Zune Sharing explained
Some of the comments below indicate that the details of Zune sharing aren't completely clear. Let me walk through the Zune does and Zune doesn'ts...
Zunes have wireless built in. Zunes can thus set up "ad-hoc" (Zune to Zune) connections to one another. This enables the following scenarios:
- You can search for nearby Zune owners to interact with.
- You can send them a song, album, etc... for a 3-day/3-play trial listen. Songs come over with metadata and album art (neat). After the 3 days or 3 plays are up, the song gets deleted from the Zune on the next sync, but the info on the song stays in a "journal" on your PC for later purchase or acquisition.
- You can send them photos for unlimited viewing (and these can sync back onto the recipient's PC).
Caution: Zune may suddenly accelerate to dangerous speeds. Zune Contains a liquid core, which, if exposed due to rupture, should not be touched, inhaled, or looked at. Do not use Zune on concrete. Discontinue use of Zune if any of the following occurs: Itching, Vertigo, Dizziness, Tingling in extremities, Loss of balance or coordination, Slurred speech, Temporary blindness, Profuse sweating, or Heart palpitations.
Oh, wait. That last part is about Happy Fun Ball. But the rest is accurate.
59 Comments:
mmmmmmmmm... Itching and Vertigo
"but Zunes will not (at launch) connect to the internet via your home base station network. Zunes can not download songs over the air from the internet service. Zunes cannot act as telephones or personal teleporters."
Pooey... well, at least you said "At Launch" and you didn't mention connectivity to your PC via WiFI... yay it might be there!
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but can it connect to pcs wirelessly (not the internet, mind you)? Can it connect to a PS3/Wii, let alone a 360? And what's the story with USB OTG or on-the-device search?
I thought if a song doesn't have any DRM on it when you send it to another Zune, it will not have the 3 day/3 play rule, is this correct?
Ben, I'm pretty sure I read elsewhere that even non-DRM'd tracks will get wrapped in the 3 day/play.
This makes sense of course from a pure legal stand-point. There are *very* few instances when you should be "legally" just giving your music away. Even if I rip a CD to a non-DRM format that does not mean you should give those tracks to your best friend, he again should "legally" buy his own copy.
Of course almost no one does that and most people are casual pirates but from a legal stand-point you should not just be giving your ripped music to your buddies. Like it or not Microsoft still has to keep the record labels happy otherwise you won't see jack for music in the Marketplace.
Sure, there are the times you have a podcast or some music you made yourself but in those situations you can just direct your friends to the website instead.
Lastly, it has to be remembered that the purpose of the WiFi in Zune *isn't* as a way to distribute music, it's a way to discover new music.
Thanks for clearing that up. I think its good that after you have listened to the song 3 times it deletes at sync but you still have a record of it for later.
Hey,
I don't get why this 3day/play thing is such a huge deal. Subscription is only $15 a month! For $15, you can download UNLIMITED songs.
-www.ZuneBoards.com
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Because sharing is a main part of the Zune experience. Even the promotional ads encourage sharing...
Go google the Grokster Ruling and you'll see why they have to enforce the 3day/3play thing.
Sadly, it cannot connect to a pc wirelessly at launch (but don't think we didn't think about this).
I'm curious what scenarios folks would be most interested in with a wireless connection to a pc?
I'll look into USB OTG and get back with you.
Wireless scenarios:
1. Sync, obviously. If I can dock the Zune somewhere other than the computer and still keep it updated, that's nice. Right now, the computer is a mass of cradles and dangling USB cables (two WM5 phones, a PDA, two media players, card reader, and wireless mouse).
2. Stream playback from Zune to computer/360. Right now, if a friend wants to take a song on his device and play it on my stereo, he has to copy it onto the computer (which leaves me with cleanup work later, or pirated music); easier if I could just flip on the 360 (or load up a software app) and play his music directly off the device.
I'm excited about the Zune and big fan of MCE and Xbox360.But if Zune to Zune sharing is the only scenario (for wifi) supported it's terribly disappointing. It's should at least sync to your PC and play music / videos streamed to it from the PC(minimally) for the Wifi feature to be useful.
These are all good scenarios, and trust us zune -> Zune community isn't the only thing on our list. Once you've got a wifi stack in the devices, the list of fun scenarios is overwhelming.
We're just going to take some time to really get them right and roll them out when they're mainstream simple.
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I would like to use my PC as a "server" and have the ability to swap video and audio off of it to my Zune. As long as my PC was on and connected to the internet, it would give me a place to connect to it via mac code or some other form of "labeling"... For awhile, people have been saying that the PSP can connect to your own PS3 ANYWHERE in the world as long as you have a hotspot... Even know iPod is your biggest competition, I think you should do something similar with the PC and XBOX.
How it would work....
Every Zune has a differant number internally ... maybe a 20-200` letter/code combination that is hidden away in the system so noone can get ahold of it. Once you have a Zune, you connect it to your pc and have a program that bookmarks that code to "Identify" your Zune. Then you have another program that acts as a database, you put your music, podcasts, videos, and etc. in this database. The database and other program connect to a microsoft server and keep yelling out for your Zune number via the internet. Once you connect your Zune optionally to the internet, you can choose to search for your pc. So it throws your code onto the server and the server allocates your computer. Then, a direct connection is made to your database. The database would appear on the Zune with your Zune directories on the left, and the database on the right.
As shown in my Fireworked pic here:
http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/2535/zuneshow1lf6.jpg
(the links are normally to big for blogger, so triple click the link to select it all and then copy it into your browser )
When you select an item on your computer, it automatically senses the folder that file goes to... so mp3s and wmas go to the Zune music folder...
See here:
http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9816/zuneshow2fg8.jpg
Just copy the links in your browser....
David,
Suppose I buy a Zune player for myself and three for my daughers.
If I buy a ZunePass subscription, can we as a family use that to load up our Zune players with music - - or do we have to buy 3 subscriptions?
Curious if the ZunePass is tied to the ZunePlayer or to the "host PC" somehow.
Harvey
http://www.zunerama.com
I understand about PCs, but can it connect to an Xbox? When the 360 was launched, J touted the ability to work with iPods, as MS really wanted to install the 360 as a staple of the consumer living room. What's the story with this? Can the 360 handle the USB cable to the Zune? What's the situation with this?
Yes; plug your zune sync cable into the xbox 360 and lots of cool things happen.
1) Sync'ing via WiFi that's absolutely my number 1 Zune WiFi feature request.
2) As has been mentioned in other places, going to a concert and having the band(s) share their new track/album. Or additionally bring back Live Bootlegs. Have the performance you are watching shared (although the 3play/3day thing wouldn't really make this useful).
3) Wifi enabled Kiosks for at BestBuy, the Mall and etc. Dishing out 3play/3day tracks or even whole albums.
4) WiFi enabled Movie "posters". You're at the movie theater and you're waiting in line to buy your tickets/popcorn/whatever and you see a "poster" for a movie that looks interesting. The "poster" can be sharing out a trailer of the movie via Zune wiFi.
5) What about other retail oppertunities outside of music and movies? A shop at the Mall could be sharing a commericial for it's latest product or the current sale going on. Research the mobile phone industry specifically looking at "Location based content" or Location based advertising" for what they are upto...
6) Sort of along the same lines as the Kiosk thing. A business could share the house music that's being played. Or again at the movie theater the Previews before the featured movie could shared.
7) Take a sports bar situation. A multitude of TV's each showing a different game. You could have the audio (and possibly video) from the game you are most interested in streamed "live" to your Zune.
Mattp, those are cool ideas. They really illustrate the type of worlds that open up with the addition of Wi-Fi capabilities.
I'm really excited about the zune, but also concerned with the wi-fi features. If I buy a zune at launch are there going to be firmware/software updates as more wi-fi and other features are added? or are we going to have to buy a new player every year like ipod fans?
There will be updates, unlike on the iPod.
will the Zune connect to PS3 or Wiis? (not that I would get one, but can I hook it up if I were to have one?)
Nope.
So what you're telling us is, wifi is there to only give us a taste of what content is out there, kinda like showing us advertisement?
Bored standing in line getting a movie ticket? Download the movie poster and Ads!!
Or go down to HMV and try out those songs 3x3!! Discover new content is what you call this.
So whats the difference between Napster and Zune again?
Lame.
Looks like someone took your word and twisted it a bit.
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/02/zune-wireless-worthless-for-now/
I was wondering in a market where perception is everything how you guys counter the negative campaigns which are against Zune.
Also can you reveal how soon a firmware upgrade will be coming. From reading all the post I think two features is wanted by everyone:
1. Support for lossless
2. Getting music wirelessly
I think these tow features will take care of about 70% of criticism against Zune.
David,
What about the DJ feature. Are we going to be able to stream content to other Zune users?
I hear a lot of talk about wi-fi. My only question is given that right now there is no sync with pc over wi-fi, how simple it would be for a initial buyer of Zune to have the pc sync feature in future?
I have alot of plays for sure music. I wont be buying a Zune cause it doesnt support MSs PFS standard
David - will the Zune be able to share un-DRM'ed files like MP3? Every writeup I've seen lately seems to assume that unprotected files can be shared, but I've seen no definitive word from Microsoft or Zune on whether this is in fact possible.
wouldn't it cool if there's IM (any) install w/ firmware update, so we can chat w/ fellow zune or online IM buddies. isn't cool? VOIP or skype? sound very good. wouldn't it?
Please, hundreds of lines have been written and i still don't know if the following sentence is correct:
"when you share a DRM'd file with Zune Player the target will be able to play it for 3 days/times, wichever comes first, if you send a non DRM'd file, mp3/jpeg/etc, it works just like a normal file transfer and no limit is imposed onto the target, just like copying a file from a memory card to the pc, sending through email, etc"
"only DRM'd files get that 3days/times limit, and you can share any file you place on the zune, wether it is supported for playback or not"
Your sentence is incorrect. All audio content is treated the same, including the 3 day + 3 play limit.
photos can be exchanged without limits.
Explain again to me why Zune is so cool?
1. WiFi that has potential, but wont do what everyone wants it to do (buy or sync songs wirelessly) Yes, sharing might be cool if there were as many people out there with Zunes as there are people with iPods
2. Large and cludgy (perhaps to hold the large display)
3. Large display with no movies or TV shows available? Oops!
4. No support for Microsoft's Plays For Sure format. What?!? I guess it doesn't play for sure.
Again, give me an honest assessment, not fanboy crap.
The main reason for my interest in the Zune was this scenario:
Put all your digital content on a Home NAS server with UPNP media streaming. Plug your Zune into the Stereo at home and listen to music from the NAS or plug it into your TV for watching movies or pictures.
Cheers
Jesper
Sorry Jesper. Sounds to me like you should be investigating Apple's products instead.
Wow, the future looks grim if this is all we can look forward to.
David -
The number one wireless feature that really has to be there asap is the ability to buy songs from the Zune. I really can't stress this enough. Every person I've talked to about the Zune yawns until I mentioned that capability (I thought it would be out at launch). I realize you can't say when, but I hope it's soon.
The other thing that I think needs to be addressed is a smaller, less featured "nano" like version in addition to the current model. Many iPodders I know would actually switch to a zune if there were a mini version (with a smaller screen, etc). Remember, a fairly significant set of the population only wants to listen to music and the 3" screen isn't a sell point to those folks.
Cheers,
k.
zune is kool
illustrates the exact way of the ipod only better the 2 way multimedia and song holder is a great way to store documents and photos in a great size.... released on november 14th
zune is not better than ipod
zune is not better than ipod
You know, I'm about due for another media player. I'm also dropping large (some would say HUGE) wads of cash into new recording gear to spruce up my studio. Additionally, I've developed something of a distrust for Microsoft products over the past few years. That aside, I would buy a Zune in a heartbeat if I could grab some form of DRM-wrapper for studios and artists, tag the songs I want to release into the wild as play-and-share restriction free and let unlimited sharing via Zune users spread the song out as far as possible (to as many people as enjoy it, and then repeat the process). That, to me, would be the icing on the cake. Zune bringing users to my band, the band working for users that are really excited about the band, and everyone happy knowing their not infringing on the songs I want to retain rights to. Ah, bliss. Something to think about, maybe?
In the past I have always been a microsoft junkie, and I usually depise apple. But when you compare the ipod and the zune, you have to admit the ipod comes out on top.
Zune is possibly the lamest comeback I have ever seen microsoft try to make; in the first place, the idea for the Zune was completely unoriginal. Apple had already conquered the world of portable music devices, and then years later microsoft comes out with their own clunky little gadget? And that's the second point; it's not exactly the prettiest little machine ever made. It's a handheld that takes two hands to hold. And don't even get me started on their use of wifi. The incorporation of Wifi into the Zune is basically useless at the moment. Oh, someone can send me songs? 1) You only get 3 plays of the song before you have to buy it 2) Why not just ask your friend for the song information?
In my eyes the Zune is a completely useless device. I'll stick with Microsoft for my software and computers (lovingly enduring the blue screen of death) but the world of music belongs to Apple.
"All audio content is treated the same, including the 3 day + 3 play limit.
photos can be exchanged without limits."
What if the photos are copywritten material?
Anyways, I think the message from the customers is fairly clear, Zune-to-Zune sharing is nice and all, but Zune-to-PC is a MUCH higher priority, and should be fully implmented before, or concurrent to, any "Zune-to-Zune" stuff.
Besides, where, outside of Redmont, would one expect to find more than one person per community that owns a Zune within the next few years? On the other hand, I know several people that own PCs to connect to, including myself.
It seems like the right way to go if it were a beta. The first version, from what I've read, won't be impressive. After that, however, I can see it's features really picking up. Just here alone all the possibilities for the WiFi that you guys have come up with would make it worth it if implemented.
Then again, Apple will probably try to copy this in their next mp3 player (followed a month later by 3 more versions of it).
And tell me this, (refering to the nano), why is it better to pay $200 for a 2gb iPod Nano with a 1.5inch lcd screen than pay $300 for a 30+ gb iPod with a larger screen? Basically, beyond the size (physical size, not data space), the Nano was just an apple-junkie fad (for those who love Apple without comparing prices of the products).
I got my numbers from the Apple store 1 year ago, when the "Nano" craze hit.
Really though, I think the Zune has a lot of potential. It'd be nice to see them work out everything and kick Apples arse on this one. Mostly since people seem to think the only mp3 players out there are iPods (ignoring Creative, Sony and any other media companies versions).
Any news on the Microsoft Phone yet? (Saw it on a Microsoft project lineup in Wired magazine)
The wifi interZune networking is worthless until you reach a critical mass of ubiquity.
I mean really... Until Zune is as widespread as Windows, who is going to make the streaming wifi movie posters?
Interesting possibilities, almost all of which require a level of ubiquity, at least among your circle of friends. Most of my friends already have digital music players & Zune won't play any of their pre-existing music. So yeah, I bet they will all be switching to Zune...
If "sharing" is a major advertised advantage of the Zune, it will be very disapointing on Christmas Day to not find anyone or anything to network with...
Telephones only became interesting when lots of people had them.
Good luck, possibly some of these things can come to fruition in some future platform that everybody will actually have.
This better work, because MS is going to p*ss off all of their partners who suddenly become their competitors for a slice of the digital music pie.
So Microsoft cuts off every other user of their DRM at the knees, Best Buy starts up with Real (ugh) and maybe Creative or someone will kiss the Napster pig, so they can all try to copy the vertical integration that made iPods popular.
Why do does MS always have to "own" every market? Can't they concentrate on delivering a solid OS and quit getting distracted with this market parinoia?
And they want to rent music to me??? Why? My Radio still works...
You know what I wish one of these portable video (we-fi enabled) players had? A bar-code scanner.
Yeah. You heard me.
You could take it with you to the local block-buster... Pick up a movie off the shelf, scan the bar-code, and a trailer would play on the device. Maybe even show some ratings information.
Or go to the local wal-mart and scan any item for additional details.
I'd buy it.
So, Once a song(suppose easy and simple ;) WMA ) is transferred to another zune. Then, while syncing with a P.C., can the same file be transferred in reverse (to the P.C.) ?
Ps: For close examination.
How about Zune Modchips??
Can Zunes store word documents
the reason microsoft instituted the 3 day / 3 play rule is due to the grokster ruling - google it, and do some research before you criticize.
the wifi may be useless for now, but thats just for now - are you just scared of change or are you biased against ms?
and it only takes one hand to hold. It is a bit larger than the ipod, and it does have its faults, but all in all - i like it.
*shrug* pick your poison
so when i hook my zune up to an xbox 360, do i have to have some kind of cord or can i do it wirelessly? and does it work with a regular xbox?
I am thinking about getting a zune and the 15$ a month service sounds good but i listen to music that isn't in the main stream can someone tell me if the music "shop" has bands like binary star, dynospectrum, oliver hart, sweatshop union, or at least Me First & the Gimme Gimmes? This info would be very useful
i tried figuring out why mine doesnt have wireless so that i can download stuff, and the zune page told me to go under settings and click wireless, but thats not even there.???
Hello as a Zune owner, and an engineering student, I would really like to see a WIFI sync.
The ideal situation is I would like to be able to leave me zune in the car, and have it synchronize with my computers library whenever I get home or to a hotspot. Most malls, businesses, etc. have WIFI in parking lots and it would be really cool to connect to your computer and sync to new media. Also I have a huge assortment of videos on my PC that I would like to be able to play but it would completely fill my zune, I would like to be able to download them from any WIFI hotspot to my zune. Either stream them to the zune or just be able to download one or two of them at a time for veiwing. It would make the zune really practical as a Video source for a home theater that way. I think that would be a GREAT feature. Another thing that I would really like fixed is the album art looking terrible when its in large veiwing mode and low resolution video on the A/V out. 30GB is a decent amount of storage... there is no need to downsize video...either ask the user if you wish to lower the resolution to Zune level or just leave it in the current form.
I think you guys are making a good first attempt... but if you implemented these ideas you would move from good to great!.
The whole having Zune stations at Music stores is a fabulous idea where you can download 3 day trials of any song you want at the music store to try new music. I think that would spur music and Zune sales.
Regards,
Thiago Avila
University of Waterloo
General Motors - Manufacturing
If I buy a Zune and all these useful wifi features come into play.. will I have to buy a new Zune or would they be able to update the firmware to enable these features?
Thats what I wanna know
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