| Free Zune downloads; it sounds great, doesn't it? Well, | | | | 360 is already a media center extender, so the |
| guess again. Sure, you can find free Zune download | | | | addition of Zune streaming capability really increases |
| hub sites, but if you find a legal one that has first rate | | | | its functionality. |
| music, movies and videos, be sure you sing from the | | | | When downloading video files to a Zune, you'll need to |
| mountaintops. Why sing out? Because, you probably | | | | convert them to decrease storage requirements. |
| found the only one of its' kind that's legal. Most of | | | | Because the LCD screen is only 3", the loss of |
| those free download sites for the Zune, and the iPOD | | | | resolution isn't noticeable. Another benefit of file |
| too, for that matter, are basically pirate sites. They're | | | | conversion is that converted files require fewer CPU |
| full of stolen or illegally copied music and video | | | | cycles of the Zune's processor. |
| downloads. | | | | Now, there actually are free downloads available for |
| The best thing about the Microsoft Zune is the luscious, | | | | your Zune, and some of them do include content files, |
| 3" screen that's virtually dripping with vibrant color. It's a | | | | however most of them are applications and utilities, |
| screen you can actually watch TV episodes and | | | | such as file converters. You can find some free music |
| videos on while you're on the train into the city. Sure, | | | | and video content to download. The lion's share of |
| there are other great features as well, such as | | | | them are indy and underground tracks from little |
| integrated WiFi capability, so you can share files with | | | | known bands, but not all. In any case, you can discover |
| other Zunes. The wireless networking capability makes | | | | some really great music from these artists. |
| it so easy to share that great, new track with friends. | | | | What you can find, in lieu of a free download site |
| As you'd expect with a Microsoft product, the Zune | | | | chock full of pirated files, is a one time fee site that |
| has an appetite for Windows Media files, both music | | | | allow unlimited downloads after you pay a reasonable, |
| and video. It can use the WMA lossless format to | | | | one time fee. That small, one time fee entitles you to |
| preserve every bit (pun intended) of sound quality your | | | | max out your hard drive on every conceivable type of |
| tracks contain. In the event you've already got a drive | | | | download, both music and video. The one time |
| full of MP-3 music, don't fret, the Zune can gobble | | | | payment for unlimited downloads is a much better |
| those up as well. MP-3s can be up to 320 KB/s, while | | | | option that risking the wrath of the RIAA or MPAA by |
| WMAs max out at 192 KB/s, unless you elect to use | | | | siphoning off illegitimate content. So when you're |
| the lossless version. One last feature that will be | | | | looking for tracks or videos for your Zune, pass the |
| useless to some, but oh, so cool to others, is the ability | | | | pirate sites by in favor of another option. |
| of the Zune to stream to and from an X-box 360. A | | | | |