Windows Mobile Team Blog

The best solution I can think of is zune software for my windows mobile phone so it will sync with zune marketplace etc and I can leave my zune behind when I only need a couple podcasts and one or two albums with me to listen to directly on my phone.

Possibly shop the marketplace from my phone and have the content I buy show up on my zune next sync?

ZunePhone or not - you should offer the ability to have all zune features on a windows mobile phone. For example, make it an application that can be downloaded and then enable the phone to synchronize with the zune account - download music, (using the phones data connection), etc.

The current windows media player in the phone is grossly inadequate - Zune should be a replacement for it if a user wants it.

I use my Zune as a music player about 90% of the time, with the AT&T Tilt picking up the slack for when I don't want to carry 2 devices (or just to listen to Audible content, which the Zune still doesn't do).  At 4GB on MicroSD, the Tilt has enough room to be my primary music player, but WMP Mobile is pretty inadequate:  Tiny buttons that are impossible to navigate while moving, tricky menu navigation that makes finding a podcast a chore, having to rebuild library every time I add an album, etc.

I can't think of anything here that doesn't venture into the realm of "wishful thinking," but it would be REALLY nice to let WinMo devices sync to the podcast list in Zune Desktop.  I'd love not to have to manage podcasts in both Zune and a 3rd party catcher in order to have them on both devices, even nicer to have them reconcile which ones have been listened to when I connect to my desktop, and just wonderful to have my Tilt (at least) pick up new updates through the data connection without having to use HubDog.

As for Zune social features, well... I've got an Xbox 360, so I'll get some Zune Social friends once the limit goes up.  ;-)

I currently listen to Zune Marketplace tunes on my Windows Mobile 5 phone. I wish it were easier. I have to use Windows Media Player to sync the content to the device, instead of Zune software directly. Also, I have to create new playlists on Windows Media Player, since the Zune playlists are invisible to Windows Media Player. Why not let me sync using the Zune host software? I'll pick the playlists that get moved to the phone to keep the volume manageable. And use the same rating system across both devices. I have stars on Windows Mobile and something else on the Zune.

I don't know one way or the other whether this is already the case, but the Zune should be able to partner with a bluetooth phone to fetch music from elsewhere, and/or the phone ought to be able to push files from the WMP library to the Zune.

All of the above suggestions are great. I'd love to be able to play my purchased Zune music on my Windows Mobile phone. I know with the Zune Marketplace and its DRM-free MP3's they are playable on Windows Mobile devices but I also have a subscription for the Zune Marketplace and subscription-downloaded music won't play on a Windows Mobile device.

Zune Desktop podcasts syncing with my Windows Mobile 5 device.

An Windows Mobile application for the Zune Social would be nice.  I mean, anything that will help to enhance both WM and Zune would be great, and I am still hopeful that this will happen...all of the above posts are great ideas, and should be considered.

Since both the devices support WI-FI, I would rather have my WinMo device act as a Zune remote with display. On my WinMo device, I should be able to browse through my  Zune collection and control the player.

Making sure that <i>all</i> Zune content can be synced, not just music and podcasts. Also, I've always thought that a "Zune Personality" for Windows Mobile would be cool. Basically the ability to load up a front end application that mimics the Zune interface. I know that both platforms have the same Windows CE roots, but I don't know the feasibility of such an endeavor.

Since Windows Mobile is tarred with the brush of Enterprisinessitude (and I say this as an enthusiastic but long-suffering WM developer), what about (in addtion to the suggestions above) producing a version of the Zune that supports the hoped-for-eventual mobile version of Silverlight, and let people create applications for it...then promote it as first a media player but second a consumer device that isn't just a one trick pony.

It would be great to be able to send songs from  Windows Media Player on the phone to the Zune over Wifi.

Also, there's no reason Windows Media playlists be accessable in Zune software (and player) and vice-versa. It would also be cool if your Zune could tether to your phone over wifi and then use the phone's 3G connection to connect to the internet for wifi.

I love the fact that you guys are thinking about this. I carry my AT&T 8525 and my Zune 30 everywhere I go. If these two could talk to each other, I'd be pretty happy about that.

I like Andrew's idea of using a mobile version of Zune instead of the mobile version of WMP, especially if I can browse and buy music from the ZMP using my 3G connection.

Convergence is important.

I have been using WM for years but the iPhone has kicked the smartphone industry's teeth in.

In 3 years people will not be carrying an MP3 player and a phone.

The simplicity of the Zune needs to be on my Windows Mobile phone.

The way the Zune V1 and the iPhone can easily update to the next version is important.

WM phone need to be able to receive all futures updates.

At the very least Windows Mobile needs podcast support.  This is still very sadly lacking.

I think to communicate with WiMo new social features are within reach to non Zune users. Stream over UPNP to other WiMo devices that installed this social Zune application and promote Zune and be social at the same time. Some kind of Zune Social Broadcast application. Got more ideas if you are interested. Specialy the social and other devices gives great opportunities to promote Zune.

have a nice day!

Hendrik

Ideally software should be developed and distributed by Microsoft for Windows Mobile 2003, 5 and 6 such that that software alllows Windows Mobile 2003, 5 and 6 mobiles to emulate a Zune device as much as possible.

I discussed something similar a while back on my blog when i asked "Will there be a Windows media Player 12" (http://randomelements.me.uk/Lists/Posts/ViewPost.aspx?ID=565)

I proposed that WMP ahould be fazed out in favour of a combined WMP/Zune player which will synch with both Windows Media AND Zune instead of having to have two separate apps with two different libraries for each device. This would make playlist management etc. much easier.

Although, I think replacing WMP in Windows Mobile with a Zune player is probably the way to go for the future.

This would be a non-issue if Microsoft hadn't made Zune player. If you only put in those changes in a new WMP and synced Zunes with that we would have ONE desktop player with many syncing options, including to WMP mobile.

So the best thing you can do now is to phase out Zune player, bring all its good features to WMP 12, then allow both Zune and WMP mobile to sync with it. And for heavens sake, update the WMP mobile client!

The name of the game is convergence, I fail to see how making separate media players integrate in this vision. Currently you are just making our lives much more difficult with this paralel development and incompatibilities.

I agree with the above. Remove parallel development and incompatibilities by making everyting Zune.

I'd like to be able to sync my zune with media center. That would give me one place to manage my music from for all my MP3 players & media center pc.

Also a more zune like interface for media playback on the phone (HTC S710) would also be good - as others have mentioned media player on the WM is a pain :)

and please please please can we have gapless playback on both products? Surely that's easy :)

= Windows Mobile =

* Zune client software to replace WM media player

* Support flick gestures

* Support sync with Zune without host PC

= Zune Device =

* Gapless playback!  (Don't the team listen to dance music compilations?)

* FM radio recording (unlikely, but cool)

= Zune software =

* Drag drop sync support within Windows Explorer (the current sync is horrid)

* Provide a .NET API so we can write our own sync applications (the Zune app is already WPF!)

* Support WMP Visualizations in a panel or full screen (specifically, I want the Psychedelia Viz Pack, which is written by Microsofties!)

* Support Sync with Windows Mobile - having to use both applications is jarring, let alone the pain of 2 different ratings systems.

* Provide better troubleshooting, e.g. Factory restore when problems with synch'ing.

And generally...

* Make it available in the UK ASAP!  (And the social...) I had to buy my cheap Zune 30 from someone on Amazon... :-(

If you could put the zune software on a windows mobile phone I would buy it in a heartbeat.  The only reason I haven't bought a Zune is because my windows mobile phone is sufficient enough.  I don't want to carry two devices.

What an incredibly time-wasting question, and a time-wasting project for the WinMo team. Why on *earth* would anyone rather carry around 2 media devices rather than 1? A WinMo phone is a general purpose device, and can already play tunes perfectly well (and 3rd party players can give a much better experience than the standard WMP), and has wireless communication. So there's no reason WinMo couldn't run Zune software.

The level of cluelessness here is sad, and further confirms how backward WinMo is compared to its competitors. You guys need to ramp up the speed of development on this platform 5x, fix the ridiculously bad UI and feature list, and maybe release more than a point update per year. Think big, think fast, think pretty. Look at iPhone, and the proprietary phone OSes that look 10x better than WinMo. Improve the damn OS!

Instead, you guys waste time on researching some pre-2000 unconverged device cooperation scheme, that no one at all would want. Oh, and buying other mobile companies such as Danger, instead of improving your own products.

"What an incredibly time-wasting question, and a time-wasting project for the WinMo team. Why on *earth* would anyone rather carry around 2 media devices rather than 1?"

Indeed.  Multimedia phones are already mainstream, the next step is true multimedia + true business productivity.  See XPERIA X1 for a good potential fulfillment of this idea.

"A WinMo phone is a general purpose device, and can already play tunes perfectly well (and 3rd party players can give a much better experience than the standard WMP), and has wireless communication. So there's no reason WinMo couldn't run Zune software."

Agreed.  I know somebody has already decided to run with the "sync, don't converge" philosophy, and that's fine if you guys want to stay behind in the handheld universe, but I'd recommend you work on getting Zune software onto the WM platform ASAP before a 3g iPhone with EAS support is released.

"You guys need to ramp up the speed of development on this platform 5x, fix the ridiculously bad UI and feature list, and maybe release more than a point update per year. Think big, think fast, think pretty. Look at iPhone, and the proprietary phone OSes that look 10x better than WinMo. Improve the damn OS!"

The UI really isn't that bad on the touch-enabled devices, and the 3rd party features make up for any default lackings, plus there are some great exclusives (Windows LiveSearch for WM is better than Google Maps on a WM Pro phone).  But yes, the iPhone does seem to have refocused the industry on usability while still not slowing down the feature lists of Nokia, SE, HTC, etc...  I view the mobile industry today like the desktop PC industry of 13-15 years ago; approximately the same specs, very fast level of improvement/devaluation, and being driven by multimedia apps.

If I was MS, I'd be pushing WM development, marketing, research, partnerships, strategy, as quickly as humanly possible.  Once it is about 90% as efficient to do something on your phone as it is your laptop, an incredibly large percentage of people will simply stop taking laptops with them on business trips.

"Instead, you guys waste time on researching some pre-2000 unconverged device cooperation scheme, that no one at all would want. Oh, and buying other mobile companies such as Danger, instead of improving your own products."

I'm sure there are some people that will want a sync scheme, but IMO that's throwing good money after bad.  By the time Zune ever catches on, truly converged devices will be at the magic $400 rate, especially if US Carriers are subsidizing the devices.  Nobody will want to bother with device to device data transfer unless its just replacing an old device with a new one.

-Get the Zune team together with the Windows Mobile team and throw out the crappy Windows Media Player 10 Mobile and replace it with the Zune interface.  Even the button layout on the Windows Mobile phones matches the layout of the Zune, you just need to design it.

-CONSOLIDATE YOUR MEDIA PLAYERS!!!!!.  Pick Zune or WMP, don't have both.  It creates confusion and the need to run multiple players.  Imagine if you had to run different browsers to view different websites, ugghh.

-More frequent updates to Zune software & firmware.  I don't want to wait a year, or even half a year for things to be fixed.

-Use the Sync Center.  Isn't this software designed to unify our syncing of devices?  I have a Zune and a Windows Mobile phone and I need to use Windows Media Player, Sync Center, Windows Mobile Device Center, Zune software, and have Outlook open all to sync my two devices!  5 different programs to sync 2 devices!!  This is insane!  It should be one piece of software that interfaces with all my devices to sync them all.

Why not allow the Zune to "squirt" to WM5? That way you can have some songs on your cell phone for a couple of days before they delete.  And if you are going out for a little while and don't need the full zune you have a nice alternative.

Given your premise of two separate devices, and also requiring existing hardware, then I suggest an application for the Windows Mobile phone that functions similarly to the Zune PC software.  The application would allow for the downloading of music to the Zune.  The interface between the Zune and the phone would be 802.11 Ad Hoc.

With my Zune Pass subscription, I would prefer direct downloading on the Zune via 802.11, but the user interface for that via the Zune seems very difficult.  So, the management of it with my Windows Mobile phone would be useful because it has a keyboard and handwriting recognition.  Basically, let’s get the PC out of the loop for loading new music on the go.

Maybe you guys can intergrate WMDC and Zune market place. So i can purchase software from the market place for my device and sync it with the zune software and in the same sense be able to plug my Zune into the software and still be able to sync it. Also my calander would be transfered to my zune so if im listening to music and need to be reminded of a meeting the reminder is not blocked out by the Zune head phones.

The ability to stream Zune music through the Speaker in my Phone since the Zune doesnt have an external Speaker.

Auto Syncing Contacts and Calanders so my Zune can function as a black book of sorts, so i can still dial a number if my phone dies or look up a number if im using the phone.

Well the best thing to do is what you guys likely are already doing. Hit the weak points of windows mobile and zune by looking at what you guys do best and worst when comparing to the iPhone and touch. Strengthen the weak points, make the two devices more seamless together.

Most important thing would be if there was an easy way to listen to the zune and take calls seamlessly over my windows mobile phone. Some kind of microsoft first party dongle for the zune, that allows me to link bluetooth A2DP to any headset and actually force the zune to pause on an incoming call then resume when the call ends, similar to whats already in place with every music phone out there, but allowing me to link the WM phone to the dongle and the dongle to the headset or something like that. If microsoft is intent on not merging the two worlds then they must become more seamless.

Connect the WM phone to the Zune as a modem and use it to connect to the internet from anywhere, giving you access to your HOME LIBRARY of music/media.  If it does this already, that's awesome (I don't have a Zune).

* Webbroser

* scrobbeling listened musik to zune sozial (like last.fm)

* maybe a msn client?

* screen the time on zune display.

windows media player for windows mobile should simply  be replaced with a zune app that follows the look and style of the zune device's software.  We Zune & windows mobile users appreciate the thought, but we are all aware that it will be another 3 or 4 years at best before any meaningful zune and windows mobile integration happens.  That's just the microsoft way...a bunch of different platforms that don't integrate well (see Zune + 360, windows mobile + 360, zune + windows media center...and the list goes on).

Zune software on Windows Mobile seems to be an obvious scenario. Also, if you have a smartphone, you could be able to connect to the internet, buy a song on the Zune Marketplace, and send it to the Zune (if the smartphone supports Wifi, or if there can be some cable connection between the 2). Of course, the Zune being able to connect to the internet directly through its Wifi would be could, but sometimes, Wifi isn't available, and a phone would still be useful.

Surur: What sort of podcast support would you like to see in Windows Mobile?

It might be something that could be handled by an application.

I played around with writing a podcatcher a couple of years ago, but I eventually decided that Windows Mobile devices weren't a good fit, since many of them use cellular connections with expensive data plans...not ideal for automatically downloading large files.

But I'd be interested in your perspective (anyone can send my a message about this via the contact form on my blog if they like)

I mean this in the nicest way possible.  First and foremost the Windows Mobile OS needs a total re-haul before even thinking of doing any Zune+Windows Mobile integration.  Windows Mobile 7 should be all touch devoid of any stylus and it should work flawlessly, fast, intuitive and look beautiful, something WM6 does not do.  WM6 is buggy, slow, ugly and unfriendly.  Devote all resources and build a solid foundation first.

Being able to use a WinMo phone as a remote definitely sounds good. A social application would also be nice.

The main feature I would like is the ability to create an Ad Hoc connection between the Zune/WinMo phone w/ wifi, and allow the Zune to piggyback on the phone's 3G connection to access the Zune marketplace/sync playcounts, etc.

I am a Zune and a WM5 (soon to be 6) user and I think Marketplace access is crucial.

I would like to be able to download any music purchased through the Marketplace to my WM device, delete form my device (for the sake of storage)using wireless broadband, weather it be Wi-Fi or EVDO.

I would also like to see the Player pause when an incoming call comes in.

I have seen the mock-ups of WM 7 and it looks fantastic.  When the iphone came out, I wondered what it could do that my WM phone couldn't do, the answer was "nothing".

If I were Microsoft, I would make a #G network a minimum system, requirement for the platform to run on a phone.  After trying out an iPhone it became apparent that all of the nice new features were lost on a crippled network.  It was so frustrating to wait for the speed, I put the device down.  

Allow a Windows Mobile device that has WiFi to be a 'WiFi target' for a Zune device. This would allow the WiFi music sharing feature of Zune to be MUCH more usable than it is today.

As Jasper Teal said, MS seems to be ages behind todays technology.

I´d like Zune interface on WM, just like MS integrated MediaCenter in Vista: The people don´t want two different devices, because a WM phone is just as good, although this solution online works for people who don´t need more than 4 GB music.

Otherwise Zune 80 etc. should be able to sync per WiFi with a WM-device so I have a bit of my favourite music with me. (I think MS would limit that somehow, otherwise I´d be able to send music to other peoples WM-devices ^^)

Add an Link Layer Topology Discovery (LLTD) to both Zunes and WinMobile devices.

I agree with several here in saying the zune interface should be available on each winmobile device... in the same way that the MediaCenter interface is available on Windows devices.

I should be able to answer my phone from my Zune. I am already wearing the headphones, so it would be awesome if the Zune had a Bluetooth radio and when a call came in I could push a button on my zune to answer it.

Kevin Daly said:  

Surur: What sort of podcast support would you like to see in Windows Mobile?

-------------------------

I listen to podcasts every day on my HTC Kaiser. At present I use a combination of iPodder to download the podcasts, Beyondsync to sync the podcasts to my phone's memory card and HTC Audiomanager (which automatically scans the card for new audio) to listen to my podcasts over A2DP connected to my car stereo while commuting.

This setup works well, but is pretty cumbersome obviously. Podcasts are not the main focus of HTC Audiomanager, so thats far from slick. It should for example automatically have the latest podcasts on top, and keep closer track of how far into the podcast you have listened to, and give you the option of deleting the podcast when it finished etc. Basically all the nice touches a dedicated app would give.

Also BeyondSync is nice, but buggy and has not been updated in a year. iPodder is fine, but due to the way Beyondsync works I have to set it to delete the last day or week's podcast automatically, else it would keep all the copies on the phone.

Basically an end to end solution is needed. I know the new Zune marketplace app supports podcasts, and the Zune player software does too. I want some of that for my WM phone.

I would not mind downloading podcasts directly to my phone (I have a good data plan too) but syncing should be the default way.

http://www.codeplex.com/BeyondSync

http://juicereceiver.sourceforge.net/

I really think Windows Mobile needs to tbe platform, and make Zune the ecosystem that runs on that platform.  I carry both a Zune and a windows mobile device,  but really they should support much of the same basic features.   If it's all about the software, then set the software free to run on multiple devices witha similar experience.

Make Zune the center piece for it's core uses (Music,Video,Photos, Podcasts) and deprecate the WMP as just a general media player.  This would mean getting all of the features of the current WMP into the Zune such as better tag support, etc.

As Windows Mobile devices start coming with 10s of gigs of space, where does the smaller flash based Zunes stand out?   The true convergence device that lets me have personalization, and also business integration would be an awesome thing.  The iPhone is all about the consumer, and I see many business folks now carrying an iPhone, and iPod, and a Blackberry!  it's crazy!

The recent Danget acquisition is interesting, because does it spell the beginnings of a more consumer oriented mobile device.  One that could have a layer software approach to support Zune services?

http://www.jeftek.com/gadgets/mobile/microsoft-buys-danger-zune-phone-in-the-works/  

Since both Windows Mobile and Zune developers are watching this, please consider the following, and please contact me so I can be on the beta for the next Zune software so I can help with feedback. jason@heydigital.com

-----------

Zune Wish List

I have beta tested many games for major companies, have beta tested multiple Microsoft software (discovered a top critical flaw in Windows Home Server), have been a network administrator for nearly 10 years, so I do know a think or two.  I really like the Zune and want it to do well, but there are many areas it can improve in.  Please implement these improvements, and do contact me for further information if you wish.

ZUNE HARDWARE:

HARDWARE:

-Add AM radio.  There is so much good stuff on AM, especially here in Southern California

-Add a set of stereo speakers on the Zune so people could watch or listen to items without having to use the headphones.  Even a mono speaker like most cell phones have would be better than no speakers.

INTERFACE:

-I want to be able to browse or play songs I have rated highly (drop the hearts, bring back the stars rating).

-It needs to be faster when scrolling down or up going from A to Z.

-If I am in the music section and want to go to W, I need to scroll all the way down from A!  AGH! I should be able to scroll up from A to go to Z.

OTHER:

-Add a clock.

-Add BlueTooth stereo audio for Zune hardware.  Maybe this can be a software upgrade since the Zune has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth recently announced they will be doing Bluetooth over Wifi (http://www.wireless-weblog.com/50226711/introducing_bluetooth_over_wifi.php).

-Drop the proprietary plugs.  Use standard mini-USB.

-I like the cloth wrapped headphones, but they transmit friction noise on my clothes

-The earbuds don't stay in the ears, and believe me, I know how to use headphones, I am an headphone junkie.

-Get car deck receivers to support the Zune via Stereo Bluetooth or a Zune connector so I can easily listen to the Zune in my car.

ZUNE SOFTWARE

OVERALL

-The thing hogs up my CPU, and I have a fast CPU.

-Enable it to run as a service in the background downloading Podcasts

-The "heart" rating system is stupid.  Bring back the 5 stars rating system.

-Make it mine?  Too bad I can only select a few backgrounds.  I want to select my own backgrounds.  Make it so when I change a background in in either my Zune Tag, Zune device or Zune software the picture is applied to the background for all.

LIBRARY

-You NEED to make a good tag/album editor at least as good if not better than the existing Windows Media Player.  Editing music is basically non-existent with the Zune software.

-I want to be able to paste album art, not search for it on the hard drive to add it.  Windows Media Player does not have this problem.

-The ability for the software to automatically manage the library by renaming, and moving files into folders to keep things organized would be a nice optional feature.

-Add DivX support.

VIDEO

-When viewing video full screen, it always shows the bottom bar which is annoying.

-Does not detect all standard MP4 encoded video files I have in the scanned directories.

-Make it sync with Windows Media Center (it claims it will in your advertising, but no one I have talked to at Microsoft knows how to do this), and make it sync both standard def and high-def.  Most major shows are HDTV now, so make it sync them.  Have it auto-detect the presence of shows recorded in Windows Media Center

PODCASTS:

-Notification in the corner of the Podcast icon graphic indicating if it downloading new podcasts, or if there are new podcasts to listen to and the # of new ones.  If I want to find out which Podcast has new shows and how many at a glance.  This should be displayed in both the Zune hardware & software.

-I really like the resume feature.  It would be nice if where I left off in my podcasts carried over to the Zune hardware and vice-versa.

-Need support for enhanced podcasts on the Zune software & hardware

-When I mark a track as "keep until I delete", there needs to be a check box next to it or something to indicate I did this.

RIPPING

-Rip needs formats such as AAC and VBR MP3 with the LAME codec for high quality sound.

BURNING

-When I burn multiple podcasts/albums as a data CD, they should be burned into multiple folders.  Windows Media Player does this right.  Zune does not, it burns them to the root directory and they are all mixed together.

ZUNE SOCIAL:

-Drop the 3 plays limit.  You should not DRM anything that I have on my device and want to share.  Much of the media I have created myself and I don't want DRM shackles on it.  If it was a purchased DRM song, then I can understand keeping the DRM limits on it, but other than that, DROP THE DRM!

-I like how what I play with the Zune software and Zune hardware shows up on my Zune Tag.  Why can't the podcasts I listen to show up on my Zune tag?

-I want to be able to share a video just as I can share audio, and it would not let me with my other Zune friend.

-How about sharing via the Zune software or Zune.net.  Add a right-click, share function.

ZUNE OTHER:

-Get the Zune team together with the Windows Mobile team and throw out the crappy Windows Media Player 10 Mobile and replace it with the Zune interface.  Even the button layout on the Windows Mobile phones matches the layout of the Zune, you just need to design it.

-CONSOLIDATE YOUR MEDIA PLAYERS!!!!!.  Pick Zune or WMP, don't have both.  It creates confusion and the need to run multiple players.  Imagine if you had to run different browsers to view different websites, ugghh.

-More frequent updates to Zune software & firmware.  I don't want to wait a year, or even half a year for things to be fixed.

-Use the Sync Center.  Isn't this software designed to unify our syncing of devices?  I have a Zune and a Windows Mobile phone and I need to use Windows Media Player, Sync Center, Windows Mobile Device Center, Zune software, and have Outlook open all to sync my two devices!  5 different programs to sync 2 devices!!  This is insane!  It should be one piece of software that interfaces with all my devices to sync them all.

ZUNE PRAISE:

-There are lot of things to fix for sure, but there are many things done right:

-Audio/video pauses when I unplug the headphones.  Nice.

-Podcast support is great.  More control over Podcast options is better than iTunes.  The resume feature is wonderful.  Marketplace Podcast channel is better organized and much easier to browse than iTunes.  Keep the Podcast Channel up to date and keep it easy for people to subscribe.

-The hardware is excellent.  Great size (though it could be a tad bit smaller), and the Zune pad works so well.

-Excellent interface.  The "twist" interface is a winner, better than the iPod.  Needs some refinement here and there, but excellent nonetheless.

Another vote for a merged WM6+Zune OS.   No need for both.   Apple did it, why can't Microsoft.   I'd pay $$$ for Zune software on my AT&T Tilt.   I'd pay even more if it worked like an iphone.

I think that if you eliminated WMP11 software and replaced it with zune software, people would not react well to it because of the name change and limited power, codec support and editability. Add all the codec support of Windows Media Player into the zune software and just rename it Windows Media Player 12.

Or change the name of the zune software to another name so it does not sound like it only works with zune. Make it so that Zune is the default device but also syncs with sansa iriver sony and heck even apple ipods with the software. Make it a deep editable software that chalenges the itunes softwares user control and support.

Take the storage burden away from the design of Zune. Let it use SDHC cards (You can specify a minimum class) like the phones. this will make the base Zune very inexpensive and I can start with 2GB if my needs are not great or go for 32GB if I am craving for space.

Zune needs to be on my Windows Mobile phone, Windows mobile phones will never be considered favorability with an IPHONE. It Will always be a poor also ran,wanna be competitor when it comes to music and UI.

Portable Zune software - one that doesnt work without installing. We spend all day at work and would like to buy songs even at work.

However we cannot install Zune software (no admin priveleges). Is it really impossible to have a Zune on a stick?  I dont think there are any DRM issues

Jason Rasmussen said it all, I think.

Visiting the Zune social on windows mobile and the Zune device would be great.

I'd say that before adding new features/integration, you need to make the good stuff that you already have more widely available.

People outside the U.S. can download the Zune software, but don't have access to much of the functionality! I understand that you can't let people buy content from the Marketplace in countries where you don't have the content agreements setup, but that shouldn't stop you letting people access the podcast directory or Zune Social!

On to new features:

If you're going to potentially have some features of Zune on WM, it would be good to add some remote synching capability. It would be nice to get new episodes of podcasts over wi-fi on the Zune, but it would be even worse to leave that out of a mobile device which is always connected to a data network.

If you're looking at hardware refreshes, you could put Bluetooth in the Zune and have the facility to have the playback automatically pause when a call comes in to your phone.

When browsing the web on your phone, how about an option in the browser on WM to send content (wirelessly) to the Zune? Say if you were browsing a photo website or somewhere with free audio/video downloads.

Oh, and before I forget - SUPPORT FOR AUDIBLE.COM!!!

if there's not going to be zune marketplace shopping over the zune, then it could be done through the phone and then send the files to the zune directly(the same way zunes send songs to each other). Also, this would work with my idea of syncing over ip, instead of just ad-hoc(sync with your computer's ip address with permissions all automatically set up by the software) and with this you could use the phone's internet (3G or GPRS/EDGE) and do the same when there's no wifi near by.

Is there a website where i can upgrade from windows mobile 5.0 to windows mobile 6.0 without paying a fee

put both on the new Danger (aka T-Mobile Sidekick) platform that MSFT just bought out.  They already have an up to 2GB Music Player on their Smartphone platform!!  Perhaps integrating their music player into a Zune format and using Danger's OS in a merge with Windows Mobile OS will do the trick - to quote Hannah Montana (my daughter's favorite singer):  the Best of Both Worlds!!

The only reason I have not purchased an iPhone is due to the lack of EAS support. My WM5 phone works great, but I need more storage for videos, large music files. A Zune with EAS support would be great.  

ok the best way to do this as make it all run faster and smoother gappless play for the zune fix the lag on windows mobile and for the zune allow it to use more that mp4 and wmv donr get me wrong i like the but there is better quality out there and bith allow access to the hdd and or memory card the the mobile device has w/ out software or any 3rd party accessories

I know this is a little off topic, but it bugs me about the zune.  If I buy a song, I want to be able to use it on more than one device.  I don't need the song on more than one device simultaneously, but I would like to be able to move it between my desktop, my laptop, my ppc, and my media player.  I would also like to be able to make permanent trades with other people.  You can trade cds, why shouldn't you be allowed to trade electronic content.  I think a wireless permanent trade option would make a great addition to the zune.  It might be enough to convince me to buy one.

Well, first of all you MUST get the animations that the Zune uses (or something like it) on Windows Mobile. I mean, the Zune has a nice, clean, elegant, beautiful UI. Windows Mobile does not. The Zune's transitions make it really nice to use, I think WM needs this too.

As for how to merge the two, why not on the WM home screen have a Zune logo, when you select said logo the Zune player launches, with the bottom bar of WM so you can get back to your normal data.

Just my .02

Right now Microsoft looks at everything as separate parts.  Windows Media Player, Zune Marketplace, Windows Live, Zune Social, Sync By Microsoft, Xbox Live, Home Server, Microsoft Media Extenders are all separate pieces.    Right now Microsoft is trying compete but not innovate.    Zune shouldn’t be the hardware but the experience.  Microsoft needs to create the same “Zune” experience throw out its entire ecosystem.    Not just integrate it in a few small ways.   Why aren’t Zune and Windows Live one in the same?  Why do I have to log into three applications to check my email and download songs?  Why can’t I log into one system to check email, social, and download music in the same user-friendly “Zune” experience.   No take this user-friendly “Zune Social” experience and make it the standard for the entire eco-system.  The Zune players have a smaller market share, but what if Zune experience was transferable to Windows Mobile, Windows Pocket PC, Xbox Live, Sync by Microsoft.    No Microsoft has an instant “Zune Social” experience audience with out putting in a lot of effort and resources.  Why can’t I “squirt” a song to a co-worker, friend, etc from any wifi-enabled device (Laptop, Wif- enabled windows mobile phone, Zune Player, etc.)?   How about “squirting” playlists, podcasts, etc.  Why isn’t live messenger part of the “Zune Social” experience?    Why can’t I make my Zune Social tag my Live Messanger tag?   Integration and standardization is the key to the “Zune Social” experience being successful.  Any way that’s my two cents.

bubuschoeny@hotmail.com

just replace WMP as the default media application on WM6 devices with a Zune application that is the same interface on the Zune including the now playing screen with album art and song info below.  my last PPC phone had a similar interface through an HTC plugin, but a Zune GUI would tie the two devices directly together.  this way its not a zune-phone, but all Windows Mobile devices would in essence have a Zune in them.  I'd like to see standard headphone jacks on the phones, too, so you don't need an adapter.

I would like…

– Support the same formats

– Share the media wireless

– Have similar GUI between the two

– WM should be about to send text, SMS and web files to the Zune

– See what the other person have on there playlist if they user lets you (Like Napster 1.0)

– Vote for Zune+WM in one

– When going touch for both device, make a standard screen size. 16:9 :)

…have more but will keep it to a minimum.

After 15 years in the wireless industry, the concept of having a single device for voice and data still has not had the wide appeal as the end user experience has real distinction.   I personally use two devices an Iphone and a HTC Mogul from Sprint.  I use the Iphone for music and entertainment and the HTC for Voice and Windows email and other applicaitons.    

Having said that, i belive the market would support and prefer to have an option to have a entertainment device for music, videos, community sites, blogging, email and internet applications with voice on another device.  This would be an attractive option and extend battery life on higher speed networks.    The biggest issue with mobile content is discoverablity, and by removing the software associated with voice and battery consumption, you could increase the end user experience tremendously as well as further the adoption rates.

1. Music can be purchased on phones - there should be a way to send it to my Zune directly so it becomes part of my library. (My Zune and my phone could be paired to allow this.) 2. If my Zune is docked and connected to a stereo, I should be able to use my phone to see the music I have on the Zune and also as a remote conrol tell the Zune to play particular songs. 3. Use the messaging/browsing capabilities on my phone to interact with the online Social. 4. Take a photo with my phone and send it to the Zune as the new Zune wallpaper.

Great suggestions already (j-raz esp!).  I'd like to see:

- option for a single device (zune+WM), but understanding that many people prefer multiple devices and don't want swiss army knives.

- single media player (PC, WM, zune) and make it super fast and pimpable (option of storing prefs/settings in the cloud for when you change devices/PCs)

- double down on media player UI (device & PC), many people "put up" with the iTunes PC experience -- set the bar as high as Apple did for device UI.  Changing media players is a PITA, win users over with a great one out of the gate, make it seamless with cloud services (marketplace), as standalone on PC, on WM devices, on Zunes or on converged "Zunephone"

- standard miniUSB charging, custom cables/chargers are a PITA

- expandable media

- autoshuffle HW button/switch

- continue down the new 4/8GB hardware design - thin, sleek, iPhone-esque

- avi support

- make it easy to change songs when it's in your pocket / gym wear, it'd be sweet to be able to "feel" buttons for simple actions - play/pause, back/next, cue <<|>>, vol up/down, etc without taking it out of pocket or pressing wrong button, e.g. should be able to use it blindfolded

Keep up the good progress, the new 4/8GBers are sweet and in the right direction!

OTA music downloads from zune store to WM would be awesome. Sync purchased music to zune as well on next connect, and store in PC library automatically as well.

If you don't want to download music to the phone (security, storage issues) then how about streaming content I own from the zune servers to my phone?  Still let me purchase, but only stream to phone?

I want a consistent experience when connecting my Zune and my WM phone to my vista desktop.  

I don't like having separate software to manage my music on the desktop and mobile device (WMP, my default choice) and Zune software.

I also have an Ipod from pre-zune days, and the battle on the desktop to see who gets to rip a cd (itunes, zune, windows media player) is not pretty.

We need a solution for Audible content on the Zune.  It's crazy that I can play it on my mobile, and not my Zune.

A standard charging / interface story for my phone and my zune.  I have too many different cables already.  The standardization of WM devices on USB has been a godsend.

BTW, my wife loves her new red heart tattoo 80gb zune!  Excellent price, purchase experience, and presentation.  Thanks!

--Norm

I've been excited about Xbox live Anywhere for Windows Mobile since it was previewed almost 2 years ago.  Since the announcement that Zune will be the mobile Xbox Live Anywhere platform (and presumably not Windows Mobile), my only hope then is that whatever is done to bring the Zune experience to Windows Mobile also yields Xbox Live Anywhere for Windows Mobile.  

Although clearly MS has pushed WinMo as primarily a business platform, the ability for WinMo users to tap into their XBL world in even the most basic and unimaginative ways (friends list aware/interaction, stat viewing, simple XBL game downloads), would so likely boost cross platform adoption in both directions it's painful that this hasn't happened and likely wont happen any time soon.

Allow Windows Mobile devices to access & stream media libraries located on Live SkyDrive and/or Windows Home Server.  I'd create a Windows Mobile version of Zune Software for playback purposes (no store) and entertainment UI consistency (which should be a goal between XBox, Media Center and Zune).  No media library indexing on the Windows Mobile device...that should all take place on either Live SkyDrive and/or Windows Home Server.  I can see Silverlight technology being utilized to enhance Windows Media Connect and Zune Software. Windows live SkyDrive probably should also be Silverlight streaming enabled.  Just my $.02.

Doing the above would

- eliminate time consuming syncing

- eliminate imposing new local storage requirements

- eliminate DRM hinderence to consumer enjoyment

- be compatible with the widest array of devices

- consume more data traffic...which positively impacts the mobile operators core business.

To manage DRM, I would modify the Zune service back-end to allow users to register devices to Zune Account.  Perhaps limit that to 5 devices.

I want to play my downloaded ZUNE music on my...

Samsung BlackJack II

Samsung BlackJack

AT&T 3125

AT&T 8525

AT&T 8925

or ANY additional Windows Mobile Device I purchase.  I have three Zunes in the house...  but when I am using my ear buds on my BJ II, I'd like to listen to music from my Zune subscription.

You should make PIE for the zune so you will not under use a very important but underused feature in the Zune devices. I'm glad Microsoft announced the XNA stuff for Zune and Windows Mobile because I have an Xbox 360 elite, a Zune 80, and a Windows Mobile 6 Standard device (Samsung Blackjack) so I just want you guys to make all of these things to work together in a cool way. I would like to see the Zune device be used as an Xbox 360 wireless adapter. I mean come on $99 for a usb wifi adapter. You can get a wireless G router, 2 usb wireless G adapter, and the Cat 5/Ethernet cord to connect you modem to your router for $99. Just utilize the wifi better, think of all the cool stuff you can do with wifi ( like streaming video when i go to xbox.com on the Zune PIE an stream some good old trailers or Major Nelson interviews). HAHA and all of this coming from a 15 year old! thanks for listening!!

Please start with the basics....  like a single converged tool for syncing to the Zune and Windows Mobile devices.  Since the Zune team is quite determined to distance itself from Windows Media Player, provide a comprehensive tool for:

* Managing a media library

* Accessing the various Microsoft Marketplaces

* Sync (insert_device_here) with Outlook

* Sync (insert_device_here) with media library

Provide this single access point and then it doesn't matter if I'm connecting my Zune or my T-Mobile Dash...  I can sync the appropriate data to the appropriate device.  Then if some time down the road the Zune team decides to provide a calendar function for the Zune player, the converged sync tool would need a simple update to be able to sync the calendar with the Zune player.

Bottom line is that this converged sync/management tool provides the user with a consistent experience.

The Windows Mobile official blog is toying with the idea of giving their phones the Zune treatment. While

Ian Dixon had Microsoft’s Steve Lindsay on the Media Center Show today talking about various including

Ian Dixon had Microsoft’s Steve Lindsay on the Media Center Show today talking about various including...

Wifi OTA podcasts and a wifi store. Unleash your device from the pc!! (wifi in a player was done with the ill fated aireo.. of course mine still works to this day) Audible support would be excellent. A simple RSS reader would be the easiest to implement both things as it would support audio and video enclosures as long as they were formatted (in the case of video) properly. Wifi sync is ok at this point but when I'm at work and I want to download the newest podcast..

Since there is some movement on the msn spot service and is broadcast over fm signals, it would seem to me that the rss reader could get weather or other info through that.

As to how to implement winmo... since it doesn't have a touchscreen, drop the smartphone os or a scaled down derivative.  There are tons of smartphone apps that could be used. A browser is nice but not really a necessity.

How difficult would it be to make it a sideshow device?

Just my thoughts.... I think these would be a great starting point although I don't know the technical specs of the processor within the zune. Most smartphones run ok with 200 mhz...  

I'd really like to be able to manage playlists over the wifi connection between my Zune and my WMo 6.1 Kaiser.  

So i want a ZUNE to be like the Apple ipod touch. Why can't the Zune have WM6 and not be a phone? or atleast have a Zune with WiFi like the itouch.. The only thing stopping me from buying a Zune is the fact that for $20 more i can buy the itouch with more capability. I don't care what happens with the WM Phones. How come there is no WM6 PDA's? Can't microsoft get on this and make one that's NOT A PHONE. Take an example from Palm, just not with that crap OS. Integrate WM6 straight into the Zune and make new Zunes to actually compete. Apple has innovated.. Mircosoft, it's time to copy.

Syncing Zune and WMPlayer playlists would be a great benefit.

On another note, I don't think it's fair to assume Zunes (aka the Zune software) and WMPlayer should immediately have the same features just because the MSoft sticker is on both.  I wish MSoft said more about either:

 - why WMPlayer doesn't support the Zune or

 - when we could expect one of the two product lines to be phased out,

but I understand consolidating those product lines would require Zunes (aka the Zune software) support multiple devices or require WMPlayer to support the Zune DRM scheme and the Zunes subscription model.  I don't think either of those choices could happen immediately!

The ability to run the Zune software and interface as the media platform within WM seems the most obvious ideal solution IMO.  The Zune interface is fantastic.  I wish we could run that within WM and sync it with the Zune software.

The issues with dual players/playlists/libraries/etc is an obvious headache.  We've got all these different platforms:  Windows, Windows Mobile, Zune, Media Center, Xbox.  They're great platforms individually and some of them play well together.  But there's sometimes a disconnect and still a lot of confusion for the average user.  People are blown away when they see Media Center on my HTPC.  But most people don't even realize they already have that on their own PC.

I'd love to see the Zune hardware (while still functioning as a multimedia platform) eventually push into the handheld gaming segment with WM (perhaps in more consumer/Zune and business flavors rather than the current Std/Pro differentiation) serving the phone segment.  But the media platforms need to be the same across the board.