One of the new features we got in the second go-around of the Zune was the ability to wirelessly sync your library with your Zune. I really like the addition of this feature even if its not something that I use much. Not at the moment at any rate. I really wouldn't mind setting up stereo dock elsewhere in my house and since I have several floors to my house it would be a pain to have to go get my Zune just to put new music on it. So I appreciate the utility of this feature.

The wireless sync, however, wasn't what some people wanted. No, some people wanted a wireless store. Now, at the time of release I was ok with not having it available. I didn't think WiFi networks were pervasive enough to make it really worth it. I still don't think they really are and I think the Zune team was smart to focus on more usable features for the moment. So why do I bring this up then? Here's a conversation I had at work last week:

Co-Worker: "So can you download music on it?"

Me: "Well, no, but I can wirelessly sync it down from my computer."

Co-Worker: "Ah, that's cool. Too bad you can't buy music on it."

Me: "Yeah..."

I honestly felt a bit stupid since when you say it out loud you realize how much better being able to actually buy music right there would be. I really hope that this is a feature the Zune team can work into Zune firmware 3.0.

“The Z-Shield cases for the Zune 30GB and 80GB models are made of frosted clear impact-resistant plastic that easily snap on and off. Each case offers the best protection for product including the screen yet provides access to all connectors and buttons. Agent Zune-Kit for Microsoft’s Zune Flash player (4GB and 8GB) is a soft silicon case that features a rugged diamond design and provides access to all connectors. The cases are bundled with a multi-position neoprene armband and one of the worlds thinnest beltclips (made of stainless-spring steel) for easy transportation while on the go.”



I’m always on the look out for a case for my Zune. Since I have an Originals Zune I often wish there was a case available that wouldn’t hide the artwork on the back while still remaining functional and attractive. A tall order to be sure. Mobile Tech Review posted on their forums that Agent 18 has released cases for all Zune models. A quick glance reveals that the plastic cases they sell may fit the bill of what I’m looking for. The cases sell from $24.95 which seems to be a pretty good value.

“I bought my Zune 80 primarily for it’s video playing capabilities (watching Video Podcasts and movie files), so I have spent a considerable amount of time researching this subject. Specifically, how to convert existing video files (e.g., avi, mpg, and vob files) for syncing and viewing on my Zune 80. Unfortunately, the Zune Software on your Desktop PC isn’t setup to easily process video files. There was a lot to learn, such as what video format to convert to, what video conversion tools are available, how to sync video files to my Zune, how to add description text and sort TV episodes to video files, etc.”

Zune Tips Weblog has a very good Video Conversion quick guide to getting video on your Zune. Zune Tips will also guide you through the process of ripping files off of your own DVDs if you need that step of the process as well. The software involved is all free and only your time and dedication is needed! I have used many of the tools in the past and while the results are quite acceptable you will be faced with a lot of work to get video on your Zune this way. If you don’t want to shell out the cash for one of the many software suites that will do this for you, though, it’s a very good option.

Have you ever lost any music on your Zune? No? Me either! But if you have managed to have something go wrong during a transfer, whether from PC to Zune or Zune to Zune, there is a possible savior out there. Generation Zune has pointed out the Zune Data Unformat Utility that can restore any files that have been lost on your Zune. Does it work? I have no idea. But if you're already desperate its worth a shot!

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea if this works and neither does Generation Zune. Use at your own risk! Who knows, maybe it has to sacrifice another song to the music gods before you get yours back.

Ok, I’m going to admit it. I watch American Idol and I have watched it since season 2. I think, as a site dedicated to not only the love of the Zune but the love of music in general, that we can admit it here If we do watch. Or everyone is just going to make fun of me, one or the other. Either way, tonight was the first night of this year’s show and it was a pretty good start. I actually prefer the later rounds because I actually enjoy listening to potential new talent. Even though the show is obviously not your typical auditioning process, the journey these people go through is quite real. And some of them end up as true stars. Daughtry is definitely someone I am glad was discovered through the show.



So with that said, I’ll leave a little running commentary during the season to see what people think because I doubt I’m the only person watching the most popular show in America! There were some really scary people in Philly. I thought the scariest one had to be the girl with the sparkles all over her face. The guy with the dreadlocks stood out to me for some reason as far as the actual talented singers go. And you’d have to have a cold heart not to be touched by that 16 y/o girl with the very sick mother. Overall it was a nice start to the season.

Just because I can indulge myself and I find the exchange extremely amusing (I need to get out more) I am going to add one more thought to the discourse between Anything But iPod and Zune Thoughts. Grahm over at abi writes: "If we are keeping it simple and features out that only leaves Bluetooth headphone support. The problem is IEMs are becoming more and more popular being that they are excellent in sound quality and isolation. You cannot build wireless IEMs, Etymotic tried but they suck and they still have a wire. Sennheiser’s new high end wireless phones don’t even use Bluetooth. So my point is Bluetooth as a means to transport audio to headphones is not a good solution and Bluetooth being used in any other way is a feature to clutter the Zune."

Now Grahm makes a good point in there about there being no real good application for Bluetooth other than wireless transmit of audio. While wireless IEMs have been a flop so far I still believe that a Bluetooth headset is still a viable technology. Its hard to see a reason why many companies would have put much effort into developing high quality BT headphones when there's no market for them! And just making the headset wouldn't really create that market. Honestly I think the iPhone may offer the best chance of seeing quality headsets produced since there are a lot of people who would be obviously be willing to spend a lot of money.

And sorry Grahm, since we just can't see eye to eye on the issue, I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep my allegiance to my Canadian leader!

Oh, and one last thing. Make sure to head on over to abi. They're definitely cool!

Graham posted on AnythingButiPod.com a few weeks ago several things he did NOT want to see in the Zune. Jason posted his rebuttal to that, disagreeing with most everything that Graham wrote. I’m here to back up Graham. Sorry Jason, but I think you’re just wrong on most of this! (He said if I wrote this he’d cut my pay in half but I’m willing to make that sacrifice to bring true clarity to the issue. See what I do for you guys?) Let’s take a look at this issue by issue.

• Clock/Alarm – Why? ALARM? I don’t know how to break it to the alarm crowd, but an alarm without speakers is pretty useless. And a Zune has no built in speakers. So to use a Zune as an alarm clock you’d have to have a special set up for it. I guess you could do it with a speaker dock but this really seems like overkill. And if there was much demand for this we’d get a speaker dock with a built in clock, which I wouldn’t mind. Having a clock wouldn’t be awful but I’d prefer to be able to turn it off. I have my phone with me at all times and we live in a world where we’re surrounded by the time. The Zune is probably the last place I’d want to look.
  
• Games – No. Just no. If Microsoft comes out with a fully functional portable gaming platform that incorporates the Zune into I might take a look. But the Zune itself doesn’t have enough inputs to be able to play many games on it and I really like the clean lines it has. No more buttons please. It has the perfect number for me. (No touch screen please either unless you’re giving me the option of not having one too!) Until then, I'll very happily use my DS for portable gaming.
  
• Web Browser - I have a WM6 phone. It has a web browser. The experience is pretty good but I got my Zune partially because I didn’t want to have the web and my music competing for resources! I hit play on my Zune and if I want to fiddle on the web for whatever reason, I pick up my Wing. Convergence is nice but our portable devices are not powerful enough to do many things at once. Music is one of those things that I often want in the background while I’m doing something else. Like typing this rebuttal.
  
• Voice Recording – I wouldn’t be completely opposed to this. I’d never use it but I think this function falls squarely in the confines of what a digital media player can do. Record sound. Play sound. Sounds pretty like it fits to me. I’d say of everything here, this would be a rather simple and valuable thing to add. Even if it has no value for me.
  
• FM Recording – Seriously if you want this go get a Zune Pass. Don’t be cheap! Yeah, I know you can record talk shows too. Could be done I guess but it seems really pointless to me.
  
• Bluetooth – Ok, this is the one major area that I agree with Jason. I think Bluetooth would be a great idea. Yes, it would require you to have another device to charge. I already charge 3 or 4 devices so to me, what’s another one? Its not like we’d eliminate the headphone jack! Until there were plenty of quality of headsets out there it would get limited use anyway. But as soon as either the iPod or Zune were to come with this feature I can almost guarantee that that problem would go away really fast.
  
• Touch Screen – I use my touch screen on my Wing and I love it. But I use it with a stylus. I actually prefer that to using my fingers. I HATE looking at screens with finger prints on them. Makes me insane(r). The touch pad we have right now is really nice and seems like a best of both worlds to me. We have tactile touch control. What more could you want? For all the people who love to navigate the iPhone or iPod touch with their fingers, I can introduce them to someone who had just as much fun with the Zune Pad. It’s the best thing since the scroll wheel!

"A common complaint concerning MP3s is their lack of interesting extras – the types of things you typically find inside the cases of compact discs, such as lyrics, liner notes, images and even keepsakes. That may change this year, as competition among the digital music purveyors heats up and third-party creators tap into the interest of music fans for more information." - Switched

I guess I don’t care as much about that stuff as most people. To be perfectly honest, I enjoy listening to music but I’m probably not ‘into’ it like many people. However! I do know that many people like this sort of thing and I’m glad to see that they’re finally going to add more of a consumer experience into buying digital music.

The types of things you can have as part of the digital experience are much different than what buying a jewel case would get you. I think it has the potential to be more valuable to more people in the long run. Personally, I’d love to see the ability to play lyrics on the screen as the music plays. Not that I sing along or anything…

“Thanks to a tip from reader Sajith, Seattle’s creative agency Digital Kitchen has worked with Microsoft to create what they call “Raw Deluxe” which they describe as “a product-driven video combining rich still photography and video to personify the raw-deluxe style of the Microsoft Zune”.”

But they make sure not to show it to anyone! Heaven forbid they show the world they’re capable of producing an ad that makes their product look like something people would want. This video is only for promotional Microsoft events. This needs to be a Super Bowl ad.

(Thanks I Started Something for spotting it!)

One thing that most of us like about the new Zune Marketplace software is the clean overall look. With that said, the color scheme for the original software was pretty cool in my opinion. I thought it had a real underground feel to it. Fortunately there are other people out there who liked it enough to make a theme for the current application. WillysJeepMan over at Zunerama has made an awesome adaptation and if you want to use it, head on over and follow his instructions. Its definitely getting set as my new theme.