Zune HD...It needs bluetooth

I've decided to get a Samsung P3 player, since it has great reviews and bluetooth.

I really really wanted a Zune HD if it had bluetooth, but I'm just not seeing any support for it anywhere, even on the Zune HD page (http://www.zune.net/en-us/mp3players/zunehd/) - wifi, but no bluetooth mentioned at all. I know people will say that it's not even out yet, and the specs are not completely finalized, but there is just no indication that MS is committed to putting bluetooth on the device at all.

I'm not a hardcore audiophile, so the quality of my music when listening to BT is not as much of a concern to me as it is to others. The BT thing is important to me because I'm simply sick of wires getting tangled around.

Another unfortunate thing is, I won't be able to use the player with my Zune subscription, but I'll be able to live.

Here's hoping that the Zune will have BT support in the future, though.

 platinumacetric wrote:

@turbomacncheese if the wifi headphones strictly follow 802.11b protocols then use it will be possible. But chances of it happening are close to zero, since pairing of head phones will be a problem and probaly add another stack to the protocol.

 

And in regards to the actual discussion. I really don't want bluetooth on the zune hd. Me personally i hate most bluetooth devices, as they either make you look retarded or when you are out an about looking for hardware to use it with it's a pain. For example how many outlets do you know that readily sells bluetooth headphones. After you answer that then ask how many people have you seen with a bluetooth stereo headphone. And then after you answer that then answer the last question on what the sales are for bluetooth stereo headphones. If bluetooth was to come on this zune hd as primarily for audio it will be a waste of money on microsoft part for it to be included. Now with the browser, yes they could have it since it could be a cheap netpad ( yes i said netpad, netbook is for something that is actually bigger and has about a 10 inch screen netpad just makes a lil more sense), but even with that most people will use the on screen keyboard more often.

 

So remember even though some stuff might be cool to have in a device it is not at all necessary, and as much as we hate to hear it. Microsoft is in this to make money, making money means cutting around edges, if your audience is about 10 million and you do a sample from them and  find out that only 2% or less have a bluetooth enabled stereo headset, will it be a viable preposition to invest about 5-10 dollars more on a device knowing that only about 2% will use this feature. No you would not so you will have to cut it out and rather keep the cost down and make a higher profit margin on the device.

I know its strange to have someone randomly butt into a conversation here, but i agree with a few of your points, and disagree with other points.

Disagree:
1) If you look at Microsoft Sync http://www.syncmyride.com/#/home/ that is Microsoft's Car Platform fully compatable with bluetooth, also supposed to be compatable with the original zune's, and 2nd generation zunes. So "In car voice and music" is a microsoft target audience.

2) Locating compatable hardware is easy, and pretty cost effective for what you get,
Headset: http://www.mobiletechreview.com/tips/Nokia-BH-503-Bluetooth-Stereo-Headset.htm
i got mine for about 50 bucks or so. and computer bluetooth is cheep too, ~$20 for a fully 2.1 EDR adapter
Bluetooth Car Decks are easy to locate, and most all support A2DP which is the transfer protocol used for streaming audio.

3) Bluetooth devices do not "make you look retarded" they are a convienece for you as the consumer.

Agree:
1) Microsoft cuts 70% of all corners 90% of the time. so i'm sure they'll leave out bluetooth, or leave out the software for it on the zune device (much like apple did with the iTouch) until a stable release can be reached for the software interaction with the bluetooth hardware.

2) 5-10 dollars more on a feature would be a waste of money if the feature had a small target market.
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 NSILMike wrote:

 Portablewolf wrote:

Do you agree? [snipped] 

Sorry, no I don't agree.  Bluetooth is low bandwidth...the original std is 1Mbit/second, and the newer version is still only 3Mbits/second.  Not good enough for music, and not even intended to support music...  It's good enough for phone audio, and file transfers with PCs (slowly...) but not good enough to play music without skipping, except possibly in ideal conditions and very low bit rate files.  I agree with you that wireless headphones would be nice but Bluetooth isn't the solution.

1Mbit/second translate to approx 125kbytes/Second which is good enough for decent audio, A2DP will down-convert the audio so it sounds fine for transfer, 3mbit/second is roughly 375kbytes/Second which most audio runs at most 320/kbytes a second, and variable runs from 90~360/kbytes a second, leaving additional bandwidth for seeking on the songs/music. most headsets you use do not benifit from any quality over ~275kbytes/second bit rate. I use by blackberry storm with a cheepo walmart DUAL brand deck that has bluetooth enabled and it sounds great, 90% of my music is VBR, and it sounds as good as having a CD in, or using an IPod connected directly to my deck. (family member's ipod)
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I think that even if the bluetooth isn't active in the ZuneHD it'd be a great addition, especially to compete with apples iTouch now that they've enabled the bluetooth. which supports A2DP, and i have tested that it retains the same audio quality. Bluetooth isn't needed, but for those of us with bluetooth enabled Decks, and headphones, it'd be a great addition, and it'd be a great marketing point.

What kind of transmitter do you use?  I have motorola S9-HD wireless headphones and a Jabra adapter (which plugs into the headphone jack) but can not get them to sync.  (The folks at Jabra support couldn't tell me how to do it either)  I have resorted to loading the audio books I listen to on a memory card and listening through my phone.  I would really appreciate the ability to use wireless headphones with my zune, it would be a lot less transfering of files back and forth.  I too have been through many sets of wired headphones.  Thanks

Zune can already wirelessly sync with your computer, with zsunes and other mp3's that have sharing capabilities and hook up to the marketplace what else do you want it to do? i dont know why you'd have any NEED to have bluetooth! if you want to send messages or something then get a cell phone!

as for wireless headphones why the heck can't you buy a pair?? they sell them at any electronic store now..... not exactly hard to find. also i don't know about you but i ended up replacing the headphones that came with my zune in like a month and i payed about the same amount for the ones i got as i would have for a wireless set. and wireless headphones have a whole lot of disadvantages.... for example what it you want to only have one in so that you can still hear your surroundings while listening to music? i saw a pair before that had the wire connecting the two headphones so this would technically be possible but then you be walking around with an oversized and weird earing o.0 pass on that one

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I'm not a shadow in this world where even shadows melt away (Taiyou, Bump of Chicken)

i dont have much to say about this, because i have never used bluetooth, but what do you need bluetooth for when its not used for a phone?

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me= Zune 8GB/Zune HD 32
brother= Zune 120

I have a pair of Sony DR-BT22 Bluetooth headphones that i used with a Motorola q9m on Verizon and it worked as well as wired headphones. I went to a different phone and it's slower than the q was, so i dont use it for my music player anymore. I have 2 zunes (8GB Glossy blue flash and 120 glossy black) and would love bluetooth for these devices. what MS should really do (if not embedding BT in their devices) is release an adapter that is powered and inserted into the dock port. I dont belive that there is currently a power out on the dock cable, but there is a ground and line out lines. they can make it corner flush with the bottom of the flash zunes, and provide a few adapters to flush it with its larger bretheren (much like the dock does with its tray inserts). I'd buy that in a heart beat. you can also have it use a rechargeable battery that has a zune dock (or even a microUSB) port on the base of the BT dongle and charge it using said interface, as well as provide sync functions. add a pen-tip style button on the bottom so that you can sync w/ the BT headphones.

As for the argument that BT audio is inferior way of listening to music... if you were really trying to make that point stick, then you wouldn't be using a zune but would carry around your Vinyl Hi-Fi... you are already ripping the soul out of the music, why not the heart too? lol...

I think anyone who says MORE options isn't the solution is crazy.  Why not fit the needs of everyone, even those that don't mind perfect quality.  I think the point is that Microsoft is going to simply appeal to A LOT more people if they do include the bluetooth.... myself included.  I'm sure the microsoft people, being the braniac's they are, are researching and looking into everything.  I trust that they'll make the appropriate decision- and that being if in the end it's profitable and practical.  Bottom line though- more people are going to want this sucker if it has bluetooth built in.  My two cents for the day...

I really want bluetooth as well. I kind of want a Zune HD, but I'm not sure. A2DP Bluetooth would go a long way in convincing me to get one.

it would be really great if the zune hd could have bluetooth because i can do bluetooth internet sharing with my phone and then i could get online anywhere as long as i have my phone and zune. that would be really awesome but im afraid theyre not gonna put bluetooth which would make me wanna look for another player. i wonder if the ziiegg has bluetooth?...

It seems all too likely that Microsoft will NOT be including Bluetooth A2DP support for the Zune HD. The only way I can see this happening is that it's a hidden feature that will be enabled by a future firmware—à la iPod Touch, in which case we'll know in a few weeks when the device gets dissected and we look at its radio chips.

Our options now are:

• Petition Microsoft to include it in the future, maybe on that rumored 64GB model.
• Or, the most sensical option at this point, hope that a 3rd party accessory company makes an adapter that can attach to the dock connector, like Motorola and others have done for the iPod.

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I'm a PC and Zune HD was my idea!

 Peinao wrote:

It seems all too likely that Microsoft will NOT be including Bluetooth A2DP support for the Zune HD. The only way I can see this happening is that it's a hidden feature that will be enabled by a future firmware—à la iPod Touch, in which case we'll know in a few weeks when the device gets dissected and we look at its radio chips.

Our options now are:

• Petition Microsoft to include it in the future, maybe on that rumored 64GB model.
• Or, the most sensical option at this point, hope that a 3rd party accessory company makes an adapter that can attach to the dock connector, like Motorola and others have done for the iPod.

Why does everyone want bluetooth?

Yes, it's wireless. Yes, it's very expensive. Yes, there is a significant reduction in sound quality when using it.

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Mine's larger.