Zune Screens are Cracking?

An interesting story appeared on Engadget today. According to a tip coming from Microsoft’s customer support, the company received numerous reports of the Zune screen cracking for no apparent reason, after being left charging overnight. The insider conjectures that the lithium ion battery; which resides right behind the top half of the Zune's screen; is expanding from overheating and putting too much pressure on the screen, causing it to crack.

The worse part for the Zune owners is that Microsoft currently regards the issue as outside warranty coverage because they don’t recognize that as a manufacturing defect for the moment. This may also be a coincidence of Zuners inventing about the same story to hide the truth about what really happened with their Zune...

Anybody having the same issue?

We have seen here at Cliczune an increasing number of people having problem with unwanted Zune’s shutdown. Static seems to be the cause, but no work around has been found so far. Do you have the same problem?

Is the Zune showing sign of the V1.0 syndrome? The first generation of a product is most of the time full of issues that disappear with the second generation. We were surprised since the Zune’s launch that most of the problems were software or firmware problems.

Source

Comments

[Ahd Child]

The tip engadget got did not come from MS tech support. It came from a guy who says he has a friend in tech support. Nobody in the forums has posted about screen problems. It sounds like BS

[Stefan]

I found that Engadget story very suspicious. I'm doubtful that its is true just more Zune bashing.
http://www.iwantapinkzune.com/?p=122

[Scott Wendt]

The static issue exists with other players though it seems to be FAR more prevalent with the zune. I have not personally experienced that problem but I have heard a number of others that have.

As far as cracking the screen by charging goes, it would only happen if the zune had a defective charging circuit as the charging should stop when the battery is full.

[Southpaw]

The static is actually an autokillswitch thing. I've had it happen and replicated the issue to test it(much to the pain of my ear). It's made so that if an electrical signal returns back through the headphones to the audio in it'll shut down to prevent itself from getting damaged. A reason it may happen more with the Zune is because it's sensor is more sensitive as to prevent any damage from happening, rather than minor damage, though I have noticed you do have to give it a pretty good static charge before it'll trip

[pinksage]

I don't believe it. My Zune is plugged in at work for nine hours. WHILE I listen to music. Never has it felt hot or like it was "overheating". The Zune mush have to be a very powerful machine to be able to overheat to that point.

[pinksage]

I don't believe it. My Zune is plugged in at work for nine hours. WHILE I listen to music. Never has it felt hot or like it was "overheating". The Zune mush have to be a very powerful machine to be able to overheat to that point.

[Anonymous]

my friend's screen cracked, but he said it was because his room was really cold and he warmed it up and it cracked... that's all

[Ruth]

My son turned his Zune on this morning. He heard a popping noise and the screen imploded with a crack. Microsoft said that there is nothing they will do except give us a case number until they decide whether the Zunes are defective or not. I didn't know about the overheating issue until this evening when doing research for my complaint to executive management at Microsoft.

[Russ Holt]

My son's Zune LCD screen cracked for apparently no reason about 3 weeks after purchase. we sent it back (it was in new condition) and we received a replacement which came in about 3 weeks ago. this past friday he was carrying it around & the same thing happened. no drop, no dents, no scratches. he loves the Zune, but now just wants to get his money back.

[Matthew keeney]

This is true it happened to my zune 2 days ago. it has no external damage and the screen is cracked exactly where the battery is.

[Not A Rumor]

Microsoft, as big as they are, should realize there is a problem with the screen of the Zune. They should be replaced because of several complaints. How can you be using it for 3 weeks and then it just cracks without crashing to the ground? NO dings, no dents, no scratches. Just imploded on the inside.

[Terry]

I have an alpine tv head unit with a brain in my car, when I hook the zune up to the brain after about one and a half minutes the zune will shut down and stop responding. I also have a system hooked up in my car, I found that when I unhook my subwoofers from the brain and keep the zune hooked up it works fine but when I hook the subs back up it shuts down again. I call Microsoft for help, no offence but I always get some guy speaking horrible english and they tell me the same thing to get the FM Transmitter, because monster cables arent compatible, but neither is the a/v cables zune makes for the tv because I tried them too. Is this transmitter any good because everyone says the sound sucks compared to the monster cables I have now. And what the heck can I do to stop this shutdown from happening?

[Chris]

Well even if every single one of the zune's screens cracked, M$ would only have to replace what 30,000 of them.

What did you folks expect from MS?

Sorry to hear about your plight, but come-on, this IS M$ you are dealing with. They still feel their Window's Operating system is secure.

While I understand many of you may not want an iPod simply because it is Apple, there are numerous other mp3 players out there that are far superior to the zune.

Truly best of luck with your screen issues.

[Fuming]

Thanks for the wish of good luck but it doesn't change the fact that I am out 250+ bucks and no MP3 player. From yet another person who's Zune screen that has cracked from the inside and no help from Microsoft.

[fatjack]

Purchased a Zune 11/05/06 after 3 months of use the LCD sceen cracked during charging. Contacted Zune support and was told Microsoft was not repairing cracked LCD by Andy #327968 Microsoft currently regards the issue as outside warranty coverage that my only recourse was to file a complaint with BBB. What a company... Looks like i will need to off load my other working Zune on ebay.

[JGP]

My son's Zune screen cracked after about 1 month for no reason. I was furstrated because he called and was advised that the cracked screen void the warranty. I feel tha amount of money paid (249.00 + taxes)something should have been done. He liked the Zune so much, he purchased another. If this happen ahgain, there is a problem.

[chris]

happened to me, it was in my pocket and it just cracked

[Monica]

We have only had the Zune for 4 days and the screen cracked. It was not dropped and the outside looks perfect. Circuit City refused to take it back, Zune support has refused to take it back and Microsoft support won't even discuss any Zune issues. For $233.19, someone should stand by the product!

[Monica]

I decided to try to talk with Zune support one more time. The customer support person I spoke with at Zune on May 24, J.D., told me that they sell millions of these and if only a couple hundred break, they are doing well because they don't cover cracked screens. A cracked screen will void your one year warranty with them. No one is even interested in taking this thing to evaluate the problem (because they already know they have a problem and what it is). Please tell everyone you know not to buy this product unless Microsoft, Zune and local retailers will accept responsibility for the products they make/sell and service this defective product.

[MicrosoftNeverAgain]

We will personally advise EVERYONE not to buy a Zune.

We will personally NEVER buy hardware from Microsoft again.

You want to screw us, MS, well same back to you.

[A-N-O-N-Y-M00Z]

well, this problem never happened to me... I LOVE MY ZUNE and would continue to LOVE IT!!!

[Pissed Dad]

Just had same cracked screen issue. My 12 year old saved for 6 mos to buy this in Feb. I warned him not to buy a first gen product. Today the screen cracked right above the battery. Not dropped or bumped. To those of you who love this product - beware, I just spend 20 min esacalating with Zune customer support and got the same run around everyone else is complaining about.

If you have not bought one of these don't!!!!

[melissa]

The same thing has happened with the Zune i bought my boyfriend this past Christmas. About 2 weeks ago he went to turn it on and there was a huge crack across the screen. The player won't play at all now. When he called customer service they informed him that the screens are not included under warranty. They basically told him there was nothing they could do. I never thought Microsoft would have poor customer service. Now he is stuck with a defective device and i'm out $250. I would not recommend Zune to anyone else.

[Negrito41]

I recieved a black Zune for my Birthday on 2/19/07.....Never had no promblems with my Zune. Last week I paid 29.99 at Wal-mart for the wall outlet charger. I left my zune charging overnight and notice the LCD screen cracked. Does anybody know how much i cost to replace the screen.

[sandy]

Yes. The same thing happened to me. It aggrivates me because not only is this device $250.00 but I purchased the replacement plan for it for $50.00 and the ridiculous cover for it for $20.00 and it didn't seem to protect it. The device still works fine and we were pretty happy with the device but now the screen is cracked on the inside not the outside. If it were dropped or bashed it would be cracked on the outside as well. Now the warranties are null and void!!! It seems to me that microsoft needs to stand by it's products.