Comments on: Zune - 2 Cent Software Suggestions

By: Chris B

Chris B — Thu, 22 May 2008 19:50:12 +0000

Oh yeah, is it just me, or is there no way to synchronize your quick list? Cause that should be a priority.

By: JohnCz

JohnCz — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:30:33 +0000

Zune teams absolutely needs to collaborate far more with other teams from

- Windows Media Center
- XBox
- Windows Home Server
- Windows Mobile

There are too many user scenarios that just are not enabled because these folks are not working collaboratively. At least, thats the impression one has from the outside.

Heres a quick list of just some of the missing / broken scenarios …
- Windows Home Server add-in for Zune. Sure you can store music today but there is no support for streaming of Zune Pass or DRM download content. Also, with WHS being a 24/7 device it could also automatically download new podcasts, etc… that have been subscribed too. As more and more consumers switch to laptops…a WHS based solution could offer some significant advantages & capabilities.
- Windows Media Center add-in for Zune. This add-in could do a number of things. Provide options to automatically/schedule transcoding of DVR recording for Zune (instead of doing this via the Zune client software). Provide a means to select content within the Media Center interface to wirelessly sync with a specified Zune device. Perhaps even turn the Zune device in a sophisticate remote (think Sonos).
- Windows Mobile..there needs to be a way to sync & play Zune tracks with Windows Mobile devices. I think its pretty obvious that Microsoft is planning on something around this..perhaps next year. And I wouldn’t be suprised if Live Mesh is part of the solution.
- XBox..with XNA for Zune, a future step is to allow some network game play between XBox and Zune users.

I don’t think Microsoft is stagnant at all in regards to these…especially the last two items. But I really would like to see more effort when it comes Windows Media Center and Windows Home Server.

By: Jason Hanford-Smith

Jason Hanford-Smith — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:16:40 +0000

My 2 cents:

- Asian/Unicode characters!
- Now playing list on the Zune itself that I can add to (just like I can in the Zune software, WMP, everything else)

By: Chris B

Chris B — Tue, 20 May 2008 23:31:13 +0000

Make Zune and Windows Media Player (along with Media Center) sync correctly…

In Windows Vienna (Windows 7), make it like *gasp* itunes, in the sense that there’s ONE media player, whatever you feel like naming it, that supports zune, and syncs itself between it and the media center software.

By: steveballmer

steveballmer — Tue, 20 May 2008 00:44:22 +0000

I will take all of these under advisement. Just remember though, that if you were really worth listening to you would probablly work for me!

By: Jason Rasmussen

Jason Rasmussen — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:30:06 +0000

I am happy to report Audible support for the Zune is coming. When is another matter.

By: Graham

Graham — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:24:52 +0000

Support for Audible.com files would be great!

By: Chris B

Chris B — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:54:12 +0000

Flagging of songs, like in the old zune software.

Also, maybe an "auto-off" timer. For people who listen to music before going to sleep, and don’t have a fancy zune-branded radio thing.

ZUNE TASKBAR!!! Windows Media Player’s minimize to taskbar is AMAZING - the lack of it for zune software is one of the main reasons i took so long to switch over!

By: Phil J W

Phil J W — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:10:36 +0000

@Vuurflits: Really??? how??

By: Vuurflits

Vuurflits — Sun, 18 May 2008 16:08:22 +0000

@Phil J W: with the new 2.5 version you actually can edit your video metadeta with as result the same kind of experience like the music interface