Talk:Zune

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This is the talk page for discussing improvements to the Zune article.
Article policies
Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
To-do list for Zune: edit · history · watch · refresh
  • This article needs to be rewritten as a general overview of the Zune product line. The device specific information needs to be moved to their individual pages. There are now stubs for Zune 80, Zune 4, 8, and Zune 30.
  • Clean-up introduction
  • Write Features properly
  • Decide on appropriate external links (see External links discussion)
  • Label the size comparison picture with a more detailed description (Which version of the ipod is shown?)
  • Find out was was changed in the zune marketplace, update the section, and remove the template
  • Include softare v2.5 details
  • Include gaming details
Archive
Archives
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6


Contents

[edit] Zune 30 and MPEG-4 files

Someone gt the idea that the Zune 30 can't currently play MPEG-4 video files, and that this feature will be added soon. I don't know where they got their info, but my Zune 30 has played MPEG-4 video files since the day I bought it. How is this a "new" feature? -NordsternMN 02:06, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

The Zune (device) cannot currently play natively the mpeg-4 video format. It needs to transcode (convert) the mpeg4 (xvid) video into native format for the device to accept and play. The only good news is that it saves time and uses industry wide standard video format which few use atm. The news was mentioned on many blogs and on a microsoft zune team blog. - 6etonyourfeet (talk?) 04:45, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

The Zune 30 cannot play MP4 files natively, the software converts them-wcnghj. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.105.245.95 (talk) 14:03, 16 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Zune Limited Edition Section

There are sure a lot of limited and special edition Zunes clogging up the Models section. Perhaps a special section should be dedicated to special colors, or limited edition Zunes? Dcastimore 18:45, 2 November 2007 (UTC)

I agree it's not even relevant to the new Zunes. Probably place em in the Zune 30 section or create limited Zunes article like you suggested. - 6etonyourfeet (talk?) 19:27, 2 November 2007 (UTC)
I would like to move the first 6 paragraphs of the models section to the Zune 30 page and replace it with something like this:
The Zune 30 was the first Zune music player, and has a 30GB hard drive for storage. The Zune 30 is similar in size to the Ipod classic.
The Zune 4 is a second generation Zune with 4GB of flash memory for storage. The Zune 4 is smaller than the Zune 30, and is similar to the Ipod Nano. The second generation Zune has a Zune Pad instead of the simple directional pad included on the Zune 30.
The Zune 8 is the same as the Zune 4, with the exception that it has 8GB of storage rather than 4gb.
The Zune 80 is a replacement to the Zune 30, with a larger 80GB hard drive. It is 14% thinner and 20% lighter than the Zune 30 and also includes the Zune Pad.
Any Suggestions?? Dcastimore 17:57, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
Be WP:BOLD but I suggest that you try to merge your summarize all the models from the single one liner paragraphs into single unified paragraph. Also try to avoid references to iPod because there is an editor who consistently deletes/censors references to iPod when the comparison to competition is acknowledged by reporting media. You might want to cite the last paragraph because the figures may be WP:OR to some readers. - 6etonyourfeet (talk?) 23:50, 5 November 2007 (UTC)
I've divided the 'colors' section into a 'limited editions' section as well. Both the old Zune 30's and the new Zunes have limited editions. Too bad the new section still is just as wide as the old section, it's hard to do side-by-side comparison with such a wide column. --Eptin (talk) 02:51, 19 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Anyone got a latest zune?

If anyone has bought a latest zune, take a photograph of it and update this page... Thankyou Mugunth 10:11, 4 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Firmware update

The firmware update released today granted all Zunes updated codec and format support, plus podcast support and wireless synching, basically the entire Zune 2 package. --Basique 17:26, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Videos

There are now videos available on the new marketplace. there should be added infotramiotn babout the update--84.60.232.36 21:01, 13 November 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Halo 3 Zune content

[edit] Music

The Zune comes preloaded with eleven songs all in a playlist called "Zune Gems". None of these songs can upload from the Zune to the computer, but unlike their video counterparts their thumbnails (album covers) display.

Name Album Artist Time
Tell Me Tell Me A New Language The Adored 2:34
A Pillar of Salt The Body, The Blood, The Machine The Thermals 2:57
Stay Small Sins Small Sins 3:53
At the End of the Sky Darkel Darkel 3:39
Can't Let Go LP Landon Pigg 3:58
Signs of Life Heart = Weapon Every Move a Picture 3:47
Alala Cansei de Ser Sexy CSS 3:58
Wicked Gil Everything All the Time Band of Horses 2:57
Munich The Back Room Editors 3:46
Open Book Capture/Release The Rakes 2:17
The Mating Game The Mating Game Bitter Sweet 3:24

[edit] Videos

The Halo 3 Zune employs different sections for videos, the only Zune with the capability to do this.

[edit] Movies

Name Description Year Time Can be downloaded
Halo 2:Theatrical Trailer The Halo 2 cinematic trailer, created by The Ant Farm, that ran in movie theaters in the US during the summer of 2004. 2004 45 sec Yes
Halo 3:E3 2006 Announcement Trailer The real-tine trailer that officially announced Halo 3. 2006 2:31 Yes
Halo 3:Starry Night The Halo 3 CG prime time teaser ad which ran one time only - "Starry Night". 2006 1:01 Yes
A New York Skateboarding Minute A ride through NYC & beyond, brought to you by 5Boro Skateboards. 2006(Unrated) 4:13 No
Progression - Kranked 6 8 of the world's best mountain bikers are given a challenge: to create the most progressive and stunning line, then ride it. 2006(Unrated) 2:08 No
Red vs Blue: Tune On, Tune In, Zune Out The soldiers of Red vs Blue welcome you to your new Zune player and invite you to turn on, tune in, and zune out! 2007 4:23 Yes
TGRTV Teaser No description available. 2006(Unrated) 3:27 No

[edit] TV Shows

The TV shows section shows another stunning feature only available to the Halo 3 Zune. It has videos placed in subsections, where the line you would usually click to view a videos information takes the user to a list of videos

[edit] Halo 3 ViDOC

The Halo 3 ViDOC section contains three videos, all downloadable from the Zune to the computer. In these subsections of videos it shows the month and date of creation to the left of the video, with thumbnails at the top and the name of the section directly below.

Name Description Year Time
Is Quisnam Protero Damno! Dive deep into the planning, process and personalities behind Halo 3's incredible new multiplayer game. Glimpse new levels, new techniques and new features [content cuts off] 1/1/2007 7:19
Et Tu Brute? In the second Bungie "Vidoc" we take a long hard look at the ferocious new antagonist for Master Chief, the Brute. Now that a tentative alliance has formed between Humans [content cuts off] 1/1/2007 7:19
Finish the Fight! In this fascinating short, you'll see some of the teamwork, thought processes and imagination that went into this Halo 3 teaser. You'll see the actual [content cuts off] 1/1/2006 7:23

[edit] Red vs Blue: The Blood Gulch Chronicles

The second of the two subsections contains the first six episodes of Red vs Blue, all can be downloaded from Zune to PC.

Name Description Year Time
Why Are We Here? The first episode of Red vs. Blue introduces the main characters, and poses the all-important question, why are we here? 1/1/2003 2:34
Red Gets a Delivery The Red get a new piece of equipment. and Grif has a problem with its name. 1/1/2003 3:49
The Rookies The Red and Blue armies get new recruits. 1/1/2003 3:12
Head Noob in Charge Caboose is given the job of "guarding the flag". Donut goes to the store 1/1/2003 4:18
The Package is in the Open Donut returns from the store with a surprise. 1/1/2003 3:35
1.21 Giga-Whats?? The Blues go through the teleporter. The Reds get the upper hand. 1/1/2003 3:24

[edit] Music Videos

None of the music videos can be downloaded from Zune to computer and as such none of them have thumbnails when searching through videos.

Name Description Year Time
1.618 No description available. 2006 11:32
Drain Cosmetics The video for "Drain Cosmetics" by Serena-Maneesh was shot in an Oslo mansion and features brother and sister combo Hilma and Emil 2006 3:17
Elevate Myself Jason Lytle and the recently disbanded California quintet travel through an animated metropolis while performing a single off their 2006 release "Just Like The Fambly" 2006 3:29
Faster Kill Pussycat No description available. 2006 3:21
Keep Me Home Wildly creative, this video for "Keep Me Home" features an unlikely, yet sympathetic protagonist. 2006 3:23
The Kill No description available. 2006 4:54
Let's Make Love and Listen to Death from [Above] From the 2006 Sub Pop release "Cansei de Ser Sexy." 2006 3:38
Over and Over See the amazing new video from the critically acclaimed UK act. 2006 4:02
Red Hot Drops From the 2006 Sub Pop release "Skelliconnection." 2006 3:27
The Snowy Parts of Scandinavia (Live) Recorded Live in NYC. Originally from the album "Alpine Static." 2006 9:08
True Skool Root Manuva guests on this bouncy selection from Coldcut's "Sound Mirrors" album. 2006 3:35
The Wind that Blew My Heart Away (Live) Recorded Live in NYC. Originally from the album "Spelling in Bones." 2006 3:17

[edit] Section for Discussion

This section should be included as it gives insight to new Zune features to come along with information. -67.167.255.17 (talk) 00:22, 5 January 2008 (UTC)

All the Zunes can do the Movies, TV Shows and Music Videos categories, not just the Halo 3 Zune. That is handled through special metatags used in the content. Also, information about the specific preloaded content is of little importance. 121.220.223.22 (talk) 13:13, 6 January 2008 (UTC)

No they can't. Videos cannot be sorted yet, only for the Halo 3 Zune, see this. 76.16.188.239 (talk) 17:47, 6 February 2008 (UTC)

Microsoft doesn't single the Halo 3 Zune out here. Confirmation? 121.220.199.112 (talk) 16:51, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

I also had to check on this, but it is indeed a Halo 3 Zune. [1]. [2], and [3] --Eptin (talk) 19:55, 22 February 2008 (UTC)

This section should be removed or put on a secondary page. It doesn't contain any references. Its language reads like marketing speak i.e. "another stunning feature". It is trivial content. Preloaded content is not important enough to deserve such a large portion of the article. Perhaps something like "The Halo edition contains x halo trailers and y red vs blue episodes" would be appropriate provided we can find references to cite for ths information, but a full listing just clutters the article. Graavy (talk) 15:11, 10 January 2008 (UTC)

How would you cite information that could just be written down from the Zune? Also the Trailers are linked to other articles. 76.16.188.239 (talk) 17:47, 6 February 2008 (UTC)
Agreed. Strip it down to a couple of numbers. 121.220.212.98 (talk) 15:28, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] weird wording in the article

Just a while ago, I noticed that this article described the zune as a product from microsoft to "fight back against apple inc." First of all, that just sounds weird. We might as well get all of our zunes to "fight" the evil apple company, right? >.>

I will change this statement into "This is microsoft's attempt to compete with apple's ipod".

[edit] Fair use rationale for Image:Zune logo2.jpg

Image:Zune logo2.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images lacking such an explanation can be deleted one week after being tagged, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot (talk) 03:23, 12 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Zune 2 software features lost

There is a short mention of the features lost from 1 to 2. One that it does not mention is down-level transcoding. Since the firmware update give natives support for WMA-L and WMC recorded TV, the Zune software no longer gives an option to transcode audio to lower bitrates and video to lower-resolutions. This is a PITA as the Simpsons now takes 2GB per epi on the player instead of 200mb. That's a massive amount on a 4/8GB flash based player. SchmuckyTheCat (talk)

[edit] New games section

I remove the games section because it is news (WP:FUTURE), its importance is questionable and might be vaporware or pr stunt. The self-published source the blogs are not reliable per WP:SPS. Microsoft (Peter Moore) already had made this claim. See [4][5]

[edit] Games

On February 20th, 2008 Microsoft announced that video games would be available for the Zune platform. [6]. It is unclear how games will be distributed, but it is likely that they will be available for purchase and download through the Zune Marketplace.

Microsoft has also announced XNA Game Studio 3.0 [7], which will allow amateur game developers to create their own games for the Zune at no cost.

Developers will be able to take advantage of the Zune's many hardware features including the touch sensitive control pad as well as the wi-fi connection for multiplayer gaming across several devices.

 - 6etonyourfeet (talk?) 18:17, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

I wondered where the Games Section went. --68.81.70.65 (talk) 11:41, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Removing reference to unauthorized "capability"

I'm removing:

However, through tweaking in system registry, you can enable the Zune to appear in Windows Explorer; thus allowing for it to be used as a portable harddrive.[1]

"Capabilities" that are created through the use of unauthorized hacks are not real capabilities. This is no more appropriate than observing that you can grind a sharp edge on a Zune and use it to clean fingernails.

And without being privy to Microsoft's reasons for restricting the Zune, there is no way to know whether this is an artificial restriction made for (to me incomprehensible) reasons, or whether Microsoft actually knows some good reason for not allowing the Zune to be used as a general-purpose hard drive (e.g. overheating under normal disk workloads). Dpbsmith (talk) 03:20, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

It's a managed file system. The management software (on the device, and the PC) have no reference to these files and may clean them up doing garbage collection of temp and orphan files (ie, trash user data, a big no-no). And if the shell can see the device, then so can all sorts of disk utilities. It's not tested for any of these situations that could lead to loss of user data, and/or brick the device. It's an artificial restriction, but it's done for good reasons so that non-technical users don't screw it up. SchmuckyTheCat (talk)
Confirming my opinion, I think. If Microsoft doesn't provide a way to use the Zune as a hard drive, and if hacking the registry to make it usable as a hard drive could be endanger its functioning as a Zune, then it's inappropriate to say that the Zune "has" hard drive capability. Dpbsmith (talk) 17:30, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] No picture?

Why do we have no picture of the Zune at the top of the article? We have plenty of free pictures, but they keep getting removed so only the proprietary logo is up. SteveSims (talk) 02:56, 15 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Zune colors

The colors listed in the specifications table on the "Colors" should be those listed by Microsoft. Those are the colors that are part of the Zune specifications.

Third party custom modifications shouldn't be listed, at least not in the specifications table, because they form no part of the specifications for the device. The fact that you can paint an 80 MB Zune red does not mean that the specifications for the 80 MB Zune include a red color, any more than the replacing the disk drive with a larger one would mean that there is a 100 MB Zune. You can repel a cat by throwing a Zune at it, but that does not mean that the specifications for a Zune include "cat repellent." Dpbsmith (talk) 21:49, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Zune Software

Is the Zune marketplace not the same as the zune software? The marketplace is the only software included with the zune. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 167.206.69.55 (talk) 12:11, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

The current release of Songbird was able to fully indentify and mount my Zune 30 after I installed the MTP device addon from their site. --Xero (talk) 10:05, 28 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Battery Life

Theirs no way that the 1 week vs 5 hour comparision is true, can someone look into it? --Elven6 (talk) 00:54, 13 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] No pics??

I do not see one single picture of the actual player in the entrie article. Someone needs to put one in there. 220.236.108.53 (talk) 22:29, 25 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Red 80GB Zunes?

An editor recently replaced the referenced statement that "Red available when ordered from Zune Originals with extra-cost custom artwork" with the unreferenced assertion that red is one of the standard colors; his edit comment says that "I just purchased a red 80gb Zune from a department store." If someone were to find a newspaper ad in which this or some other store advertises red 80gb Zunes, I'd have no objection to adding the statement that they are also available from these stores.

While I was editing this, the editor added a reference to a Zune Insider article. This article states that "Red Zune 80s are beginning to make their way into retail stores. After returning to Zune Originals, Red Zune 80 will soon be available for purchase at retail stores." Unfortunately the retail stores are not named, and "red" is still not part of Microsoft's specifications.

Therefore, the appropriate action is not to remove the qualifications but to retain the statement that red is available with extra-cost customer artwork and add the additional information that Zune Insider says it will soon be available at retail stores. Dpbsmith (talk) 20:33, 30 April 2008 (UTC)

The Wal*Mart reference is great. The statement that red is available still needs to be qualified. It's obvious that it's available through some channels. It's not at all obvious that red and black have the same status and that red either is or soon will be available through all channels that carry Zunes. The article should stick to what the references actually say. Right now, we have:
A reference that says it is available by online order from Walmart.com and in "limited" stores (which, by the way, according to the site, does not include any Wal*Mart within a hundred miles of where I live, although there are twenty Wal*Marts within thirty miles).
A reference (ZuneInsider) that says it will "soon be available for purchase at retail stores." Very unclear whether that means all retail stores that carry Zunes, or not. It is certainly not available though all channels; Amazon does not list them, for example.
A Microsoft Zune.net page that continues to list only black.
The article should reflect only what the references say, no more and no less. I don't know whether red Zune 80's are essentially available or soon to be available everywhere as of May 2008, or whether Microsoft is restricting them to favored partners, or what, and neither do you.
At the moment, the status of red Zune 80s still appears to be different in some way from the status of black Zune 80s. Dpbsmith (talk) 19:57, 1 May 2008 (UTC)
I still think it's simply a matter of slow updates on the official site. If you hadn't noticed, the official site has a fancy rotating preview of the model, so I can only guess that the official site has a delay in its update. The red Zune is available from Walmart, Amazon (which you didn't appear to find), Best Buy, Circuit City, Radioshack, MacMall, Buy.com, ElectronicsShowplace, and PC Connection- all major retailers (minor retailers also offer the device). Additionally, it is available from the Zune website for the standard price.
As a concession, I'm changing the article text to admit the sale of most major retail outlets. Again, the sources available make it clear that this is a new product which is widely released (the availability of the product at local Wal-Marts is not a reliable indicator, as my own local store is missing pretty much every widescreen version of my select DVDs- obviously, it doesn't mean the widescreen version has a special status, but that the store itself made a stocking decision concerning which products to purchase).--C.Logan (talk) 20:08, 1 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Criticisms

I notice that a number of criticism that were previous in this article have been removed (such as criticism from Walt Mossberg and Paul Thurott alike on the costs of songs on the Zune Marketplace First, you can't just buy a song. Instead, you have to buy bundles of Microsoft Points first, and then feed off of that reserve whenever you want to make a purchase. The minimum purchase is 400 Microsoft Points, which costs $5.00. No 99 cent micropayments for you, Zune boy.

Second, because songs and albums are priced in Points, Microsoft is obscuring the true cost of this content. A song on Zune typically costs 79 Microsoft Points, which, yes, is about 99 cents. But it seems like less because it's just 79 Points. And that's not right.

Furthermore, because you're buying Points in 400 Point increments, you'll almost never actually be able to clean out your reserve of Points. Thus, you've given Microsoft money you'll never get back, or receive content for. That, too, is not right. http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/zune.asp

Also, there's the fact that the Zune cannot be used as hard disk (unlike most other mp3 players). Moreover, the Zune only works in combination with Microsoft Windows. The Zune requires a separate media player to be installed next to Windows Media Player. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.248.249.204 (talk) 07:31, 29 May 2008 (UTC)

[edit] FAQ : how to convert dvd and video to zune

FAQ : how to convert dvd and video to zune

Download this software at [8]

1. Free download　Zune Video Converter + DVD to Zune Suite at [9] install and launch. [IMG]http://www.oursdownload.com/zuneconverter1.gif[/IMG] 2. Click DVD to Zune Converter component, load your DVD by clicking 'Open DVD' button or choosing 'Open DVD' from 'File' drop down menu, choose the DVD ROM in your PC, it will take you to the DVD menu in the player screen. [IMG]http://www.oursdownload.com/zuneconverter2.gif[/IMG] 3. Click the "Setting" and go to menu "Subtitle", Set Subtitle to what you like.

4. Click the "Setting" and go to menu "Audio Track", Set audiotrack to what you like. To 'Output Folder', Enter the full pathname or choose the path where you want to save your video files by clicking 'Output folder'. The default output format is WMV, which natively supported by Zune. You can also hit "Setting -> Output settings", select other output formats you like (MP4, H.264, WMV7/8/9, MP3, WMA, etc.)

5. The converter will automaticly detect the main movie of your DVDs, it will popup with below window to let you make a decision, just keep the setting of "Record from movie start point" and output file size setting, the default setting is the best for good quality and compact output file size, click "Yes" to start ripping DVD to Zune video files. Tips: You can also just record any part of movie by drag the slide bar to where you want to start, and click the "Convert" button, please select "Record from current time point". This provide you with more flexibility. [IMG]http://www.oursdownload.com/zuneconverter3.gif[/IMG] 6. Find the .wmv or .mp4 file that DVD to Zune converter created and add it into your Zune software library.

7. Load the .mp4 or .wmv files to Zune by clicking 'Sync contenct to and from your Zune'. Done! [IMG]http://www.oursdownload.com/zuneconverter4.gif[/IMG]

[10] —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.223.57.58 (talk) 00:17, 9 June 2008 (UTC)