in airports or starbucks...I dont have a laptop and I'm not going to pay to use one of those crappy pc's at the airport..

And isnt it funny how when the zune came out, it was praised for all the features it had over the ipod, yet now an ipod with more features comes out, and better ones too, the zune is called simple.

Actually laughable.

And dont call me a fanboy. the fanboy on here is called Grahm Skee

Wi-fi is the great differentiator of the Zune, but they haven't done a whole lot with it (until the sync'ing). I agree the web is too limited on small screens (though this could change as more small-screen devices come about), but I never could understand why an RSS reader wasn't included. It would be great to be able to pull up the latest blogs offline, sync'ed up automatically. As a blogger, I think you'd like that too!

I disagree with the comment you said about not to include a built-in recorder, because I have discovered that it is very helpful for me and probably for other people as well, to have it in the player to record the lectures in school. Because I am a student that cannot take notes quickly as other students do, but by using the recorder it had helped me alot.

"And isnt it funny how when the zune came out, it was praised for all the features it had over the ipod, yet now an ipod with more features comes out, and better ones too, the zune is called simple."

what ipod? i see no ipod with tons of features, i see an iphone and and camera/phoneless Iphone that has features, but surely no ipod with features even an $50 walmart RCA player has

personally, a clock is much needed. yes a phone does well, but why pull out your phone when you already got the zune to be looking at? alarm clock is just a bonus for a clock, it should be there, is it really that much of a bother?? and the expansion slot should only be used for flash based players instead of players using HDD.

yes i completely agree on some, like touchscreen, bluetooth, wifi,and games. those are just ways to jack up the price, except games. theres never anything really good for games on a music player.

I couldn't disagree more. If you dont like features on your player I would recommend getting a iProd Shuffle. Would fit you perfectly.

1. I would like a clock. My cellphone doesn't run my life.

2. Games. I agree 100% No Games.

3. Web browser. I agree again.

4. Voice Recording would be great...especially if you add a mic input and line-in. Why? I no longer have a minidisc recorder, but I would love to have the ability again.

5. FM recording. Want it. Why? Talk radio recordings. Recordings of Japanese radio when I travel. Not all of use want to record today's pop music.

6. Memory slot. Would be nice, but not the end of the world.

7. Bluetooth. No need.

8. Touch screen. I like buttons, so down with a touch screen.

One thing the Zune DOES NEED!!! How about the ability to display east asian characters!!!! It is ridicoulous that MS hasn't added four (4), FOUR font files to display Japanese, Korean, and Chinese characters. Hence I went with a Sony and a Cowon unit. Boo MS and its U.S. only viewpoint.

Please don't say that there is n need for this font support as the U.S. hosts a large number of folks who listen to Japanese, Korean and Chinese music...and some of us "round eyes" can actually read the stuff too!!!

Boo Zune. (Boo Apple too, but for just bad sound quality.)

Actually, I have found the FM tuner to be indispensable on my MP3 player. I don't have access to streaming audio at work, so I record shows off my favorite sports-talk station, The Ticket, here in Dallas, and listen on the way home. Greatness. You are right in that nobody would ever want to listen to FM music recorded in such a way. But it does have a practical use!

I would like a replaceable battery to trade out when the battery needs recharging.

Like Penn & Teller would say: bullshit!
Why don't you choose a different player then? Does the world have to adapt to you just because you(a drama queen) are not capable of simply ignoring or turning off the features you don't like (and let the others actually enjoy them)?
For example:
Clock? Radio? I find them both very handy. I like my music collection AND(not or) FM radio(i eventually become fed up of my songs and like to hear foreign talk show, news, etc. Can you grant me this right?)
Why would someone sane prefer to walk around with 2 gadgets in the pocket(ipod and radio) instead of only 1, are you nuts?
Just because you dont like them doesnt mean they should be banished from earth! If you want anything less 'complicated' there are a lot of options in the market. If you dont like the options available, too bad, life is not always the way we want it to be. You adapt to it or die whining. Thats the truth.
Guess what? I'll never see the gadget of my dreams in the palm of my hands either, microsoft has never consulted me. But thats a so silly issue in life, i'd feel ashamed of writing an article or even complaining about it. "Oh God, I'll have a hard time coping with a zune with a lot of features! How unfair life is!" That would sound really ridiculous.

You suppose a gadget to be good has to limited. Thats not true. We know a device can have multiples uses and still be excellent. Like someone said before ipod video is an example of it. I wont judge what is useful or not, because its a very relative question. I dont use a lot of features but they dont piss me off either. I simply dont use them and respect the others that do.

And please stop making fallacious generalizations! If you are too dumb to experience "practical" difficulties using a touch screen(that is so intuitive even a kid with low motor coordination can use), dont blame the world, we cant do anything for you. And no, not everyone that doesnt agree with you has some kind of cognitive impairment. Its like my neighbour, who cant even send an email, saying that internet is the anti-christ, only for child pornographers, etc.. But he's an old man. But you , frankly, You say "If you want something packed with features, buy a different player." (what a shallow argument) I say the same to you: buy a different player and stop the drama.

I like having the voice recorder because if I am out in the wopps and I happen across a mint bass line in my head I can record it no sweat.

I disagree about the clock though. The Zune already has a built in clock, why not make it usable?

okay, now lets see, although I pretty much agree with most of what you've said, guess what... IT DOESNT MATTER WHAT WE THINK!! (As much as I wish they would)Companies are never going to listen to every single consumers complaint about features that they could give two shits about. They dont care if we dont like the clock, or the games, etc. Its all about money in our country,therefore many companies are just looking for the next "WOW!" factor to make their company more money. Thats what gets people to buy things. Take my phone for example. Its some retarted ass Samsung that opens in like two directions. and guess what, i hate the hell out of it, but I bought it because it opend in two directions. That was the "WOW!" factor for me. So we are just going to have to get used to not having things our way all the time. Lifes a bitch.

=\

No disrespect but thats just the way I look at it. I mean I could care less about what Samsung, and Sony, and Apple and MS come out with anymore. Soon there is going to be nothing left to come out with because they've used all possible ideas. So when that happens im going to sit back and listen to "freakshow" on my Sansa Clip and laugh.

and everything is just going to turn into one giant CLUSTERFUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I read a lot of people saying a clock would be nice because they don't wear watches and haven't worn them for years. If that's true, why do you NEED a clock/alarm on your MP3 player? Sure it's nice, but for the point of this article (keeping the Zune clutter-free) that argument doesn't sell the feature.

Personally I'm a tech geek and I'd love wi-fi and Bluetooth. I work for the company that has been installing wi-fi units into hotels and airports (Denver International is a good example). Therefore in MY case, wi-fi is a pretty cool thing to have around the office and in our deployment points. I think the web browser thing is kind of dependent on the wi-fi, but I agree with the comment that a small screen is not terribly compatible and is not going to be your first choice for connecting to a hot spot (especially if you have or are going to be getting a laptop) but it's cool in a pinch (then again, my circumstances is more like someone working for Google or in silicon valley than a regular Wisconsin soccer mom).

I'd like Bluetooth because upper-grade car stereo decks are starting to utilize this technology. Currently I just run my MP3 player up to my deck's front AUX port, but it seems like more decks these days are coming out with BT than front AUX ports. Plus, it'd be kinda cool to just connect the two automatically (I say that word with a bit of hesitation, knowing that there'd be some kind of barrier I'd have to overcome to truly make it hassle-free) when I step into my car. That's like James Bond style...so it's pretty damn cool, but for the point of this article, it's still a "gadget" - which by definition is not necessesity (no matter how friggin' cool it is).

I think most of the points are valid in the context of keeping the Zune clutter/gadget free. For these kinds of things, I'd rather just see MS come out with something like "Zune Plus" rather than distracting the intent of the original Zune. I don't even think that you'd really need VIDEOS or PICTURES on a regular old Zune if you're really just after a solid MP3 player.

I agree w/most of these, but disagree w/FM recording. I often see comments like the one included in the article. They all miss the point that some people, like me, use my mp3 player as Tivo for Radio. The recording feature on my Iriver players enable me to hear a lot of quality programming that I would miss otherwise. I wish popular (and well supported) machines like the Zune and iPod supported FM recording.

I agree with a lot of this but I like the fact that my ZVM has a FM Recorder. I listen to some stations at work sometimes while I read because it can be easier than looking for relaxing tracks. There is a great radio station in Toronto at night that plays everything outside of Pop, R&B and Hip Hop. I recorded some artists that mixed soft Hindi singing with Celtic instruments and crooning. It was well timed and mixed and I would never look for that combination. So FM Recoder is a good addition to me.

Although late, I thought I'd say something as well.

I have to disagree with most of these. Even if I do in some way see your point: That too much of all the extranous fluff, the one thing it's supposed to do (and do well) will somehow take a back seat. At least that's how I interpret what you write.

1) The clock.
Although I do have equipment with me at all times that do have a clock (and make use of it), it's nice to be able to double check. Even if I do wear a wrist watch. Instead of ditching it, they should instead ADD a way of letting you, the customer, make the choice: A toggle switch (software, of course).

2)Games
I couldn't care less. Erase them if you don't like them. That's what I have done with any and every item I have purchased.

3) Web Browser
It's not like web browsing over WiFi somehow is unuseable UNLESS the world is covered in WiFi-spots. That's ridiculous. However, if that "web experience" makes a company make concessions (lack of hardware volume buttons, crappy headphone amp etc.) just so people can browse, then it's not a good player anymore, imo.

4) Voice Recording
Hmm. Yes. But even though I always have either a Nagra Ares PII+, a Sound Devices 722 (and a Schoeps CMXY mic in a zeppeliner to go with it), a notepad and pens, not to mention a phone that can record too, It can _still_ turn out useful:
I'm running late, I'm in the subway, and I realise I need to remember something. Now, since I already listen to it, have my headphones on and whatnot, it's easier to make a quick note to the player, than getting pen and paper or one of my recorders, all to make a quick note. In fact, I find this much more useful in a music player, than I find it useful in a cell phone.

5) FM recording
FM - recording is very useful. Let's say I listen to a current affairs programme, a news show, a documentary or whatever, and then I find myself at the destination. By recording te rest of it, I get to hear the rest of it.
And frankly, adding this feature hardly takes anything AWAY from a music player.

6)Memory Expansion Slot
I simply don't get this argument. The lack of expansion slots on just about any device is simply a strategic business strategy (not talking about miniature players here), in order to make people upgrade to the larger one, when that comes out.
And since when is anything "big enough", when you prefer your audio in lossless, preferably just wavs or aifs?

7)Bluetooth
I completely agree. Samsungs implementation is good. In fact, I find it to be an excellent way of getting the useability of an integrated product, yet none of the downfalls. I also think that audio quality over BT sucks.

8)Touch Screen
This very much depends on how it's implemented.

You write (addressing the ipod touch users there):
"you're just trying to find justification for your lavish purchase. It is called cognitive dissonance."

The funny part is, most of the points you make come across as exactly that.
Frankly, there are few things (apart from Apple acting worse than MS when they were their worst) that hold me back from getting a Touch. All of them dealbreakers:
No USB Mass Storage (disk mode).
No hardware volume buttons.
And most importantly:
Crap audio quality.

GREAT LIST!!!!!

I have to say, like many of you, i agree with a lot on this list bus some I would have to disagree.

1) GAMES: uh... 3.2" screen man!

2) WEB: maybe, maybe not...

3) BLUETOOTH: Dude, think about this, in class hood on listening to music with... NO WIRE.
Im sorry but this is the biggy.
I think all mp3 players NEED bluetooth support simply because its a wicked cool feature and has practical uses.

But ADD THIS TO YOUR LIST:::

NOBODY WANTS A ZUNEPHONE!!!!

conspiracy theory:
what if this article is setup by some creative labs marketing executives to see what people realy want by defending a possible abolition of some current features?
the only imposible thing now is to make a player which reads your mind and plays the song you want. and that might happen one day in the future.
and something I d really love to see :
PLAY BACK rate change in a nice easily accessed slider!! man some songs are much too slow for me when I am runnining.. tweaking the playback speed to say 40% faster sometimes does a great job.

I'd like a clock on my player! I don't have and never have had a mobile phone and probably never will have one. And I always seem to lose my watch!

Also its not MUSIC I'd record from the radio, but the occasional interesting program that I was too busy to listen to at the time. I'm surprised this needs explaining, do you never listen to non-music radio?

Don't disagree about the rest. Bluetooth and touchscreen seem particularly pointless gimmicks. I can't believe Sony have added Bluetooth to their a829, when top sound quality is their players' main selling point. Why would you want to ruin it with bluetooth? And who wants another battery to have run out on you?

Coincidentally, those are ALL things I do want on Zune

Thanks for insulting me multiple times here.

Bluetooth is great to stream your music to your pickup truck and change songs as if you had a remote control... like when you go for a tail truck party at the stadium. etc. i love it

Hi Grahm,
A tad late to be adding to this thread but having seen many of the opinions verge on scathing attacks at your opening comment, I feel compelled to write a note of support! Whether I agree about a clock or wi-fi etc etc is not the point. What you've succeeded in proving is highlighting what a fickle bunch we consumers are! Whilst we're all in the same club, the parameters of all our opinions appear to be aeons apart!
If this thread were to be read by a Product Development bod at Microsoft (or any other manufacturer), they'd be scared witless by the diversity of their target audience's requirements and only time will tell if any of them ever come up with a 'One Box Fits All' device.
For what it's worth, I draw a parallel between my enjoyment of Media and my enjoyment of cooking. I have many different and useful toys to watch / listen / surf etc in the same way that I have many different and useful tools in my kitchen. One of my favourite kitchen tools is my perfectly designed and weighted one piece rolling pin. If someone EVER tried to sell me a new rolling pin that was also a can opener / cheese grater or worse still, had a fekking clock on it, I'd kick their sorry Product Development back-side back to Apple School. Tsk...and there I was suggesting that I wasn't going to opine....sorry, couldn't resist.
Thanks for another thought provoking thread dude.
Damien

Bravo!

This is so wrong... yet you did nail a few points.

FM/Voice recording are really useless, and Cowon insisting on putting it in every PMP they make is pissing the hell out of me.

Games are pointless... and if you really want to play them at some boring lecture, that's why we have mobile phones.

Alarm could go both ways, but I'm leaning towards agreeing with you.

However:
Touch screens are *not* useless. Instant seeking is a really useful feature. Especially for video.

SD slots are useless? That's completely laughable. Well I guess, if you're using a HDD player and have 80-160GB, by all means enjoy yourself, but... HDD players are terrible. Enjoy treating your player as if it was made of glass while STILL getting the numerous errors associated with moving parts.
As soon as Flash memory hits 128GB, and 64GB becomes somewhat affordable, or as soon as SSD goes down a similar path I'll agree, but until then - forget it. SDHC prices are dropping fast, so upgrading the capacity is getting easier and easier.

I agree with a few, but not all. Most of commenters think radio is useless, but I dont. I listen to NPR almost everyday for news, commentary and cool shows like Fresh Air, Science Friday, and All Things Considered. It was especially useful while I was jogging to listen to the election debates and the election results since I run in the evening. On the weekend, I listen to Car Talk while doing yard work. A tuner is so simple I say why not? This is the only reason I haven't chucked my iRiver FP799T. It automatically records Car Talk and Wait Wait Dont Tell Me every Sunday. The iRiver's interface sucks though.

*disagree:
FM tuner
Clock/Alarm
SD slot
Buetooth

*agree:
touch screen
web browser
games
voice recording