http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/02/microsofts-new-zunes-officially-in-80-8-and-4gb-sizes/

Honestly, reading over the comments on Engadget and Gizmodo I have found a very large chunk of the majority aren't bashing it. This either means that their all Microsoft Plants or it's actually kind of good.

Now all I need is a release date on the new software and firmware...

Doesn't look half bad.

Hmm, I've been looking for a new mp3. Will this have microSD capability?

Now it's equal.

Don't think so.

I have to say, as much as I like Apple, that's pretty awesome of MS to give the new features for the first gen Zunes too. Apple wouldn't even put the new search features from the 5.5g to the 5g iPod, and they were the same hardware...

It gets a big shrug from me.

Squircle.

Neat. I do love my Zune. I still haven't been able to fill it.

i'm going to pick up the new zen next week (oct. 9).
2.5" screen, sd card support, etc, etc. as far as i can tell you can't get a more compact, fully featured mp3/video player for the price. $149CDN at best buy.
http://www.creative.com/products/mp3/zen/

While the Zen isn't bad, in fact I've heard quite a lot of good things about it for some time, it's $250 for 16GB of memory and a 2.5" screen or the exact same price as an 80GB Wi-Fi enabled Zune with a 3.2" screen. Extra screen real estate is very nice to have.

Is it permanently stuck in "camera mode"?

I think MS did a pretty nice job. Wireless sync was a long time coming, but at least they did it. And the fact that they're allowing it on the old Zune is great, Apple could take a lesson there (5G owner).

I liked the first Zune a lot when I fiddled with it in Best Buy, but didn't get one because of no OS X support. It looks like a nice update, I wish they would start supporting OS X though!

Aso if what I'm reading on Engadget is right now is true, it might support lossless, mp3 VBR, and AAC in addition to the two new video codecs I know are comming, H.264 and MPEG-4.

THAT is what I have been searching for.

All the other SD compatibility mp3 players I saw seemed worthless.

OR I might get the Zen V (they are selling it for $30 at a Brookstones near me)

Cowon iAudio D2!!

i bet MS forgot the line out again

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/zune/more-zune-2-details-lossless-support-glass-screens-green-is-the-new-brown-306648.php

• The Zune and Zune Software now supports lossless audio. Windows Media Lossless.
• Microsoft claims that the Zune is now a much superior option compared to the iPod.
• Launch date, according to Amazon, is November 13.

• Zune Pass (the monthly subscription scheme) work with the 1 million DRM free songs, but all songs you download with the Zune Pass will still be wrapped in DRM to be recognized as a rental.
• Wireless syncing will automatically sync one minute after activity is stopped as long as you're in Wi-Fi range and attached to a power source (dock, AC adapter). You can manually trigger the Wi-Fi sync as well even without being connected to power.
• Syncing will interrupt any activity you're currently doing.
• All the old accessories are compatible with the new devices (there may be some problems with a dock, but they'll get back to us)
• Screens are now made of glass as opposed to plastic in the 30GB
• The Flash Zunes, even though smaller, have the same resolution as the 80GB Zune.
• Zune Social, the social networking site, will launch in beta.
• You won't be able to send songs through Zune Social, just pointers to 30 second clips of what you're listening to
• The brown isn't discontinued (it's still in the 30GB models), but they say green is the new fashionable color, so they're going with that in the Flash models
• No battery life details yet
• No sound quality comparisons vs. the iPod yet either

Well, this sucks. I have 2 extra 2gb Sandisk MicroSD's. Apparently, they aren't compatible.

from the same link.

Hm, maybe I'll get a Zune when I buy a new mp3 player.