A posting over at the Windows Mobile Team Blog recently went up entitled “Zune + Windows Mobile = Better Together?” asking a simple question:

“What are some ways the Zune player and a Widows Mobile device can work better together?”

If you’re an owner of both devices, then you might want to chime in your thoughts over there. I for one USED to own a Windows Mobile device but I must say that I’ve since moved over to the Apple iPhone. Would I go back to a Windows Mobile device someday? Sure - if the user interface was enhanced to the point of being productive! However, having used a Windows Mobile device before and knowing what it’s like to work with a Windows Mobile device, I thought I’d add in some thoughts here (and see what all of you thought).

In no particular order, here are some things that could be greatly enhanced:

• Network connectivity between a Windows Mobile device and a Zune. Make Zune Sharing more than sharing between Zunes - share between all sorts of devices. Using Wi-Fi is a good first step towards this but the Zune might very well need Bluetooth down the road to achieve greater compatibility with a wide range of devices. However, choosing the protocol is only the first step. Making sharing dead simple is the most important thing. Connecting to a Windows Mobile device should be AS SIMPLE as connecting to another Zune
• Simply the software needed to manage and operate a Windows Mobile and Microsoft Zune device. For devices with software ALL originating from Microsoft, things are WAY to complex. Here’s where one could learn a thing or two from Apple. Everything goes through iTunes on the Apple platform. Whether it’s the iPod, iPhone, or Apple TV - you have one device and one interface. You could make a point in saying that iTunes is a bit bloated now but it works and it’s also powerful at the same time. In order to sync with Windows Mobile devices, you need Microsoft Sync on Vista, (or ActiveSync on XP and earlier OS’s), and Microsoft Outlook for contact and calendaring. Multimedia management is then handled by Windows Media Player. Ah but then switch on over to the Zune, and you have a completely different media management system in the form of the Zune Software. Don’t get me wrong - I love the Zune Software and would love to see it be used as the central media player on Windows from here on out.. but too many pieces of code depend on Windows Media Player these days (Think Windows Media Center). Somehow, Microsoft needs to go back to the drawing boards and rethink all of this. How can we have a drop dead simple centralized system that allows us to sync all sorts of devices?
• The Zune Social is a good first step in integrating social networking into the multimedia business but it isn’t new at all. Think Last.FM and many other companies that have been working on this. What we need is a social networking initiative that is far more compelling and engrossing. Something that goes beyond just adding friends and seeing what they like to listen to. It would be cool to see things like: what concerts are my friends attending in the next few weeks, what local clubs or gigs are they checking out? What new books or podcasts are of interest to my friends which might be interesting to me. My friend is stuck at the airport and has nothing to do but twitter all day long - wouldn’t it be cool if I could get those messages or status updates on my Zune? How can a friend simply get a hold of me through a single ID somewhere? I’ve snapped a picture on my Windows Mobile device and I want to share it to my friends - no matter where they are and on whatever device that they are using.. how can I do that. Social networking to the max but yet simple too!
• Most music listeners have playlists - it’d be nice to be able to share playlists from friend to friend and device to device. Go on Zune Social, and share your overall playlist. Seeing what someone else is listening to is nice and dandy but I’d rather just download their favorite lists and see what I might be interested in. Better yet - if I have a playlist on my Zune, how cool would it be for me to share it with my friends using a Windows Mobile device?

OK.. I’m running out of ideas but I’m sure there’s more brewing in my head. What are some of your own ideas? Post them up on the Windows Mobile Team Blog!

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Zune, Windows Mobile

Now that the new Zune website and software is up and running, I thought it would cool to quickly go over the installation of the new software as well as the firmware upgrade to the first generation Zune. You won’t find a review of the software itself - I’ll save that for later on. For now - this is simply the installation process which I’m sure a lot of you will be undertaking today or sometime this week.

First, make sure to download the new Zune software from the new Zune.net website. If you want the entire Zune "experience", make sure to get yourself a Zune tag. You can then share your album and music listening experience with friends and others in the Zune community. If you want to see what I’m listening to these days, look me up at krunkermedia (that’s my Zune and Xbox Live gamer tag).

Installing the new Zune software

The new Zune software package weighs in at around 34 MB but the overall software installation process is in itself quite fast. Once the setup begins, you’ll see the following screen shots:

Ah yes.. the good ol EULA. You might as well accept it..

You’re now pretty much ready to install.

There are basically three steps to the initial software install. The installer will check for new updates, prepare your computer, and then finally install the Zune software.

still installing..

Hey look at that. The software is installed! Now comes time to go over your Zune software settings.

You can choose to either "go right to my collection" or go "customize settings first". I’m more of a power user, so I’m inclined to choose customization first but that’s entirely up to you. If you choose to go to your music collection first, you can always change the default settings later on.

We’re in the process of customizing settings. The screen here shows you all the directories that the Zune software monitors for different kinds of media files. (excuse my blacked out directory names…)

Next up - set up your file associations..

Would you like to enroll the Customer Experience Improvement Program?? Sure…..

And we’re in!!

For those of you curious - this is version 2.1 of the new Zune software. Again - I won’t go into the software details yet - we’ll save that for later on.

Updating the Zune firmware

That’s only the first step of course.. If you have a first generation Zune, you’ll need to update the firmware on the Zune with the latest firmware from Microsoft. This is definitely one of the areas where Microsoft should be commended. Features being rolled out with the second generation Zune are also be made available on the older Zunes. This means you’ll be able to do wireless sync, use the new GUI, support podcasts, etc etc.

To get things rolling, connect your Zune via the USB cable.

I got the above screen shot telling me that I need to update the Zune to version 2.2 of the device software. Let’s go ahead and perform the upgrade!

The software first downloads the update and then..

copies it to the Zune. The overall downloading and copying is quite fast - what ultimately takes time is the actual Zune software install on the player itself.

When the Zune starts the software install, the player will reboot twice before actually finishing up the install. Once the install is finished, you’ll have one more reset and then the new Zune GUI will appear.

Now that the Zune is updated and connected back to the PC, I can begin setting up the rest of the Zune software. First things first - my Zune was originally set up for another PC. Unlike the first version of the Zune software, the new software allows you to connect and sync with a new PC without losing the original content on the Zune.

If you have a Zune Tag, you can link your tag to your Zune player now.

Finally, you can tell the Zune software to automatically add all of your media content from some pre-defined folders. I like to manually add my content.

And that’s it! We’re  up and running!!

Note - I did try out the wireless sync option. You need to set up wireless sync from the Zune software application. Here are some screen shots:

Here’s the wireless sync setup page. Click on "Setup Wireless Sync" to proceed with the setup.

The Zune software in conjunction with the connected player will attempt to find wireless networks to connect to. If you don’t broadcast your wireless network’s SSID, you can manually enter the information in yourself.

Enter the SSID and passcode if you need to do it manually..

If it all works, the Zune software will notify you. You can then initiate syncs from the Zune.

Oh yes.. for people who are wondering what the new UI looks like on an older Zune…

Technorati Tags: Microsoft Zune, Zune firmware, Zune software, Zune update

Hey Zune fans - Zune.net is back up and running with a new look and feel. It’s nearing 6am in the east coat (nearly 3 am here in Los Angeles). You can download the new Zune software from this page. Note - as of this posting, the first "Download" link does not work yet (where you get the "full Zune experience). The second link for the software only does seem to work. The full Zune Experience is now also up and running so you can go both routes - go for the full experience (which asks you to sign up for an account) or you can just download the software. The full Zune experience claims to include:

• Free Zune account
• Podcasts
• Membership to the Zune Social

I assume this is the Zune Tag information I heard about earlier. Hopefully this link will work soon. You can even download a 64 bit version of the software if you’re running 64 bit Windows.

I’ll go ahead and install the software now… stay tuned!

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Zune.net, Zune Marketplace, Zune Software

Speaking of Live At The BBQ, you can now register for the New York City concert which will be held on August 4th starting at 3pm and running until 10pm. The NYC concert will feature the following artists:

• Brand Nubian
• Cham
• Large Professor
• Clipse
• MIMS
• Joell Ortiz
• and many more special guests

That looks like a pretty sweet concert! I’ll have to get my NYC friends into the gig.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Live At The BBQ, NYC

The ZuneInsider has the recap of the latest “Live At The BBQ” concert - this time in Chicago. Check out the pictures here. Sniff.. wish I was able to check that one out! Someone needs to post up video clips of the concert!

[Check it out]

No Tags

If you’re planning to attend any Live Nation concerts this summer, be on the lookout for on-site “Zune Spots”. Zune Spots are converted freight containers that have been redesigned to bring the Zune brand straight to consumers and make the media player available on site at popular concerts around the country. The Zune will be present at 28 Live Nation concerts around the country this summer.

Microsoft is also holding it’s Zune Zoom Away competition which gives you a chance to either win a Microsoft Zune media player or win a trip to see a Live Nation show. You can find additional information about the contest here. You’ll also be able to download Zune Zone vouchers which you can then bring to a Zune Spot at a Live Nation concert. The first 50 people to bring a Zune Zone voucher to the Zune Spot will receive VIP treatment at a Zune Zone which is a special area at select concerts with private wait staff and Zune lawn chairs.

[Check it out]

[Check out the I Like My Zune sweepstakes]

Technorati Tags: Zune, Live Nation, Zune Zoom, Zune Spot

Here is Common’s performance at “Live At The BBQ” in Los Angeles on July 12th. There are three video clips here since it would have been too long for YouTube as a single clip. Enjoy!

Clip 1:

Clip 2:

Clip 3:

Technorati Tags: Common, Microsoft Zune, Live at the BBQ, Los Angeles

Here is David Banner’s performance at the Live at the BBQ concert held in Los Angeles by the Microsoft Zune team. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: David Banner, Microsoft Zune, Live at the BBQ, Los Angeles

Here is UGK’s performance from the Live at the BBQ concert in Los Angeles on July 12th, 2007. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: UGK, Microsoft Zune, Live at the BBQ, Los Angeles

Here’s the E-40 video clip from last week’s Live at the BBQ presented by the Microsoft Zune team. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: E-40, Live at the BBQ, Microsoft Zune, Los Angeles