I was sitting here, and decided to see what kinds of apps there were for the Microsoft Zune as compared to the Apple iPod Touch. To see the apps for each, I downloaded the software for them. I have now decided to write some reviews of these two Media Players as well as a few other ones I use. Also I ended up downloading some browsers and trying them out too. These reviews are probably biased because I use one of the following programs, and the other ones I just got started with less than an hour ago.
iTunes
I at first looked for an area to add content to my libraries by letting it search my PC, no such option. So I added my Music by telling to add my Music Library to it’s collection. That was obviously going to take waaay too long, so I decided to add my select music. I began playing my music no problem, but getting around the player is a small annoyance. You can go between music, videos, TV Shows, podcasts, etc. without a problem, but when you go to the visualizer (if you can find it easily) you have to use the menu or else find another way to get back. Some of the features are kind of nice like cover flow and such (although it can be pointless if you have no art for your albums). If you want to do anything online (getting song info, etc.) you have to have an iTunes account. Not my favorite media player, but still better than nothing…I guess. It’s more useful for checking what apps are on the iPod app store.
Rating: 3.5/10
QuickTime
By Apple (just like iTunes), this player has a similar interface. However, it has less features and it’s not really that good of a media player. It makes you open each file in a different Window. If the window playing your song gets placed in the background somehow, it doesn’t keep playing. Not a recommendation, in fact I just had it so my internet browsers could play QuickTime stuff on the interwebs!
Rating: 1.0/10
Winamp
The Open-Source player and the one I use as my default Media Player, expect a good review for this (Like I said above: “Biased”). The default skin (Bento) is easy to find your way around. When you first start it, you can easily add your media to your library either by telling to scan the folder in the background or by having it scan a folder with more power. You can also import your iTunes database as well. There is an information view on the top part of the player that tells all about your media. The lower part has tabs for accessing various things (Media Library, Video, Visualization, and Web Browser as well as anything else you want to add). The Visualizations are pretty awesome 3D rendered stuff, and you will have no shortage of presets. You can also subscribe to various other free services like MP3 of the day which will allow you to hear more music. What makes it all better is the fact that it’s completely open-source, so you can change and customize it any way you want.
Rating: 8.5/10
Windows Media Center
The Fullscreen Media player, good for Media PCs (possibly). You can control everything with your mouse, but it seems more logical to use the arrow keys. It’s not too messed up that you can’t find anything, but it’s a little different if you’re used to a non-fullscreen media player. Everything is there from Media Player (see below) but it’s in different places. It’s usable, but not my favorite.
Rating: 7.8/10
Windows Media Player
This player ties in directly with Windows Media Center (above). In fact, I had both of them open at the same time and when I closed Media Center, the music kept playing on here. Not too hard to find your way around here, unless you want to see the Now Playing window, then you have to use the View menu. However you can go without ever using Now Playing if you want. It matches completely with Windows 7, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best.
Rating: 7.8/10
Zune Software
I smell another Microsoft Media Player. Geez, Leave it to Microsoft to give you choices, sadly they’re all the same thing pretty much. This one is pretty much a mixture of Windows Media Player and Windows Media Center and made for the Zune. Microsoft, why don’t you try something different or else use what’s already there.
Rating: 7.8/10
I know, not the best reviews in the world, but at least I tried. Thanks for reading everybody, and go choose a media player you actually like. Oh! Sorry about the bias (I know there is some for one Media Player). Stay tuned for my review of web browsers up next!
(Click for full view)
