Cool.

What about adding more information in the podcast pages? Or artists pages? Often, the descriptions are rather inferior.

In iTunes, for example, podcast owners can customize their podcast page to an extent. The podcast page for the BBC is a good example; or Berkeley.

Will we see similar functioality in the Zune software?

Do you have any timeline in mind for when you will support subscription based podcasts ... coasttocoastam is one of the podcasts i have subscribed to but can't use Zune software directly ... when will it be supported?

thanks

BTW - Great post and good work

Rob, I would love to deep-link to my podcasts, but   even after 2 weeks, none of my 5 shows has been included in the marketplace.

Can you provide an update on where database inclusions are at and when we might expect some movement on getting shows in the marketplace?

What really needs to be worked on is the spontaneous unsubscription of podcasts by the Zune software.  Every couple of days I have to go through all of my podcasts and hit the "Subscribe" button again in order to keep getting the newest material.  Check this link for others having the same issue:

http://forums.zune.net/1/7309/ShowPost.aspx#7309

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2007/11/zune-2-is-secon.html

"Online Retailers: Zune is Second-Most Wanted Black Friday Item"

I would like to see more podcasts that are appropriately formatted for the Zune- some people still use the Zune 30 and downloading podcasts with "Apple TV HD" at the end can be a real pain for the software to transcode.

Still haven't seen many sites with (Ipod/Zune) at the end of their podcast names... I don't like downloading the "ipod" format- call me shallow but to me having something other than a Ipod is something to be proud of.

I have to say thank you to the entire Zune team.  I just bought my Zune 80 yesterday and I have to say thank you.  It is the closest to perfection any mp3 will ever get.  The new earbuds, the look and feel of the player and the new Zune pad are all perfect.  You guys/gals did a perfect job and I will be using my working unit to allow unsuspecting customers to see a Zune 80 in the wild, so they too will buy their own.  Once anyone uses the Zune pad they can't hate the Zune

Neither of my two podcasts have been accepted into the Zune Marketplace. I submitted them on Tuesday, November 13th. It's now the 27th. iTunes accepted them within one week. Has anyone's podcasts been accepted? Since the launch of the software, I haven't seen any new entries in the particular category that I'm watching.

Good stuff!

Glad to see you guys are really getting the Zune name out this time around. I believe I saw a 5 page zune add in this months Wired.

Doug and Joshua,

I totally understand your frustration. Truth is that we have been flooded with 10's of thousands of new submissions that each one needs to be manually accepted into the system. I presently have a very small team here that will be growing ASAP.  We are working through the submissions and over the coming weeks we should be getting them through the system much faster. Please be patient. Thanks for the support and interest in being listed.

Thanks,

Rob Greenlee

Zune Podcast Programming Lead

Rob Greenlee...*applauds and wipes a tear* that was simply beautiful.  An explanation and apology in one comment.  MS continues to amaze me.  

Reported on ZuneInsider.net on November 26, 2007It has been great to see so much excitement online about our podcast support in the Zune Marketplace. The week of our Zune 2 launch, we sponsored the BlogWorld & New Media Expo in Las Vegas and Podca