10-05-2006, 07:46 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Some Zune Transcoding Questions Answered
I've been posting questions over at the Zunester blog, where Microsoft Zune team member David Caulton has been kind enough to answer a whole bunch of them from interested posters. Here's one segment:
JASON: "Will the Zune desktop software transcode anything that the OS had codecs for? As in, if I feed it a DivX file, will it transcode to WMV just like WMP10 does today with the PMC? So I can feed the Zune desktop software DVR-MS files from my MCE 2005 machine, and watch the videos on my Zune?"
DAVID: "No, it won't transcode anything the OS has a codec (dshow filter) for. Thus, it won't read and transcode divx and dvr-ms files out of the gate."
JASON: "Can you talk about the transcoding engine in the Zune desktop software? Is it the same as WMP10, or is it the new (and much faster) transcoding engine I've been told about?"
DAVID: "The transcoding engine is improved in a number of ways over wmp10, but you'll have to judge speed yourself."
JASON: "The transcoding - are there any scheduling or folder monitoring features? As in, I could point it at my recorded TV shows folder and when a new show is recorded, it would transcode that show for me?"
DAVID: "It does have schedule and folder monitoring. If an item in the library is due for syncing and will need to be transcoded it will be transcoded during idle computer time."
My analysis: I'm really, really disappointed that the Zune desktop software will not be able to transcode video files that the host PC has codec support for, but the Zune does not. It's one thing for the Zune to not have support for DivX, Xvid, and other popular codecs, but it's quite another to have a software product that won't even transcode the videos. I can't think of anything on the market that limited - even the semi-lame software that came with my Zen Vision:M makes an attempt to transcode video to put it on the device. I'm a big fan of taking recorded TV shows with me on my portable devices, and with the Zune that's seemingly impossible. If the Zune isn't going to even do this much - let alone support more codecs on the device itself - I have to wonder how viable the Zune is when it comes to video playback. I know music sharing was their core scenario, but the way it's looking the Gigabeat S is a much better bet for mobile video.
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10-05-2006, 08:56 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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Jason,
You know how I feel about the Zune. I'm convinced it's one of the few reasonable competitors to the iPod out there. That being said, is it not insane that every single detail that pops out about the Zune seems to be a letdown rather than a pleasant surprise?
I'm really not sure Microsoft "gets" what goes on anymore, and that the Zune is more of an attempt to bring everyone onto their plantation than it is to produce a good product...
It's really disappointing.
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10-05-2006, 10:43 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent M Ferrari
...is it not insane that every single detail that pops out about the Zune seems to be a letdown rather than a pleasant surprise?
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Yeah, it is rather sad/frustrating to see how many gaping holes there are in the Zune v1 approach. What I find most baffling is that the PMC software was already DONE...why shouldn't the Zune be PMC 3.0 with new hardware? Why drop features and functionality? 
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10-05-2006, 10:57 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 52
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The more I hear about the Zune, the more disappointed I am by it.
Hopefully they'll get it right by the third iteration, as is the Microsoft way. 
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10-06-2006, 04:08 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,520
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent M Ferrari
I'm really not sure Microsoft "gets" what goes on anymore, and that the Zune is more of an attempt to bring everyone onto their plantation than it is to produce a good product...
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Well... to be honest, everything is about promoting MS' windows platform. From Windows Mobile, to Xbox, to MCE. Zune is no different. Its always been about Windows in every home and a chicken in every pot. I made that last part up. 
MS' model has almost always be iterative. Sometimes an excruciating iterative process. Atleast thats how I feel about the WM cycle.
I do agree though, theres no excuse for Zune to be more out of the box, since some of these features already exist their others platforms. PMC and Windows Media Player being the most obvious ones.
__________________
Phone: Nexus one Backup Phone: AT&T Samsung Jack; Future Phone: I'm Watching WP7; Media Player: Platinum Zune HD 32GB; Home Server: HP MediaSmart Server LX195 Console: XBox 360, PS3, Wii |
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10-06-2006, 04:58 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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I agree Philip. Wholeheartedly. MS is all about self-promotion up and down all its product lines.
Which makes the Zune all the more frustrating.
It could've easily been an iPod killer if it had the featureset we heard about from the beginning. As it is now, it's so neutered that it's almost not worth it. And chances are they aren't going to have their third parties to fall back on if Zune flops because I'm sure Creative, Samsung, et. al., aren't exactly thrilled that Plays for Sure is now effectively dead...
I don't know. Maybe there's some grand plan we don't understand. I mean, an anti-iPod with a 3 inch screen, video, good battery life, unrestricted wifi and lenient copy protection would be the best device on the market. What MS doesn't seem to get is you can't match the iPod in features to beat it because if you match it, people are just gonna go, "Screw it, I'll get an iPod." You have to do more. Granted not every device that's done more has been successful, but frankly doing less is not your way to get your foot in the door.
We're gonna be in for an interesting ride over the next few months; that's for sure.
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10-06-2006, 01:21 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 81
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I know it's disappointing to not have DivX support on the Zune itself or the desktop software, but couldn't a third-party program on your desktop encode your DivX files to compatible .WMVs anyway?
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10-06-2006, 06:10 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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Except that why should you have to?
This is the equivalent of a 5th generation device (even though it's a first gen Zune). Sure you could transcode, but the truth is that when I had my Dell Axim, it was great. I could drop ANY divx file onto a CF card and play it natively with Core Media Player.
That would be a killer app for a portable device. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that the powers that be (recording industry folks) convinced MS not to do it so as not to encourage piracy; not to mention MS is very interested in keeping people on the plantation completely (ironic how that's the one thing they always criticized Apple for).
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10-06-2006, 06:38 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Covert
I know it's disappointing to not have DivX support on the Zune itself or the desktop software, but couldn't a third-party program on your desktop encode your DivX files to compatible .WMVs anyway?
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I'm going to answer your question on the front page, because this topic is a particular passion of mine.
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