Zune HD apps are here... FREE.... Complete with pre-roll ads

[Conscript]

Apps for the new Zune HD (read our review) are now available... with an unexpected "bonus": static and video ads that play during launch.

Nine apps are available: calculator, weather, Texas hold 'em, Sudoku, Space Battle 3, Shell Game... Of the Future, Hexic, Goo Splat, and Chess. They can be downloaded freely from the "Marketplace" menu on the device, and a new "Apps" menu item then appears on the main screen (you'll need to scroll down the main menu to see it, as it's pushed off the bottom of the first screen). Apps function just as you'd expect—they're small programs that look great and really take advantage of the nice screen. They are all professionally designed by Microsoft, though a couple are really worthless (ahem, Shell Game... Of the Future), but hey, they're free!

Or, rather, they're "free," since Microsoft has apparently decided to sell ads against them. The ads show up during app launch, which takes an astonishingly long time. Booting Chess took 30 seconds, though I suppose one could be grateful for the Kia Soul video that gives the eyes something to do. Launching the weather app takes about 8 seconds, the calculator about 9. Goo Splat, which has been showing a static ad this morning for the Soul, launches in about 17 seconds.

Ads don't show up (or at least they haven't yet) when launching the utility apps, calc and weather; instead, they are limited to the games. The games themselves are bright, colorful, and work much better with the touchscreen than they ever did with the touch pad in the last Zune models. Chess and Sudoku, especially, look like an excellent diversion when you have a few minutes to kill.

The apps are all touch-enabled, though it looks as though only the calculator takes advantage of the accelerometer; twisting the screen into landscape mode switches the calculator to a scientific model.
Like the Web browser, the apps feel like a decent "bonus" on a generally excellent media player, though none are exceptionally compelling. Reactions to the ads may differ, though it is possible to avoid them by keeping games off the Zune HD.

Some pictures of the apps in action below:

SOURCE

Free is always good.
http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2009/09/zune-hd-apps-are-here-complete-with-pre-roll-ads.ars

 

[Necrokiller]

If theres one thing Microsoft can't beat Apple in, its the portable media market. And these most basic apps are nothing to get excited over. They should've been hanged if these weren't free.

The ads show up during app launch, which takes an astonishingly long time. Booting Chess took 30 seconds, though I suppose one could be grateful for the Kia Soul video that gives the eyes something to do. Launching the weather app takes about 8 seconds, the calculator about 9

Striking similarities

 

[Conscript]

If theres one thing Microsoft can't beat Apple in, its the portable media market.

Xbox failed to go beyond moderate success in previous gen. And now 360 has done pretty well. Wait a gen or two. MS will capture a sizable market share in the hand-held market in a few years. But for the time being no doubt Apples owns them.

 

[Necrokiller]

this is not the first Zune. A gen or two is too long And Apple won't be sleeping all that time you know. Although it boasts touch screen and all that, its nothing we haven't already seen, or even doing the same things in a different, more appealing way. it would take something more than this from MS to give consumers reasons to choose this over the competition.

 

[naki]

what is the price of this thing