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Originally Posted by Darius Wey
Well, that sounds more like Apple's model with the iPod, iTV and iTunes Store.
First, we don't know if the Zune Marketplace will be selling videos, so your argument about Microsoft choosing not to have Media Center and Zune communicate in that respect doesn't really hold.
In terms of wireless connectivity, yes, it doesn't support streaming initially, but that's something that Microsoft could enable with a firmware update. In the conference call with Microsoft, Chris Stephenson mentioned that there are many wireless scenarios that their team is looking at and most likely enabling as Zune matures.
Does Zune connect to other Microsoft products? Yes (though, maybe not how you'd like it to). You can plug your Zune device into your Xbox 360 and play media straight from the Zune and out through the Xbox 360. If you have a Media Center, you can access and play media that you have downloaded form the Zune Marketplace (it's all in "My Music"). Would I like to see direct wireless streaming across a broad range of Microsoft products? Sure. But it's not happening now, so keeping fingers crossed, we'll wait for it another day...
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The zune will already come with pre-loaded music videos. It seems like more a matter of when and not if videos are coming (if they want to compete). Deliberately removing the ability to transfer media center video files (ms-dvr) will forever remain the biggest "what were they thinking" zune product decision.
And, going along with this logic (different technologies not working together), I'm sure when the zune marketplace does get music videos, they won't be able to play on the media center PC interface. So, this begs the question:
What exactly do they mean by "connected entertainment?" The products themselves won't even be connected. Sure, you can plug stuff into each other, but nothing works like you would expect it to. I'm not one of these Microsoft bashers. I just expected a lot more out of the company that gave me XBOX 360 and Media Center 2005. Two great products that work well together, for the most part... too bad they're putting the zune on this island by itself.
About wireless sync, it just has to come. It's just silly for this product to have wi-fi without any sort of wireless syncing to your pc. Im guessing that this will be in by next summer. It usually takes M-dollar at least 6-8 months to get a major hardware/software feature like this up and running.
I might sound like I'm whining, but on a more positive note... I'm seriously liking the brown zune. The black is next with the white coming in a close third. It's crazy, I'd get all 3 if I could. It's a good looking device, a lot better than the ipod IMO. I'm not with the simple is better ipod lemming way of life. I like good designs and you can't fault the Zune team for their design work. Excellent.
Now, can we get some brown headphones?