Top 10 things Microsoft could do to improve the Zune (and their public image)

10. include a zune dock. having a stable dock on your desk is a lot better than all those nasty cables around
9. include the tv cable, a zune case or any other cheap but useful accessory. there's so much void in the zune box that you risk getting sucked in!
8. make the battery user-replaceable and make it cheap! many people hate the ipod because once the battery dies it's hard and expensive to replace.
7. merge the zune software with the current or next windows media player. I don't understand why people should give up WMP features for the crippled-down zune software.
6. add official conversion support for divx/xvid and other codecs (the zune can already do that conversion with some registry hacks, microsoft could make it easier)
5. add some other wi-fi functionality, for example sync over wi-fi or a light version of the marketplace accessible from the zune itself, with the ability of download promotional songs etc. wi-fi at its current state is completely useless
4. allow the users to use the Zune as a mass storage
3. distribute the DRM-less songs in lossless formats for example wma10 AKA WMA9pro v9.1, FLAC, etc. the users that will buy the DRM-less music will surely have needs for a particular format
2. let the users backup their playback license. the current situation with licenses is complete madness.
1. remove DRM from the unprotected songs copied over wi-fi because it makes no sense.

YES YES YES.
10-Would be nice
9- Is a must, also allow the Zune to record from TV, not so much a Media Center, but that would be nice too.
8- IS A MUST,  I will not buy ANY MP3 player if I can't change the battery quickly and easily.
7- Hell YES,  The Zune interface is poor.  WMP11 walks all over it.  I would prefer a merger of the two.  Merge the best of the Zune, detecting firmware updates of the devices (any MSFT licenced devices, playsforsure devices).
6-For me I don't use nor like divx, but have no complains if it is included.
5-Wifi with the PC would be good too.  I have several customers that would like to put songs on their device without connected it directly to the PC.  Something like the Media Sharing in WMP11, and Vista.  Buying songs from the Zune when connected to a wireless router would be great too.
4-The one reason why I like playsforsure players.  Sure you could hack iPods to do this, but having it out of the box, would make it a multi fuctioning device.
3- Agreed,  I personally find WMA, to be a better format
2. Yes
1. Agreed, what if I made a song and wanted to share it.  Right now this prevents me, which does not look good(remove DRM from the unprotected songs copied over wi-fi because it makes no sense.)

hahaha

Sorry, but all ten just scream "I'm cheap - gimmie free stuff to make me happy"

Not only that but each and every item on this list also applies to the iPod - except for the mass device support and I believe that's available via registry hack for the Zune - and that seems to have been plenty successful.

Oh and backing up the licenses... I believe that's already available since the Zune software is based of WMP11 - check the Options dialog.

FWIW, I'm not trying to be mean or mocking but honestly: everything on the list sounds more like a "gimmie free stuff" than anything else - and that's fine, but I don't see how it improves the Zune as a product...

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote:


5. add some other wi-fi functionality, for example sync over wi-fi or a light version of the marketplace accessible from the zune itself, with the ability of download promotional songs etc. wi-fi at its current state is completely useless

I actually quite like this idea, it seems like a good plan for using the Zune's WiFi properly.

RandyRants wrote:

hahaha

Sorry, but all ten just scream "I'm cheap - gimmie free stuff to make me happy"

Basically this list is also to improve the public image of Microsoft, and people like to get free things, and they also like to have access to new things (promotional tracks, and pre-released tracks), so some of this list would be good, and probably increase sales. (I don't claim to be an expert, but this is my opinion ).

Angus Higgins

RandyRants wrote:

hahaha

Sorry, but all ten just scream "I'm cheap - gimmie free stuff to make me happy"

Not only that but each and every item on this list also applies to the iPod - except for the mass device support and I believe that's available via registry hack for the Zune - and that seems to have been plenty successful.

Oh and backing up the licenses... I believe that's already available since the Zune software is based of WMP11 - check the Options dialog.

FWIW, I'm not trying to be mean or mocking but honestly: everything on the list sounds more like a "gimmie free stuff" than anything else - and that's fine, but I don't see how it improves the Zune as a product...

What? So wireless synching and WMP11 integration are already available at a price, but he just wants it for free? Of course not. And if you don't see how making the onboard WiFi actually useful rather than a feature nobody uses is 'improving the product', well, then consider me baffled.

You pretty much summed it up right there. I guess I don't think a dock should be included because it's not really needed and would just add to the cost but everything else is exactly what I've been thinking since the product was released.

If they can make these changes and manage to make the next revision Zune lighter I think they will finally have a product to brag about.

At the moment, those people who ridicule the Zune only because it's an MS product might be annoying, but for a change they actually have valid argument.

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote:

6. add official conversion support for divx/xvid and other codecs (the zune can already do that conversion with some registry hacks, microsoft could make it easier)

So true, Microsoft needs to stop pretending DivX doesn't exist and start embracing it.

Really, if they just added wireless synching and WMP11 integration for the next revision, then it'd be a seriously usable device. Add wireless access to Zune Marketplace and you have a device that has a unique advantage over the iPod. Realise, release in Europe, provide some good marketing (that odd, artsy style of the US marketing campaign would blend in perfectly at music festivals), and win. Why does this have to be so hard?

In fact: how about a Zune video, C9 team? Just hearing about the technology behind it would be nice.

They just really need to do something with the WiFi.  I mean, you have a feature...but you can't really use it.

People come up to me all the time and ask, "So...have you found anyone else with a Zune to try out the WiFi sharing?"

I seriously only have one friend who has a Zune, and while it's fun for a while sharing the same songs back and forth, it can get pretty stupid later on.


I don't think including a dock is useful. I guess I'm just a minimalist when I enjoy having to hook up a small little wire to my Zune rather than having to place a whole dock on my desk just for my Zune.

Also, other apps need to come onto the Zune. Games, calendar, a clock (omg, why don't we have this already?), a customizable equalizer, etc.

I agree with the Zune as a hard drive idea. Would be neat.

Because the Zune has an expansion port, it would be nice if accessories were released like a digital camera (motion and/or still) add-on or a voice recorder add-on. Those would really up the value of the Zune to me.

W3bbo wrote:



YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote: 6. add official conversion support for divx/xvid and other codecs (the zune can already do that conversion with some registry hacks, microsoft could make it easier)

So true, Microsoft needs to stop pretending DivX doesn't exist and start embracing it.

Licensing DivX should be possible, yeah. But isn't Xvid illegal in the US due to it using patented technologies?

Bas wrote:



W3bbo wrote: YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote: 6. add official conversion support for divx/xvid and other codecs (the zune can already do that conversion with some registry hacks, microsoft could make it easier) So true, Microsoft needs to stop pretending DivX doesn't exist and start embracing it.

Licensing DivX should be possible, yeah. But isn't Xvid illegal in the US due to it using patented technologies?

According to people discussing a topic on which they're non-experts in on an Internet forum (so this is really trustworthy material, folks) it seems like both DivX and XviD are "technically" illicitly licensed, what with both being implementations of various MPEG specifications without having paid the MPEG fees.

Hmm. Well, that could be reason nr. 1 why Microsoft isn't embracing divx/xvid support, I guess.

RandyRants wrote:

Not only that but each and every item on this list also applies to the iPod

no some of those items don't apply to the ipod. for example the ipod lets you backup your music licenses. with the zune you can restore the license only 5 times (for example if you format 5 times your PC) and then you're screwed.

RandyRants wrote:

- except for the mass device support and I believe that's available via registry hack for the Zune - and that seems to have been plenty successful.

that registry hack is a mess, you can write only while you sync your device.

RandyRants wrote:

Oh and backing up the licenses... I believe that's already available since the Zune software is based of WMP11 - check the Options dialog.

WMP11 can't backup the licenses anymore. same for the zune software.

RandyRants wrote:

FWIW, I'm not trying to be mean or mocking but honestly: everything on the list sounds more like a "gimmie free stuff" than anything else - and that's fine, but I don't see how it improves the Zune as a product...

only the first 2 points were about free stuff (cheap stuff), the rest are just software improvements and removals of lame and useless restrictions that cause MS to look like the DRM devil.

if you think that what I said couldn't improve the Zune then you should give a look at the reviews of other players. the Zune except for the UI seems one of the worst ipod-alternatives.

Bas wrote:

Hmm. Well, that could be reason nr. 1 why Microsoft isn't embracing divx/xvid support, I guess.

that's strange, many standalone players even from major producers like sony, philips, nec include divx/xvid playback.

however there's no need to include divx/xvid codecs with the zune software all I'm asking for is for the zune software to support conversion of .AVI files without having to use lame registry hacks.

the zune software is already capable of transcoding videos, including DIVX/XVID, when the right codecs are installed once you applied some registry patches.

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote:


the zune software is already capable of transcoding videos, including DIVX/XVID, when the right codecs are installed once you applied some registry patches.

Oh yeah, you're right. I get a bit fuzzy on the details of the software, what with it not being available here.

But yeah, that's a good point. Just let the software convert from whatever codec you have installed to a Zune-supported one.

Two more I'd like to add:

1) Come up with some nicer color choices.  While brown is a fashion statement in some circles, it is one of those colors that people either like or really hate.  I have seen enough comments about the Zune that I think it would have been better overall to just not have had the brown version at all.  While I think those are unfair slams against the Zune, the reality is that it hurt more than it helped.  I mean, it is one of those weird things: with iPod (in the same category), you had white, black.  With Zune, you had white, black, brown.  People make fun of brown, so, the winner is...? iPod.  Huh?

My suggestion is dark blue.  Yes I know pink has been mentioned recently, but seriously.

2) Make the units smaller.  They are too big compared to the iPod in the same category.

Oh, and everything else that was mentioned in the top 10 list...

BTW, this is the same weird logic I see when people talk about the WiFi feature of the Zune.  They say: "The Zune has this WiFi feature, but it is severely crippled.  So, the winner is... iPod, since it is not crippled in this way".  My question is, how can the Zune lose "points" for a feature that is limited compared to another device that does not have the feature in the 1st place?  If that feature crippled other, non-related features in some way, I'd say you might have a point, but since it doesn't it can only be a positive compared to another device that does not have the feature at all.  It is additive, not subtractive.

BitFlipper wrote:

My question is, how can the Zune lose "points" for a feature that is limited compared to another device that does not have the feature in the 1st place?  If that feature crippled other, non-related features in some way, I'd say you might have a point, but since it doesn't it can only be a positive compared to another device that does not have the feature at all.  It is additive, not subtractive.

because you pay for that feature (wi-fi is expensive!) and it's almost completely useless. it's like buying a 3.5g phone when there's no 3.5g coverage anywhere.

a FM transmitter (that some mp3 players have and was included with earlier zune prototypes) would have been 100x times more "social" than this useless wi-fi you pay for.

YearOfTheLinuxDesktop wrote:

a FM transmitter (that some mp3 players have and was included with earlier zune prototypes) would have been 100x times more "social" than this useless wi-fi you pay for.

FM transmitters are technically illegal in many juristictions, no matter how small their effective range is. That's why.