Extending the Zune

I’ve been a pretty big fan of the Zune (if you haven’t already caught on to that). After the latest update, I’ve been thinking about how the Zune could be made even better; what products could be integrated that are already at our disposal? Here’s a few scenarios I’ve come up with:

Freeing the Zune from Zune software

In November Microsoft will introduce the ability for the Zune to synch recorded TV shows to the Zune. That’s great. The problem? We’ll still be using Zune software. This means that I’ll have to use Media Center software to record my music, but then start an entirely different software, wait for it to recognize and import my new shows, then drag the shows to my Zune, and synch it. Seems like it’d be much better to have Media Center software recognize that there’s a Zune nearby (or plugged in), have a little icon pop up (maybe a small picture of my Zune that’s the same color?). I’d be able to simply drag the shows, pictures, or music that I want to synch to this icon, and synch happens in the background as I’m doing this. Want to remove stuff from it? Just click the icon, and this would show my Zune as one of the options in Media Center software. Leave all the fancy bells and whistles in Zune Software – that’s fine, and a great advantage to keep using it, but let me use whatever software I want to send music to my Zune.

Using other products with the Zune

Microsoft is working with Ford to integrate Windows into their vehicles. This is a great move. As electronics are getting cheaper, entry level vehicles are getting the same software that only a few years ago was only available to high end vehicles. So I’ve bought one of these vehicles, and I also own my Zune. Today’s wireless routers (especially the G and N class ones) can cover up to 300′ in wireless connectivity. So I bring my car home, and Zune software recognizes that I have a vehicle out there that has wireless, and it uses Microsoft Windows. I can now have this vehicle be my primary car, and my PC at home be my primary PC. Scenario: I get up in the morning, put on a great playlist to wake up to. Add a few TV shows to watch later, and then go get ready. While I’m getting ready, these new playlists (the one currently playing, and the TV shows) are synching to my Zune. I finish getting ready, pause my Zune Software, unplug my Zune, and go to my car. When I paused my Zune, a bookmark was set on the currently playing song, so that if I push play, I’m right where I left off! Now, I’m getting into my car. My car recognizes my Zune, and I’m able to send my playlist to the car – and it starts playing my music once I synch to it. This could be a very easy plugin that a Zune owner could download to their car. The synched music to the car would be held in a temp directory, and deleted once the car is shut off.

I know that MS is trying to build a “social” based around the Zune, and there’s the risk of degrading that if too many product can do the same thing, but there’s no reason why every MS product shouldn’t work nice with the other ones. I like listening to music everywhere I go, and having to use a different adaptor (car adaptor, headphones, speaker cables) really belong 30 years ago. In this age of stereo Bluetooth and wireless speakers, there’s no reason why a $30 phone can outperform my $250 PMP when it comes to connectivity.