Audio News

You are viewing the archives of microsoft.

The Microsoft Zune is a very advanced MP4 player and is fitted with a 3.0 inch screen. If you own a Microsoft Zune or you want to buy it then there are some secrets about the device that you should know. The company offers a Zune AV kit which contains sync cable, a dock and a wireless remote. But you should not buy it because you can connect a normal splitter AV cable that has four conductor mini phone plugs at one end and the RCA plugs at the other end.

You can easily find such cables at an electronics store near your home. The Microsoft Zune cannot be used while it is charging but by doing a simple trick you can listen to songs while it is being charged. The first step involves quitting the Zune software without detaching sync cable. This will actually exit the circle of dots and will return the control directly to the user. This step may consume a few minutes so you need to be patient. On the other hand, you can share the non copy-protected music between the Microsoft Zune 120GB and Apple’s iPod by following some simple steps. The first thing involves setting up the Zune software. Then rip the tunes to a compatible format such as mp3.

The software does allow you to change the default format into any format you want. Hence the ripped format of the audio can be easily used or read by other digital players. You can follow above mentioned Microsoft Zune secrets to get value for money.

The biggest buzz of 2008 was the coming of Zune2K9, a global bug that froze all the Zune players on 31st Dec 2008 eve. This was a sudden malfunction in the Zune which stropped it from working anymore. Apart from the shock Zune users obviously faced, Microsoft itself was very surprised as well. The so called Zune2K9 bug came about because the Zune was unable to handle leap years on its internal clock. Microsoft has officially launched some measures to fix this problem.

First of all don’t keep charging the frozen Zune. Disconnect it from any power source. There should be no direct AC connection or a USB connection. Let the Microsoft Zune run out of battery juice completely. When this happens the player’s display will do black, i.e. it will simply shut down. Don’t try to discharge the battery quickly by opening the Zune and taking it out. After the Zune is off, just wait till after noon GMT, 1st Jan 2009. Connect the Zune to a power source and recharge it. That’s all. It’s simply the end of the Zune2K9. The player will function normally and you won’t encounter any such issues furthermore.

If you were using the right-managed content earlier then no need to worry, it’s all still there. All you have to do is to sync it for updates by connecting the Zune with the PC.

These days the market is flooded with low quality headsets among the lower price range. However, while the Microsoft LifeChat LX300 is definitely in the low price band, it actually manages to provide outstanding sound quality. In addition to that is very comfortable and completely integrated with Windows Live Messenger.

The design is both elegant and comfortable. The pads are made up of special leather which is very soft and comfortable and the design helps in blocking the external sound / noise to a considerable extent. Further there is coverage of the Foam on the microphone which has the facility of noise cancellation. The microphone is attached to the left hand side of the Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 on the fully adjustable arm which makes it very comfortable to use and does not appear to interfere while making use for conversation.

The conversation on this headset is quite a pleasure as a result of the sound clarity which is quite impressive as compared to other headsets in the same price brand. The communication on the windows Live Messenger can be done with the Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 for conversing with your friends and relatives around the world with ease as the audio clarity found during the conversation was pretty good as compared to other sets and the voice capturing capacity of the microphone is also outstanding. Similarly it can also be used for various gaming programmes on your Personnel Computer because of the advantage of the superior sound quality.

The Set-up of the handset is also very simple which can be done just by plugging the handset into the Personnel computers USB port. The Windows will automatically detect the new hardware and use the relevant drivers for making the headset operational however for Live Messenger there is an installation disc available for installation of the desired drivers.

To sum up, it is a convenient, affordable and simple to use headset with outstanding audio quality in the price band.

Microsoft has successfully brought in new software for their MP3 players. One interesting route taken by Microsoft is that they have named both their MP3 player as well as the software by the name Zune; this could actually cause identity crises. Zune can also be called a belated answer to both the iPod and iTunes. This Zune software has been designed to enable the user to view as well as manage songs, pictures and songs. It also gives you the convenience of ripping and burning the CDs, editing the information about albums and tracks and creating the playlists.

The Zune software is quite intuitive and supports an amazing user interface therefore making it quite easy to understand and use. It also features smooth audio and video playback. This software is capable of automatically importing your existing files including the audio and the video files from windows media player as well as unprotected (in fine print) files from iTunes. Since all the content of iTunes is protected, anything that has been brought through iTunes cannot be played in Zune. But Zune surely proves to be an alternative for all the Windows users who may feel that Apple gives them a second grade treatment.

Only the top right section instead of the entire top portion of the Zune software has been totally dedicated for burning files, creating playlists, viewing the current playing list and syncing media. This is a major improvement from other softwares as it saves a lot of clutter. Zune software is indeed a great way to keep all your music, pictures and videos organized.

Microsoft Premium Headphones v2 are a boon for all music lovers who prefer a premium and crisp listening experience. These headphones deliver superior sound quality. These Premium headphones are designed on the lines of a noise isolation model, where the focus is on minimising the outside distortions, and maximising the inner sound clarity.

The Zune headphones are extremely lightweight and have an ultra compact structure. Their small size also makes them easy to store and transport. The headphones follow an in-ear fit model, which helps in blocking all the unwanted outside or external sounds, while enhancing the acoustics. They are compatible with all Zune products, including the Microsoft Zune 8GB. Because of its superior sound quality, high quality resonance and extended bass response, these headphones deliver premium audio fidelity, great balance and crisp highs.

This product is equipped with a soft cloth cable to help eliminate any kinks. As a bonus, these headphones are equipped with a convenient storage case and three in-ear insert sizes to choose from, giving you the freedom to enjoy the music in the most customised comfort. The Microsoft Zune Premium Headphones come with a small, but stylish, pouch or a carrying case, which is specially designed to hold the in-ear inserts and the headphones.

The Microsoft Zune Premium Headphones are incredible and quite an improvement over the stock earphones that actually come with Zune media player. The three different earpiece sizes make it quite comfortable for all users, especially those who are not adverse to in-canal earphones. Moreover, the frequency response is incredible for these earbuds.

The Microsoft LX-3000 Headset is a basic necessity for the frequent users of programmes like Windows Live Messenger. This headset has diversified, such as using other chat messengers, watching movies, listening to music or anything that is sound related.

The LX-3000 is primarily used for calls or voice chats. There is a possibility of using these headsets for gaming applications and online phone calls. The Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000 headset is best suited for voice calls but other applications tend to fall a little flat. This is due to its explicit noise cancelling feature included in the headset, which allows cancels out nearly all background noise, allowing you to focus on your conversation. The best part about Microsoft LX-3000 is that it is very convenient to install. The plug and play device simply needs to be connected a suitable USB port on the PC, and then it’s ready to be used.

The Microsoft LX-3000 won’t burn a whole in your wallets either. In other words, this product is quite reasonably priced, costing less than £25. At the same time, it’s quite durable, lightweight and able to withstand any kind of wear and tear. It can be regarded as one of the most convenient handsets available for Windows Live Messenger users. The LX-3000 also has leatherette ear pads to make the headset comfortable for long periods of use. The LX-3000 is a multimedia headset with a USB interface and 6 foot long cable.

In conclusion, the LX-3000 is a comfortable, high quality stereo headset which offers high quality digital sound, durability and an extremely easy installation at a very reasonable price.

The world leader in operating systems, and corporate giant Microsoft also manufactures its own line of MP3 players. Microsoft’s latest mp3 player is known as the Microsoft Zune (80 GB).

The Zune comes powered with many innovative features in a bid to make it competitive towards Apple’s iPod series. The player’s design is also quite sleek, and Microsoft has employed all the latest technology in developing the product.

Some of the player’s features include:

• It has a big color 3.2-inch screen that gives uncompromising video viewing.
• It stores up to 20,000 songs, 25,000 pictures, or 250 hours of video. (Please note that music estimates are based on 128 kbps WMA files, with length of 4 minutes each; pictures transferred to Zune will be optimized for Zune screen size; and video estimates are based on 500 kbps WMV files with 128 kbps WMA audio tracks.)
• It has a got an inbuilt FM tuner.
• Wireless connectivity to the PC.
• It has a unique feature of allowing user to share files with other Zune user.
• It also allows users to import TV shows or movies recorded using a PC running Windows Media Center in Windows Vista.
• It is compatible with the Xbox 360. Plug your Zune into your Xbox 360 to customize the soundtrack in supported games.

The main features which distinguish to Zune from its competitors is no doubt the file sharing function with other Zune users, as well as the Xbox 360 compatibility. Of course, the increased storage capacity also makes the new variant more attractive over its Microsoft Zune 30GB predecessor. Together with these unique qualities, the player is clearly an excellent choice.