Being in the UK I don't have a Zune but have installed the Zune player software on my PC and really like it as a library front end. I wish they would open up the social elements though so that I could create an account and add friends etc. Even if I can't use the Zune store this community aspect would be nice to have.
I also like the now-playing montage that is shown of your library cover art. I believe that something similar is in Windows 7 for Media Center. One change I would like to see is the ability to click on the displayed art and play an album or add it to the queue.
An option to switch from the heart based favourites to the traditional 5 stars would be nice as well.
Yeah, being outside the US doesn't help the user experience, and I still can't understand why MCE / WMP 11 has 5 stars, but Zune has love / hate....you would have thought that they'd have some sort of consistancy.
I think you have a good point though that the Zune software on its own is a great thing. I find it a big improvement over windows media player which I never use anymore. Being in the US, I am a Zune pass subscriber and it does make the whole experience come to life. Let's hope Microsoft hurries up and sends this thing overseas!
I am from the UK and I recon I was one of the first in the UK to own a Zune2 80GB device. It's fanstastic and I could not live without it now. Of course I cannot get full access to the marketplace and social stuff either due to not being in the US but as I wouldn't really buy my music from that source anyways it not too much of a problem at the moment.
However it's been said for a long time that Zune marketplace was coming to the UK and Euro zone and I am surprised its not happened yet and if it doesn't happen before this Christmas, holiday buying season I will be really surprised.
I agree the love / hate rating was a mistake they need to have kept that in line with WMP and the star rating system especially when tighter Zune / Media Center integration comes along, presuming it ever will.
Stu aka C-Dub
The Windows Media Center Blog
CW...have you managed to get a Zune Card? I know Ian has by following the help article on Zune Thoughts, but for what ever reason I haven't managed to get it to work
I think initially I did have a Zune card and I do remember at one point actually being able to browse the marketplace but just not purchase anything, however I have changed my MS Live ID account since then due to none related issues and I have not really looked at the marketplace / social aspect of the Zune software since. I know Ian mentioned something about using a US Live ID account but I never really looked in to how to get it working as I wasn't that bothered about it.Do you have a link to this article you refer to?
Thanks
The link is here and it was covered in Ian's podcast 181. I( can get marketplace / mixview, if I change to location being US. For some reason, even though I created a US based live account (disneyworld) it still says not available in my region. Like you, I'm not bothered about purchasing music, but the custom picks and social stuff really appeal.
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