Engadget Asks: What Do You Want in 4.0?

[Adam Krebs]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/18/poll-whats-your-zune-4-0-must-have/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/18/...-4-0-must-have/</a><br /><br /></div><p><em>"Now that the dust has settled on Microsoft's impressive, if not quite revolutionary, Zune 3.0 update, it's time for us all to do what we do best: start demanding a new version of desktop and player software -- and a hardware refresh, of course -- chock-full of features that we've been asking for since day one, and a few things we dreamed up along the way. Pick your top-priority from the poll below, or just go nuts in the comments -- the floor is yours."</em></p><p>&nbsp;<img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1221865674.usr495.jpg" /></p><p>For me, it's gotta be touchscreen and low-cost models, but for the brand as a whole, I think Zune really needs to get a Mac client out there, if for nothing else than to shut up the haters. In any event, head over to Engadget and sound off! Let 'em know what Zuners want.</p>

[serpico]

I agree, we need a mac client. I'm tired of having to us vmware. :D

[Kacey Green]

Bring on Honda USB audio support

[inteller]

Bring on Honda USB audio support


that is a problem for Honda to figure out, not Zune. Ford's SYNC system works just fine with Zune.


there better be a 3.1 update SOON with UNICODE support.

[Kacey Green]

that is a problem for Honda to figure out, not Zune. Ford's SYNC system works just fine with Zune.


there better be a 3.1 update SOON with UNICODE support.

I disagree, Sync is a Microsoft product, the Honda USB audio system works with iPods, USB Flash drives and portable hard drives.

Honda's job is to sell cars not Zunes, the cars are already built and they've proven they won't take the effort to support a second place product, the iPod or a flash drive is shown in all their advertising.

If I didn't have a player or it was time to replace my player (assuming I was member of the iSheeple) I wouldn't consider they player that was incompatible with my car when given two choices (Zune or iPod).

[inteller]

the pinout specifications for the Zune port are out there, or easily available from Microsoft. The codecs to playback the Zune DRM are also out there. Honda is just supporting what has the most market share. When enough prospective buyers speak up, they'll support it. Microsoft isn't interested because they want more sync systems in cars. and SYNC blows honda's offering away. It works exactly like they show in the commercials. Honda's system is still not working the way it did when it first came out in acura.

[Jason Dunn]

I disagree, Sync is a Microsoft product, the Honda USB audio system works with iPods, USB Flash drives and portable hard drives.

Does this boil down to the Zune not functioning as a USB mass storage device? i.e.: if the Honda player can see a USB flash drive and access the files on it, if the Zune was a mass storage device, it would probably work, right?

[Jason Dunn]

I think this survey shows a few important things:

1) The majority of people don't really know what's missing, but the Zune still doesn't quite "feel" right to them...though this may be largely just a perception issue. As in, they're not giving the Zune a chance.

2) The Xbox integration factor is important - people want to be able to download a movie on their Xbox and move it over to their Zune. It's completely insane that Microsoft can't connect the dots and fulfil their destiny...they have all the pieces!

3) A Mac client is important for a significant number of people, though the cynic in me wonders how many of those people who voted for the Mac client are just Mac users voting for anything Mac and not really people who are interested in the Zune. :rolleyes:

[Kacey Green]

Does this boil down to the Zune not functioning as a USB mass storage device? i.e.: if the Honda player can see a USB flash drive and access the files on it, if the Zune was a mass storage device, it would probably work, right?

From what I can see in how everything operates from portable HDDs to Flash Drives to iPods, yes. But if Zune knows an authorized signed system is trying to read it ... this all sounds like a problem that can be fixed with software.

[serpico]

3) A Mac client is important for a significant number of people, though the cynic in me wonders how many of those people who voted for the Mac client are just Mac users voting for anything Mac and not really people who are interested in the Zune. :rolleyes:

Dude, I ain't no Apple fanboy, Jason. :D
I use both platforms. Currently it's running on vmware or my old HP notebook music server. I have always been curious about the zune and at one time owned a zune30. A mac client would be great so I don't feel disconnected from the complete experience. I'm just happy the zune software runs at all on my sources. I only wish I could easily use it like itunes and get more comfortable with the software. I just picked up a zune120 yesterday and have my entire library on it, so I'll need to use the software less now and sync it wirelessly daily.

[Bobbyboy341]

I'd like to see two things in 4.0:

1. More codec support (FLAC!).

2. On screen info of the codec playing and the audio quality (bit rate). Both Sony and Creative have this.

[Macguy59]

. As in, they're not giving the Zune a chance.



More inferiority complex . . . translation . . . If they don't like them as much as I do they're not being honest.

[Jason Dunn]

More inferiority complex . . . translation . . . If they don't like them as much as I do they're not being honest.

You're saying that I have the inferiority complex here? Um...ok. :confused: If someone tries the Zune, or at least honestly researches it and decides it's not for them, fine. But if they dismiss it out of hand, without anything more to back it up than them "hearing it sucked", or thinking it sucks because it's made by Microsoft, then yeah, I think that's pretty silly. And I'm willing to get that the number of people who picked that option really just wanted to see the results, and didn't have an opinion one way or another about the Zune, so that makes it pretty hard to take that result seriously.

[Bobbyboy341]

Actually, before they even think of what to offer in ver. 4.0, please let them fix the MAJOR issue they are having with 3.0 on about songs updating. It's been going on ever since that version went into effect and is getting extremely frustrating! :mad:

[Jason Dunn]

Actually, before they even think of what to offer in ver. 4.0, please let them fix the MAJOR issue they are having with 3.0 on about songs updating.

What's the issue with songs updating? Do you mean the software not updating the songs when you've changed the metadata? What's the issue there?

[Bobbyboy341]

What's the issue with songs updating? Do you mean the software not updating the songs when you've changed the metadata? What's the issue there?

Just take a look at these Zune forum topics:

http://forums.zune.net/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=335233

http://forums.zune.net/277902/ShowPost.aspx

[Jason Dunn]

Just take a look at these Zune forum topics..

Oh, the playcount issue. I don't particularly care about my play count, so I didn't even know there was a problem. :rolleyes:

[David Tucker]

I'm not sure how playcount of songs even approaches a major issue :p

My one thing I'd like to see added would be a higher res screen & more color depth. I've wanted that since Gen 1. It'll happen eventually right?

[Jason Dunn]

I'm not sure how playcount of songs even approaches a major issue :p

I'm with you on that one - but I guess it's important to some people, so...

My one thing I'd like to see added would be a higher res screen & more color depth.

Absolutely - what I wouldn't give to have a 3.2 inch, 24-bit color screen at WVGA resolution...that would ROCK! I'm actually really disappointed in the Zune team for not doing new a screen resolution this generation.

[David Tucker]

I have to be honest though...other than that my Zune is exactly what I want it to be.

[Bobbyboy341]

I'm not sure how playcount of songs even approaches a major issue :p


As you can see by the threads I've referenced, there are many that would disagree with you. The Social aspect of the Zune is what separates it from the rest of the field for a lot of people.

[David Tucker]

As you can see by the threads I've referenced, there are many that would disagree with you. The Social aspect of the Zune is what separates it from the rest of the field for a lot of people.

Well, that's all well and good...but its truly not that important. The song count itself isn't really important to the social. Now if it not updating the recently played I can see how that's important because of the social feature letting you synch your with your friends list.

Is it a song count issue or recently played not updating?

[Jason Dunn]

The song count itself isn't really important to the social.

Well, maybe not to you and I, but some people place value in their song count - thinking it's cool if they have more plays that someone else. If it's stuck, they'll be upset.