Comments on: Thoughts on the Zune http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/ A journal of geekery, music and joy Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:00:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Danny http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48111 Danny Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:48:40 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48111 The Zune does have a lot of room for improvement before it is ready to be my only media device, no question. The handling of podcasts per Rob’s comments above is a prime example. But this is MSFT's way. They come into a market late, pattern the competition by iteration, and ultimately deliver a very solid Windows version of almost any product. I bought my Zune for $90 from woot.com and would, like you, be ready to have someone's head if I'd been foolish enough to pay a penny more. And yea I too only use it for video podcasts. For now. But there are a few features you failed to mention that show a lot of promise IMO. With the updated firmware, I can walk into my house after work and with a couple of clicks set my Zune to sync with my wi-fi and it will, while I change clothes and clean up, download all of the new video podcasts that were added during the day while I was away. There is no other portable media device to my knowledge that can do this and it is a feature that I treasure. This allows me to plop down on the couch having never docked or even neared my PC and watch, via RSS feeds, all the tech news as well as local and national news casts that have been aired just hours before. You may not have an XBOX 360 but if you did, there is another level of features that allow you to share media with your XBOX or the XBOX of others. Old farts like you and I may yawn at this but the kiddies are all about this kind of communication as a platform. Pure speculation on my part, but I believe that the Zune will interface with the Windows Home Server in the next version. I would also point out that you can set the Zune software to watch any folder on your PC and sync accordingly. So you can continue to use your favorite PC-based podcatching software and, if the software is smart enough to automatically set ID3 tags such as genre, avoid playback issues. Of course I totally agree that the inability to create podcast playlists is ridiculous. They missed an easy to code and very useful feature with that one. Danny The Zune does have a lot of room for improvement before it is ready to be my only media device, no question. The handling of podcasts per Rob’s comments above is a prime example. But this is MSFT’s way. They come into a market late, pattern the competition by iteration, and ultimately deliver a very solid Windows version of almost any product. I bought my Zune for $90 from woot.com and would, like you, be ready to have someone’s head if I’d been foolish enough to pay a penny more. And yea I too only use it for video podcasts. For now. But there are a few features you failed to mention that show a lot of promise IMO.

With the updated firmware, I can walk into my house after work and with a couple of clicks set my Zune to sync with my wi-fi and it will, while I change clothes and clean up, download all of the new video podcasts that were added during the day while I was away. There is no other portable media device to my knowledge that can do this and it is a feature that I treasure. This allows me to plop down on the couch having never docked or even neared my PC and watch, via RSS feeds, all the tech news as well as local and national news casts that have been aired just hours before.

You may not have an XBOX 360 but if you did, there is another level of features that allow you to share media with your XBOX or the XBOX of others. Old farts like you and I may yawn at this but the kiddies are all about this kind of communication as a platform. Pure speculation on my part, but I believe that the Zune will interface with the Windows Home Server in the next version.

I would also point out that you can set the Zune software to watch any folder on your PC and sync accordingly. So you can continue to use your favorite PC-based podcatching software and, if the software is smart enough to automatically set ID3 tags such as genre, avoid playback issues. Of course I totally agree that the inability to create podcast playlists is ridiculous. They missed an easy to code and very useful feature with that one.

Danny

]]> By: dave http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48107 dave Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:16:56 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48107 Rachel, that device looks every bit as usable as you'd expect from a media player designed by a refrigerator company. Ken, thanks for this device. Despite my pan on the podcast front (currently), I think it really is an awesome video device. Alex, both the management software and the Zune firmware should be as up to date as possible. I had no CDs so everything came from the website a week ago. Rob, I appreciate the position you are in and have every confidence in you. I will definitely stay abreast of the advances and keep an open mind. I truly want to love this device and will as soon as it lets me. I'm happy to beta test if you have pre-release stuff you want feedback on. Thanks for taking this in the spirit I intended it. We go around about once a year, but I have great respect for you. Hope you knock this one out of the park! Rachel, that device looks every bit as usable as you’d expect from a media player designed by a refrigerator company.

Ken, thanks for this device. Despite my pan on the podcast front (currently), I think it really is an awesome video device.

Alex, both the management software and the Zune firmware should be as up to date as possible. I had no CDs so everything came from the website a week ago.

Rob, I appreciate the position you are in and have every confidence in you. I will definitely stay abreast of the advances and keep an open mind. I truly want to love this device and will as soon as it lets me. I’m happy to beta test if you have pre-release stuff you want feedback on. Thanks for taking this in the spirit I intended it. We go around about once a year, but I have great respect for you. Hope you knock this one out of the park!

]]> By: Rob Greenlee http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48106 Rob Greenlee Fri, 30 Nov 2007 01:42:24 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48106 Dave, We realize that Zune's podcasting support needs many improvements. I appreciate your review and feedback on it. We are in the planning stages for next generation and improvements to the current podcast experience. I have been here just 7 weeks and most of the current podcasting implementation was completed prior to me starting here. We do have some very smart people here working on the podcasting experience. Keep in mind that we are just getting started with podcast support in the Zune. Sure, we are trying to catch-up to Apple's 3+ year lead, but we are going to innovate and improve on the competitive experience. All I ask is that you keep an open mind about the Zune efforts at creating a competitive podcast offering. This process will take us some time to do. Thanks, Rob Greenlee Zune Podcast Programming Lead Dave,

We realize that Zune’s podcasting support needs many improvements. I appreciate your review and feedback on it. We are in the planning stages for next generation and improvements to the current podcast experience. I have been here just 7 weeks and most of the current podcasting implementation was completed prior to me starting here. We do have some very smart people here working on the podcasting experience. Keep in mind that we are just getting started with podcast support in the Zune.

Sure, we are trying to catch-up to Apple’s 3+ year lead, but we are going to innovate and improve on the competitive experience. All I ask is that you keep an open mind about the Zune efforts at creating a competitive podcast offering. This process will take us some time to do.

Thanks,
Rob Greenlee
Zune Podcast Programming Lead

]]> By: Alex Klein http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48097 Alex Klein Thu, 29 Nov 2007 22:19:51 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48097 Just wondering if you were using a Zune 30 with the old Zune1.0 software or with the new Zune2.0 software. If it was the old one, a lot of stuff has changed. Just wondering if you were using a Zune 30 with the old Zune1.0 software or with the new Zune2.0 software.

If it was the old one, a lot of stuff has changed.

]]> By: Ken Kennedy http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48093 Ken Kennedy Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:45:26 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48093 Awesome review, Dave. Sounds like we're close to same place w/ it. I think I /could/ have used it as a vcast device, but the obstacles MS threw in the way (transcoding everything, special software, yada yada), ultimately made it too much of a PITA for me. Luckily, though, I got it as a conference goodie (by far the biggest one I've ever gotten, and one I was very uncomfortable about taking until my boss assured me there was no issue). So I'm not out the $250 either. On the positive side, watching you work at it HAS gotten me back into watching videos...on Miro (desktop) and my Nokia 770. I LOVE the Nokia...it's only downside is only 500MB RS-MMC card, so media management is more of a task. And I'm really glad you're getting enjoyment out of it; your blog and podcast have been a huge positive in my life for years now, and the Zune is a trade I'm happy to make in return. Here's to many more years of blogposts, podcasts, and other geeky fun! Awesome review, Dave. Sounds like we’re close to same place w/ it. I think I /could/ have used it as a vcast device, but the obstacles MS threw in the way (transcoding everything, special software, yada yada), ultimately made it too much of a PITA for me. Luckily, though, I got it as a conference goodie (by far the biggest one I’ve ever gotten, and one I was very uncomfortable about taking until my boss assured me there was no issue). So I’m not out the $250 either.

On the positive side, watching you work at it HAS gotten me back into watching videos…on Miro (desktop) and my Nokia 770. I LOVE the Nokia…it’s only downside is only 500MB RS-MMC card, so media management is more of a task. And I’m really glad you’re getting enjoyment out of it; your blog and podcast have been a huge positive in my life for years now, and the Zune is a trade I’m happy to make in return. Here’s to many more years of blogposts, podcasts, and other geeky fun!

]]> By: Rachel http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48090 Rachel Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:42:14 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48090 If you're really into podcasts maybe try the ibiza Rhapsody. http://www.haieramerica.com/ If you’re really into podcasts maybe try the ibiza Rhapsody. http://www.haieramerica.com/

]]> By: dave http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48078 dave Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:10:15 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48078 That 22 hours without wifi is for audio only. I can personally attest that with this nearly brand new, barely used Zune fully charged at 6 AM I could not get a full day of listening plus an hour of video at lunch. By the end of the work day it was almost pooped out and couldn't play audio for the drive home. That 22 hours without wifi is for audio only. I can personally attest that with this nearly brand new, barely used Zune fully charged at 6 AM I could not get a full day of listening plus an hour of video at lunch. By the end of the work day it was almost pooped out and couldn’t play audio for the drive home.

]]> By: Andrew Herron http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/comment-page-1/#comment-48075 Andrew Herron Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:53:59 +0000 http://www.evilgeniuschronicles.org/wordpress/2007/11/29/thoughts-on-the-zune/#comment-48075 while you're on the topic, I saw this the other day - the zune battery life sucks too :) http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2758 while you’re on the topic, I saw this the other day – the zune battery life sucks too :)

http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2758

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