re: low-profile charger/data connection?

It would be nice if there was a low-profile charger/data cable.  More specifically, one that doesn't interfere when using the 3.5mm jack simultaneously.

From my experience, it is *possible* to have it connected/charging while having a 3.5mm cable plugged in, but the data port cannot be plugged in or removed without first removing a cable plugged into the 3.5mm jack.  I've found some low-profile 3.5mm cables, which makes it a bit easier to plug/unplug that while the data cable is also plugged in, but it's still impossible to manipulate the data cable with the 3.5mm cable still attached.

Or does anyone know of a good quality 3.5mm cable that has a 90degree bend that doesn't interfere whatsoever with the data cable?

Am I making any sense here? :)

I'm not quite sure I follow you on this...  My HD sync cable doesn't have the little 'release' buttons on the side of the zune-side plug that the same cable that came with my 80 does have.  (I can connect the 80 cable to the HD, but cannot remove it if the 3.5mm cable is also plugged in, but the HD cable has no issue.)
Is this what you mean?  If you have two zunes, check both cables...
Or is there some other 'interference' that you meant?

This might have been exactly my problem -- I'd just been using all the cables from my Zune30.  I'll have to give the new one a shot! (Though, I guess this means I'll have to get an "updated" car charger, too?)

Thanks in advance.

*edit* Since I mentioned the car charger anyway, does anyone else experience "noise" (RPM related) when the Zune is using the car charger and playing music through the car simultaneously?  It only happens when plugged into the car charger, so I'm trying to figure out where the signal noise is coming from... if it's the charger itself, hopefully the newer ones are shielded I'd pick one up for sure.

 miracle64 wrote:

This might have been exactly my problem -- I'd just been using all the cables from my Zune30.  I'll have to give the new one a shot! (Though, I guess this means I'll have to get an "updated" car charger, too?)

Thanks in advance.

*edit* Since I mentioned the car charger anyway, does anyone else experience "noise" (RPM related) when the Zune is using the car charger and playing music through the car simultaneously?  It only happens when plugged into the car charger, so I'm trying to figure out where the signal noise is coming from... if it's the charger itself, hopefully the newer ones are shielded I'd pick one up for sure.

I don't think you will need a new charger.  The power connections are defined by the USB standard so can't move around or change.  If it does something else in addition then you might...but I'd suspect not.  MS might add new features, but the legacy stuff probably stays put. 

 NSILMike wrote:

 miracle64 wrote:

This might have been exactly my problem -- I'd just been using all the cables from my Zune30.  I'll have to give the new one a shot! (Though, I guess this means I'll have to get an "updated" car charger, too?)

Thanks in advance.

*edit* Since I mentioned the car charger anyway, does anyone else experience "noise" (RPM related) when the Zune is using the car charger and playing music through the car simultaneously?  It only happens when plugged into the car charger, so I'm trying to figure out where the signal noise is coming from... if it's the charger itself, hopefully the newer ones are shielded I'd pick one up for sure.

I don't think you will need a new charger.  The power connections are defined by the USB standard so can't move around or change.  If it does something else in addition then you might...but I'd suspect not.  MS might add new features, but the legacy stuff probably stays put. 

Oh, the old Zune car charger still works fine for the purpose of charging -- but still the same issue as the data cable that came with the original Zune30.  If the data cable that came with the ZuneHD is able to be plugged/unplugged without interference (you were saying that the "clips" on the data cable are only on one side versus both sides on the original Zune cables)  from the 3.5mm jack, I'd love to have a car charger that has the same functionality (clip/button only on one side so it can be plugged/unplugged with the 3.5mm cable connected).
In reality, I try to have a full charge on either one of the Zunes before bringing it into the car, because the signal noise with the charger plugged in is pretty annoying to say the least, but it would still be nice.

(sorry for the novel)

 miracle64 wrote:

[snipped]

Oh, the old Zune car charger still works fine for the purpose of charging -- but still the same issue as the data cable that came with the original Zune30.  If the data cable that came with the ZuneHD is able to be plugged/unplugged without interference (you were saying that the "clips" on the data cable are only on one side versus both sides on the original Zune cables)  from the 3.5mm jack, I'd love to have a car charger that has the same functionality (clip/button only on one side so it can be plugged/unplugged with the 3.5mm cable connected).
In reality, I try to have a full charge on either one of the Zunes before bringing it into the car, because the signal noise with the charger plugged in is pretty annoying to say the least, but it would still be nice.

(sorry for the novel)

Not quite... On the HD cable end that plugs into the device, there are no buttons to hold for removal.   On the other end (the USB plug) there are no buttons or clips on either my HD or my 80 cable.

As for the signal noise...that could either be bad grounding in your car 'power' socket, or bad filtering in the zune car charger.  I suspect the first...or many folks would be complaining...

I'll have to check out the new car power adapters and pick one up if it doesn't have those buttons.  Thanks for the tips.

 miracle64 wrote:

I'll have to check out the new car power adapters and pick one up if it doesn't have those buttons.  Thanks for the tips.

Hmmm it occurs to me we might be discussing different cables.  I don't have a car charger, but do have an AC charger.  The AC charger comes with no cables- you just plug the USB sync cable that came with the zune into it.  I guess I've been assuming that the car charger is similar...

 NSILMike wrote:

 miracle64 wrote:

I'll have to check out the new car power adapters and pick one up if it doesn't have those buttons.  Thanks for the tips.

Hmmm it occurs to me we might be discussing different cables.  I don't have a car charger, but do have an AC charger.  The AC charger comes with no cables- you just plug the USB sync cable that came with the zune into it.  I guess I've been assuming that the car charger is similar...

All of my cables are from the original Zune30 (except the one I haven't even unwrapped or looked at that came with the HD), so on both the USB data cable (which works with the AC outlet adapter as you mentioned above) and the car charger that I have are equipped with the locking buttons on either side, preventing the ability to unplug the data/power cable with a 3.5mm jack plugged in.

After a quick look at the accessories available, it looks like the only "new" car charger is only available in the "car pack" which includes an FM transmitter and costs $80 bucks...  I'll just deal with the design flaw instead of paying an extra 1/3 the price of the device itself.

Sorry, I thought I was being quite clear...

Zune car chager (notice the locking buttons on the data connection):
http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=zune+car+charger&oe=utf-8&cid=13377156138830046856&sa=image#p

Though, after looking around a bit, it looks like there are a handful of 3rd party car chargers with USB ports (much the same idea as the AC charger you mentioned, only for the car) for very little money.  Using one of these with the non-locking cable that came with the ZuneHD will be my best bet.