Zune for Mac, YEESSS

Well, obviously this means you can watch WMA and WMV on Zune software for Mac. I think this is good, because Mac people hated WMV because they can't play it, but they don't have the same problem anymore. They can still be a fanboy and like that annoying jerk trash talking on the TV ads. But, at least they will have more experience with Zune or WM formats. It is good for future format adoptions.

My mac plays WMV and WMA files just fine.

Always has...

Linkage?

GoddersUK said:

Linkage?

If this is about the .mov support, I don't see how this translates to mac support for Zune, although it's been one of the most requested features on the tech blogs.

I agree with Godders, link please.

The only interesting news about the zune lately is the addition of Xvid support in the spring release. Is there more?

intelman said:

The only interesting news about the zune lately is the addition of Xvid support in the spring release. Is there more?

Aw, sorry, just when I want to get a link, http://livesino.net/ is down within few minutes. Just my luck.

But it claimed Zune software will be available to Mac as well, which is along the release of Win7. So, check out the recent article about Win7 on the site of you understand simplified Chinese. I am ok with it since I know traditional Chinese.

dahat said:

While I have no inside information… I’d be highly skeptical of the Zune software coming to the Mac anytime soon, if ever.

 

Remember what one of the best parts about the Zune software is?

 

Zune Pass... which is dependant on some form of Windows Media Player DRM... something that does not exist on the Macintosh.

 

Though if you do have a Zune Pass account... I'd expect you could stream music from the web/silverlight side of the service.

Silverlight streaming from Zune.net works fine on the mac.

Even though there is no WMP DRM on the mac, doesn't it make sense if you are a content provider to build a solution for that if only to persuade partners in the DRM ecosystem to use your file format and encoding tools?

It made enough sense for apple to make sure aac drm works on the PC ecosystem, surely MS can make WMP drm work on the mac.   The question is does MS feel its worth their time.

dahat said:

While I have no inside information… I’d be highly skeptical of the Zune software coming to the Mac anytime soon, if ever.

 

Remember what one of the best parts about the Zune software is?

 

Zune Pass... which is dependant on some form of Windows Media Player DRM... something that does not exist on the Macintosh.

 

Though if you do have a Zune Pass account... I'd expect you could stream music from the web/silverlight side of the service.

http://livesino.net/archives/2414.live

here is the link. At least there needs to be some way to sync WinMo7 + Zune Service with Mac right? Otherwise, WinMo would be disregarded by Apple user. At least get some enough user from Apple users, then, drop the lack of support bomb. Muahah.

magicalclick said:

dahat said:

*snip*

http://livesino.net/archives/2414.live

 

here is the link. At least there needs to be some way to sync WinMo7 + Zune Service with Mac right? Otherwise, WinMo would be disregarded by Apple user. At least get some enough user from Apple users, then, drop the lack of support bomb. Muahah.

Why don't we link to the original "article"?

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/01/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-windows-mobile-7/

Well, if this holds to be true, I think it is the right move for Microsoft. Developers will be mad, but the OS will feel fresh. Hopefully the device still remains advanced enough to appeal to advanced users. If it were strictly the Zune HD software with a phone tab, it might not be enough. Some type of file explorer...etc.

PaoloM said:

magicalclick said:

*snip*

Why don't we link to the original "article"?

 

http://www.mobilecrunch.com/2010/01/18/everything-you-need-to-know-about-windows-mobile-7/

Credible source or not, I don't believe a word of that article. I don't know, it just feels wrong and seems to indicate some pretty stupid design decisions. I hope it's not true.

One screen size, no multitasking? Works best on OLED screens, what's that even mean?

dahat said:

RLO said:

*snip*

<taking off Microsoft hat, putting on cynical hat>

 

That all depends on the size of the market and the likelihood of being able to win users in it.

 

It makes sense for Apple to bring iTunes to Windows because the install base of the Mac OS is relatively small and by not doing so they severely limit their growth opportunities.

 

On the other hand it makes far less sense in my mind for Microsoft to bring Zune support to the Macintosh (let alone some type of sync support for Windows Mobile 6/6.5/7) given it is such a small market that is already being fairly well served by products that people aren't likely to give up given their attachment to them.

 

Don't get me wrong... I would love it if Mac support existed as it'd make it far easier to sell people on the Zune & Zune Pass... but I just don't see the costs of doing so being justified by the size of the market and likelihood of taking a sufficient share... granted... this rationalization isn't always followed by Microsoft (or any other company).

 

I would like to be wrong.

However, iPhone has a large momentum and is taking large chunk of mobile space. It is important to gain ground by offering Zune on Mac. I can see the momentum of recent Apple development. If we keep thinking it is a small player to be ignored, they will pass the weak man threashold and possiblly into the unstoppleable momentumn period. If that happens, I can't imagine how much market will be took over.

dahat said:

magicalclick said:

*snip*

Agreed... but at what cost?

 

Last I heard... Macs (desktops and laptops) comprise only about 5-6% of the PC market... let's assume for the moment that that same % when it comes to the PC of iPhone/iPod users.

 

While it's true that that still represents millions and millions of prospective users... who is more likely to switch to a Zune/Windows Mobile based device over an iPod/iPhone device? A PC user... or a Mac user?

 

Your average user on either side likely has some degree of investment in one side or the other through other purchased software (productivity & games)... as well as a familiarity and comfort that is no minor thing.

 

But lets say you are the guy making this decision... you've decided you are going to offer a similar/identical experience for the Zune on the Mac platform... and soon after your lieutenants come to you with a simple question “how are you going to pay for it?” Are you going to cut features from the larger experience by moving existing developers to the Mac stuff? Are you going to raise the overall development costs (and possible retail costs) by hiring even more people? Or are you going to delay shipment of your product even longer to get everything you want done... all the while risking falling behind of the competition? Keeping in mind the whole time that this is all being done in the hopes of being able to take some part out of a 5-6% bit of the market (and pay for the development costs)... where the competition is already heavily entrenched.

 

So which will it be? Cut features, increase costs, or slip the schedule?

 

Instead I'd argue that all of that time and those resources would be better spent making the Zune on Windows experience even better than the iTunes on Windows, or even iTunes on Mac experience so as to secure your base even better than the competition has over their own... then and only then... can/should you venture off and try to take some of their territory from them.

You don't have to port Zune software for Zune to work with Mac. You just have to implement the MTP specification. You know, the same specification you guys actually wrote?

I can't even make this up. Microsoft writes a specification that it hopes all DAPs follow. Almost all DAPs follow (except for Apple, but they implemented USB Mass Storage so w/e).

Then Microsoft releases it's own DAP which does not implement MTP, and in fact, is explictly designed through all sorts of DRM-like shenanigans to only work on Windows with the Zune software. LOLWUT?

The lack of Mac/Linux support an explictly designed feature you guys spent time and money designing. That's right, your company "design features / increased costs" for the purpose of explicitly denying Mac users from using the Zune.

So your excuse is lame and bogus. Sorry bro.

dahat said:

Bass said:

*snip*

I suspect you missed my key point from above, allow me to copy and paste it for you: 

Remember what one of the best parts about the Zune software is?

 

Zune Pass... which is dependent on some form of Windows Media Player DRM... something that does not exist on the Macintosh.

Should they have used MTP or another common way to sync the device... perhaps.

 

Maybe you should request a video on that subject.

 

No matter the answer... that is in the past... what we are talking about is bring the Zune software to the Mac.

 

Yes... they could go and rev firmware and make it syncable via MTP... but then what? You are automatically cutting off all of those new users that magicalclick wants to bring the goodness of the Zune to... by saying “Sure... you can use Zune Pass... only not on your Mac... unless you dual boot to windows... or on another PC... or just online.”

 

MTP/MTPZ are trivial compared to bringing the whole WMP DRM thing over... which has been my point form the beginning.

Yes... they could go and rev firmware and make it syncable via MTP... but then what?

Then Mac and Linux users could use the Zune, something your company obviously doesn't want. And not because they have low marketshare.

It's worth noting the Zune basically implements MTP, it just denies read/write access to all clients who don't know some secret authentication procedure. Again, Zune was explicitly designed to be incompatible. Not the other way around.

http://libmtp.sourceforge.net/device_details.php?id=64