Music, culture, and the inside scoop from Cesar Menendez,
a Microsoft employee working on Zune - Microsoft's new music project.

October 10, 2006

. . . Ever Do That?

Last night that song Cheated Hearts came on the radio as I turned onto my street. I drove around the block until the song ended. Have you ever done that? For what song would you circle a few times around the block?

I know it's been a long time, but things are nutso w/ launch on the November 14. One question that came up yesterday that I'll answer here: You can flag songs on your Zune, and when you synch your Zune to your PC, you'll easily be able to find it. You can also flag songs you receive via Zune to Zune sharing.

Edit: Tuesday 9:20 AM: I'm told it's "sync" not "synch." However, the spelling is disputed. Fixing the spelling was a cinch ;)

 |  Tuesday, October 10, 2006 2:06 PM  |  25 Comments

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Samisa

Just seen a banner ad for Zune (on Digg). Looks very nice.

vanno

Saw the banner add on www.pandora.com as well. A nice feature for Zune would be the ability to flag a song from a streaming radio site such as pandora. Then load the song on the Zune Player (assuming you have the subscription service and the song is available on Zune Marketplace). I find that pandora and last.fm are great resources for finding new music that I usually really like!

RomeoDude

I really like the ability to flag songs. Currently, on my iPod, if there's a song I want to 'flag' for me to look at when I sync, I have to create an 'on-the-go' playlist, which can become confusing and annoying.

Connor

I keep driving whenever I listen to any Dave Matthews Band. Sometimes I will just sit in the driveway because it can take 10 or 15 mins.

Sean

same

Omer

Caesar, I would like to ask you a few questions regarding the Zune for my website, ZuneUser. How would I go about contacting you, and do you have time to answer them? Thanks, Omer

Woody56292

I do that all the time too. However, I am a NPR listener and I often stay in the car for 5-10 minutes to listen to an interesting story/news coverage I am currently engrossed in. ( can't stand to listen to only half the story, must stay till the end )

Czanchez

Thanks for answering my question. And yes, I do that all the time in the car. Even when I'm walking and I get close to the door and a song I like is playing, I'll either keep the headphones on until it finishes or walk a little more.

Ricky

@ Connor & Sean Fifteen minutes is a long time. Are you sure you're not just listenning to one song that lasts forever and sounds the same as all their other songs? Haha I love ribbin DMB fans...they are quite possibly the touchiest fans ever. Its true though, all their stuff does sound the same. But hey, if you do something well... Drive around the block...hmm...I'll drive around the block for catchy stuff. Virtual insanity by jamirquai, what a fool believes by the doobie brothers. Music that won't *LET* me go home.

Sportsunit

I won't drive around the block but I will chill in the garage for a minute and wait for a good song to finish... sexy back or just about anything that's in my sandisk at the moment.

britton

the first time i heard stevie ray vaughn's 'empty arms' i drove straight to the CD store, waited in my car for the song to complete and to find out who was this amazing guitar player and bought the CD.

Corey

Hey. Ive got a question for you Cesar. Will the video conversion software come free whith the zune? and when converting can I just pop my DVD in and convert, or do I have to rip it with DVD Decrypter first? Thanks

Charlie

Glad your back Cesar... As for my song...I'd have to say Citizens of Tomarrow by Tokyo Police Club. -Charlie

Harvey

I used to circle the block for "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynrd, until the price of gas went over $2.50/gallon. :)

Stephen

Actually, there's a set of songs that I will not leave the car without hearing in their entirety. Simple Man by Skynyrd comes to mind most readily.

Aaron Axvig

Any Boston song on the radio I must hear until the end. In an interesting twist, whenever I hear their REAL gems (Foreplay/Longtime, Don't Look Back, Feelin' Satisfied, and Peace of Mind being the ones that come to mind) and I'm still driving I will on occasion turn the radio off at the end of the song to eke the last bit of enjoyment out of the song (and not let another, lesser song intrude). Yeah, I have problems.

Connor

Ricky, They dont all sound the same... and yes I am touchy about DMB. But I am not one of those radio fans that listen to the radio hits. To anyone who doesnt listen to a band a lot all the songs sound the same. I almost only listen to DMB so every other type of music sounds a like.

Chris C

A few weeks back we subjected the kids to Queen Greatest Hits 2 while we drove back from somewhere. We had to go round the block twice when "I Want To Break Free" came on (the first time we'd heard it in a decade probably). I think they were quietly impressed by our skill of singing very loudly :o)

MattP

By Juno Reactor: "Pistolero" "Swamp Thing" "Conga Fury" By Rammstein: "Du Hast" "Wo Bist Du" "Rosenrot"

Wired Zune

This is definately a great feature. :) Especially if you have some thousand songs. ;) Thanks for the little info Cesar! - ioDi http://www.wiredzune.com

joe

AHHH I can't stand it! It's SYNC, not SYNCH!

Rik

Question about the sharing side of Zune: If you send your friend a song on Zune and after 3 days is expires, are you able to send it to them again?

Cesar Menendez

LOL, joe not Joe

mitch

In order to get unlimited playback on the zune, there will be a better way (at least according to what I read online). The best hack coming up that will make the majors look ugly is one that locks or replaces the quartz (or whatever, I didn't get the subtilities) on which the Zune gets it date/time. In that way the three days are forever! A few other of these hacks seem to be already studied at on the net (do other than microsoft people have those for test?). The Zune might become very interesting then with the unlimited sharing ability! ;-)

Zune MAX

Defintely park the car and enjoy the music. Driving around the block will just wreck the song and you might get caught in loop of great music and be stuck driving the car for a long time.

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