Vastly improved new Zunes compare well with iPods

Apple Ipod vs Microsoft Zune

Apple's iPods have been can't-miss holiday gifts for years. But this year, shoppers have an intriguing alternative: Microsoft's latest Zune players.

Last year's sole Zune model was lame. It was bulky, came in a ghastly brown, had clunky controls and didn't make good use of its wireless-networking capabilities. So, opting for an iPod was a no-brainer.

This year's decision is a bit more difficult because just-released Zune 2.0 players are vastly improved. The old Zune is a contender, too, since it can be upgraded with the software found in the new models.

So, exactly how do Zunes and iPods compare? And, ultimately, what should you get?

Different models. The Zune line consists of a boxy Zune 80 with 80 gigabytes of hard-drive storage in a thinner package, plus teeny flash Zunes with 4 and 8 gigs, and the original Zune at 30 gigs. All have elongated screens (made of chic glass on the new ones, not plastic) with a control "squircle" - a square with rounded corners - just beneath.

The iPod line is more varied. Models include the iPod nano and iPod classic, similar to Zunes with screens above controllers. There's also a cheapo, screen-less iPod shuffle. But the hot iPod is the "touch," a widescreen player that is, essentially, an Apple iPhone minus the phone.

Touch capabilities are all the rage. The new Zunes, for instance, include that touch-sensitive squircle, officially dubbed the Zune Pad, which works with finger flicks: up or down to adjust volume; left or right to move forward or backward in a song. The first Zune had only a clickable controller - and the new Zunes also can be used click-style.

The circular controller found on traditional iPods also is touch-sensitive and works in a wheel-like fashion Zunes can't emulate. The iPod touch is basically one big touch screen that shows off photos and videos better than a Zune.

The wireless way. The new Zunes are more Wi-Fi-versatile than the first, which shared songs only in a crippled fashion (there were three-day and one-Zune limits). Now, songs can be passed from Zune to Zune to Zune endlessly (but can still be played only three times by any recipient before having to be purchased).

The Zunes have wireless syncing, too. This means connecting to a PC no longer is a requirement, since a Zune will sync with the computer over a Wi-Fi network (automatically, if the player is plugged into an outlet or powered dock, or manually at any time). This worked flawlessly in my tests. I wish iPods did this.

Apple's traditional players lack Wi-Fi, but this is built into the iPod touch for Web browsing, YouTube watching and direct-to-player music purchases via a mobile version of the iTunes Store. Zunes provide none of these features.

Software. Microsoft and Apple players interact with computers via software on the machines (Windows-only for Zunes, Windows or Macintosh with iPods). The iTunes software has been widely copied, but Microsoft went in a fresh direction with its Zune software (a step up from the abysmal original). I like it. It's clean, with simple menus, striking "skins," huge singer photos, superb album-cover views, a way to Web-publish music preferences and other pleasing design touches. But the iTunes software rules with Cover Flow, a way to flip through virtual album covers and much more.

Music purchases. Selection is better on the iTunes Store with about 6 million songs; the Zune Marketplace has half that. About a third of Microsoft's catalog is free of copy protection, meaning songs are playable on any device. Apple also has unprotected tunes, but it doesn't offer Zune-style subscription music with unlimited downloads for a monthly fee; this is a great way to sample new music before buying.

The Zune store lacks movies, TV programs and audiobooks but does have music videos. Zunes still cannot play Windows-friendly tunes and video from stores like Napster and Amazon Unbox using Microsoft's own PlaysForSure.

Podcasts. Thousands of radio- and TV-like podcasts have long been available at no cost via the iTunes Store, but the Microsoft store lacked this crucial amenity. That's been fixed, praise be. But Microsoft's online library is far from complete. You can manually subscribe to podcasts, but managing them with the Zune software is awkward. For instance, there's no way to display a master list of downloaded podcasts, as you can with your music.

TV recordings from Media Center PCs couldn't be played on the initial Zune. Now, all Zunes incorporate this vital feature (but forget about syncing any TV shows that are copy-protected or Dolby-enhanced). Mac-based iPod owners get similar features via Elgato recording devices and software for syncing to players. PC-based iPod owners can get Corel's new DVD Copy 6 Plus to convert Media Center recordings for mobile consumption.

Upgrade potential with iPods is limited, but that's about to change with the iPod touch (which, like the iPhone, uses a version of the OS X operating system found on Macintosh machines). Starting next year, third parties will get to write software for the devices. The implications are huge: The gadgets will evolve into feature-rich minicomputers.

It's unclear how the Zune will stack up. Though its software can be upgraded, Microsoft offered no major updates to its first Zune for a year (finally bringing it in line with the new Zunes last week). So, another update might not arrive for a while. Even then, a lack of hardware features such as a touch screen will make it an also-ran to the iPod touch.

Baffling omissions. Zunes can't be used as portable file-storage drives; neither can the iPod touch. Other iPods have always had this feature. No iPod has FM tuning, a feature implemented elegantly in the Zunes. But Zunes lack an audio equalizer, which is found on iPods, as well as the original Zune (the EQ stays on that player after it's upgraded).

Durability. If you don't want your player to get scratched, a Zune is a good choice courtesy of its scuff-resistant metal back. The metal backs on the iPods have a mirror-like finish that scratches far more readily (a cover is a must).

Customization. Apple buyers can get text engraved on the backs of their new iPods. Microsoft has one-upped its rival with more than two dozen elaborate designs by top artists, plus separate "tattoo" options with images and text.

Odd malfunctions. My loaner flash Zune kept restarting itself in mid-podcast (this got so bad I wanted to throw it in a lake). But my iPod use hasn't been glitch-free, either; software on the touch can crash, just like on a Macintosh.

On the big screen. A Zune can be jacked into an Xbox 360 game console to run the player's tunes, photos and videos on a TV. That same content within the Zune software can be streamed to an Xbox over a home network, too. Similarly, iTunes material stored on a PC or a Mac can be copied or streamed over a network to the Apple TV device.

Colors. The flash-based Zune, iPod nano and iPod shuffle come in a variety of lively colors, while the larger hard-drive players are subdued (the Zune 80 sells only in black; the iPod classic models come in either black or light gray).

Prices. Zunes range from $130 (for the original on sale) to $250; iPods run from $80 for the entry-level shuffle to $350 for the top-of-the-line iPod classic with 160 gigs. Comparable models are similarly priced: The 80-gig iPod classic and Zune 80 both cost $250, while the 8-gig Zune and iPod nano are both $200.

The bottom line: Buying a Zune is no longer a mistake, now that Microsoft has fixed major oversights (podcasts, Media Center) and dramatically improved its players and software. But Apple provides the most advanced features - especially in its iPod touch - and its iPods work with Macs as well as PCs. So, they still make the best gifts.