Zune Advice - Alternative software?

FirmSkater

So, I am getting an MP3 player for the first time ever and I decided to get a Zune. First of all don't come in here trying to convince me not to get it because I already did and I am not interested in an MP3 player fight.

Having never had an MP3 player before all I have to go on is stories about how terrible software for putting music on the players always is. I have used iTunes before though never to put music on an iPod and I hated it. Several friends of mine who own Zunes have told me that the Zune software is especially bad, but were unsure if there were any alternatives.

I have heard of alternatives to iTunes for iPod users and I was basically wondering if there was anything similar for the Zune? Should I even bother with something else or just use the regular software?

Veitsev

The Zune is a great mp3 player and the software works just fine. I personally think itunes is very bloated and don't like using it. When the zune first came out there were issues but the software received some significant updates and it works great. I wouldn't bother with any other software.

Also the Zune HD is likely coming out in the next few months so you might want to wait.

Dunadan019

the zune software works fine.

you define the folder you want to add songs to and it adds them.

you can sort by artist album or genre and if the songs you have are undefined you can look them up.

there is no alternative software for the zune that I know of.

FirmSkater

Veitsev wrote: »

The Zune is a great mp3 player and the software works just fine. I personally think itunes is very bloated and don't like using it. When the zune first came out there were issues but the software received some significant updates and it works great. I wouldn't bother with any other software.

Also the Zune HD is likely coming out in the next few months so you might want to wait.

I'm not really interested in anything HD or whatever.

I just want to be able to listen to music between classes and on the bus.

Dunadan019 wrote: »

the zune software works fine.

you define the folder you want to add songs to and it adds them.

you can sort by artist album or genre and if the songs you have are undefined you can look them up.

there is no alternative software for the zune that I know of.

Okay thanks, I guess my friends were just being big babies.

Veitsev

Also I've had the software not recognize music in a folder before. Probably had something to do with transfering 20gigs of music from one pc to another. Adding music when this happens to the zune is as easy as dragging and dropping music files or folder onto the collection screen. I would also advise to use albumart.org and update your album art as the art the zune sometimes assigns automatically is low res.

EggyToast

Pretty much. I use iTunes and an iPod, and the advantage to using the software that is created specifically for the hardware is that all the special features and connectivity works as expected. In my case, what I see on the iPod is identical to what I'm interacting with in iTunes, so it feels more like I'm taking the app with me everywhere. I'm on a Mac, and before I got an iPod I spent some time with the software -- and it was actually the ease of using iTunes that convinced me to get the hardware in the first place. Before that, I was using Winamp and trying to sort all my music myself, which really didn't work for how I listened to music.

I'm sure it's the same for the Zune. Try Microsoft's software and give it a fair shake; import your MP3s in, maybe spend a little time fixing any tagging issues that appear, and let the software sort of guide your interaction with the Zune. You'll probably have a much better time with it.

noir_blood

Welcome to the fold brother!

Personally I really like the zune software, easy to use and I don't really think it's much of a memory hog. Make sure to sign up for the zune pass.

saltiness

The Zune software, or more specifically Zune Pass is the whole fucking reason to get a Zune player! $15 a month for almost all the music you'll ever need.

Dunadan019

saltiness wrote: »

The Zune software, or more specifically Zune Pass is the whole fucking reason to get a Zune player! $15 a month for almost all the music you'll ever need.

and you can keep 10 songs a month permanently.

Narian

If needed go to Settings > Display in the Zune software and lower the screen graphics. Helps speed up the program if you're on a slow computer.

illig

you rarely have to mess with the software... just set it up once, set the wireless, and from then on all you have to do is add songs to a folder on your pc, and activate wireless on your zune when you get home

Descendant X

Your friends may have used an older version of the zune software, as they were pretty bad. The new zune software is far better than iTunes, in fact, I'm buying a zune because the software is so nice to use.

Shadowrunner

Personally, I think the Zune software is light-years better than iTunes. Hell, I switched from an iPod to a Zune because the software was that much better. A lot of it is personal preference though. Try it for a few weeks and see what you think. AFAIK, there is no alternative software for the Zune because the Zune -> PC sync uses some form of encryption.

I Win Swordfights

Just to echo what has been said, Zunes and the Zune software really are spectacular, and I prefer them muchly to iPods and iTunes.

The Zune software might take a minute or two to figure out, some things are a little hidden or vague, but only a teensy bit so.

Have fun with your Zune!

Madpanda

I've had a Zune 80 since they hit the market. Once you get used to the software, which doesn't take very long, its nice. The only issue I have run into is bad meta data on the files themselves. As the Zune device itself has the sorting options of "Songs" "Albums" "Artists" "Genre" you need to make sure each song has proper Artist/Album info. A program like mp3tag makes fixing tags easy.

Topweasel

FirmSkater wrote: »

Veitsev wrote: »

The Zune is a great mp3 player and the software works just fine. I personally think itunes is very bloated and don't like using it. When the zune first came out there were issues but the software received some significant updates and it works great. I wouldn't bother with any other software.

Also the Zune HD is likely coming out in the next few months so you might want to wait.

I'm not really interested in anything HD or whatever.

I just want to be able to listen to music between classes and on the bus.

Dunadan019 wrote: »

the zune software works fine.

you define the folder you want to add songs to and it adds them.

you can sort by artist album or genre and if the songs you have are undefined you can look them up.

there is no alternative software for the zune that I know of.

Okay thanks, I guess my friends were just being big babies.

The reason to mention the ZuneHD is that Microsoft seems to want a single price point for their devices. Its not HD in the sense of HD video (though it can play it) but that its a brand new device with new features that separate it from the last three gens of Zune devices. Since the Premium price is $250, chances are that it stays there and therefore in two months is available at the same price you bought yours at this month.

New Features include,
Touch Screen
A high quality true CPU/GPU from Nvidia called the Tegra.
supposedly it will also sport an HD radio tuner (many big cities have Clearer digital radio stations that this will receive along with standard FM.)
A more detailed and Larger screen.

Do yourself a favor and look it up. Its not that anyone here is trying to talk you out of a purchase, like you suggest with ipod talk. Its just with it being on the cusp of being A.) the standard one being cheaper for you, or B.) the feature list being that much better and at the same price, that it might be a good to at least make an informed decision rather then finding out later and becoming disappointed at yourself or us.