ZunerVision

One of the coolest mashups I saw last year was TwitterVision. That's where various Tweets from around the world are displayed on a map and you can actually watch the world is saying.

Popfly actually made it possible for non-programmers to build the same mashup themselves just using drag-and-drop.

 

Would't it be cool if you could do the same thing with "the last song that someone listened to on their Zune" or "the last song podcast someone listened to on their Zune" or "the last video that someone watched on their Zune"? Throw that stuff onto a map along with wherever that person happens to be located and watch what people around the world are listening to or watching.

That would be cool!.

 

-Jamie

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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/5nqozw">My Zune blog</a>

You're full of it...good ideas, that is. :-) I really like this one. Again, I'm not sure we know location (or have access to it), but I can definitely investigate that.

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Jessica Zahn, Zune Social Program Manager ~ This posting is provided as-is with no warranties, and confers no rights.

You don't know their exact location, but you have the IP of the wireless router the Zune is connected to.  When the Zune connects to a WAP, it connects to the "ZunerVision" service and registers itself and it's IP as well as whatever other "social" info would be used.  This could be used to expand the Social beyond Zunes I can see from my Zune via an ad-hoc connection.  It goes without saying that a setting to prevent connecting in this matter would be needed.

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Zune 30 (White)

This feels like one of those that people need the option to opt out of. Not everybody wants everyone else knowing where they are, especially the younger Zuners on here.

 Mr Weather B wrote:

This feels like one of those that people need the option to opt out of. Not everybody wants everyone else knowing where they are, especially the younger Zuners on here.

 

Well yeah, naturally. That goes without saying. Hopefully :)

-Jamie

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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/5nqozw">My Zune blog</a>

Hence the reason for this sentence:

It goes without saying that a setting to prevent connecting in this matter would be needed.

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Zune 30 (White)

 jamiethomson wrote:

 Mr Weather B wrote:

This feels like one of those that people need the option to opt out of. Not everybody wants everyone else knowing where they are, especially the younger Zuners on here.

 

Well yeah, naturally. That goes without saying. Hopefully :)

-Jamie

 

Unfortunately, it doesn't go without saying. Look at Facebook's launch of Beacon as a prime example.

 Mr Weather B wrote:

Unfortunately, it doesn't go without saying. Look at Facebook's launch of Beacon as a prime example.

 

yeah fair point. But I honestly think that you can't judge Microsoft the same way. I was speaking to a prominent person from the Windows Live team a few weeks ago and he talked about the frustration within Microsoft about the stuff startups seem to get away with that if they were to attempt they would be crucified for. Beacon is the obvious example.

There are VERY clear indicators fact that Microsoft treat privacy more importantly than others. If you want to know how seriously these guys take privacy then take a look at the Live Contacts API that allows people to share their contact information without giving up their username/password. Very cool stuff. 

In fact, I sometimes get lost in the myriad of options that exist in Windows Live Spaces for choosing what info you want to share (all are "sharing off" by default by the way).

 

Personally I think that publishing someone's general location based on their IP address is no big deal but I certainly agree with you, they have to have the option to share it (and by default it should be "not to share").

-Jamie

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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/5nqozw">My Zune blog</a>

I agree with Mr Weather B.  That's the exact reason I added that last sentence.  Never assume an opt-out setting will be provided.

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Zune 30 (White)

I have faith in Mr Softee to do the right thing. Looks like an interesting idea. Nuff said.

 jetherealz wrote:

You're full of it...good ideas, that is. :-) I really like this one. Again, I'm not sure we know location (or have access to it), but I can definitely investigate that.

If you enabled universal Wi-Fi for basic functions on the Zune device (such as sending and receiving messages from your Zune/Xbox friends, accessing data, or even chatting with Windows Live buddies...), along with a virtual keyboard (like the Xbox's) for interface usage, then all you have to do is associate the information with the existing Windows Live Maps service. You could get geographical info based on the IP address they are assigned to on the nearest wireless router. This still opens the door for mobile wi-fi on the Zune. Some smaller cities are off, though. I live in Iowa, and the town my IP settings tell where I am, is about 20 miles away... it's also about half the size. Anyway, all I'm saying is that geographical info is obtainable based on any given IP address. That's how those Ads on webpages always seem to target products within your general area. There's no reason the Zune can't use this for a general Zune map. The data doesn't even have to be accurate. As long as the data is within 10-20 miles, it serves it function.
I've already outlined the entire issue of the non-utilized Wi-Fi in the following post. These basic functions need to be incorporated before anything like this can even be thought about:
http://forums.zune.net/163185/ShowPost.aspx

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- Mike Wi-Fi Enhancements on the Zune Platform

Right on Mike, I'm 100% with you on this buddy. Wi-fi needs to be utilised more - there's SO many scenarios that could leverage it.

 

Anyway...back to Zunervision. Jessica, if (and its a big if) this were ever to happen would you provide the data (i.e. person X, in location Y, listened to song Z, at time W) via a web service that could be mashed up in (say) Popfly?

 

-Jamie

 

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<a href="http://tinyurl.com/5nqozw">My Zune blog</a>