Wonderful. Where's Zune 2?  :)

Only joking. I'm sure you guys are working on it. I posted some predictions on my blog last night in case you're interested.

-Jamie

FIRST!

to ask for a firmware update....

New firmware would be mad awesome!

IMHO, anything that's bad for iTunes is good for Zune, because it shakes up the status quo. AmazonMP3 DRM-free MP3s are certainly bad news for iTunes.

With Zune 2, I hope that you will jump on the DRM-free MP3 bandwagon, although DRM is obviously needed for your subscription music service.

Let stubborn iTunes be the most restrictive, most expensive, digital service in the industry.

Anyone that knows anything about Radiohead knows that you really do have to listen to the whole album to really "get it". I think it is awesome that the ZMP makes that the default method for downloading their albums.

Ditto as everyone else is saying. I love the new music

Oh Cesar, when the new zunes do ship, if the CD's are comming along with, make sure they arn't scratched like every one's Halo 3 disk. You should see the forums on www.bungie.net. Dead scarry

how exactly is amazons drm free music bad for apple? If anything it will help sell even more iPods. iTunes is a very very small part of the equation.

Stefan: usually I agree with you, but in this case, I don't.

Making single tracks or the entire album buy-only ruins the subscription model, and shows record companies that people don't care about subscription music. One of the Zune's greatest assets is its tight integration with such a great subscription service. Taking that away would make it comparable to iHell.

The online world has changed the way we listen to albums, for bad or good. I personally favor a forced-"download the entire album" option (as part of the subscription) that forces you to get every track, if the artist so chooses, but not pay for it. Tracks within the album that you really love you can then purchase. Others, you can delete. I also wouldn't be opposed to some concept albums coming in hour-or-so long runtimes, but that'd be for rare occasions. A fair number of DJs are now releasing their lenthy mixes to the interweb (see URGE's "digital decks", e.g.).

comment removed <attempting to flame another user>

Alright well Zunescene has a source(apparently not you, Cesar) saying you guys are gunning for the 16th of Oct as a release date for Zune 2... Want to comment on that Cesar?

Anyways shouldn't we, owners of the current zune get a shot at the new firmware first? I mean come on! If there are any bugs don't you want to have them solved before you alienate new customers? (bugs in a new product are a bitch) So come on let us beta test that firmware for you guys!

@TomT

"Let stubborn iTunes be the most restrictive, most expensive, digital service in the industry."

Most restrictive? I thought the problem with the studios was that FairPlay was too "generous" with customers. Too many Mac/PC, no limits for iPods/Apple TV, burning etc.

While Amazon MP3 is a good news for consumers, it won't affect Apple. Also remember that this is a beta. The studios are testing public reaction and I would not be surprised they decide to increase the price in some months.

How is this zuneinsider.com when we don't get any real news from you at all? Nothing about the Zune 2.0, nothing about firmware... just nothing but bad music suggestions.

Welcome to the social indeed.

Indeed axionjackson, I suspect my new N95 is going to become my primary PMP now - at least for thetime being.  I think it'll be a while before any PMP is going to inspire me to buy it again.

they should have cut that cobra commercial short to the single ice cream melting away, just like what appears to be happening to the future of what little brand loyalty and market share Zune had.

I think/hope the success of AmazonMP3 will destroy the myth that iPod's success is primarily driven by the the iTunes Store.

In my opinion it's the iTunes *software*, while maybe not ideal for geeks, is very well conceived for the average digital music fan.

The iTunes store is well done as well, leading to it's own independent success, AmazonMP3 looks pretty good and should be successful

However the Zune Marketplace like URGE in my opinion is not "purchase friendly" and the marketing of Zune player while getting better still feels clumsy.

I'd prefer to see Microsoft de-emphasize the ZunePass, offer DRM free downloads, make the marketplace more "store" like.  Get rid of the "welcome to the social" tagline....or if necessary talk some rapper into making a hot club song out of it, maybe that would make it suddenly "cool"  :-)

"squircle" ?  uh oh, I don't know about that term.  

I feel sorry for you, Cesar. You offer this great blog and provide access for the public to contact you and the Zune team, and all you get for it is constant berating.

For me, I'm enjoying my Zune and appreciating it for what it is. If/when more features come, that'll be great. But for now, I can enjoy my Zune Pass and watching movies on the plane.

Hang in there Cesar. Please don't give up on this great forum!

ars technica is reporting that the two new Sidekicks will be coming in midnight blue and "Zune" expresso brown (pic: http://gizmodo.com/photogallery/OfficialSidekickLX/2719158)

Good to see this bold decision is affecting other tech companies!

dbro - the only thing that is keeping me hanging in is the squircle!  it's a great name for anything! :D

Ron,

I don't think it's particularly unreasonable for people to become increasingly annoyed at the fact they go to a website called zuneinsider and get told absolutely nothing for 12 months.  Most of us aren't having a go at Cesar himself but his bloody minded employers who won't allow him to put anything of substance up here.

If you want to blindly follow a brand without objectively looking at the products, perhaps you are better suited to Apple?  For me, if a brand delivers I stay 'loyal', if it doesn't I take my money elsewhere.

I keep seeing more zunes each day. Microsoft must be doing something good. ;)

yea i really appreciate this blog too dont get me wrong, my zune works exactly as its intended to but we have been told firmware is in the works and that you hear us for  a while now. all i want is at least video support

@Zoa

Yeah, they're on clearance.

I agree with Matt on this. People come here desperate to find out anything in terms of what to expect from a new firmware release. They beg for any piece of information and they don't get it. And it's that reason people are getting increasingly frustrated. Especially when we see Apple release WiFi features we have been asking for. We don't even know if Microsoft intends to offer these features as no one will tell us anything.

While I do not blame Cesar for this, he has put himself out there as the pointman for the Zune. I only hope we hear something soon, as the time between firmware updates is getting ridiculous.

Just finished watching Microsoft's keynote presentation at DigitalLife in New York.  It was all about Windows Media Center.  I'm really disappointed in describing their vision for connected entertainment that no mention was made of mobile/portable solutions that integrate more closely with Media Center.  You'd think there would be some mention of Windows Mobile and Zune devices.

I personally love the Zune device and would love for some more XBOX LIVE or Media Center integration but for now fill that hole with another software alternative solution.  The only problem with that is the fact that most people want it done easy.  Plug and Play.  Hopefully in the next few months Microsoft will offer a firmware update to offer that ease of use.

And Ceasar, keep the blogs coming man, regardless of firmware info or not, I still make this a daily read AND enjoy it.  

Back in the 70's there was a Tom Wolfe short story called "Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers". When I read some of the comments you get on this blog from your loyal Zune aficionados I think MS must have appointed you the head Flak Catcher. I am an iPod fanboy to use the required putdown but you certainly have my sympathy.

ps Radical Chic & Mau-Mauing the Flak Catchers is an excellent read.

@ john s. yea it only does make sense. if someone at microsoft figures it out haha. i mean most of us waited months just for a firmware update to make the player work like it supposed to without skipping and an actualy shuffle. now we must wait months for a new feature or two if we even get them. i doubt we will soon. i mean maybe in november or something we will get a confirmation of one feature on the zune 2 but firmware probably wont be any news until around the same time

casar...can't you at least give us some BAD NEWS? i'd be happy to know some bad news. or at least tell us that your higher-ups aren't letting you release anything to us. at least that way i'll know SOMETHING instead of being in the dark.

AMEN?

Apple just released it's third iPhone firmware update.

That's just the iPhone.

what shame...i_Phone with another firmware update...

Me: Hello Microsoft!...are you there ?

MS automatic voice-mail answers: yeah, we will back after we finish owning Cotana. :roll:

I don't understand getting so upset. I purchased the Zune based on it being a media player with subscription based music downloads. It is capable of playing videos and has an FM tuner built in, and can do limited wireless sharing. The product does all of these things and does them well. The product works as advertised.

I don't recall Microsoft ever making any promises for enhanced functionality. Yes, they've said that the platform is capable of upgrades and enhancements, but I don't remember ever hearing that this feature or that feature will be added.

It sounds like most people here have dreamed up features that they would like to see, and are getting mad because MSFT isn't delivering on their dream.

Yes, I would love to see features like podcasting, video downloads and audiobooks. But I also bought the product knowing it didn't do those things. Whose fault is it that those features don't magically appear?

I'm all for letting MSFT know what we want, and I'm sure they've heared and are working on features. If they don't deliver, then we will simply discard our Zunes and go buy an iPod. Microsoft will lose out.

But this constant angry chirping does nobody any good.

I think Apple is taking a stab at M$ with the Firmware update, not only three in as many months(?). But a slew of noticable difference. i.e. Itunes wifi store.

Where's the love, Cesar?

...oh, wait Its over at xbox live

Cavan

i've seen some pretty extensive wish lists for future updates. but mine is fairly brief.

1) clock

2) gapless playback

3) to be able to search videos by genre (and perhaps add a thumbnail of the video)

4) whatever improvements can be made to wi-fi (not too important to me since it wasn't much to begin with)

give us #1 AT LEAST! how could zune have forgotten that? that's just silly yo!

iTouch updated, too.

So lets see...Apple releases first and updates/fix the fastest....

Hello, Microsoft !

@Ron

From Bill himself:

"There's a ton more that we can do with Wi-Fi. In that sense, the device is future-proof, in that we can download software onto these devices to do a lot of those new things."

That was November, 2006.

http://www.news.com/Gates-Ushering-in-Zune,-spiffing-up-Office/2008-1041_3-6136247.html

Zune doesn't need firmware updates.  Microsoft got it right the first time.  Unlike Apple.

alright, let's git on it! the iphone just got 154MB (yea 154*MegaBytes*) of firmware update.

I thought the whole thrust of the Zune was to be johnny-on-the-spot with new and interesting firmware updates??? New capabilities other than fixing skipping and crashing. Cesar used to post a lot more comments earlier in the year and now, virtually nothing. This ain't much of an 'insider.'

If you asked me, I don't think the photos of Zune 2 are real. The screen looks too small and frankly, it looks like the dorkier version of the current Zune. "Squircle"??? yea. dorky.

If you're going to compete, you have to be really cutting edge. Surface is a good example of that; I'll bet for the first time Apple was saying "hmmm... that came from Microsoft?" I'll bet they're working feverously to counter it.

I know Cesar can't say anything, but after hearing that Zune 1 won't even be updated until after Zune 2 comes out (and I don't believe the Oct. date either), and it will only trickle down at that, I think MS is killing itself in mp3 player arena.

*venting complete*

mong, you raise an interesting question, but right now we're not talking about anything future-looking - thanks though for sharing your thoughts!

Passing Through:

Yes, I am aware of those quotes. But I still don't see any promise of any feature with any kind of release date.

My point is only this: Relax. You bought a Zune and it is working fine for you. New features will come in time.

Why are so many people bothered about Zune having a clock on it. Don't they own a watch?

wow we got a we arent talking about anything future looking. cesar thats the first comment youve posted in a while. how come you cant at least tell us why you wont tell us anything. i mean it is pretty ridiculous that this is an "insider blog" where we dont get anything on the inside. i vote to rename it zuneoutsider.com

after that vent. it doesnt bother me the zune doesnt have a clock. i use my cell phone for the time. since i graduated and stuff i dnt really sit there with my zune listening to it except when i sat in line for halo 3 for 2 hours haha other than that i just use zune on my pc or i use my transmitter in the car. well hopefully we get some real news soon.

I was an iPod owner, and was disappointed in the screen size.  I then became a Zune early adopter.  Pre-ordered it and picked it up on the first day.  It was very cool, but little was done to enhance it.  The updates were minimal in functionality.  The bad part was the day the iPod touch was announced, along with the other Apple line up, the Zune looked like a dinosaur.  It was no longer the device with a cool big screen.  And with little information on what the future holds I dumped the Zune and got the touch.  

This blog has been an interesting place to see how people that adopted the Zune are reacting to no news.  In the absence of any news the worst will be conjured up mentally.  I hope the Zune 2.0 is worth it and they make some nice enhancements to the Zune 1.0.  I bet the person that bought my Zune would appreciate that.

js

I think Cesar as well as all the other Zune owners was led to believe that Zune1 was going to have MAJOR updates before Zune2 came out. Well that never happened and now Cesar is at a lost for words in explaining why. I remember saying 5 months ago that if Zune1 did not get major, well deserved updates Right Now (halfway through), then don't expect any until Zune2 comes out! Priority (from the small Zune team?) will be spent on delivering Zune2; while Zune1 and it's dedicated users become secondary. Updates will come but Zune2 will obviously have a killer feature that won't be trickled down to Zune1 users. :(

i just dont understand that with all the upset zune owners how they can just leave us here hanging with a nothing buy yea ok we hear you. or a we arent commenting. what it feels like they are saying is we arent commenting ever. dont expect any news. every time i post i end with heres to hoping for an update soon. im starting to think no update will ever come.

By the way is it to late to change the name Zune?

Its starting to have a negative connotation  - unless Zune2 packs a BIG surprise!

@ Dan

Why don't you understand?  I was complaining for months about my skipping issue and everybody told me I was a <troll>. So no big surprise about no news.  It's par for the course in MS land.

@ Adam K

Radiohead will only release their album in full, not by single tracks. Therefore, the zune marketplace compromised with them, and is now selling it unlike iTunes. I don't see the point of making all the tracks free, and the you can purchase a select few after downloading the whole album? Don't quite follow you there.

At any rate, the zune doesn't technically have radiohead's entire discography, as currently their new album (being released via the web) will be sold for however much on their website.