This hack was posted By Fez of DarkZune. His description of the hack is as follows:

"Introducing zInternational,
this hack:
-Unblocks Marketplace for the latest Zune Software.
-Lets you update your Play count in Zune Social.

After the latest Zune Software update the Zune Marketplace was blocked for International Zune users. This took away their ability to use the Zune Pass and download Music, Videos and Podcasts. Aden, Administrator and part of DarkZune's Hacking Team worked hard and got this hack ready.

Download Here"

NOTE:The download link requires registration to DarkZune.

I received an email today letting me know that these guys are quite happy and ready to show the world, zSuite 2.0...

DarkZune's hack team leader PityOnU and the rest of the DarkZune staff and testers are proud to announce the release of zSuite 2.0 (2.0.2.9). The hack allows users owning Microsoft Zune's with the most recent versions of the Zune software to enhance their Zune experience.

This suite enhances your Zune Software experience and from the screenies I got, it looks pretty cool.

This release has 4 different tools to Enjoy the Social the way you want to...

zIconer

A simple way to define an icon file for your Zune when using zExplorer. Custom icons for Zunes will be available via the DarkZune Forum.

Read on for more screenies and links...

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A member of Zuneboards, has created a program to allow your Zune to sync with other media programs.

zAlternator is a program that will allow the Zune to be picked up and synced with programs other than the Zune program. It has been fully tested and proven to allow the Zune to be picked up and synced with the Zune program (duh), Windows Media Player 11, Winamp, and MediaMonkey. I have been unable to fully test the iTunes side of the program, but hopefully it should work.

For more info about zAlternator, visit Zuneboards

Thanks rock4christ.

Frequent GotZune Reader, WETWORKER, posted this up on YouTube the other day. Looks really cool.

Wow. This is painfully obvious. I don't know if I would call it a hack though. More of a workaround. I am quite sure Microsoft will come with a workaround of their own soon too. Anyhow, here is a way to get around the 3 play song sharing restriction.

This is a bit of forehead slapper if you ask me. We thank the Zune team for ridding the wretched three day play rule, but they left the three play rule and that makes us cringe. Thankfully Zune Scene has figured out how to get around that, but this should only be used for tracks that you produce yourself or tracks from your musician-type friends. *wink* You simply need to change the genre tag for your files to ‘podcast’ and voila. Have fun and enjoy your unlocked tracks.

Source: Crunchgear

Sarah in Tampa is at it again and found another very useful hack to allow your Zune to be used to play to your PC Speakers through the cradle or sync cable.

1. Add the following key to your registry, either by creating a reg file with the text, or go there yourself and create the binary value:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Control\Class\{4D36E96C-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0000\Settings\filter\SpeakerHp]

"EnableInputMonitor"=hex:01

2. Reboot

3. Enable the input monitor by going to "Control Panel" --> "Sound" --> "Speakers/Headphones." Click on "Properties," then click on the "Levels" tab and enable the input monitor button.
4. You're done - rock out!

Source: Sarah In Tampa | Channel 10  (Thanks Antonio)

I did...

Here are some tips to customize your Zune Software.

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SarahinTampa has a nice list of tips for getting more out of your Zune 2...

Hack #4: Convert DVD, video, audio, iTunes and YouTube video to Zune or Zune 2 - this hack gives you directions to convert DVD and popular video and audio file formats like AVI, MPEG, DivX, XviD, MOV, ASF, RM to Zune, convert iTunes to Zune, iPod to Zune, M4P to Zune, M4v to Zune, and download and convert video from YouTube, FLV, Google, Myspace, iFilm, etc. to Zune. It was written up for the original Zunes, but sources say it works on Zune 2.

Hack #8: Hack the new Zune 2.0 software to display custom themes - registered members at this forum can download custom themes called zThemes like this Halo 3 one or this Vista one. (Download link here)

To read the other 8, you'll have to head over to sarahintampa or Here.

For those whose Zune software or firmware update did not go as planned, or simply hate the new software, there is a solution for you. Personally, I would not downgrade, but users with multiple songs with Asian Characters may want to downgrade until Microsoft adds the support for Asian Characters. Full guide and instructions here.

Matt Miller weighs in on the Zune?.

So after a couple weeks of using the Zune, it may not be perfect and it may not be the product many people were hyping it up to be upon initial release, but it is a solid device with some good features and I am pleased with my purchase. I think most of the issues are software related that can easily be updated by Microsoft. The iPod is also a nice product, but I am looking for something more durable and scratch resistant that supports an unlimited music subscription service and a larger display for video.

Read the entire article here : 3 weeks later and the Zune is better than the iPod

I have used the heck out of my Zune as well and while the Zune isn?t all that it was hyped up to be, its a nice device. Most of the hype was from people that wanted to see the iPod fall anyhow. Like I said, the Zune isn?t perfect, but its a great Gen 1 start. Onward with production Microsoft.

As far as Wal-Mart Zune sales is concerned? My local Wal-Mart has sold about 1/2 of the 30-40 that were there opening day. I stopped by to check for a pink #/100 version. One of our readers sent her experience buying a Zune that resulted in addition Wal-Mart sales that day, its a funny story : Zune Power at Wal-Mart.

In addition to the great read, Matt added a list of some of the Zune Hacks that have made it out there already, I have stolen Matt?s list and present it here to you

• The ability to playback Zune Pass content on up to 3 computers
• The ability to easily integrate podcast feeds into your Zune experience
• The ability to use the Zune as an external hard drive
• A simple method to bypass the WiFi sharing limitations
• Running Zune on Windows XP 64 bit Pro
• Running the Zune on Vista