What would be really nice would be a firmware update that adds features.  The team should be looking at this: http://www.petitiononline.com/zune/petition.html

Which asks for communication about actual updates with deadlines.

Mine skips. Not all the time, usually every 4th song or so.  Usually at the beginning a few seconds in.  It appears to happen more is the screen is displaying but not always.  The best I can recall its only skipping on ZMP content, I'll try to track that better and get back to you if it happens on non-ZMP stuff.

Thanks.  Great player, I'm really enjoying it. Sorry to hear Bryan Lee is leaving, but sounds like you will all be in good hands with J Allard.

Yea, mine skips too. Activating the screen always fixes it. It also will randomly shut off and not respond except to a Back+Down hold, but the latter issue has only happened twice during ownership.

I'm content, however, because I know M$ is working hard to fix the problems. Posts like these are always helpful, of course.

I'm glad to know it's being worked on. I don't really notice the skipping much though, I think it's only a couple of my ZMP songs that do it, not all of them.

Cool glad your working on it.

Wouldn't it be kewl if you could put aim on the Zune so that if i connected to a hot spot i could use aim on my Zune.......(hint hint)

mine is also skipping like crazy. all i have is zune marketplace songs from the zune pass. every time i do anything it is slow and the songs skip at the begining all the time. FIX IT PLEASE!!!!

And what's going on with the cracking issue?

http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/31/zune-screens-cracking-from-battery-pressure/

Diego, must you spread more BS? How about: http://www.iwantapinkzune.com/?p=122

Hey guys.

I noticed that my Zune Pass subscription content was skipping as well, usually the third song played in a row. So, that got me to thinking that it is probably software malfunction, so what did I do? I reflashed all of the firmware with the "Back + Up" reboot, and the "Back + Left + Center" reformat, reflashed the firmware from 1.0 to 1.2 using ZMP, and resynced my content, and what do you know, no more skipping for me! Hope that some of you guys have some time to try this out and let me know how it goes!

Correction:

"Back + Right + OK"

I get some occasionally stuttering of content, once every several songs it seems. I can't be any more specific as I'm not certain of the details.

Do you know I see dvd to zune converter, convert dvd to zune -- ipod zune psp video converter software released in http://www.ipod-zune-psp.com?

Glad to see the team is working on the issue. It doesn't seem to happen very often, but it has happened to me on more than one occasion.

I haven't done any sort of actual test to try and figure out what the cause of the problem is, but it really seems to happen more often when I listen to a single album (not shuffled) that I downloaded with my Zune Pass. To combat this problem I've started listening to my Zune on "Shuffle All" (which is a mix of ripped & downloaded content) and I haven't really noticed the skipping problem since then.

my zune switches off sometimes(like once a month) and i dont know why. I hold the play button down and it takes about 10-15 seconds to load back on. anyone else have this problem?

I have the skipping problem too.  It seems to happen as a buffering issue.  It doesn't happen on the first or second song when advancing through a playlist.

Also, I always have it on shuffle if that helps.  

Also, if it doesn't skip, then there is a long delay in advancing to the next song when pushing the button.

So the 2 problems seem related, either the start of the song skips for about 5 secs while the buffer fills up OR the delay is about 5 secs until it jumps to the next song.

Also, this always happens in the car where vibrations are pretty bad, so I can understand that it is buffering the anti-skip and it can't keep up.  Old sony CD players use to suffer from a similiar issue.

This is 100% reproducable on my Zune, I'd be happy to send it to anyone at MS to test with as I'd like it to get fixed ASAP.

Frankly, its the only issue I have with it.  Its a big issue but should be fixable if the buffer routine can be optimized, or even delayed for the first 5 secs.

Skipping is minimal for me. My bigger issue is the zune going to sleep and not responding to any buttons. Only fix for me is to turn the lock on for a few moments, then turning the lock off.

I have the same problem that Sloan has. Mine happens when I take off the headphone when the Zune is playing. The only way to reset the Zune after that is to put the hold button off and then on (the player does a reset - the Zune logo comes up).

Mine doesn't skip - but I don't have any marketplace songs on mine. It does skip just when I turn the wireless on.

Something else I noticed recently is that many of my songs end very 'early' like 2 or 3 seconds before. I checked the files themselves and it looks like they've been changed. I don't like the Zune software making changes that are irreversible.

Yeah... I've got the skipping issue occasionally as well.  It doesn't really happen when I'm not using Zune Pass content, but it is rather annoying.  Same thing with the slowdowns when moving through songs.  I hope a firmware to mend this isn't too difficult to produce or long in coming, as I rather enjoy the player.

First off, I love my Zune.

I actually have two, and they both skip.  I use ZMP content, and listen to songs on shuffle at work.  A known "fix" works, which is to turn the backlight to 'always on,' but then it doesn't make it through the day on battery.  When it skips, the buttons are also not usable, which is the most annoying part of the situation.

I've called tech support several times, most recently on Tuesday night.  That was the first time that somebody acknowledged that it was a known issue, which I appreciated.  What's missing, however, is for somebody to say a date that a fix is anticipated, or to promise that a fix is both possible and forthcoming.  

I noticed mine skipping during the first 20 seconds of playback from marketplace content.  Backlight off and playing on random songs.

Oddly enough by leaving the backlight on all the time on the lowest brightness, it does not skip during playback now.  Goes thru batteries a bit quicker than I like, but I usually leave it docked now at work anyways.

@sloan:

I have that same problem, I think it happened when I dropped my zune in my car. It was on at the time, and when I picked it up it was off. I started pushing buttons and it wouldn't come on. But when I flipped the hold switch on and off it came right back after a reboot. So maybe it has a sort of shock protection where it totally shuts down until the hold switch is flipped.

The Zune has amazing potential...that's the main reason I continue to hang on to my device.  It's also the main reason why I initially invested so heavily in the platform (i.e. 2 zunes, belkin stand/charger, several cases, home a/v dock, etc.)  Not to mention, I saw how the XBOX went from nothing to something over 5 years.  Thing is, I'm not sure I'm willing to wait on Microsoft for another 5 years.  It's good to see the team is listening though.  I guess its better than nothing.  Nonetheless, I'll continue to look for an update that addresses skipping and also adds 150 new features...:)  Check that, 151.

I've got a new saying, "I've been zuned!", and that's not good! My player now shuts down at least every three tracks played, sometimes every track. I am a professional musician and TRIED to use this for rehearsing new material. I tried reformatting,upgrading firmware,calling tech support, NO DICE! I think you guys might need to wrap your heads around a recall as the zune is still a not ready for primetime prototype..IMO of course.

Have you thought about getting it replaced?  That's obviously a defective unit. Mine has never just "shut down."

Of course I thought about doing that but I would ask you to read the following thread: http://www.zunescene.com/forums/index.php?topic=3836.0 there are many reports from those who have gone through multiple replacements/exchanges. This is definitely NOT an isolated incident.

I have a turd brown zune and love it! I think the zune pass is killer.  My zune skips and turns off repeatedly.  However, when I take it out of the sports case I keep it in it never skips or turns off.  Go figure.

My Zune skips like mad, it's only Zune Media, media that doesn't skip from my Library when played on a PC.  GG, GG.  I love this unit, but want to throw it against the wall when this happens, I also teach spinning, so this is a must NOT happen, and needs a fix ASAP or I am going back to my Video Nano which by the way with it's Apple Defacto Standard actually interfaces with my Clarion head unit.  Other then the skipping though, Zune owns Apples, face, please fix me, please!

is there any update on when/if this issue is going to be fixed?

anyone?

Mine skips as well, I'd like to know what is going on with the firmware updates along with the skipping issue we need some serious fixes like lossless audio support.

I don't know if this will help but my Zune is filled with issue.

It skips all the time. With the ZMP songs, and with my own songs. Even if I don't play a single ZMP song for the whole period I'm running it, it still skips.

I get a delay every time I press a button. It can be two seconds, or twenty, and sometimes I have to restart the whole player just to get it to work.

I never have it on shuffle, the backlight is on low, etc. and yet my battery sometimes dies in as little as an hour. It's always at least half dead after 45 minutes, and sometimes it hangs on for dear life, sometimes it craps out on me. I can leave it on the charger while playing it, and it will STILL lose half of it's power just from being played for an hour.

I've updated the firmware, and I'd love to be able to leave the backlight on so my music doesn't skip, but then the battery would probably die after four songs.

My zune is skipping like crazy I have called your call center 3 times and still no fix. the only fix that I found is leaving the backlight on always other than that every song skips that i download from my zune pass.

supposedly, the fix has been built and will be released in a firmware update no later than the end of March.

which is way too long, imo.

I figured a way to enjoy all of your Zune MP music on the go, skip free. There is a program called WMAConvert which will allow you to take all of your legally downloaded WMA files and convert them to MP3 format. From there you load them onto that old iPod that you were hoping to replace with the Zune. This is what I have been doing, while my Zune rests in my desk waiting for M$ to come up with a solution. The Zune could be Superman of players, right now it's Christopher Reeves.

I recently got a Zune and it's started skipping when I got over 17 gigs on it.  I've seen a fix where you leave the display always on and that fixes the issue but drains the battery.  Hopefully the next firmware will definately fix this issue.

Yep, skipping here, too, on about 50% of songs. Only turned off on me once, though. I’ve noticed skipping even on non-DRM files. It only happens in the first few seconds of the song, and only when automatically switching from the last song (e.g. not when I hit FF from the last song). The backlight always on fix seems to work, but I may take it back to Target and trade it in for an ipod before my Visa protection runs out. Zune pass rocks my world, but it ain't worth this kind of aggravation. You have through March Microsoft, and then I'm taking it back.

  My Zune was skipping constantly but my wifes wasn't. I also had a few friends take there's back due to skipping and replace them with iPods. I refused to due this because I like the Pass option- I had 700 songs in a matter of hours. Plus my wife and I share a Zune Pass ($15 a month for the both of us, sweet!)

  Back to the point! I tried resetting, restoring, reloading, all the things I had read in forums, but nothing stopped it from skipping.

  So, why was hers fine while mine was a peice of skip? She uses an Intel Mac that runs windows. I was using a PC laptop. Catching on quickly, I loaded windows on my Intel MacBook and reloaded the songs. Guess what? I have listened to it for about 40 hrs since then and not one skip! There is something in the Mac architecture that transfers the songs differently. Maybe because of the iPod? I don't know. So if you have access to an Intel Mac, that is one solution that will work for you.

  Please don't reply with negativity! I'm just providing you a solution that worked for me. I know most people don't have Mac's and don't want one, but if you have access to one it works.  

Same here. Skipping after the first 3-4 seconds. Seems like a pretty big problem, every support forum I've been on is littered with this topic. What's wrong-this is really annoying. I can't really return this, it was a gift. Get the firmware out soon-please!

Don't have a Mac, but I do have a friend with one. The problem is, he wouldn't have my marketplace on his machine-blaw.

I have bought three Zunes, one at launch and the other two as Christmas gifts. All three devices skip at the beginning of songs. It is pretty hard for me to evangelize the Zune when it can't even perform it's primary function correctly.

Hello I haven't been experiencing skipping with my zune but with the zune soft ware. At the end of every song exactly 20 seconds before the song is over the song starts skipping. please help. email me at rodrigo11c4@hotmail.com if you know how to solve this thanks.

My Zune takes a long time to load a song is it beacuse there are lots of files on it or is there something else.

pues yo soy de mexico y a mi lo unico que me ha pasado con el zune esque despues de unos 6 meses no le podia meter musica ya que el programa de zune empieza a no reconocerlo y no me sale la opcion del sync..... tengo que volver a instalarlo cada vez que me pasa esoooo ayudenme PLEASEEE¡¡¡¡

THANKKSS

My Zune skips with 90% of my ZMP content! Microsoft has know about this problem far before this announcement. It's incredible this problem has not been resolved yet.

(i need know) necesito saber como hacerle para instalar el "winston" quiero instalar los "updates" y no puedo me marca error!

ayudenme!!!please i need help.... thank you so much!

Okay, my zune skips with only a select few songs. Of course it's possible that I just got a bad version of the song or that the CD it was ripped from was scratched. I say this because when I play the song on my computer through zune, itunes, windows media, or any other music program, it still skips. This would indicate that the problem may not be the zune software or player. I hope this helps because I really like my zune and would never consider any other brand so I hope these kinks get worked out.

As a side note: I would never ever in my life consider piracy as a means to acquiring music, ever, but I would like to raise the point that if someone terrible terrible person were to partake in the fruits of piracy, it is possible for them to just receive a poorly ripped file or whatever else might cause skipping. Once again, not R.E.G.I.'s  fault. (my zunes name is R.E.G.I.) Thanks again!

I have a 2nd gen 80G Zune and it skipps on a regular basis, like once every 5th song.  I have 2.5 firmware installed as well, my collection is all mp3s and the drive is about half full.

Generally speaking I like microsoft products, but if I could do it again, I would not buy another Zune, just missing to many features on the player itself, missing features on the software and blocking access the files sucks rocks!  Oh, and the incompatibility with other players like winamp and media monkey is not a good thing.