Two MP3 Player Epic Fails in One Month

Today Apple announced the newest additions to the iPod family- most notably an iPod touch with GL ES support (and a 50% faster CPU) with up to 64GB of storage and a new iPod Nano that can shoot VGA resolution video; however they failed to add the camera into the iPod Touch! The 64GB of storage is a massive amount of flash memory- but it comes with the requirement to use the bloated Apple iTunes to organize applications/movies/etc. (Don’t get me wrong: I once was an iTunes zealot- back in the days of v6- but the current implementation of iTunes on Windows reminds me of Windows Vista). The OS is updated to v3.1 to add ‘Genius’ and ‘gaming features’- but both of these are useless on an Media player (unless they are going to release an Apple Bluetooth gamepad?)

A few weeks ago, details for the Microsoft Zune HD were released: it features an awesome looking 3.3” OLED touch screen (480x252) and utilizes the nVidia Tegra chip to allows the player to output 720p video to an external monitor/TV (and enables the option for 3D rendering for the upcoming ‘app store’). The player also features WiFi (for web browsing, wireless sync, online purchases) and an FM Radio, but fails to include a Bluetooth radio- which kills all chances of A2DP wireless audio… (and no camera was expected)

Here is a basic cross-comparison of features that I was looking at:

	iPod Touch 64GB	Zune HD
Memory:	64GB	32GB
Screen Size:	3.5”	3.3”
Resolution:	480x320	480x272
OLED:	No	Yes
WiFi:	Yes	Yes
A2DP:	Yes	No
Camera:	No	No
Apps:	Yes	Yes*
HD Output:	No	Yes
Web Browser:	Yes	Yes
iPod Car Dock Connector:	Yes	No
Wireless Sync:	No	Yes
Price:	$399	$279

*Apps forthcoming- possible Windows Mobile 6.0 compatibility?

The iPod Touch seems to win by 8 to 7 on features, but this comes at a price of $120 more than the Zune HD.

I was considering upgrading my aging iPod Classic 60GB, but both of the new offerings have fallen short of what I think they need to contain for the price points they are asking. I need to decide if one is ‘good enough’ to replace my current (working) 60GB iPod (and part with $300-$400) or if I should just wait until the next generation rolls around…

Update: I eventually went with the iPod Touch 64GB and I am now hooked on the App store. I wanted camera and GPS functionality, so I returned the iPod Touch and purchased an iPhone (no contract); now I am just waiting for a jailbreak for the iPhone 3GS with FW 3.1! :)