Zune Car Pack Review

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(More customer reviews)Wasn't really planning on buying one of these, but found one at a decent price and thought I'd give it a try.
First thing, this is a quality, well made product. Unlike a lot of car power adapters, this provides a clean, shielded source of power that doesn't put off a lot of interference. The FM transmitter, like most FM transmitters, isn't overpowering, but does an ok job when you aren't in an area crowded with FM signals.
Any FM transmitter is going to get buried in the middle of a city. These things work best in lesser populated areas where there are empty frequencies. Belkin's website has a tool for their FM transmitters, that can give you an estimate of the best FM frequencies to try in any given Zip code.
This transmitter has a great display and worked well in my local area and in several of the surrounding areas.
A couple things I really liked about this. First, while the power adapter is engaged, the Zune will display the LCD so you can see cover art and song information while keeping the Zune charged. Secondly the FM transmitter has a great digital display that is clearly visible during the day and night.
Only thing I didn't like is that the FM Transmitter just inserts into the player without actually locking. It stays put ok, but not if you have your Zune in a case. (At least not in the Silicone case I was using).
Folks, if you live in a city, your not going to be happy with any FM transmitter. Also, different FM transmitters work differently in various cars. I've tested several, there is no rhyme or reason. Try one out, if it doesn't work ok, return it and try a different one. If you live in a big city, get an adapter to run directly into your stereo. No FM transmitter is going to work. FCC doesn't allow them to have enough signal to drown out the local stations crowding your local airwaves.


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The Zune Car Pack includes everything needed to keep the music rolling loud and clear through you car's speaker system. Perfect for use in multiple vehicles, when you buy the Zune car pack, you'll get the FM Transmitter with Autoseek and the Zune Car Charger. Designed to wirelessly stream music from the Zune via the car's FM radio, the included FM transmitter ensures clean and crisp Zune playback without the hassle of complicated and messy wires. Complete with an autoseek feature, the FM transmitter automatically finds an optimally clear radio station to use for streaming.
Just turn it on, wait for the signal to connect, and you're ready to rock and roll. So you can leave battery life worries back at home, the car pack includes a handy cigarette lighter charger for the Zune, allowing you to enjoy music on the move and charge the Zune at the same time. An integrated status indicator on the car charger helps prevent any negative impact on the car's battery--an ideal feature for those times when you might be tempted to jam out through the car's stereo while the engine is off. It even comes complete with a coiled cable for easier storage. The car pack comes backed by a limited 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box FM transmitter with autoseek function and 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter.

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Zune Wireless Remote for Zune Dock Review

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(More customer reviews)First off, size wise it's about half the size of the Zune itself in just about every way. It's small, but not too small to where it could innevitably annoy you.
To me, the buttons seem like they are placed a tad oddly. The back button and play buttons are over the "d-pad", instead of on the sides of it like the Zune device itself. It takes some getting used to, and the two "skip track" buttons are even higher up then said back and play buttons, which is even more out of the way. Also, the two volume up/down buttons toward the button of the remote don't actually control the volume on the Zune. I still have yet to figure out what they do.
Now, even though the buttons are (in my humble opinion) placed oddly, the d-pad on the remote mimmicks the one on the Zune device spot-on. So, you actually don't really have to use the buttons if you don't want to. I do have one more quibble, though. The IR range doesn't seem to be that good. When I use it in my Car, I sometimes have to point the remote directly at the Dock to get any response. Maybe that's just me, though.
But, I digress. The remote does what it needs to, and pretty well overall. It also has the same "soft" feeling the Zune device has, and like the Zune, is pretty scratch resistant. Now, if only it came in Brown or White...

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Designed exclusively for use with the Zune Dock (sold separately), the Zune wireless remote gives you quick access to your current playlist and full control over menu navigation and volume. The buttons on the wireless remote have the same controls as the Zune, so navigating through menus and media lists is easy and intuitive. Despite its small size, the button layout lets you easily hold and operate the remote with one hand. Small and sleek, the Wireless remote has an integrated magnet so you can attach it to a refrigerator, or you can store it in the integrated slot on the Zune dock. The wireless remote comes backed by a 1-year limited warranty.

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Zune Dock Review

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(More customer reviews)I received this item as a gift and, out of the box, it is little more than a sleek decorative puck. In other words, the dock does not include *any* cables, not even the Zune sync cable. Oh, it will hold the Zune upright though. It will also hold the Zune remote (sold *separately*.)
Once I collected the cables I needed (sync, plus either A/V or 3.5 to 3.5) the dock is working fine. I have nothing against the product, I just wish it came with at least the basic accessories out of the box.

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The Zune dock elegantly displays your Microsoft Zune media player anywhere in your home or office for easily customizable media access. The dock features a pair of built-in outputs for maximum versatility: a connector port for syncing and charging your Zune, and an audio/video output with a built-in audio amplifier. The connector port is a handy option for people who want to sync or charge their Zune without fumbling under the desk for the sync cable, as the cable instead plugs right into the dock. The A/V port, meanwhile, lets you connect the dock to a stereo system or TV for full-featured playback. In both cases, all you have to do is drop your Zune into the dock and it will charge, sync, or playback via the connected devices--no extra connections required. Plus, the dock includes an integrated IR receiver for use with the Zune wireless remote (sold separately). The IR receiver and remote give you quick access to your current playlist, as well as full control over menu navigation and volume. The dock even includes a small built-in slot that holds the remote--a convenient and stylish way to store the remote when not in use. As with all Zune accessories, the dock is backed by a 1-year warranty.

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Zune HD AV Dock Review

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(More customer reviews)So obviously I bought a Zune HD a short time ago, and like you I heard that you could attached the Zune HD to a HD TV and watch 720p output from the Zune HD to the HDTV. I will state up front that I was not only skeptical, I flat out expected this not to be able to keep up without skipping. I am happy to report that this whole system actually works and works perfectly.
Couple things threw me.
This needs a power source. You either power it from the USB power of a PC, or you use the USB to AC adapter which is included. You can't just throw the Zune HD in the doc with nothing for a power source.
If you use it with your PC's USB port for power, it duos as a sync dock. That means, Marketplace will auto start and want to sync with your Zune. And it's up to you to quit that software so that the Zune HD will display it's menu on your LCD or Plasma TV. It help s to read the manual, but who's kidding who here. Manuals? I thought those were just extra box padding, right?
I actually believe it's best to place this right next to your TV and use AC power. Leave the remote right next to the dock by your TV. Then all you ever have to do is place it in the dock when you want to use it with your TV. I'd rather keep using the sync cable that came with the Zune HD as the sync method, and leave this exclusively for the TV.
So enough of that hardware and on to the good stuff.
You won't get all of the menu items on your Zune HD on your LCD TV with this. I was actually hoping you would. I was hoping you'd get to browse the internet on it or something. Wouldn't that be cool. Here is what you do get:
- Music
- Videos
- Pictures
- Radio
- Podcasts
I truly wanted this to watch video podcasts and movies on my 32" LCD TV. Many podcasts will not look too good, but at least I can watch Jim Cramer's Mad Money on CNBC on my TV via the podcast. That's pretty great in my opinion. So on to the movies:
I bought an HD movie on Zune Marketplace called "Battle for Terra". If you do look for this title, cause it's great for kids, you mostly see TERRA in the title. "Battle for" is written smaller. So just look for something like TERRA in big letters. The movie is very good and worth watching. So how did it look?
I am in utter awe of this now. You will be too. Right at the start when the intro starts, you see how crisp and clean the video is on your wide screen HD TV. And just that quickly you see where your money went, and oh boy is it worth it. WOW! I still cannot believe this little tiny Zune HD drove my 32" HD TV without any compromise. It's perfect, five stars wow. You get a remote too, so sit back and enjoy the movie. In fact, I like this so much, I am now trying to figure out who to write a letter to so as to convince them to make a much smaller portable version of this dock for travel. They should make an app for PowerPoint viewing as well. I'd love to have a single small cable that just went from Zune to HDMI so I could walk into a hotel and plug this right into their TV and watch MY Movies, not what the hotel offers. This is the world's smallest video library as far as I can tell.
The Zune HD's Tegra video chip works! It really works. I have small laptops that can't produce video output this well. We are entering into a new age. I can see so much more opportunity for technology like this. But to keep this review on point, I'll just state that the movie, which I watched from start to finish, was crisp, clear and perfect. No skips of any kind. It's in fact better than DVD or Blu-ray for one simple reason... You can't have any disc issues. You're playing the video off NAND memory. No moving parts! And that means stability. I'd rather have this than a DVD or Blu-ray player. Why not just buy or rent our movies and get them right over the internet. You know why that has always sounded like a bad idea? Because never before could you really take that movie with you somewhere. Not truly anyway. Portable means you can go to your friends house and watch the movie you rented there. And with this, you can do just that. Of course they have to have a dock too, or you have to take yours with you. Which is why I state that a portable cord would be the killer app for this. We're so close to making digital purchase and rental truly perfect. I know that's what I want. I want to rent or buy a movie, and I want to be able to watch it on my friend's TV or mine. For now, I am watching on mine and I can watch it on the device itself. Which is by the way so much better than an iPod Touch. Why? One huge reason...
OLED vs LED based LCD
All Zune HDs use OLED, not LCD. And the difference isn't rocket science. I'm sure your friends have an iPod Touch or iPhone. Watch the screen and tilt it in your hands. Because the light source is behind the screen you will notice that the picture gets horrible the more your angle changes. Okay, this is why many devices tell you what the viewing angle is.
OLED doesn't have a light source behind the panels. It's all just one technology. The results are far better image quality and from virtually any angle. See for yourself. The Zune HD's video performance is the best screen you likely own. I know it sounds like I'm a nut, but it's true. See for yourself. The Zune HD has a OLED screen and an nVidia Tegra video processor. This little Zune is state of the art for video. It will rival many laptops for video performance.
Anyway, the Zune AV blew me away. Watch Podcasts on your TV. I love that, though the picture quality of your average podcast is not great. But buy or rent movies on the Zune HD and you will be so very impressed.
Now, the AV dock comes with EVERYTHING you need. I know the first two reviewer said things like, buy the other dock, and buy your own HDMI cable. Neither of them actually state that the $50 dock as an HDMI or not. So I still don't know, but I am guessing that's what they mean. But before you do that, consider this.
In the AV dock for the Zune HD, you get the following:
The dock itself
A USB power adapter
HDMI cable
The regular RCA type cables in case you don't have an HDMI based TV
And a remote
The dock even has TOSLINK which is that fiber type connector.
In other words, you buy this kit and you're covered. Everything you need is here. The Doc has a built in cable that is USB on the other end and that goes into the PC for sync or attaches to a power block with AC prongs for AC power in any standard power strip. There is a built in FM HD antenna as well.
There is one thing I wish it had. I wish it had the Zune Marketplace right on the menu when you are docked into your HD TV. It would be even better if you could dock it, and then go to the marketplace and watch previews and then buy or rent right from your HD TV. Microsoft is perhaps one generation away from the next big leap forward. Perhaps the next generation Zune will finally put the nails in the coffins of DVD and Blu-ray. We're very close to having a system that just replaces both of those silly old technologies.
This thing is $89 but it's so worth it. Call me crazy, but I'm seriously considering buying another one of these docks and giving it my friend for his TV so I can plug my zune in over there when I visit. Maybe one for the HD TV in the office AV room as well. Microsoft should really create the next zune to easily attach to any TV with just a single cable.

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Turn your home entertainment system and Zune HD player into a full HD experience!

This all-in-one package enables your Zune HD to charge sync and play HD videos on your HDTV. Send music and HD Radio reception to your home audio system and control it all via a wireless remote. (Zune HD player sold separately.)
Display HD video and photos on your TV.
For 720p HD video, plug the included HDMI cable to your HDTV. Zune HD player required.
For 480i standard resolution, plug in the AV output cable to your TV. Zune HD, Zune 120, or Zune 80 players required.

Listen to your music collection or HD Radio stations. Connect to your home audio system using the provided cables. (Zune HD player required for HD Radio reception.)
Wireless remote control. The wireless remote allows you to control your Zune player from anywhere in the room.
Small and convenient AC adapter. This small AC adapter easily fits into crowded power strips.
Included: dock, three inserts (one for each Zune model), wireless remote, AC adapter, HDMI cable, and AV output cable.

Disclaimer: Zune players sold separately. Zune HD player and HDTV are required to view supported video files at 720p HD resolution and listen to HD Radio reception. HD Radio is not currently available in Canada. Click here for more information about HD Radio.

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