Like/Dislikes: Zune team seeking feedback!

If the Zune team wants to make everyone happy, get rid of the DRM on purchased content.  It's maddening that Zune still does this, while iTunes doesn't anymore (on music anyway).  While the DRM doesn't affect usage on my Zune or my desktop, it does cause problems when I try to stream it from my Windows Home Server or copy it to my Windows Mobile phone (can't even use it on other Microsoft stuff).  Please, drop this DRM crap on purchased content.  All it does is cause problems for the legitimate users.   It doesn't stop pirates (they'll just go somewhere else) and it sure doesn't do anything to make life easier. 

I downloaded a Theory of a Deadman song (Little Smirk) and didn't realize it had it until I'd already hit purchase.  Now I can't stream it through Windows Media Player, on my Home Server, or put it on my Touch Pro.  Had I realized this ahead of time, I'd have taken my business (and money) elsewhere for this song.

I love Zune and was eagerly anticipating the launch of the Zune HD but alas, Zune HD won't come with a storage size larger than 32g.

The number of songs I currently have on my Zune80 is 5,246.  271 Pictures and 121 videos and it all comprises 33.82gigs of space. That means that if I get a Zune HD (which I'm dying to have), I won't be able to have my entire collection of stuff.  Of course I can just leave my pictures and videos off but the whole point of having the hard drive based model is that I can carry all my content.

So, as much as I'd like to sell my right arm to get the Zune HD, I'll take a pass and stick with my tride and true Zune80 until Microsoft offers a model with more storage capacity.  I'm so bummbed out!  

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NPGMBR

Ok heres the deal.  When you see an album thats not available you can blame either the artists or the lable.  Not Microsoft.

Ok the answer to your second question is a question for you.  Are you ill?

Get this, you cannot have unlimited downloads of purchased music.  Period.  You can't do it with any service anywhere.  That is not Microsofts fault.  Get a clue, buy an external hard drive and keep all your files on that external so when you reinstall your OS you never have to worry about any files because they are on the external. 

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Welcome to the Dawn!
NPGMBR

 PinkEvil78 wrote:

I have used Zune for almost a year and a half now, but find that my wife and I are using the service much less frequently.  We are getting frustrated more each week.

First, why are so many songs in the marketplace labeled as unavailable?  What is the point of having music listed that I am interested in, but can not access? Is this some sort of twisted teasing?

Second, I should not have to have a great deal of trouble restoring music that I purchased after I had to reload my operating system. Instead, I had days of frustration attempting to re-download the songs only to be told that I am unable to download them anymore despite the fact that the song is still available in the market place with the download link.  I constantly get greeted with an error about my time/date settings. You should allow your paying customers the ability to re-purchase or download through the subscription.  Disparaging my wife and I for not backing up the song does not help. Stating you are putting yourself in alignment with other services is b.s. That does not make you unique and one can at least re-purchase without errors from another service such as Amazon.

Also refer to my support post http://forums.zune.net/502920/ShowPost.aspx.  I am not able to stream any music for the past few weeks.

Please resolve these concerns and make the service better for us.  I need an opportunity to convince myself and wife to purchase the new Zune HD.

Thank you for listening to our rant.

Let me try to reduce your frustration a little bit...

1) You can click a button in that display (lower right, I think...) to change the filter from All to Available.

2) Unfortunately, it appears as though the content providers are requiring that re-download restriction on purchased MP3s (no redownloads at all) and probably also the 5 redownload limit on protected WMAs.  You should have no limits on redownloading zune pass tracks though... are you?

3) time/date errors are important for the timing on zune passes- but you shouldn't get that error more than once if your PC clock is keeping time.  I have seen no good explanation for this one...

4) MS have acknowledged the no re-purchase limit is dumb...they were trying to do the right thing and avoid duplicate purchases for customers.  I am reasonably sure they are going to fix that with some sort of 'are you sure?  you recently purchased that track...' dialog or similar.  (Shhh....go over to Amazon and get them...no silly points to worry about...)

5) I might not have claimed I was 'aligning the zune mktplace with other services' if I were in charge...but blaming your suppliers is also probably not wise.  I'm sure they could've come up with a better phrase!

I have used Zune for almost a year and a half now, but find that my wife and I are using the service much less frequently.  We are getting frustrated more each week.

First, why are so many songs in the marketplace labeled as unavailable?  What is the point of having music listed that I am interested in, but can not access? Is this some sort of twisted teasing?

Second, I should not have to have a great deal of trouble restoring music that I purchased after I had to reload my operating system. Instead, I had days of frustration attempting to re-download the songs only to be told that I am unable to download them anymore despite the fact that the song is still available in the market place with the download link.  I constantly get greeted with an error about my time/date settings. You should allow your paying customers the ability to re-purchase or download through the subscription.  Disparaging my wife and I for not backing up the song does not help. Stating you are putting yourself in alignment with other services is b.s. That does not make you unique and one can at least re-purchase without errors from another service such as Amazon.

Also refer to my support post http://forums.zune.net/502920/ShowPost.aspx.  I am not able to stream any music for the past few weeks.

Please resolve these concerns and make the service better for us.  I need an opportunity to convince myself and wife to purchase the new Zune HD.

Thank you for listening to our rant.

 

First things first......You posted your message in the wrong thread.

Second, if you need help call Zune support back and don't let them go until your issue is resolved or they refund your points. 

Call support back and get a clear explanation of what you need to do to resolve the issue.  If they say place a 1 in front of your phone number to fix the problem; do it and if that doesn't work tell them to try again, and again, and again until the issue is resolved.

If you think you'll be happy with an iPod; by all means get one.

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Welcome to the Dawn!
NPGMBR

I purchased an album only to discover I could not download it. I called you customer support (if that's what you want to call it) and the lady from some other country could not resolve the issue but instead wanted me to go to the contact info and put a "1" in front of my phone number. Where do you find such incompetent people. I will not purchase any more zune points and I am going to buy me an Ipod. To hell with Zune!

Zune HD will be out in September and its supposed to launch worldwide, so hopefully that includes Bangkok.  Welcome and good luck.

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NPGMBR

I live all the way in Bangkok... and I also recently caught Zune Fever.  When in that new Zune HD player coming out?  More info MS!  Please help me avoid iTunes.

I would agree wtih NSILMike. 

If you have a security suite installed and its configured correctly and Up to Date you very well should be protected from malicious programs, however, no amount of security can protect you from yourself.  First thing you need to do is run a scan on your system with your Zune (device) attached.  Make sure you security software is configured to scan your entire hard disk and ANY peripherals that you connect to your PC.

If you happened to connect your Zune to a PC other than your own then you could have infected your Zune thus infecting your PC.  Same goes for flash drives that you may transfer between your personal PC to other PCs.

You should always keep in mind that you should never trust that a friend, familiy member or work PC is safe especially if you have no idea when security scans are run or even if security software is installed. 

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Welcome to the Dawn!
NPGMBR

 brofelton wrote:

i maybe wrong but i think i caught something from zune. maybe a better way to check for viruses and things like that. like said i MAY HAVE.

That would be pretty tough to do...especially if you have decent anti-virus on your PC.  Folks certainly can get nasty stuff from the illegitimate download and torrent sites...they are famous for that.  You can get infected just from visiting a malware infested site...even if you don't download files.  Be careful out there...!

i maybe wrong but i think i caught something from zune. maybe a better way to check for viruses and things like that. like said i MAY HAVE.