Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Brian Hughes — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 00:13:59 GMT

1) The two factors are first, if the content is free on my ZunePass. That's basically the deciding factor. Second factor is whether I like the music or not. The final factor is if it's a popular song.

2) For music, I look at the Top Songs list and the banners in all of the genres (which in my opinion, are not updated enough). Or else I just decide based on a friend telling me to get it.

For the Podcast's I either know what I'm looking for, or use the genre to narrow it down.

3) I either have a friend recommend one to me, or more commonly I look at what the Zune Marketplace recommends and the banners that get posted.

4) It's fairly easy to navigate. I really don't have any issues. Though one thing I want in the software is to right-click on artists I have in my collection and be able to go to their Marketplace page to get more music from them.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Kris — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:40:10 GMT

I used to buy music from the Zune marketplace but now that I've discovered Amazon's digital music downloads, I buy them instead. Why? Well, for one, they only sell unprotected MP3s and have a much larger catalog than the Zune store. Secondly, they're cheaper as sometimes songs cost $.89 and the artists sets the Albums price so I was able to grab NIN's last 36 track album for $5.

The biggest thing for me is they sell much higher bitrate MP3s than anyone else. They start at 256-bit and sometimes go up to 320-bit.

I will never buy form the Zune store again until it's entirely MP3 based and they are higher quality.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

my2cents on zune — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:59:28 GMT

I don't purchase from zune marketplace. I won't purchase any music with DRM (music DRM is dying..why buy an outdated, unpopular system). Don't believe in renting music (zune pass). I'm too lazy and unwilling to download amazon software to purchase from there. I'm waiting till Zune marketplace drops prices and drops DRM. Till then I've pretty much stopped buying music. I know there are mp3s for some albums on ZM but its a pain in the ass to find which albums are mp3's. ZM needs a mp3 section or search feature for it.

Finding new artists...I'll go on zune social and search for bands and see who you recommend as similar, then listen to the clips. If I like it enough, I'll go buy the CD...but that's rarely. I have to really like it.

Podcasts were exciting at first but good podcasts are few and far between. Stopped really searching for them.

Really need better way to get videos on the zune. If you open up rentals in the ZM, since the zune has only a 3 inch screen make them dirt cheap!! if its the same price structure as xbox rentals..forget it. Why pay big money for low quality video.

In all honesty...just put some effort into marketplace integration into the xbox360 and updating features on the software.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Josh — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:16:13 GMT

I own a Zune, but I don't buy music from the Zune Marketplace. I buy them from Amazon mp3.

Why? Because they don't make me buy some stupid points in bulk. I use U.S. currency. Plus they have mp3s and they're 256kbps---and still way cheap.

Who is running this Zune Marketplace show? Get a freakin' clue. Amazon will take you down eventually unless you don't meet the reasonable demands of your consumers.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

MusicMan — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:53:40 GMT

* How do you make the decision to purchase something from Zune Marketplace? What factors go into that?

A: I've never purchased anything from the Zune Marketplace. Call me old-fashion, but I still enjoy having a hard-copy of everything I purchase. I just don't like the idea of purchasing data...and the Sound Quality is still better in CD form.

However, if I were to purchase from the Marketplace, factors that would go into include:

1. Hearing 30+ seconds of each track (preferably a minute) to know whether or not I'll enjoy it.

2. Quality of the download (mp3 or WMA -- 320 kbps or LOSSLESS would be preferred)

3. Being able to purchase music in actual DOLLARS and not Microsoft Points. This is probably a round-table discussion over and over with the zune team, but I will NEVER purchase music from the Zune Marketplace when it can be purchased elsewhere for dollars. I simply won't take the extra effort to use a Microsoft Points to dollars converter tool when I can go elsewhere (amazon or itunes) and purchase something with actual dollars. (On this note, my friends who won't switch from an ipod to a zune, even though they prefer the 80gb zune device, have the same opinions...and this is the #1 reason why they refuse to make the switch.)

4. Having a zune marketplace subscription to own music (and not just rent it) would definitely have me in the marketplace on a regular basis.

* How do you find music in Zune Marketplace? What about podcasts?

A: Generally, I know what I'm looking for so I'll do a search for the specific artists. However, I will sometimes search through a genre just to get ideas from bands I haven't heard.

* What about finding new artists/bands/podcasts to listen to – how do you do that?

A: Almost every time I hear of a 'new artist' or something else I've never heard, I hear it by word of mouth or on other online forums, and maybe a a magazine add, not the zune marketplace.

* What about the navigation within Zune Marketplace? How easy is it to navigate to the content you want?

A: I haven't experienced in troubles. But again, I still generally purchase albums in CD form. However, as the culture continues shifting into other directions, I will plan to do the same. I imagine that within the next year or so, I'll be purchasing almost all of my music online (but again, only if I can do it with actual DOLLARS.)

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Uilleam — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:29:31 GMT

Q: How do you make the decision to purchase something from Zune Marketplace?

A: Zune Pass. I love the 'all I can eat' option.

Q: What factors go into that?

A: The music itself. The artist, the arrangement.

Q: How do you find music in Zune Marketplace?

A: I don't even try to search Zune Marketplace. The organization is crap, and functionality has been tossed aside for the artsy UI. I like the UI, but it's not very functional. Generally, I know what I'm looking for before I even open the marketplace.

Q: What about podcasts?

A: Forget it. I use iTunes to find podcasts, I subscribe to them in iTunes. I then point Zune's collection folder to the iTunes folder, and when it shows up in Zune, I subscribe again. A lot of work? yes. But Zune's podcast directory is the most jumbled, thrown together mess I've ever seen. It took me hours to find the CNET podcast I wanted in Zune, in iTunes I was there in a few clicks. Needs work.

Q: What about finding new artists/bands/podcasts to listen to – how do you do that?

A: Someone further up the comment section mentioned the feature in the old client where you could find a list of newly added or released music. I miss that too. Trying to find just released albums, like She & Him which was released this week, is impossible. If I didn't have a subscripton to the AMG Newsletter, I'd never have known that this album was released.

Q: What about the navigation within Zune Marketplace? How easy is it to navigate to the content you want?

A: Navigation sucks. Search is good, though not as good as it used to be in the old client. Trying to drill down through the categories is horrible. The 'front' pages of each section only show a handful of albums in that category, when I know there are hundreds of albums. I will admit that the 'related' feature on each Artist's page is great for finding new artists for me. The Artist's pages are great, but the navigation is seriously lacking. Thank god there's a search option or I'd never find what I was looking for.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

andrew — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:40:33 GMT

My main prolem has been with sending a new podcast to the marketplace. I have been a ipod owner forever. finally got turned onto a zune and love it. I am even trying to convert my friends over but I have one major problem.

I am also a podcaster and really enjoy it. I have been trying for months to get my podcast on the marketplace to no avail. there is a realllllllllllly horrible submission process (basically non-existent) , no way to check on a submission, and no feedback if its rejected as to why. on itunes its very up front, on the marketplace its , well, frusterating.

I had my podcast on itunes in under a day from my time of submission, been trying since december or so to submit it to the marketplace, still not there, and not a single email as to why.... but then again, the marketplace doesnt have a PLACE for me to put in a email addr so that makes communication pretty difficult doesnt it.

help a podcaster out, have someone fix this (pretty please :)

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Will — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:21:45 GMT

Slightly-related comments:

When I right-click on an album or song in my collection, I would love for a "Go to Artist on ZMP" option. It saves me from typing that artist's name in the search bar.

If I only have one or two tracks from an album, an option to "Complete This Album" would be great.

Some albums have tracks that do not fall under the Zune Pass. When I drag the album's cover to the Zune icon (initiating a download of the entire album), it asks me to buy the non-Pass tracks. If I choose not to buy them, the entire download fails. I have to hit download, then switch to my collection and drag the album to the Zune icon. It is a minor thing, but it would nice to not go through the extra effort.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Will — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 04:15:23 GMT

* How do you make the decision to purchase something from Zune Marketplace? What factors go into that?

With my Zune Pass, I just grab whatever looks interesting.

* How do you find music in Zune Marketplace? What about podcasts?

I do searches for artists or track titles. I don't look for podcasts on the ZMP, I get the feeds from the owner's sites.

* What about finding new artists/bands/podcasts to listen to – how do you do that?

Lately I've been grabbing the featured albums and podcasts that are displayed on the ZMP's home screen.

* What about the navigation within Zune Marketplace? How easy is it to navigate to the content you want?

It is easy enough. I don't have any significant issues navigating the ZMP.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Patirck — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 03:05:41 GMT

I find it very nice to find new bands using the related artists part. I like how it has the bands that influence that artists as well as related artists.

I wish that when you are looking at music through a genre it was more accurate with that artist.

i.e. Linkin Park is the top artist for Indie/Modern rock.

Also I've notice recently that some songs are put on different albums.

For example when I downloaded Jimi Hendrix Are you Experienced? It put some of the songs on the album titled Are You Experienced? and some songs on the album titled Are You Experienced?(US Release). So I can't listen to an album all the way through. I've tried to change the properties, but it still won't work.

Overall the marketplace it pretty top notch.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

John in S.Florida — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:34:21 GMT

How do you make the decision to purchase something from Zune Marketplace? What factors go into that?

> The main factor for me, is the content I'm interested being sold in a way that allows me to enjoy it on a Media Center/Extender, Windows Home Server and Windows Mobile. I want the comfort of knowing that it simply works and that means sticking with DRM free content. Although I would have no problem purchasing DRM content if it worked across Microsoft's other platforms.

How do you find music in Zune Marketplace? What about podcasts?

> I search & drill down for the artist/album I want.

What about finding new artists/bands/podcasts to listen to – how do you do that?

> Grammy's and other "Best New Artist" awards, Movie Soundtracks and TV Shows (American Idol, Don't Forget the Lyrics). I also sometimes learn about music or recall a band that forgot about when we get together for karaoke everynow and then.

What about the navigation within Zune Marketplace? How easy is it to navigate to the content you want?

> Its okay..I wish there was a better way of filtering for certain decades. And I wish Zune had a more fun way of navigating albums. iTunes has Coverflow. I think Zune devices, Zune software, Media Center/Extenders and Windows Mobile should all have a shared UI experience.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

Dustin — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:30:14 GMT

How do you make the decision to purchase something from Zune Marketplace? What factors go into that?

Zune Pass, never purchased music

How do you find music in Zune Marketplace? What about podcasts?

I usually know what I want, so the search works fine for me with music I already know about

What about finding new artists/bands/podcasts to listen to – how do you do that?

I find Zune marketplace hard to find new music in. I would like to see what others listen to that also listen to my music. I also will look at the "Related" area to see what sounds like these guys. I would actually like to have radio or something that just plays through a playlist of recommended music.

What about the navigation within Zune Marketplace? How easy is it to navigate to the content you want?

Navigation is pretty easy. I wouldn't say it couldnt improve, but its definately not confusing.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

TheMightyQuinnBeast — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:30:27 GMT

How do you make the decision to purchase something from Zune Marketplace? What factors go into that?

- As I have a Zune Pass, not really a factor. Honestly, I think "purchasing" online music (i.e. permanent download) is silly.

How do you find music in Zune Marketplace? What about podcasts?

- I'm a very focused user, with very particular tastes. So I come in knowing what I want. Artist searches.

What about finding new artists/bands/podcasts to listen to – how do you do that?

- Unfortunately, I need to rely on non-Zune sources for that. The Marketplace is entirely too mainstream focused. I wish the editorial spoke to me, but it REALLY doesn't.

What about the navigation within Zune Marketplace? How easy is it to navigate to the content you want?

- A few suggestions...1) label search. Or actually, you don't even need to make it "searchable"...but rather, make it linkable. That is, if I pull up a Genghis Tron record, I should be able to click "Relapse" in the label field and see all other artists on Relapse Records. Additionally, there should be a feature that allows for complete new release browsing (an RSS feed of all new releases would RULE), and there should be more customized Marketplace features. Such as, say, if an artist in my collection releases something new, I'm alerted to that fact.

All in all, I LOVE Zune. But just some thoughts...

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

LunarFlame17 — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:42:18 GMT

I don't buy anything from the Zune Marketplace. I have a Zune Pass and I use that exclusively. If something is not available for download with a Zune Pass, I don't bother with it. I have used the Zune Marketplace to find new music before, but not really since the new version rolled out, so I can't really comment on that aspect of it. I don't really listen to podcasts either, although every once in a while I will browse the podcast section and I find it very easy to use. I have absolutely no complaints about navigation within the Zune Software. It works great.

The only suggestion I can think of off the top of my head is this: I would love for there to be a way to tag artists I like so that anytime new music by that artist is added, I would be notified the moment I log on to the software. That would be awesome.

re: Quick Poll: Zune Marketplace and You

notdorothy — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 14:12:49 GMT

You really have to know what you are looking for, and enter it into search. There is no way to really browse the marketplace. I liked when I could go in and just browse through the new stuff only. That is how I used to find things I wouldn't usually find or hear any where else. I tend to be a spontaneous shopper, when I hear something I like I buy it. So not being able to easily browse makes it harder for me.