Transfer videos/music to Zune directly with Zune software

Zune software can import your existing files, including your music and video from iTunes and Windows Media

Player, and put them on Zune. Supports videos in MP4 (MPEG-4), WMV, H.264 up to 320×240 and audio files in

unprotected MP3, AAC, WMA up to 320Kbps, 48KHz.

Rip your CD to Zune

Zune software can not only manage and view your songs and movies, edit album and track information, but also

support ripping audio CDs. So, if you have many favorite music CDs, just rip them to WMA, MP3 or AAC file

formats, and transfer to your Zune.

Another, Zune software can help you burn music to CDs playable on your CD or DVD player.

Purchase songs and movies from Zune Marketplace

You could get a Zune pass, subscribe for $14.99 a month with unlimited downloads for that month. You can

also go for individual downloads.

1) Subscribe
* Sign up for a free Zune account.
* Download as many tracks or albums as you like, and sync to your Zune.
* 14-day free trial Zune pass subscription without needing credit card.

2) Individual download
* Sign up for a free Zune account.
* 79 Microsoft Points per track (roughly 99 cents), 4000 Microsoft Points’ price is $50.
* Microsoft Points is a universal system that works across borders, including Xbox Live Marketplace and

other Microsoft properties.
* Purchase Points from the Marketplace using a credit card or pick up Points cards at a participating retail

location.

Convert DVD to Zune, convert video files to Zune

If you have some DVD movies, music DVDs or video files in AVI, DivX, MPEG, MOV, XviD, 3GP, ASF, MPG, Dat,

DVR-MS, VOB, VRO, RM, MP4, RMVB, WMV which can not play on your Zune, you can convert to MP4, WMV or H.264

video files with Zune Video Converter software and sync the converted files to Zune player, enjoy them on

the go.

The converting process is very simple!

1) DVD to Zune Conversion
Insert your favourite DVD movie in your DVD drive, run the software, click “DVD” button to load your DVD

into the program. Then check the DVD title/chapter or set the video clip you’d like to rip, select the

output format from “Zune WMV”, “Zune MPEG-4″, or audio “MP3″, “AAC”, “WMA”. Then click “Encode” to start

ripping.

2) Video to Zune Conversion
Click “Add” button to open the movie file(s) you’d like to convert, then select the target Zune video or

Zune audio format, then convert in a batch.

Audio books in M4b file format

M4b is an audio file wrapped within MPEG-4 container format. Zune software can recognize .m4b audiobook and

put onto Zune.
Hints: Since Zune can only support pictures in JPEG, you need to convert image files in BMP, GIF, TIFF, PNG,

etc. formats to JPEG first in order to enjoy on your Zune.

Download Zune Video Converter software from http://www.zune...eoconverter.com

Gene from ZuneChannel.com

Here I’ll list a few key differences between zune and ipod. Below are the list of features supported by zune and not Ipod.

1. Preloaded Audio and video
2. Built in FM tuner
3. Zune to Zune sharing by Wi-Fi wireless (social networking)
4. Custom background
5. Landscape video

With all the exciting and promising features, Microsoft will definitely take a big chunk of media player market form apple, but how much only time will tell.

But the real question is which device is right for YOU? Let’s look at the specs of the system, the features and services we know about. We’re going to be comparing the 30GB iPod to the 30GB Zune, since they are closest in price, storage, and battery life.

OS Support – Winner: iPod
Zune only supports Windows. iPod, on the other hand, supports both Windows and Mac.

WiFi Connectivity – Winner: Zune
The current iPod features no Wi-fi connectivity whatsoever, Zune, however, is 802.11g Wifi enabled, and features a slew of sharing and broadcasting features.

Content – Winner: N/A
Right now the iPod, through iTunes, has thousands of songs, hundreds of TV shows, dozens of movies, and a handful of games to download for the device. As of this writing we still don’t know what all the Zune Marketplace will hold for Zune owners. But as we know, iPod has some preloaded music and videos.

Storage – Winner: iPod
iPod has 30GB, 60GB, 80GB, while at present Zune has only 30GB product.

Screen – Winner: Zune
iPod features a 2.5 inch diagonal screen, while the Zune has a slightly larger 3.0 inch diagonal screen.

FM Radio Capability – Winner: Zune
Zune comes with a built-in FM tuner. If you want to listen to radio on your iPod, you have to buy an accessory.

Music purchasing – Winner: Zune
With iTunes, if you want to buy music, it will cost you .99 cents per song, or you can purchase by the album. But with Zune Marketplace, You could subscribe to the marketplace for $14.99 a month with unlimited downloads for that month. You can also go for individual downloads. Purchase up to 50 songs (4000 Microsoft Points) with $50. Once you purchase Points, you can browse and purchase songs or albums through the Zune Marketplace for 79 Microsoft Points per track (roughly 99 cents). Microsoft Points, the coin for the Zune Marketplace realm, is a universal system that works across borders, including Xbox Live Marketplace and other Microsoft properties.

Does that mean the Zune is your best buy this holiday season?

That depends. If the Zune wireless music sharing is appealing to you, and you’re a Windows user, then Zune is probably your best choice. If you’re not interested in the Wifi and FM tuner, you will definetly want to look at the iPod.

More iPod and Zune comparison information:

http://www.dvdtozune.com

http://www.zunmp3player.com

Kathy Xbox Is a inhouse development. Never bought out a company. What they did do was a massive advertising campaign. But it was nessecary in order to get up to the big boys.

Microsoft has big plans for Zune and Xbox and their combined communities. Apple has no chance of making something like that happen. They may make a good looking device but they do not have the vision or capital to put together what Microsoft has planned.

A Zune and Xbox Live integrated community is powerful and if monetized properly can be a great source of income in the future. Match it up in a UMPC style device with communications capabilities and it would be too cool.

If they can make it all mesh that is.

Microsoft has fumbled on many things but most have been when they partnered with someone else. I think they are going to do better with Zune by managing it themselves. They have the marketing team from Xbox on this and they are strong. They’ll build a cool device and it will sell. Yes they will spend a billion buying their way into music but its a small price to pay for the potential it holds.

http://www.zunemax.com

Yeah, I bet it’ll be ugly too. And it probably won’t work with my TRS-80. If it doesn’t work with my clapper, I’m gonna cry. Damn M$.

My favorite part of Ballmer’s presentation was when he jumped up and down flapping his arms and yelling: “Who wants DRM get your fresh hot DRM right here OOGAH OOGAH”.

I don’t think Microsoft sees design as a competitive factor in this area because they’re not going to compete with Apple with regards to design, they’re just going to knock off whatever Apple comes up with (cf. “Aero Glass”, MS Windows, etc).

And is XBOX really the most appropriate example for what MS is capable of? Didn’t Microsoft *buy* it? (But they do, now, have those great folks working for them)

Frank: “Essentially what Microsoft will have to compete with, and they may very well are “4 main factors.” Size, Storage Capacity, Battery Life, & Easy Controls. These are the only factors Microsoft will have to overcome. ”

Where is Design as a factor?