SlashGear Japan
If you’ve been following the ups and downs of Microsoft’s WiFi-enabled Zune PMP then you might be as jaded with the whole thing as I am. So far, Microsoft seem to be determined to lock-down tracks with a three-plays-and-you’re-out DRM model that pretty much takes everyone’s current concept of music sharing and spanks it into crapness.
The Zune team could do far, far worse than to read Jim Thompson’s column over at TechBlog. He outlines a system where, rather than users actively sending individual files between their friends, the Zune instead becomes both a mobile music server and a new-sounds “hunter gatherer”. Zune owners establish a list of their own personal shares – still within the Microsoft DRM, of course – and the availability of these is broadcast wherever there is another Zune in range. Got a spare moment? Whip out your Zune and see if there’s anyone sharing anything you like the sound of. Or alternatively, set your Zune to “gather” and get home each day with a sackful of new music to tempt you, that the PMP has downloaded automatically.
I agree with Jim, now that could actually turn the chubby PMP into an iPod-killer.
How should Zune sharing work? [TechBlog]
7 Responses to “Finally, someone talking sense about Zune WiFi”
Bruce Anderson October 25, 2006
So, what kind of battery life does the Zune have in Thompson’s little world? I imagine it must be absolutely phenomenal for him to suggest these absolutely ridiculous ideas.
Let me tell you, I’m not at all interested in letting other people copy my music, much less in copying theirs. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that other peoples’ taste in music SUCKS. :)
NeutralChris Davies October 25, 2006
[quote comment="4739"]So, what kind of battery life does the Zune have in Thompson’s little world? I imagine it must be absolutely phenomenal for him to suggest these absolutely ridiculous ideas.
Let me tell you, I’m not at all interested in letting other people copy my music, much less in copying theirs. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that other peoples’ taste in music SUCKS. :)[/quote]
With regards battery life, it’s something Thompson does consider:
Neutral“The problem with my scenario is that constant WiFi use would drain the Zune’s battery in just a few hours. But with clever firmware and protocols, the Zune could probably extend that considerably. It’s a problem that could be worked around.”
Admittedly it’s not a solution, as such, but if Microsoft are insisting on putting WiFi in the Zune then you may as well look at alternative ways to leverage it.
As for other people’s music sucking, well, that could well be true. But perhaps you should see yourself as a one-man walking education, Bruce, enlightening the dreary hordes with your playlists ;)
Frank Marlin October 25, 2006
I am depetate for a Zune, I can hardly wait just a few more weeks until November 14th!
Me I am leaning towards the brown zune buy may also get white. I will be buying a bunch of accessories too. What is the best place to buy Zune?
Me likey the Zune!
NeutralBill Murray October 25, 2006
[quote comment="4774"]I am depetate for a Zune, I can hardly wait just a few more weeks until November 14th!
Me I am leaning towards the brown zune buy may also get white. I will be buying a bunch of accessories too. What is the best place to buy Zune?
Me likey the Zune![/quote]
Best Buy, target, Walmart… you have to have atleast one of them near you. all of them will caryy the player and all the accessories.
NeutralBruce Anderson October 26, 2006
Frank Marlin’s post smells a bit fishy to me. Buying two Zunes? (Zunii?) Just because? Plus accessories? If it looks like a marketing plant, sounds like a marketing plant it’s just possible we’ve got a marketing plant on our hands here, someone posting, posing as an “average” consumer (how many average folks do YOU know who’re ‘desparate’ to buy TWO of something they’ve never even tried-something which costs $250?) to make it look like there’s a “buzz” around the product.
NeutralZane Coates October 26, 2006
[quote comment="4783"][quote comment="4774"]I am depetate for a Zune, I can hardly wait just a few more weeks until November 14th!
Me I am leaning towards the brown zune buy may also get white. I will be buying a bunch of accessories too. What is the best place to buy Zune?
Me likey the Zune![/quote]
Best Buy, target, Walmart… you have to have atleast one of them near you. all of them will caryy the player and all the accessories.[/quote]
NeutralAlso some local game stores are taking reserves on them right now. Game Crazy, Game Stop, etc.
Zane Coates October 26, 2006
I’m buying two. I’m an average consumer. One is for myself and the other for my fiance. Also I intend to buy accessories as well. Either this guy is jealous of the new multimedia system coming out or he is desperate to get people to rally around him in order to try and go against Bill Gates. Is that it, did I guess it right? I hear so many complaints against microsoft and then I hear so many against outsourcing. Will you people make up your minds. Yes, I know Macintosh is also an American company, whose success is just now getting into the foreground. Microsoft is also a great company, anyone watch the news in the past two months. Did you see the part where Bill Gates was donating 300 million dollars to smaller schools to focus on computer training. Give me a better reason to hate Microsoft other than the fact that the man has become a Business Giant. Sorry went on a tangent there, yeah I’m getting two zunes.
Neutral“Frank Marlin’s post smells a bit fishy to me. Buying two Zunes? (Zunii?) Just because? Plus accessories? If it looks like a marketing plant, sounds like a marketing plant it’s just possible we’ve got a marketing plant on our hands here, someone posting, posing as an “average” consumer (how many average folks do YOU know who’re ‘desparate’ to buy TWO of something they’ve never even tried-something which costs $250?) to make it look like there’s a “buzz” around the product”