It’s been around on the Zune marketplace since it launch. But it does have a real advantage over iPods-iTunes connection, because it allows you to pick up music from any computer. If you are familiar with iPod+iTunes, you know that when you take it to a friends house and try to sync it, you’ll either have to delete everything on the iPod already or not sync. But if you had a Zune you could easily download the great new song your friend has, so that you can listen to it on the way home without deleting the tracks already on it.
 Sure, many other MP3 players also have it. But Zune seems to be headed for the number 2 spot and it can take a bit more of the marketshare as more features are enabled on the system. However, Microsoft has yet to fix the issue with the Zune Sharing that we mentioned earlier and websites are indicating that it was an issue regarding the flagging of the songs and they are working on it.
 According to an article at the Seattlepi, it seems that Zune does have sharing limitations. As I have stated before this is a blow to their “sharing”/”social” feature. However, Microsoft has stated earlier that ‘certain’ songs can’t be shared. However today more details were shed by both Microsoft and Universal Music Group.
 But it is not because of limitations set by their music partners. Microsoft is blaming the issue on and they deny that Universal is preventing songs by certain artists. And a Universal spokesman reports of restrictions on artists ”totally untrue.”
 However, Im not sure exactly sure why this would happen. If Microsoft wants all songs to be shared and their music partners also dont have an issue with certain artists songs being shared, then what is preventing it. It probably does not have to do with the hardware, but the software itself. I’m seriously at a loss of why these songs can’t be shared. Hope some firmware gets released to fix the issue though. Drop a comment if you have any idea what could be preventing the ’sharing’ from happening with certain songs.
 Microsoft Media Chief, Chris Stephenson was at the Midem Music Expo in Cannes and he was suggesting that Wi-Fi “filling stations” may be in the future for the Zune. The idea is generally similar to that of the iPod kiosks, but uses WiFi to connection.
  Ideally a service like this would work the same way that the DS Download stations work and may allow the 3day/3plays rule with Zune’s entire library and hopefully also allows you to download the songs via the “filling stations”. But the only disadvantage is that you probably would rather download the track on your PC than go to a certain place to download the song you were looking for.
 It really isnt something that is hard to implement with the current hardware of the Zune. Sandisk has already implemented this with Sansa Connect and their service accually allows you to download via any Wireless connection. Ir may accually be more beneficial for Microsoft to enable WiFi connections via any router than to set up station. Or atleast putting these machines in places like Starbucks, public transit system and malls.Â
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 In an article by Reuters, they talked with the marketing director of Zune and he give us some hints of the possible timeline for the new releases. He said that Microsoft is happy with the sales in the US to this point. The Zune took a 10.2 marketshare in the month of December according to the NPD Group.
  He indicated that the Zune’s European launch is possible for late 2007, in time for the holiday season. He said that Microsoft is currently doing research wuth focus groups to modify Zune for European customers. This change will probably be mostly on the software and marketing aspect though. However, he still said that Microsoft has not given a firm release date for Europe and that it may only show up on the market in 2008.
 He also indicated that Microsoft is working on new Zune’s for the US. The new Zunes should arrive for the Christmas season in the US aswell. This will probably include the flash based Zune’s mentioned earlier and an update to the hard drive Zunes. The change isn’t unexpected seeing that iPods and other portable media players also go through yearly revisions.
 It’s good to see that Microsoft is beginning to reserach using focus groups in Europe. But they still have to launch the player in Canada, Australia and many other areas of the world.
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 A new report from Zunerama indicates that songs from certain artists can not be shared via Zune. The report indicates that of the 50 songs attempted to be shared only 29 of them were successful. That isn’t impressive see that only 58% of the songs were shared successfully.Â
 Apparently, when the transfer between Zunes is completed you would receive this message: “Can’t send some songs because of rights restrictions. 29 of 50 songs sent to [user]’s Zune”. (As seen on left)Â
 This is pretty disappointing seeing that Zune’s most prominent feature is the ‘Social’ aspect. It is also disappointing to see that the record industry is putting these limitations on the files despite the 3plays/3days rule already on the Zune. I hope Microsoft works out things with record companies to eliminate these limitations. Or at least tell the user of the songs that cant be shared beforehand.Â
 Sample of artists whose songs you can’t share: Beyonce, Fergie, Snow Patrol, Akon, Weird Al Yankovic, My Chemical Romance, Gwen Stefani, Ciara, Blue October, JoJo, Nas, Fantasia, Daniel Powter and Young JeezyÂ
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Over at ArtistDirect, they have a bunch of MP3’s for free and the whole thing is being sponsored by Zune. As you can see in the image on the right, it includes some popular artists which you would regularly pay 99cents for. Although I do know that Wierd Al’s song is also available on his site for free aswell.
It’s interesting to see that the Zune advertising campaign is going like this. It is a shift from how other Microsoft devices and even Xbox are marketed. Probably the new campaign is to appeal to the typically young adult/teen market.
Hope you enjoy the songs!
Download Page link
 In a Houston Chronicle interview with Bryan Lee, corporate vice present for Microsoft’s entertainment business he said something that really caught my attention. Bryan Lee states in the Chronicle interview that it would be logical for the Zune platform to see an annual or twice-annual refresh of its software and hardware. He also said that there will be addition models to compliment the current line up, with the addition of flash based Zunes.
 On the software side, it will probably be the release of a new version as we have seen with iTunes and probably a redesign of the store itself. This will probably become a common thing with the Zune Marketplace with upgrade happening yearly. The store itself could add TV shows, Movies and Games in the future. The software side is a much simpilar task for Microsoft compared to hardware.
 On the hardware side, it is no surprise that the Zune will get a redesign soon. The 1st generation Zune was Microsoft’s entry into the market. It will keep getting improved over time, but it is possible for a complete redesign of the Zune from ground up or will it just be a simple advancement like 1Gen iPods to 2Gen iPods. It could possibly even make a move by releasing a touchscreen Zune for $249. People are really intrigued by the touch screen technology and there still isnt a standalone widescreen iPod (excludes iPhone, because it is integrated and therefore more expensive). So it is key for Microsoft to make some upgrades to reach their goal of becoming the #2 portable media player after iPod.
 Also when Microsoft does make its launch into the flash based Zunes, it will have tough competition from the nano and a ton of PlaysForSure devices. So Microsoft will really need to pull off an awesome, yet cheap product to gain some ground in this field. It will also be the stepping stone for the broad range of products under the Zune name.
