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Zune + ZunePass + Windows Media Center = Very Cool

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The Zune V2 shipped a few weeks ago but I didn't want to blog about my experience until I spent at least a few weeks with it. As background, I didn't purchase a Zune V1. I had a Creative music player and it got the job done. I did subscribe to our internal discussion list on Zune since the beginning just to keep an eye on things. As more information started to trickle out on the internal discussion list regarding Zune V2, a lot of the new features in Zune V2 really grabbed my attention. Here is why....

 

I am an avid Windows Media Center user since Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005. It sits in my living room and is "mission critical" in my house for my family. (I did have to buy a nice computer case so that it blended in with the other equipment:-)). I have two XBox 360s wired to my home network that are used as Media Center extenders most of the time, especially the one in the workout room. It seems like the only time I have to watch a little TV is when working out. (BTW, Windows Media Center is also a development platform.)

 

Media Center integration popped up quite a bit on the internal discussion list for Zune as a requested feature and it is great that it made it into Zune V2. I put the Zune software on my Windows Media Center machine and download music there. I can sync directly via USB cable when charging or wirelessly since my Windows Media Center machine is connected to my wireless router. The Zune software picks up recorded TV and adds it to the library automatically so if there is a show I want to watch on my Zune, I simply right-click and select Sync. The Zune software automatically transcodes the recorded TV so that it looks great on the Zune's screen, though it does take a while to transcode a full length movie but that is not surprising:-)

 

What also got me interested in the Zune is ZunePass. In addition to purchasing a Zune 80, I cancelled my XM subscription and joined ZunePass to try something different. ZunePass is a service much like XM is a service. So for example, when I dropped my XM subscription, I no longer have access to the channels. Same with ZunePass. If I ever decide to cancel my ZunePass subscription, I lose access to the downloaded music. While this sounds "bad", it isn't when you think of ZunePass as a subscription service similar to how XM Radio is a subscription service. If anything, the ZunePass is more flexible because I get to pick what I listen to.

 

For Zune V1 users, a ROM upgrade was released with Zune V2 that brings V2 features to the Zune V1 device, essentially turning it into a new device. Overall, I am thrilled with Zune V2 / ZunePass and I love the fact that Microsoft provided great customer support to early adopters with the free ROM upgrade that provides V2 features.

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