Zune Update

Somebody actually purchased the Zune? LOL

My cassette player will never die!!!

Somebody actually purchased the Zune? LOL

My cassette player will never die!!!

Hi Matt. I've not got a Zune yet, but when my iPod finally dies who knows.

My wishlish to make the choice easier:
- Bluetooth (A2DP) headphones that I can pair with my cellphone (and Vista PC) so help cut the wires
- If the music isn't DRM'd to start with, let me share it in a non-expiring way (without getting into the whole CC licencing issue, it's just a pain)
- Better way to sync to my MCE and grab recorded TV to watch on the way to work without having to do "stuff" - automagic transcoding over WiFi!
- Integrate the darn thing into a PocketPC format so I don't need to lug my HTC Wizard and Zune around (I don't like looking like Batman!)
- Maybe include an XM/Sirius option? Sometimes I want to listen to a live event or just have a bit more variety. Ideally include PVR options with that.

I think the Zune is a great 1.0 product. Having bought a 1.0 iPod I probably won't touch a Zune until it's had a year to evolve, get some fixes and find the real annoying stuff but it's great to see something new and different that dares to challenge Apple

Hi Matt. I've not got a Zune yet, but when my iPod finally dies who knows.

My wishlish to make the choice easier:
- Bluetooth (A2DP) headphones that I can pair with my cellphone (and Vista PC) so help cut the wires
- If the music isn't DRM'd to start with, let me share it in a non-expiring way (without getting into the whole CC licencing issue, it's just a pain)
- Better way to sync to my MCE and grab recorded TV to watch on the way to work without having to do "stuff" - automagic transcoding over WiFi!
- Integrate the darn thing into a PocketPC format so I don't need to lug my HTC Wizard and Zune around (I don't like looking like Batman!)
- Maybe include an XM/Sirius option? Sometimes I want to listen to a live event or just have a bit more variety. Ideally include PVR options with that.

I think the Zune is a great 1.0 product. Having bought a 1.0 iPod I probably won't touch a Zune until it's had a year to evolve, get some fixes and find the real annoying stuff but it's great to see something new and different that dares to challenge Apple

To be honest...I like the Zune.  However, I'm not going to buy one until you guys open it up.  Give me the ability to use it as a portable hard drive and plug it into computers not using Zune software to access the memory.  When I can use the Zune as a media player and hard drive at school...then I guarantee you I will buy one...until then, it's not worth my purchase.

To be honest...I like the Zune.  However, I'm not going to buy one until you guys open it up.  Give me the ability to use it as a portable hard drive and plug it into computers not using Zune software to access the memory.  When I can use the Zune as a media player and hard drive at school...then I guarantee you I will buy one...until then, it's not worth my purchase.

I agree with the arztek comment and to add, i want video sharing and a slight decrease in size also before i choose to buy one. LS

I agree with the arztek comment and to add, i want video sharing and a slight decrease in size also before i choose to buy one. LS

Where can someone e-mail the team to let them know about bugs/suggestions? I've got a mile-long list of problems...

Where can someone e-mail the team to let them know about bugs/suggestions? I've got a mile-long list of problems...

okay... my issue with this video is that it wasn't a "Zune Update" video.  We learned nothing new.  All we heard was stuff we already knew (or at least assumed and hoped) would be happening anyway.  In a nutshell, this video told us that "we're looking into updating a bunch of stuff."

The Zune is an awesome piece of Hardware... but the software and services pieces still leave something much to be desired.  I have a Zune and love it for what it is now, but I was able to justify the purchase because of what I imagined it would be able to do in the future as well. 

WiFi, Video Marketplace, "zunecasts", sharing, further Xbox 360 integration, Live Anywhere, larger video format for TV output, etc...

These are all things that need to be implemented into the Zune.  And, as far as I know, they all seem to be very much a possibility.  In fact, I'd argue that they need to be a regular part of the Zune aresnal.  When I can buy a movie or tv show on Xbox live and watch it on my Zune or my PC, then we'll be really  movin' somewhere.  MS keeps saying that they want connected media. Well, now all they need to do is connect their existing media ecosystems to each other so that their vision will truly come to fruision.

okay... my issue with this video is that it wasn't a "Zune Update" video.  We learned nothing new.  All we heard was stuff we already knew (or at least assumed and hoped) would be happening anyway.  In a nutshell, this video told us that "we're looking into updating a bunch of stuff."

The Zune is an awesome piece of Hardware... but the software and services pieces still leave something much to be desired.  I have a Zune and love it for what it is now, but I was able to justify the purchase because of what I imagined it would be able to do in the future as well. 

WiFi, Video Marketplace, "zunecasts", sharing, further Xbox 360 integration, Live Anywhere, larger video format for TV output, etc...

These are all things that need to be implemented into the Zune.  And, as far as I know, they all seem to be very much a possibility.  In fact, I'd argue that they need to be a regular part of the Zune aresnal.  When I can buy a movie or tv show on Xbox live and watch it on my Zune or my PC, then we'll be really  movin' somewhere.  MS keeps saying that they want connected media. Well, now all they need to do is connect their existing media ecosystems to each other so that their vision will truly come to fruision.

This woman is pretty annoying! Especially her voice! Next time I better watch her movies with sound turned off. Absolutely unbearable...

This woman is pretty annoying! Especially her voice! Next time I better watch her movies with sound turned off. Absolutely unbearable...

Here is what is being said on MSNBC about the Zune...

For instance, many tracks simply can't be shared at all, because Microsoft has somehow not managed to obtain or attach the proper permissions from the copyright holders. Then, the Zune isn't even smart enough to tell you up front which songs are shareable, meaning you go through the rigmarole of trying to send songs only to have the device tell you, a minute later, that there are no share rights. Annoying for sure. But it gets even worse!

However, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever for the Zune DRM system to apply the same limitations to tracks shared between users who have paid up for the Zune Pass "all you can download" subscription model, as we have at our home. This is one of those music "rental" services, where the tracks eventually stop working if you don't keep your subscription up. (A great way to try out all sorts of stuff you'd never consider paying a buck a track for.)

Here's the problem: The device already knows who's got a valid subscription, and which songs have been downloaded via subscription service. So how on earth is the software too stupid to put one and one together and give a free pass to songs legitimately shared between two subscription-paying Zune owners? That's a question we might want to ask Microsoft's supposed Wunderkind, J Allard, the guy in charge of Xbox and Zune. I doubt we'd get an answer, however -- because I don't think he has one.

After Apple showed off that iPhone , they better get moving fast and like John C Dvorak says....Put their foot down on the pedal and run with it. Not these incremental little fixes that take months.

As much as I like MSFT , if they don`t move really fast the Zune idea is dead in the water.

Here is what is being said on MSNBC about the Zune...

For instance, many tracks simply can't be shared at all, because Microsoft has somehow not managed to obtain or attach the proper permissions from the copyright holders. Then, the Zune isn't even smart enough to tell you up front which songs are shareable, meaning you go through the rigmarole of trying to send songs only to have the device tell you, a minute later, that there are no share rights. Annoying for sure. But it gets even worse!

However, there's absolutely no reason whatsoever for the Zune DRM system to apply the same limitations to tracks shared between users who have paid up for the Zune Pass "all you can download" subscription model, as we have at our home. This is one of those music "rental" services, where the tracks eventually stop working if you don't keep your subscription up. (A great way to try out all sorts of stuff you'd never consider paying a buck a track for.)

Here's the problem: The device already knows who's got a valid subscription, and which songs have been downloaded via subscription service. So how on earth is the software too stupid to put one and one together and give a free pass to songs legitimately shared between two subscription-paying Zune owners? That's a question we might want to ask Microsoft's supposed Wunderkind, J Allard, the guy in charge of Xbox and Zune. I doubt we'd get an answer, however -- because I don't think he has one.

After Apple showed off that iPhone , they better get moving fast and like John C Dvorak says....Put their foot down on the pedal and run with it. Not these incremental little fixes that take months.

As much as I like MSFT , if they don`t move really fast the Zune idea is dead in the water.