If only we could get this by default, with WiFi. *hint*

This is a good idea, what would be really cool(if it doesn't do it already) is if the FM Transmitter would send out the song information with the music like some radio stations do. That way, other zunes can see what they are listening to.

The first time I heard rumors of Zune to Zune sharing. I thought this was how the "sharing" was going to be done (with maybe a FM recording capability).

The new Toshiba player has a FM recording feature ;) Guess thats a way to get around the 3X3 feature.

Wow.  It's so simple, and yet so brilliant.  Great idea, if i had the FM transmitter.

let's hope the sound quality is better with zune to zune with the FM transmitter than it is with zune to car with the FM transmitter.

i've been very disappointed with my car kit--at best i get a staticy sound (and you should see how i have to rig the device in my car to get that!) i don't know if i got a bad zune, transmitter or what... :(

Cesar~ i'll hit you with a high five if you can help me troubleshoot (or put me in touch wtih someone who does) ddvelin@hotmail.com

This does not satisfy my promised firmware update... i feel a void

I also had terrible luck getting my transmitter to play in my Civic or MINI, I called support, and they sent me another one that was also very weak.  Having 2 I decided to mod one by extending the antenna (go to ZuneScene or other sites for this) it made a huge difference when I could be part of the antenna, but once I wrapped it up and shoved it in the case the effect was only a slightly better (good enough for the Civic, I ended up getting a car kit for the MINI)

It still gets me upset everytime I am stuck in traffic in the CIVIC and have someone with satelite destroy my signal even though I am inches from the head unit.

Why can't you guys use a line in or a cassette adapter (instead of the fm transmitter)?

Met~

i can't use a line or cassette adapter as i don't have a line input or cassette player in my car (CD only). and i already spent $80 on the transmitter, i shouldn't need to buy another alternative.

ddv

Yea, my experience with the car kit (FM transmitter + power) is that the signal is very poor. If the power is used then the signal improves significantly, though still is not ideal.

I should point out something a friend of mine (non Zune user) pointed out to me. Nearly all FM transmitters are similarly weak. The only one he has used with good signal is made by MonsterCable. FYI.

Oh... and FM streaming is so 10 years ago. But do you know what is totally in right now? Wifi streaming ;-P

This is the DJ feature using FM. But WiFi? When MS..when ?

Yes, MS, when? When will we see more features? WiFi streaming will be awesome!

I think some of the problems with the fm transmitter is with the radio/car you guys are using it on. I have an old cutlas, and the fm transmitter will barely work in it, even worse when I'm in town. But in my mom's 2006 saturn Ion, it works perfectly. It could be the position of the antenna in the car(in the saturn it's on the roof, cutlas' is on the hood) or the material(saturn is made of a fiber glass type material, cutlas is metal). Plus, I doubt they can legally make the transmitter any more powerful due to FCC regulations about interfering with other peoples radios.

if FM recording is in a future update, then bye bye 3x3!

jivemasta~

yeah, i've thought of that as well. but i drive a bmw, so i'm guessing it isn't the quality of the materials in question. however, my antenna is integrated into my back window, so that might be part of the problem. it does perform slightly better in my wife's mazda that has the antenna on the roof right by the drivers side door.

guys, stop being noobs and buy FM transmitter from Belkin. It's available in Newegg.com, MUCH better than the Microsoft provided one.

if i can wirelessly sync to my desktop, i think that would blow everything else right out of the water. that would also enable me to wireless stream my music to my 360 which would be sweet. imagine downloading music from the marketplace to your PC and you being lazy on the couch wireless synced it with the new tracks. i would pay $15 for the subscription immediately, right now i'm still hiding behind the fence.

until then: unicode unicode unicode unicode unicode ;)

Oh also, i noticed on the creative zen vision m's firmware update (december) they reenabled FM recording. I've never actually used that function when I owned one but score one for the consumer and damn the RIAA.

If any of you guys have myspace and go to the Zune group, I have a topic on that exact thing *RCX*. I just started it lol...how ironic. Anyway, what I said in my topic was that Creative disabled the FM recording dude to RIAA. Then months later, they re-enabled the feature and gave RIAA a big -!-. *Sigh*, with a company your size, Microsoft, you could seriously control the USA. Pity you guys listen to those music Nazi's.

Hey Zune team. i know Engadget dont really like the Zune....but what did you guys think of their article on how to improve it...and increase sales.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/20/five-things-microsoft-needs-to-do-to-fix-the-zune/#comments

Frankly, i dont careif Zune sells big...cause I'm o.k with mine. Anyways....your thoughts?

The only way they'll sell zune is if they listen to the community. Apple has good ideas but so does community. Everything is there but all the hardware that is needed to ice up the features are just collecting dust. Pity with all the hardware already installed, they will be releasing a Zune2 with the features that Zune1 should've had.

Ok, honestly. Does every single new post have to be the new place to whine for new features? It seems like you can pick any post on this blog and within 5 comments, it is nothing but people whining about what features they think should be in the next firmware, or they whine about the lack of firmware updates(or release dates). They(zune team) knows that everybody wants new stuff. Be patient.

I'd like to wirelessly share my music using the Zune's built-in wifi, rather than purchase an accessory.

Now these stories I like more (that are about Zune), as I really don't care at all about the parties you attend to.

Jivemasta:  The only limit I can imagine on the Transmitter by the FCC would be to stay under the 100m limit without having to declare yourself a radio station (this is how Drive-in theatres are able to broadcast rather than put in speakers).  There are obviously people out there pushing more power as I constantly get stepped on (Most often by SERIUS listeners on my way to the office with Stern), that means they are pushing enough power to get through the vehicle they are in, over a lane (or 2 sometimes) before they get to my antenna.  I have started to make a game of trying to figure out which vehicle it is (I have a long commute).

Met:  I also have no Cassette tape, just a CD Changer in the trunk.  if there was another option (as there was in my MINI) I would return this in a heartbeat.

All:  As for getting another FM Transmitter, I chose this one, as I could broadcast without the cord, every other one I found out there the cord was integrated into the transmitter, so taking my ZUNE into a friends house and placing it next to the stereo either looks bad, or doesn’t work at all as power for the FM transmitter comes from the cigarette lighter.

The Zune itty-bitty FM transmitter is designed to use very little power and so has a short range. If it were more powerful it would be bigger and draw more power and cost more (if it did I can imagine the complains :-))... so designers had to make tradeoffs! Besides, you don't want your FM transmitter to be too powerful because of interference from other FM transmitters.

All FM transmitters work best when using transmit frequencies away from powerful local FM stations. Example. if 92.5 FM is a powerful local station then the FM transmitter is too weak for for 92.3-92.5-92.7 range. For best results find frequency gaps in your local area. Autoseek may not be reliable as it works by taking a quick sample. In my local area 87.7 FM and 87.9 FM work the best ... as it happens there is no powerful local radio station near that range!

The placement of the Zune relative to your vehicle antenna is significant. In my newer car with the in-glass rear window antenna the back seats work well, the passenger seat works better without a passenger (and works good with a passenger holding the Zune). In my SUV with a powered antenna mast the deep interior does not work very well. FM antennas are all different. Experiment!

Interesting side-note: In my local area there are a couple of traffic intersections where local FM station reception is poor (I suspect because of high number of electric transmission lines.) At these intersections cellular reception also is weaker and I was not surprised to notice that the Zune FM transmitter works poorly as well.

Bought that little FM transmitter and took it back two days later. Insufficient signal strength to work properly in either my Chevy or Jeep. In the Chevy (windshield FM antenna), I had to hold the Zune within about 8 inches of the glass to get a noise free signal. $80 for that! No thanks! Is the Belkin any more powerful?

I just got the belkin and installed it in a n acura mdx. I checked literally every available frequency and spent about 2 hrs.

Bottom line: totally unacceptable transmission.

The best was a light static and poor sound quality. It is going back tomorrow.

One side note:

I love my Zune. I bought the VaF Octvio speaker for it and the combo is amazing.

what can I do to be able to actually listen to my Zune in the car without headphones?  I bought the Zune for THAT reason!  I got tired of flipping through CD cases while I drive, not to mention it's not very safe. I got my Zune and my ar kit, but I only found 2 stations that transmit my music and those are full of static. There is not a single station that works! I have the Belkin fm transmitter since it's supposed to be better. Any suggestions?  I live in LA. Are there too many stations here?

how does the belkin transmitter work i need details of where u live i live in cleaveland ohio

make sure you use the car charger.. it helps and acts like an anntena for the zune