For the past year people who have still not purchased the iPod( Since iPod has come out way before Zune ) are wondering what is best for them. So in this article, I will explain most of the pros and cons of each product. The article will make each product compete with each other by each subject, such as functionality and customer service

Subject Guide

1. Features
2. Customer Service from Product Developers
3. Overall Statement

Features

Now we shall discuss the differences between the IPod’s and Zune’s features

IPod:

Audio

The 160-GB iPod stores up to 40,000 songs (20,000 for the 80-GB model). The search function lets you type in keywords (song name, artist, album) using the Click Wheel to locate a song on the iPod hard drive. It supports MP3, WAV, AAC, AIFF, Apple Lossless and Audible audio files. You can download songs from the iTunes Store, from a different MP3 download site or rip them from your CDs into the iTunes software. You need to go through the iTunes software to download files to the iPod (unless you download a hack that lets you bypass iTunes — more on hacks in the Software section). You can listen to audio books at various speeds — normal, faster or slower — without seriously distorting the sound, and connect your iPod to your home stereo through a mini-to-RCA jack. The device comes with equalizer presets for different music styles.

Video

The 80-GB version holds up to 100 hours of video, and the 160-GB version holds up to 200 hours. It supports H.264 and MPEG-4 files as well as MOV files converted to iPod-friendly video through the iTunes software. You can play video podcasts, music videos, feature films and TV shows on the iPod, plus your own DVDs and home videos that you encode using QuickTime Pro and download to your player through iTunes.

Photos

The player holds up to 25,000 photos. It supports files converted from JPEG, BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG and PSD. You can download your photos to the iPod from Mac iPhoto or Windows Adobe Photoshop Elements/Album. Using an RCA or S-video connection (S-video through the dock accessory), you can connect the iPod to your home-theater TV to watch photo slideshows (complete with soundtrack) or video on a larger screen.

External Hard Drive

The iPod can function as portable hard drive, carrying all file types between computers. Just choose “enable disk usage” in the iTunes software, and you can load whatever you want onto the player’s hard disk.

Calendar/contacts Syncing

IPod automatically downloads all new contact/calendar data added to Mac iCal or Microsoft Outlook/Outlook Express since the last time iPod was connected to your computer.

Games

IPod comes with pre-loaded games. You can also download games from the iTunes store, from third-party companies or even create your own (see the “iPod Software” section).

Car Integration

If you have an iPod and you’re in the market for a new car or a new head unit receiver, you can get one that fully integrates your player into the sound system. There are manufacturer-built car stereos that support iPod integration to the level that you can control the device through the head-unit or steering-wheel controls.
This information is collected from different sites. That do not hold copyrights

Zune

Zune’s Technical Specifications

WiFi Capability:

Zune users will be able to share music between via Wi-Fi, that is to say, Zune to Zune sharing.

Capacity:

30GB or 80GB hard-drive devices will be released first. The flash models are 8GB and 4GB.

Media Supported:

Zune can play both audio and video, supports WMV, MPEG-4, H.264 up to 320×240 and unprotected WMA, MP3, AAC formats up to 320Kbps, 48KHz.

Music:

The screen appears the album’s cover when music be played.

Video size:

 3-inch LCD high resolution screen, bigger than video iPod’s 2.5-inch. The 80GB Zune 2 has the 3.2-inch display, while the flash models are 1.8-inch.

Resolution:

320 x 240. They are considering the bigger-size devices.

Color:

Zune should be available in a few colors, including white, black, red, green, brown and more.

Preloaded Audio and Video Content:

 The videos coming with Zune include “30 Seconds to Mars”, the best rock video at this year’s MTV VMAs, “Serena-Maneesh”, etc.

Built-In:

TV output, FM radio tuner. DJ mode is supported.

Online Music Store:

Named Zune marketplace which will sell songs as well as movies online. You could subscribe to the marketplace for $14.99 a month with unlimited downloads for that month, or go for individual downloads (roughly 99 cents).

Zune Software:

The program just like iTunes. Automatically import your pictures, music, and videos from iTunes and Windows Media Player in various file formats.

PlaysForSure:

The service and device will not be PlaysForSure compliant, meaning you will not be able to use your Zune player with Napster or Vongo, for example. This will be an entirely new system. Microsoft will continue to support and develop for their PlaysForSure initiative, but all things PlaysForSure are handled by two entirely separate division that will not have any crossover.

Customer Service

The customer service from apple is much more appreciated than the Microsoft customer service. Apple makes it a point to always help in anyway they can. But most people say that Microsoft lacks it’s user friendly look and of course service. But Microsoft sectors are situated almost all over the world, but apple has branches only in specific countries

Overall Statement

Both are very compelling products, and very attractive, iPod reserves it place as a very simple and nice piece of machinery, and Zune reserves it place as a very high-tech product with many features, but in the end, serving the same purpose as the IPod. These many features are not interesting for me and most other people. All we need is something to listen to music with, that has good capacity.

So it is up to you now, but whatever you choose, I know you will make the correct choice