I guess I am glad to hear that rather than take the entire 2 minutes it would take to let us know that you have heard our cries you would rather stay working steadily, BUT it sounds like a total cop-out!

I thought Microsoft was supposed to be the KING of software!  I am SO hesitant to sync my Zune because it is such a nightmare!!! Come on guys, this is getting ridiculous!!!!

Oh and BTW, when are we going to start seeing VIDEO downloads!!!

Skipping...skipping...skipping!  That's what needs addressed!  The silence is just as annoying as the skipping.  I've got friends that won't touch the Zune until the skipping issue is resolved...permanently.  BTW, mine skips.  Absolutely no excuse for a $250 device + 15 bucks a month to not be fixed/fixable 3 months after its launch!

I'm just hoping to see the software work. I don't care much about features. Does not mean I don't want them :)

I paid 250 bucks for this thing. It should work the way it was said it would.

Please please PLEASE add podcasting support.

...

Please!

I just want an estimate as to when it's coming out.  This month, next month, six months from now?  Nobody is gonna hold anyone's feet over the fire if they give us a rough guess.  I just want to know when to be looking out.

It's implied in your post, Cesar, that firmware updates are being worked on by the dev team, and will come out in the near future. Can you explicitly acknowledge this?

A lot of the hand-wringing right now is about whether MS will just abandon the whole project. An explicit acknowledgment would help.

Thanks!

I can't confirm or deny your comment (unfortunately) DB, but I can tell you this. Explicitly. MS is absolutely committed to Zune. And for my part, I love the Zune community, what we're building, the energy around Zune, and I'm committed to it.

Do you have any specifics?  Like a date?  Do you think it will be days, weeks, months?

I agree with DB.  Having paid $250 for an player which is not on par with similarly priced devices, expecting updates and having only one which really offered nothing is enough to upset anyone.  I don't know about anyone else, but I can't afford to abandon this device to purchase another one that does what I thought Zune could do.  Some of us are deep in the FUD zone.  We are getting no reassurances that anything will be done to address the problems that we are all having.

I wish Scoble was still at MS *sigh*

It's not like Apple is putting out firmware updates daily, and it doesn't bother me that Apple doesn't update the firmware for long periods of time.  I'd rather have a big update with new features than small updates that don't do much (even though the last major iPod firmware update didn't do a lot.... now THAT was a disappointment!).

Maybe i just dont expect much from my mp3 players. I just hope it plays my mp3s and works. But im just wierd :P

new firmware: will toast your bread!

RE: your post--It does not make sense to me that developers don't have time to speak to marketing.  That description of what is going on internally is too simplistic to describe the actual state of affairs.  

This is not griping, from me it is coming from someone who genuinly wants the product to shine.

I can't understand why a simple incremental firmware update or an statement on when we could expect such an update won't come out.  Show us that _something_ is happening.

I appreciate you addressing this. I also put $250 into this product.  I expect more.  I bought an oem copy of Vista Small Business for $150 from newegg.  It has well lived up to its price point, I would recommend it.  I'm a happy Windows user.

You may say that this is just the voice of a vocal minority, but indications from retailers suggest that sales of the device say otherwise.  

If the problem is not that the market isn't there, then there is something wrong with the product or how it is being marketed.  I think the marketing was great so that leaves only one place to look.  Every product has problems, stating what they are _and_ setting expectations for fixes is the polite thing to do for your early adopters.

You said that this is *The* place to post our thoughts on firmware updates so here are some updates that i want to see.(Please)

(1). Wireless sync.

(2). Being able to browse the zune marketplace directly from my zune.

(3). Being able to buy and download stuff from zune marketplace from my zune.

(4). (I was thinking about this one last week) Being able to check my email from my zune.

(5). Being able to use(not just msn) AIM from my zune. (you don't need to add a keyboard to the zune just have a set of virtual key that can be chosen from the control buttons on the zune.

(6). (this is a small update) Put a clock in the zune please, and have an auto off feature on it.

(7). This is a big one but here goes. The Zune to Zune thing is nice but most people who bought a zune(including me) haven't even found someone to use this feature with. What I think is that you make some kind of network where you can go to any zune (that gives you say a friend code) with an internet(this is if it's hooked up to a router via wireless) and can send songs that way. It's just a way to truly say "Welcome to the Social"

(8). Videos on the marketplace.

(9). Podcast.

(10). And last but not least. Make an update in your spell check so that the word Zune doesn't look like it's misspelled.

Well thats all I got.

Thanks for reading.

- Fix all known bugs

- Add podcasting support

- Add Clock

- Add timer (lap timer) for workout purposes

- Add Alarm

- Allow wireless sync

- Allow wireless access to Zune Marketplace

- Allow Zune to be used as store device

- Suprise us with lots cool features

- Throw us a bone every now and then

Cesar!  Give us *anything* specific.  Either that, or shut down this site, because having you tell us you can't tell us anything is like salt on the wound.  

Microsoft always has a choice whether or not to communicate, and not communicating regarding the Zune is atypical.  For example...

o Xbox 360 = Major Nelson with constant updates

o Microsoft home server = not out, but beta available

o Bungie = weekly updates on progress on Halo 3

o Scott Guthrie = always showing something new about .Net 3.0/Orcas/WPF

o Windows Mobile 6 = too much information to take in

o Zune = released, then nada.  Nothing at CES, nothing about fixes, nothing about new features, nothing, nothing.

$250 is almost as much as an xbox 360 core system.  It's more than some copies of Vista.  And yet we can't even be told about one single new feature that will be released.

Cesar, you've got to tell your management that we, the customers, deserve more.

Please!

John

Cesar,

You can't even confirm that firmware updates are being WORKED ON?!?

Way to inspire confidence in your early adopters.  ;-)

I would think your company would want to work hard to inspire confidence in the early adopters that they made the right choice by purchasing your product. Refusing to communicate openly with them isn't going to do that.

You guys touted the upgradability of Zune as an "advantage" over the comptetition so you created the expectation that new features would be coming. But you can't even comment on when/if the skipping problem will be fixed!

Guess those iPods aren't looking so bad after all!

There's only one thing the zune needs, and that is a Now Playing playlist, like in all the WMP versions > 9. It's so much faster than having to erase the quick list and then adding songs and then playing it.

The zune doesn't need games, I have a PSP and DS for that. It doesn't need wireless sync because USB is faster, and it wouldn't get used much anyways.

Access to the market place would be nice, but I doubt you have the free firmware space to add a whole secure web browser(unless you sacrifice some HD space and put the browser on the hard drive.

I just hope the next firmware fixes the known bugs and adds the Now Playing list that I've become accustomed to by using WMP.

While I'd love to see some of the features people are asking for and I've done my own share of ranting about Zune issues on my blog, I'm not yet frothing at the mouth for a firmware update.

Microsoft isn't going to leave Zune users in the dust, it's only been three months since it was even released, it does what it's supposed to well, which is play music (except the skippers out there) and it's not just a new version, it's a new product altogether.  I'm willing to cut the development team some slack.

Streaming wi-fi internet radio

Buy the songs you like from it!

A lot of my friends are asking for Unicode support like iPod do. Please add this in to  firmware update list. "The World Is Flat", I don't know why would a hi-tech product like Zune missing out this capability.

Please Add Podcasting Support To The Zune.Please.

On, the topic of firmware updates. It seems to me that most people think they are ENTITLED to firmware updates. I would just like to point out that microsoft doesn't have to update the firmware at all. Those who did buy a zune, you paid the money for the product as it was at the store. You should be glad that Cesar is implying that there are programmers working on a new firmware.

I think you guys have this week to release either firmware or a press release on what is coming.  Make sure the management knows this, because as you can see, there needs to be some damage control at this point.  Fans are turning and becoming rabid.  No repsonse will not cut it at this point.  Even if someone was to mention that the first generation Zune has not seen the end of it's potential as a side in an interview.  That alone would give people some hope.  Right now people are becoming more and more convinced that Microsoft has moved on to the next generation of hardware.  Someone needs to say something soon, before this gets any more out of hand and hurts sales more.  No respone is often viewed as a response and it is rarely viewed as a good one.  By saying that you all have moved on, you will really kill sales, so that would be the only reason that makes more sense to not say anything at all.  Am I right?  If not, tell us why, because that will also help us understand.        

Jivemasta - I am not ENTITLED to buy MS's next products, too. They promised something and they should deliver.

From the Microsoft Team,

Just wanted to let everyone know that we program using "Extreme Programming" techniques. Which means we have no idea when our product comes out and what we are developing. We will surprise ourselves!

Plus - Since we the development team (Hector and Sanjay)  also are also responsible for developing the vista drivers for Microsoft Barney - we have to finish that first before we can work on the new Zune Firmware.

Waiting on Zune firmware updates? Don't worry, Microsoft hears your pain. Head over to ZuneInsider.com and express your concerns and wishes. ...

This is my first post to this blog, but I've been reading it for awhile now.  I would like to put in my .02 to the "delayed" firmware debate. I received my Zune as a present for Christmas (I specifically asked for a Zune) and loved it so much that I purchased one for my 13 year old son on his birthday last month.  I've never owned an iPod because I always thought they were too expensive in terms of hard disk space. I've always been a Creative mp3 user from the days when they were the size of portal CD players.  The Zune has been a delightful experience for me.  I know that it doesn't have everything that iPod users want to see; nor does ZMP offer everything that iTunes offers, but I also know that it takes time to build a really solid solution.  

I should also add that I work for a small software company, so I also understand how, as much as our customers might like us to rush updates and service packs, it only hurts us all (our company, our customers and our partners) when we rush to get the software out the door before its time.  Software vendors have deservedly received a great deal of backlash for this very reason, and many of us are are fighting hard to change this; to raise our own standards.  Having said all of this, I would like to say that to date, I'm satisfied with my Zune experience (I've had a couple of minor bumps here and there, but I recognize this is new and rarely is anything ever absolutely perfect). I will be excited when the updates are released and to learn what they include; but frankly, the silence doesn't bother me.  In the end all that matters is that the firmware is delivered within a reasonable amount of time (and I personally feel this is well within a reasonable amount of time); and that it increases the value to our Zune investments by making them more reliable, more feature rich and even more pleasurable.

A wifi web browser would be awesome, syncing podcasts using wifi, wireless syncing, games(maybe connected with the live service). I know it's a lot to ask for but it never hurts to ask.

Keep up the great work!

So I am about done with my Zune after 3 weeks, first as nice as the Zune marketplace may be.  It is nowhere near as complete as URGE, but I can't use my MS Zune with MS URGE because it does not comply with MS Plays for Sure standards.  If I wanted a player that locked me into an online store, I would have gotten an ipod a couple years ago vs. a rio carbon.

Now explain to me how after 4 months on the market, no fix for the skipping when the backround lite is off and I get my daily shut down from static.  

I am convinced that if no release of a update or info on when the update is coming I will simply take my Zune back to Best Buy and use my Rio Carbon and PSP for another year or so until someone creates a decent device for both music and video without all these issues.

Add dvr-ms support.  Bummer to see such a nice screen without an easy way to get my recorded TV and Movies over there.  It really sucks that Movie Maker in Vista does not have a native conversion format specific for the Zune (or the ability to batch).

I think we need to be able to classify our videos... All Videos and Music Videos isn't enough. I want to be able to say "this is my music video, these are my movies, and these are my video Playlists"

1. Add more acceptable file formats

2. Add podcast support

3. Fix all the skipping issues with ZuneMarketplace songs

4. Allow for WMP support

5. Merge zunemarketplace with WMP

Thats all

"On, the topic of firmware updates. It seems to me that most people think they are ENTITLED to firmware updates. I would just like to point out that microsoft doesn't have to update the firmware at all. Those who did buy a zune, you paid the money for the product as it was at the store. You should be glad that Cesar is implying that there are programmers working on a new firmware. "

No, when I bought my system I expected it to work, so when it skips every other song whenever the backlite is off.  They have a defective product.  When I buy a system and it shuts off a couple times a week for no reason (it has issues with static), then MS is obligated to repair or replace the system with one that works.

When I buy a system from MS it sure seems strange that it can not connect to the MS URGE music site (a much better site and system than the Zune marketplace), it also is strange that the very first hardware from MS fails to meet their very own Plays for Sure standard but we are learning why since my Zune plays somethings, sometimes but not everything and not very well.

Sorry as consumers we do have rights to expect that things we buy work the way they are supposed to.

Well, it looks like someone bit off more than they could chew ;-)

I'm satisfied as an early adopter to deal with bugs, and even waiting for bug fixes as long or longer than we have been. I am not as satisfied with no communication. This does not really count as communication. While you are getting our input, we aren't getting yours.

I agree with f4denz. I was a URGE user before getting my Zune and was and continue to be REALLY disappointed with the content disparity between the two programs. I have a hard time understanding why M$ wouldn't do everything in its power to get as much content as possible from the already mature URGE service. In any case, I'm still content.

The biggest risk is this. As more and more "dead" time goes on I become more and more compelled to mention this problem whenever people who I show my Zune to (and love) ask about it.

i dont feel entitled, they said there would be firmware updates.

as far as telling us whats going on, i dont need specifics.  i just want to know that something is happening.  

i'll say it since no one else has:  you need to allow higher video resolution for output to tv.  you guys clearly expect people to use the zune for this as you sell a dock for that express purpose.  right now the video looks terrible.  i mean it's unwatchable.  that's ridiculous.  

Cesar, I sent you an email with some more information regarding the secret project. :)

...all I can say is wow...

Look at all this bi--complaining.

Ok so everyone is giving a little speech on here so I might as well put mine in the mix.  I was a Creative user for a long time, my Zen Micro was all I needed.  But after reading up on the Zune I decided to move on and get one for Christmas.  And I love it.  I compare it all the time to my friends Ipod.  The quality is great, I don't get where this skipping is coming from? (yes I have a Zune Pass as well), the features (minimal of course) are what I personally think is acceptable for a new product.  It seems like people are forgetting that this is a NEW product.

Could there be more stuff added? Yea. Should there be more stuff added? Sure. Should you be able to wait? Yes.. I'd rather have them take their time rather then rush it.

The fact that ANYONE took the time to say anything, let alone someone from the team that is working on it, says a lot.  I'd rather have someone like that tell me over a cheesy spokes person.

I'm happy with my product.

Thanks guys.

1. A CLOCK! Seriously. That should be a given.

2. Wireless Syncing with the computer.

3. Wifi capability to connect to the internet (internet browser)

All that I would like to see to make the Zune experience complete for me is Podcast support.  Audiobook support would be icing on the cake, as would being able to classify my movies.

Here is my wish list:

1) podcast support

2) clock with a sleep timer.

3) DIVX and other codec support on the Zune.  No more conversion crap!

4) playlist editing on the Zune

5) video library on the Marketplace.  

6) sync my contacts and outlook calendar.

7) portable HD support

8) wifi web browser

Oh, and of course fix the known bugs.  

Given this, Zune is no longer "new."  Three months is almost a lifetime in the electronics world.  The first few IPODs were replaced by new models  every 9 months.  Before long, the new IPOD will be out with a larger screen and probably wifi ability.  If that happens by June, then Zune will have to one up them by releasing a new model.  We have about 4 months left before that happens.  That will give this Zune a life of about 9 months at the most.    

I think the biggest opportunity for the zune is to better integrate it with the xbox 360.

It would be very appealing if I could download a video from the xbl marketplace and either watch it  through the xbox or download it to the zune.

If it is too much to ask that this could be done entirely through the 360, then what about being able to download videos that you buy on xbl marketplace using your microsoft points for  free over the internet?

The two devices share the same currency in their respective marketplaces and even the same user account can be used in each, they are so close to a meaningful integration.

That would not only make me feel better about my purchase, but I imagine it it would help to sell the zune as the ultimate xbox 360 accessory.  Imagine if every xbox 360 owner wanted a Zune because it was a portable extension of their home entertainment system.  

Sadly, my 4th generation ipod clickwheel was better integrated with my xbox 360 than my zune.  I could search my music by album with the ipod connected; with the zune connected--not so much (it merely says no albums found when I can clearly see them on the Zune itself).  

I think the Zune and the 360 are both outstanding stand alone devices, but there is untapped value and potential in the two as a tandem system.  

But as it stands now, there is no incentive to buy a zune for 360 owners.  Being able to watch low-res videos from the zune on a tv via the 360 is a joke, because it looks terrible.

I like MS products and want to see them dominate, but I am left wanting more from the Zune.

"The fact that ANYONE took the time to say anything, let alone someone from the team that is working on it, says a lot.  I'd rather have someone like that tell me over a cheesy spokes person." - BlackOps

I don't mean to sound like a jerk, but what has he told us about it.

"All that I would like to see to make the Zune experience complete for me is Podcast support.  Audiobook support would be icing on the cake, as would being able to classify my movies." - Paul

I always considered Podcasts and iPod thing, I don't listen to audiobooks, but that would be good.  As for movies, if you get a meta data editor, you can fix that. There is one at www.zuneboards.com.

Clock + Sleep Mode would be nice..I don't need anything wi-fi, I'm happy with being able to play my music and movies. More codec support would also be a nice improvement.  Before all of this though, I want a little more communication between the Zune team and the Zune community, leaving us all in the dark kinda sucks.

Mitch

no skipping...zune plalists support for vista media center....better sharing, more social experiences with software and player.....and most of all games (you make 360 for crying out loud) (:

I'm really happy with my Zune. The only addition I would like to see would be user adjustable EQ settings. I just can't find the perfect settings for me among the built in ones.

The other day i was thinking about the lack of firmware updates and what i wanted out of the yet to be released updates. I came up with this list of the simplest things that the Zune team could improve on.

Zune Software

- I really would like the day when the software becomes more stable.

- Please add the functionalities that WMP11 has and the Zune software lacks (better tag editor please)

- Fix/Make syncing more reliable (sometimes when you sync your Zune to the software it does not recognize the Zune. it also does not display the album artists correctly once synced.)

There are several other bugs and irritants in the software that i have not listed here and most of us Zuners can attest to that. Please fix the software because it is a vital part in the whole experience.

Zune device

The Zune device itself is amazing. I just love it. Sound quality is solid and the battery life is OK. Although there are a couple of things i would like to see on the device in the near future. Here is my very short list.

- File format support (please make it a player that can play any format of music and video)

- Auto Off Timer or some way to make the Zune go on standby after a certain amount of time that the user selects (possibly 5 minute increments)

- Better EQ settings or possibly a custom EQ interface?

- Password Protection of some sort. (so if ever the Zune gets stolen nobody else gets to use it)

There are other features that would be nice to have like wireless syncing but then syncing to your PC wirelessly would consume a fair amount of battery life and would eventually cause you to plug it in to charge it. So why not just plug it in and sync while you charge?

I wish you guys the best of luck with the work you are doing!!

"When I buy a system and it shuts off a couple times a week for no reason (it has issues with static), then MS is obligated to repair or replace the system with one that works."

That has nothing to do with the firmware though, that is a failsafe in the hardware most likely. Would you rather have to wait to restart the zune or have a brick?

And I am talking about new features, not bugfixes. Most people on here are demanding new features like they were promised them. Bug fixes are different.

Now not to sound like an ass or anything, but I've seen it mentioned a couple times now and I have to speak up. A web browser would be pointless on the zune. First of all, typing would be rediculous. Then the screen is way to small to even render pages in a nice looking fashion.

And then there's the wifi sync everyone seems to want. Ok, so it sounds good on paper, but consider this: it's slower than usb. Not to mention that all of that writing to the drive and powering the wifi adapter, your battery would likely drain very quickly. Instead, why not push for something like wifi streaming, or a wireless media center extender(iTV competition *wink wink, nudge nudge*). It has the ram and cpu power to stream decent quality videos, I think.

1. Podcast support...

2. 360 video downloads synced to zune.

3. My zune keeps turning off when I connect it to my car's stereo system. ( through aux cable )

4. Higher picture resolution on album art.

If I were to ask for any updates to anything it would be the following:

A. Remove the tracks/bands that are unavailable. it really is annoying browsing the marketplace, finding a band you want to dl only to be denied.

B. Audiobooks, I can't be the only one who'd love to download audiobooks.

C. When are we getting videos on the marketplace?  Or at least the ability to sync what we've bought on Xbox Live.

I don't get why MS can't comment on further development. I can understand not wanting to say anything about specific features in development, but not refusing to say whether there will be any updates.

Oh well... let me add to the list of requests, which may or may not be heeded :). I'd love to see audible.com support. Oh, and everything else above!

If the Zune would just play my music and videos without shutting down on me randomly throughout the day, it would be a start.

I've never seen such a vocal crowed with any other DAP. Maybe this will change MS strategy of rushing a product out the door (For the Holidays) only to have early adopters waiting for fixes/firmware updates that may or may not deliver all the goods you've hoped for. There should be a lesson learnt here for both MS and consumers who spent $250!

Before long, (just like XBox & XBox360 & backward compatibility) a new & improved Zune will hit the shelves, boasting all the goodies many expected in Version.1 and much more. That means there is the potential that early adopters will be left in the dust again if there is no updates anytime soon for version.1, and I mean big updates that fixes all the bugs and add many of the features that was taken out at the last minute to rush it out the door (speculating here).

Keeping the early adopters satisfied could only strengthen the Zune brand Cesar, but I see you are trying.

Zune is a Media Player. Don't deviate from the core function here. Features must revolve around listening to music or watching videos. Podcast is good. Games are bad. Make better use of WiFi is good. Web browser is bad. Clock and timer for jogging/working out is good. Videos in WMP is good. Most importantly, making the existing features work is a GREAT IDEA.

1. Add the ability to edit WMV tag data from the software.

2. Add WMV "album art" that displays on the Zune

3. Add Podcast support

4. Add the ability to delete items directly from the Zune or flag items to be deleted on sync.

5. Add the ability to exclude genre types from shuffle all (comedy, holiday)

6. Ability to selectively auto-sync ("uncheck" a song so it will not sync, yet stay in my PC library - like iTunes).

7. When adding a folder to the Library, add the ability to exclude a specific subfolder (for those having to manage more than 1 type of player on the same PC).

8. While playing a song (from shuffle), click the center button and get an option to play all from that album or all from that artist.

9. Hire me as an offsite UAT'er. =)

Skipping here too (since this seems to be the topic to post concerns).  It's rather annoying, and even does it to my own songs burned from cds.  

Plus the Zune pass limiting the amount of times you can sync songs to your Zune in a month until you delete and redownload the track is rather... unpleasant.  

Hi I am new here and sorry if this is a repost! I am running windows vista and I was wondering if there is a way to manually organize the way the zune is structured. example being, if I put a new folder named Rock in the MAIN MUSIC FOLDER. Then from there A-M N-Z and the artist then the album. I have tried this and I realize it comes down to tagging, but when an mp3 player from five years ago can do this, why can the zune! OR Why can't the Zune at least recognize the structure I set up for it! I know this is an old school way of setting up a device, but I also know where my music is going!

In summation, USB HOST MODE WOULD BE APPRECIATTED!

Thanks,

Guytano

Unicode support, PLEASE! Many of us listen to more than just American alternative rock (that seems to be the only thing preloaded on the Zune?). 1/2 of my music library is in Korean, Japanese, or Chinese, and on my Zune they are all blocks instead of words.

BTW unicode support is required if you want to export the Zune to any country too. Please don't let the Zune be the only major DAP without unicode.

OK I have 2 problems with this post:

1)What's the point in telling us that you can't tell us anything?

2)If there isn't at least a nominal release date/period, are the developers workign to a deadline or are they just being allowed to get on with it?  I'm not being funny but I work with developers and if you say 'give it us when it's ready' then it will never be ready enough.  They like to fix everything.  Including features that aren't there.

It's good that you're trying to keep us up to date Cesar but at the end of the day, whoever's decision it is to keep firmware update release dates a secret needs slapping, it's completely pointless.  The very fact they are working on it must mean they have some development goals and thee are certain things, no matter how minor, you should be allowed to tell us.

Letting us know will serve 2 purposes:

1)It'll stop me and others whining like a little bitch with a skinned knee

2)It'll stop people suggesting completely pointless things like adding AIM and Messenger - can you imagine the pain of navigating soft buttons?  it'd take about a bloody week wo ask after someone's health!

The only major issues I would say you guys need to deal with right away are:

1) skipping- this is a priority...too many complaints already.

2) podcast support-this is a given.

the rest can come in time..clock,etc

Other than that I appreciate this blog and all the Zune team is doing. I hope others will stop whining and start being constructive.

As an MP3 player, I'm very happy with my Zune...  As a video player, the Zune still needs more features...  Like ability to store higher resolution video...  And play it thru the AV port...  And more native video codec support!  Divx, MP4, etc.  ;)

Any chance that a software update will include the option to "remove" album art from selected music files?  There's been times were I've accidentally pasted the wrong art to a particular album and even after removing the art from the mp3 file with another tag editor program, the "wrong" album art continues to be synched to my Zune.

Forget new features for now; I knew about the feature set when I bought 2 Zunes.  I just want to know when the skipping (marketplace) will be fixed.  I patiently call support once a month and am told that it's a known issue that will be remedied via firmware.  I'm wondering, however, whether it will be fixed by the time a new device comes out.  As an early adopter, I would normally be one of the first to get a new one.  But in this situation?

I like my Zune a lot but I haven't been able to install the Zune software on my brand new Windows Vista computer.

Although it has been said before that an update was made to the software to make if compatible, it is not working for me. I've been  reading around and there are many people who can't get to install the software either.

Please take another look on that issue, or release a brand new Zune software made for Vista.

I would like to have the option to delete a song directly from the player. (And if possible, that the song would be automatically deleted from the computer the next time we sync)

Wireless connectivity to X360's. More file type support for pictures and video. 10 second option for display shut off (there's, 5 seconds, and 15 seconds. 15 is too long, 5, a bit short. I'll get to more later. =p

No new features until you fix the bugs!  

- Skipping is horribly annoying.  Compounded by the fact that it's caused by DRM!  I've considered circumventing the copy protection to fix the problem.

- Syncing.  What happened here?  My Zune has been stuck on "Please Wait" for 15 minutes now after failing a sync.  If it helps, there are certain songs that it just won't take.

Ok, got those?  Now add some podcasting or at least a flag for "remember playback position" please.

Seriously, I love you guys but this stuff needs to be fixed.  Now.

A feature I thought might be good for a dap (I am not saying that the Zune should have it - I just want it to work)

Password lock for specific files or specific folders.

Would be good for people who have pron on their dap. Also good for people who have personal pictures on their dap.

What say?

"James C." says:

>>Ok, got those?  Now add some podcasting or >>at least a flag for "remember playback >>position" please.

This is already available. Even when you do a shutdown (holding play/pause) the Zune remembers your playback position. On restart simply press "play/pause" button and it restarts where you left ...

Yeah, it has it unless you turn it off to save your battery.  Then the position goes back to start.  If you don't remember where you were, you have to guess where to fast forward to or start all over again.  At least the video fast forwards in five-minute increments.

I like how Cesar talks about all the creative people that work on the Zune and the marketplace in his office. He talks about how creative and cool they are. The only thing is that I don't see it. I only see you guys throwing parties around and I'm missing features on both my Zune and the Marketplace!

Zune Marketplace needs updates weekly and not monthly (at least i don't see those updates). For example, you haven't updated top songs list since the launch. There are so many new songs on the radio, why can't I download them in the Marketplace?

I want radio like Urge radio, feeds like Urge feeds that feeds with new music every week. Actually why don't you just merge with Urge and that would be perfect.

I'd like Video Store! Podcasts! Everything that has to do with entertainment not only music.

For Zune I'd like wifi internet radio and streaming ability to other devices.

I'm having trouble with my EQ where when my Zune falls asleep it wakes up with a flat EQ every time and I have to change the EQ every time I want to start listening. I talked to support team but they don't know what to do.

Basicly, I want more features especially with the Marketplace.

Zunerama reports that ZMP songs play on PlaysForSure Devices via WMP i.e. ZMP DRM is compatible on PFS devices.

See http://zunerama.com/forum/index.php?topic=3079.0

I can't believe I didn't think of trying this out when I stil had my free 14-day ZunePass!

Well, Cesar--I expected there were some people out there who felt the Zune was neglected but this was an outpouring way bigger than I imagined.

What do you think about it?

A lot of good suggestions here.  I am surprised nobody has requested dynamic auto-playlists.

As a former iPod user, I really liked that my smart playlists would automatically update on the iPod w/o having to sync with the PC.  For me, this should have been included with the original relase (and I thought it was since all inforation on the web said that Zune would support auto-playlists, which were supposedly the same thing as a smart playlist).

In addition to dynamic auto-playlists, I think the Zune should allow albums to be sorted by year under an artist like they are allowed in the software; the albums should be grouped by artist when searching under a genre (or at least have the option to do so); should allow more customization, which was part of what the original marketing promised, but all that was delivered was an option for themes (not really themes, just boring backgrounds) and the ability to add your own wallpaper (a great feature, but hopefully just the beginning of customization).

Finally, I would love to see cross-fading on the Zune.  This is where the end of one song overlaps the beginning of the next song to create a DJ or radio-like effect.

All these things should be simple things to fix via a firmware update.

One more thing, for all the users that complain about unstable syncing, do you have your Zune plugged into the USB ports on the back of the tower or the ones on the front.  The ports on the front don't seem as reliable as the ones on the back.  Ever since switching to the back ports, I have not had one sync issue.

NumberDevil - Thanks for the input, I was aware of that (and would have a terrible time without it!).  However it loses the position when I do a sync (as well as when turned off as another user mentioned).

At any rate I take objection to your statement that Zune already has "remember playback position" as that's just not true.  Its more of a "remember what I was doing the last time I paused" as that's the extent of the feature.

These are the things that make me put down my zune and go back to my old MP3 player...

1. Skipping.

2. No real support for Audible.com

These are the things that would make my Zune more easier or more fun...

1. Podcast support.

2. Better use of the wireless. Current song sharing is nice, but rarely used, especially in my single zune home. Why can't my zune just broadcast on my wireless network so that I don't have to plug it in all the time?

please please please:

* dvr-ms support .  it's in WMplayer, it's a fixed target unlike avi, so why not?

* something useful fom the wifi! rss reader/web, anything!

I'd be a very happy user if I got the following updates:

Update 1 (Early 2007) - Focus on Local Function

===============================================

- Movie/TV/Music Video downloads via Zune MarketPlace.

- USB Storage.  To be able to access a reserved amount (user specified) of space for miscellaneous data.

- Podcasting support

- Vista SideShow Support.  This will allow users to support a variety of Clock, Calendar and Contact type gadgets

- Internet access to support expanded community options for sharing content, downloading content such as podcasts, accessing SoapBox and getting updates for SideShow gadgets, etc.

Update 2 (Late 2007) - Focus on Media Center

===============================================- Media Center UI for MarketPlace to enable purchase/download of content directly from Media Center.

- Be able to mark content while in Media Center UI for transfer to Zune.

- Add extender capability to Zune to enable streaming of Live TV/Media from Media Center.  If at all possible wirelessly around the house but I would settle on having that capability when the Zune unit is docked.

- Add Sirius/XM Downloadable content to MarketPlace.

- Netradio support for streaming radio over wifi.

- Be able to send 3day/3play songs to users via email or some other external method from Zune device.

- Light Gaming capabilities

Update 3 (Early 2008) - Focus on Other Items

===============================================- Audible.com support

- External Memory Card Reader Support.

- External Microphone Support.

- Windows Home Server Support. Installation of WHS should change Zune software settings to automatically look at WHS for media instead of local PC.

- Support media transfer via USB on XBox/Extender to Zune.

Off topic: The iPod fanboys must be loving this...

"For example, you haven't updated top songs list since the launch. There are so many new songs on the radio, why can't I download them in the Marketplace?"

I've been using marketplace since it came out, and I've definitely noticed this as well - the lists NEVER get updated.  

Heyzeus- I think they're all busy watching the youtube video of their impending firmware update (adding coverflow to their ipods).