| The Apple iPod has long dominated the world of digital | | | | days before it is disabled. This makes it easy for |
| media players, but since November 2006 there has | | | | people to share their favorites and really gets a circle |
| been another player on the field. Microsoft's Zune | | | | of friends talking about music and sharing more media |
| player is a 30 gigabyte audio and video player with the | | | | than they ever have before. |
| unique feature of allowing users to temporarily share | | | | The Microsoft Zune also comes with preloaded audio |
| music with each other. | | | | and video to give users access to music they might |
| If you're in the market for a digital media player and | | | | not otherwise hear about. The iPod is a blank slate |
| aren't sure which one is right for you, this quick | | | | when you buy it, which you might actually prefer. |
| rundown should give you an idea of which player is | | | | The Zune comes with a little more personalization out |
| best for your situation. | | | | of the box, since it is available in five colors to the |
| First, there are a lot of things that the iPod and the | | | | iPod's two and also has the ability to change the |
| Zune have in common. Both come with 30 gigabyte | | | | background image. Zune has a screen that is a half |
| hard drives and are capable of playing audio, podcasts | | | | inch bigger than the iPod's, and you can also watch |
| and video in portrait mode, though there are iPods with | | | | videos in landscape mode on it, which can't be done on |
| less memory and that don't include a video capability. | | | | the iPod. |
| They both use USB 2.0 to connect to computers, and | | | | Navigation is a little different on the two devices. The |
| they both require an online service to buy, download | | | | iPod has a scroll wheel, while the ZUne has a more |
| and manage audio and video. | | | | tactile button control, as well as a back button, a play |
| Both run on lithium ion batteries for about 14 hours, and | | | | button and a hold button. |
| they are virtually the same size (both are 2.4 inches | | | | Another big difference between the Zune and the |
| wide, but the Zune is about 0.3 inches taller than the | | | | iPod is that the Zune Marketplace, similar to iTunes, |
| iPod). The Zune weighs 5.6 ounces to the iPod's 4.8. | | | | allows users to pay a flat fee for unlimited downloads |
| Once you get past the physical aspects, the battle of | | | | of a select group of media each month. The iTunes |
| Zune vs. iPod gets more interesting. That's because | | | | store has no mechanism for unlimited purchases. |
| the Zune has one thing the iPod lacks: a built-in | | | | Whether you choose the Microsoft Zune or the Apple |
| community based on the ability to share files between | | | | iPod, you are sure to find that having music and videos |
| Zune devices that are in close proximity through Wi-Fi. | | | | at your fingertips changes the way you think about a |
| Users can share most songs, and the person who is | | | | long bus ride. |
| given the song can listen to it up to three times in three | | | | |