DEEP DIVE: Zune 4.0 Software (Part 3)

[ThoughtsMedia]

@shnouwzer You can't purchase music via Zune Marketplace as of May 2011, yes...but you can import all your music into the Zune software and put it on the Zune. The Zune will not work with Windows Media Player.

- Jason

[ThoughtsMedia]

@shnouwzer If you buy music using Zune Points, it's yours to keep - it's in MP3 format and has no DRM on it. If you get a Zune Pass, that music is only valid as long as you keep paying for the Zune Pass - when you stop, the music will deactivate itself (it's in WMA format with DRM on it).

I don't answer questions related to music piracy.

- Jason

[ThoughtsMedia]

@shnouwzer I don't work for Microsoft, so I can't make predictions about what they'll do. I keep hoping for a new Zune HD, but I doubt it will happen any time soon...

- Jason

[JesseReith1]

Hey reviewer; i liked your album 'Keep it unreal'!!! thanks bro.

[huamanJR]

BUY ZUNES DON'T BUY IPODS!!!

[genestarwindjf80]

I went through 2 iPods already. The only reason I purchase my ZUNE HD was WMV playback, and I can always convert any video file to MP4 or WMV. I really freaking hate iPods and Apple. I could care less for MS. Zune HD is the best Mp3 player I have. I only CARE FOR MP3'S not Ipods.

[whitedominic26]

you act very bitter towards microsoft, and the zune software....

[ThoughtsMedia]

I've been a Zune enthusiast since the very first Zune, and it can be frustrating to see Microsoft make the same mistakes over and over, and to not fix the things that have been broken since the v1 Zune. So if you sense a bit of frustration, that's why. :-)

- Jason

[minogoda]

also if u choose a well known singer in the smart dj it will give u the background as a picture of the artist and information about him in a cool way and when u choose the 3 icon next to smart dj and play it will get u anther artist who is some how connected to the one u are playing but it still need to be a well know artist

[xdxaxmx]

Sorry for double post, but more info leading on about it, I've been checking website dedicated to HD radio and they tell all the broadcast stations that provide HD radio and when I go to that station it just sounds like normal radio, it doesn't say HD or anything. Please help?

[ThoughtsMedia]

I'm afraid I can't be of any help here - there are no HD stations in my area. I've never seen this feature work, so I'm not sure how it's supposed to work. Maybe another Zune HD owner here can help?

- Jason

[xdxaxmx]

My HD radio doesn't work?

[Cancelled2Soon]

I don't lke how In canada we got completely ignored and we are not even allowed to download new podcast music,video anything!

I hope they get their act together because it's getting rediculous..we dont even have a zune hd release date for canada....:(

[runie360]

My Zune software doesn't even come close to using as much resources as yours does, so its got to be converting something in the background.

[ThoughtsMedia]

Yes, it was doing background conversion - which can be turned off in the software settings.

- Jason

[iHateEmoPeoplesz]

Why buy when there's torrenting? Hahahahaa, I must be the first person to mention it.

[Corbleft4]

dude your the first one to say it but i was thinking the same thing why not just torrent all your movies, tv shows and music. Hay maybe theyll be able to crack the zune hd and we can get free app's like on the iPod

[ThoughtsMedia]

Some of us understand that if no one buys music and movies, they won't get made anymore.

- Jason

[brendrt451]

AHHH when is Zune HD coming to Canada!!

I want to upgrade from my ipod touch 1g. Zune 4.0 is wayy better than itunes in my opinion. It's a little laggy probably because i am running it on max gfx settings on Intel integrated graphics. Can you use other mp3 players with zune 4.0 for syncing?

[iHateEmoPeoplesz]

Zune 4.0 is made for Zune HD, sorry.

[brendrt451]

Okay, I might just have to get a Zune HD then. I hope its App store expands the same way Apple's did. Or even half that would be great!

[Raizen133]

Good to see Another Red Fan.Good Vid.

[mancounter]

hey i have a problem with my zune it doesnt get reconized by my computer and it doesnt show on the device manager what do i do i updated the drivers and the latest zune software and when i try to connect it..it wont show and it wont charge either got any advice for my problem?

[paintballinwa]

It not slow

[CR1ST1AN360]

I hope in the next update microsoft adds an ebook reader function or somthing alon those lines so i can read manga on the go and listen to music plus a better update for my zune120 would be nice

[cMARVEL360]

One thing you forgot to add is that if you go under settings>software>general. Once you are there you can go all the way to the bottom and you'll see something called Taskbar. And the Taskbar gives you the option to make the zune software minimize onto the your taskbar.Once on the taskbar you'll have the contorls to play,skip forward,skip backward,and rate songs.If you put your mouse over the control you can also do the same things as the mini player.Btw i'm running Vista.

[librano]

Why do they stick with the DRM-ed content when everyone is going DRM free... aaah.

Jason, I think if you keep the use of various media like songs or videos to less than 10 seconds you are safe from any legal issues. It's not much but at least you can get to demo some of the stuff you want to show. Otherwise there's a lot of HD creative commons content you could use.

[ThoughtsMedia]

Nope, the 10 second rule doesn't apply. YouTube is really strict with us partner types. I've loaded some HD movie trailers up though, and will be doing a video that shows some of my own photos, etc. And it's not like you need to hear the music to understand how the interface works... :-)

- Jason

[consumev]

I tried the mixview and mine worked instantly

[AJComixII]

Blech, Smart DJ=Genius Playlist. I'm sorry, but Zune really is just fishtailing the iPod line. Zune's nice and all, but that's just what I'm seeing.

[chieffw]

Not to mention the hand gestures on the touchscreen is a blatant rip off of the macbook trackpad

[AJComixII]

Who's downrating me? I'm only pointing out the fact that Microsoft isn't that original.

[ThoughtsMedia]

You're being your typical trollish self, and people don't like it. :-)

- Jason

[AJComixII]

You insult me by referring to me as a "troll". I never was a troll. I'm simply stating an opinion, just like how you are stating that gestures are "idiotic". I personally don't care either way about gestures. Not everyone with an opinion is magically a troll.

[ThoughtsMedia]

Someone who comes to a thread about a Microsoft product and starts spouting off about how much better Apple products are is trolling - pure and simple. You're looking for conflict. As for my comment, what I mean was that pointing fingers at one company "stealing" gestures from another company is idiotic. I think a universal system for gestures is VERY important and I don't care who "invented" them. We all need to use the same ones.

- Jason

[AJComixII]

Actually, it's expressing a separate viewpoint. Trolling usually consists of spam insulting other user's background and such. I didn't even say Smart DJ was BAD, I only stated that it seems similar to Genious playlists.

[cMARVEL360]

No one is bitching on how ipods now have a FM radio.When the zunes were the first to have that feature out of the two.

[ThoughtsMedia]

The entire touch industry is rallying behind the same type of gestures. Apple was the first to implement some of them, others were the first to implement others. Pointing fingers is idiotic. For touch to take off, everyone has to unify around the same sort of gestures.

- Jason

[Runner50783]

FYI, the genious type of service is not an Apple original concept. It has been implemented in other players way before,(i.e. Winamp) of course, Apple makes every body (the non informed) think it is an Apple idea and then suddenly , they are saviors of the music world.

[AJComixII]

I'm aware that Winamp also does that, but that's clearly not my point. My point is that Microsoft isn't original, and they're clearly focusing on Apple, which is why I cite Genius. Downrating me is a very poor way to make your point, might I add.

[PatriotIzzy]

Jesus, get over it. Competition is what creates innovation. It also decreases prices, just look at how much Apple had to cut their iPod Touch prices. It's a win for everyone.

[AJComixII]

I'm aware that competition creates innovation. I'm also aware that Microsoft isn't the source of most innovation.

[PatriotIzzy]

You are one true dumbass, goodbye.

[AJComixII]

Because ad hominems aren't fallacious, right Patriot? Oh wait...

[CR1ST1AN360]

so microsoft refines plus apple sucks they didnt make the first mp3 player it was creative with their first zen in 1998 apple stole there idea and interface ive had a zen and its interface is basically the same look it up apple never invented shit all the tech they release has alreay been around for a while

[AJComixII]

I don't think putting words in my mouth constitutes a valid argument, CR1ST1AN. I never EVER claimed Apple invented the MP3 player.

Actually, NOR DID APPLE MAKE THAT CLAIM.

watch?v=kN0SVBCJqLs

Oh darn, a cited source.

Side note, what do you use for editing Jason?

[ThoughtsMedia]

Have you tried Genius Playlist? When it first came out, it was lame - it's still lame. Mixview and SmartDJ are way more fun to use and interesting. I think perhaps you don't know what you're talking about unless you've downloaded and used the Zune 4.0 software for more than 30 seconds...

- Jason

[AJComixII]

I'm not that impressed with the movie trailers. Apple has been doing that with Quicktime since the 90s, frankly.

[ThoughtsMedia]

So? Do you think Apple was the first company to put movie trailers on a Web site? They weren't. So big whoop.

- Jason

[freakout247]

The only thing I really despise about the marketplace is the MSpoint system, but I hate it on my Xbox 360 as well. They need to just put how much it costs, period. No stupid points. Then you buy something and it leaves you with like 50 points that just go to waste and you never spend.

[ThoughtsMedia]

I agree, I'm disliking the points system more and more... :-(

- Jason

[gotpsp06]

man the market place better hit canada soon

[andrewwk6]

points=business

[rolandsquare]

I think that's probably the point of the points; so that you don't really know how much you are spending and will spend more than you would usually.

[prattals]

you dont spend more than usual. you pay 5 dollars for 400 points and the songs are usually 79 points. you get 5 songs for 5 dollars

[rolandsquare]

You're missing, if you don't think in terms of dollars, you lose the sense of how much you're spending. That's the idea behind systems like this

[prattals]

but if you know how to figure out how much you are spending with these kinds of systems than you dont lose that sense. I understand what you are saying, but Microsoft isnt really screwing anyone over with the way they use points.

[amerind2007]

good reviews/overviews... keep going