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Join Date: 2/10/2008 00:36:42
Posts: 595
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Wi-Fi Enhancements - More Functionality (i.e. Universal Wi-Fi)
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The Wi-Fi feature is a great feature that seperates the Zune device from the rest of its immediate competition. At the moment... it can't really do anything but Wirelessly sync with other Zunes, and to your Zune collection. Most people don't even use this. The Zune social really has some potential if users were able to do alot of the most basic features on their Zune device. Some needed features to look into building on the expandable Wi-Fi enabled Zune device: (Listed in order of most important to least) UPDATED - 7:20 a.m. CST - March 31st, 2008- Basic internet capability should be incorporated into communicating with the Zune social. Wi-Fi should be usable anywhere for these basic internet functions, instead of the 1 network as it currently is. The 1 network should still stand for Wirelessly syncing your Zune to your collection, of course; but Zune social things should be accessible from any non-encrypted Wi-Fi.
- Zune users should be able to receive and send messages to other Zune
users on the WiFi wherever they are in a WiFi connection, using a
virtual keyboard that one can bring up on command after requesting to
either send or reply to a message they've received, or wish to send
(think sending a message on Xbox Live...). (The Zunepad can make this
really fast and non-time consuming. The Zune 30 could still do this,
but the clicking would basically be the same as sending a message on
Xbox Live with the controller - but still useful. This gives the inbox
feature on the Zune a real killer-app feature.) Note: See this post for specifics: http://forums.zune.net/165744/ShowPost.aspx
- A sound notification should be enabled to tell a user that they're in an unencrypted(/encrypted) wi-fi zone.
- Multi-Wi-Fi network selection through the device. Users should be able to choose a specific Wi-Fi network to use on-the-go, from multiple available networks to the device.
- Zune users should be able to receive messages in their Inbox, and send
messages to their buddies on Xbox Live and Windows Messenger - (Xbox
Live would be easier to manage, seeing as the Zune Social already
incorporates all the Xbox Live buddies associated with one's account
onto the Zune social, but Windows Messenger would be really nice too,
just not as practical as Xbox Live.)
- Inbox messages should be able to be fetched independently of syncing a user's Zune. The Zune should be able to connect to the user's profile through the WiFi, and download messages from that. Syncing messages through the software would also be continued, if the device is manually connected.
- Users should be able to send brief video clips via the share function.
- Podcast syncing should be able to be completed from the Zune device
through the Wi-Fi, independant of the Wirless Sync. Any new podcasts
downloaded on-the-go, should be synced back onto the computer from the
device, upon the next sync.
- Zune users should be able to send song recommendations, and photos
under a specified file size, to other Zune users, and or Xbox users
from the WiFi.
- Songs plays being recorded to profiles should also go through the Wi-Fi internet onto a user's profile, in addition to each sync, as currently is. (Once the song is synced either, through the Wi-Fi, or the sync, it is not re-added. This prevents duplicates.)
- The Zune social's friend list should be incorporated and checkable in a WiFi area from the Zune device. This way you can easily send your friends messages, song recommendations, pictures within a certain file size, send them a song, and see their status and what song they're listening to.
- A user's social status should be changeable from the Zune device, using the same supposed virtual keyboard mentioned earlier.
- What song the user is currently listening to, if any, should be reflected in their current status, like Windows Live Messenger currently does.
- Encrypted Wi-Fi should be accessible through the device, by entering the encryption code in the device through the virtual keyboard, while in the desired Wi-Fi area. Users would be limited to the characters and numbers accessible from the Zune keyboard. This would exclude the more secure ASCII character-based network encryptions.This still would allow access to WAP network's, and some specific WEP networks. The user must know the encryption password. (Useful for it the user wants to use their Wi-Fi at an acquaintance's house.)
- If a clock feature is added, the Zune device should automatically sync its clock with a universal time server upon accessing a Wireless network. This would allow the clock to remain up-to-date on long periods of non-syncing.
- Zune marketplace access through the Wi-Fi, including song/video purchases. Use of the virtual keyboard mentioned earlier, to search the store. Purchased songs should be synced onto the computer upon the device's next sync.
- Possible Windows Live Messenger integration, as seen on the Xbox Live network.
- Use of the Zune device on the Xbox 360, while attached to a computer on the same network, either through the wireless, or USB connection to the PC. The Zune software should stream content from the Zune, to the 360, as a seperate collection, or how the system currently works with the Zune, but through the computer over the network.
Any other features any else would like to add that I'm missing? I'll add them to the list, in order of importance. Anything you disagree with? Let's hear some comments!
- Mike
Wi-Fi Enhancements on the Zune Platform
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