That's awesome. I love my Zune 80, and more insight into the dev process would be enlightening. Here are my questions:

1. Does wi-fi have a big push behind it at dev meetings? It's the one hardware feature with the greatest potential.

2. Typically, how long does a feature take from idea inception to release? Can you provide an example?

3. How long-term are your ideas? Do you constantly lay groundwork now for features that you may implement in a year?

Will the Zune ever be more tightly integrated with Windows Media Center?  I would like to be able to access Zune playlists, music, audio podcasts, and video podcasts directly in Windows Media Center and Media Center Extenders.

Bouncing that same question about Wi-fi that @TheElementFire asked.

Also, will there be audio book support for the Zune? Even if it wasn't purchased through a store. Looking for a way to exclude them from the shuffle all artists.

Last question, will you ever support Xvid or Divx on the player?

I think MS needs to develope a few key features...

1. Use as a hard drive (please don't make me become a Pod to get this).

2. Media Play/Media Center run

3. Add a microphone to record messages. Could be a third-party item.

4. How about a favorites list broadcast to other Zunes.. A "this is cool" track selected by the user.

5. Also, drop the price $20-40 and/or a acedemic discount.

*Why is there only support for wmv and not other video formats?

*Will the Zune games be easier to use. That is to say will their always be this relatively long startup time for them to start, or the tedious restart of the system when the game ends?

*Will you allow us to have more ability to customize the device's UI?

*Will you have a more OS integrated client so that I don't have to open the Zune software every time I want to add content? Will you be willing to allow for 3rd party software that can interface with the Zune?

Are we going to see a Zune version integrate with wwindows mobile 7 or8 in the future.

It would be nice to have an option to sync with any Wi-Fi and add the Zune to the Live Mesh and be able to work it from any computer. This device and software is great but you have to drop the price because of the price people would rather buy an i#$d,  you could gain market share just by dropping the price.

Here are my Questions:

1. Will there be Audio Book Support for Books Purchase outside the Zune Marketplace?

2. Will the Zune Ever get a Price Drop?

3. Will the Zune Software Interact with any programs in the near future?

4. Would there ever be a section on the Zune Website that you can download Add-ons for the Zune Software?

5. Will there ever be more then 1 UI on the Zune.

6. Will the Zune Software ever replace Windows Media Player or will it ever become 1 media center. (Zune + Windows Media Player + Windows Media Center)

1. When will the games application actually be released by microsoft and get rid of this 3rd party stuff. It's nice that its there, but its about time it was professionaly done.

2. When will the next generation of Zune's be released?/What new features will there be?

3. Is there any upcoming updates that we can get excited about? Like within the next month or two?

Jessica,

To modify a prior question, will Zune ever fully be able to take the place of Windows Media Player?  With the market share Windows has over Mac (strictly speaking OS market share here), by replacing WMP with Zune software, you instantly gain brand awareness for millions of people who may have never given Zune a try.  This might lead into more Zune sales.  "Well, I've alreadi got the software..."  Also, allowing the Zune software to rip DVDs directly to the Zune would be awesome.

Will a touch be in picture in the near future I know you can reveal this but i really want to know cause im saving cash right now for something new from Zune :D

Are there plans to formally document the Zune Software API?  (Love the software by the way!)

1. Will Audibles support be on the next update?

2. I saw Zune on the Live Mesh commercial, will there be a Mesh application for Zune?

3. What about Zune to Windows Mobile song sharing? Since WinMo phones are more visible, I think this will be a great enabler of the feature.

Why does Microsoft currently insist on a yearly or bi-yearly feature update schedule rather than releasing features as they become available?

I'm sure in some cases one feature needs another, but one of the things that seriously hurt the Zune in its first year was the near-total silence on new features for virtually the entire 12 months.  Even 6 months is a bit much if people feel there are serious features that need to be added.

Why can't we get Asian character support?

Any integration with xbox live marketplace, and what about full length movies on the zune marketplace?

I would love to see Zune "barrow" some parts of Media centers UI. That would be awesome! It would also rock if the Zune software could send its "Now playing" song to the social as a status message.

Is it really hard to get a job on the Zune team? I am finishing up my final semesters at college and would really like to join the team!

Id like to know about the possibility of Windows media player integration  and also what do you have planned and sketched for the Zune software in the future.

I of course agree with several other comments made above; like being able to use the Zune as a hard drive & the future of the wifi feature but I also wonder:

~Will the Zune be "unlocked" so that it & Zune Marketplace can be accessed and managed by a customer using Linux or other operating systems?

~What about .pdf support?

1. Will we be getting Library sharing over networks with the next/new software Updates?

2. What do you enjoy the most about working on Zune?

3. What new Zune social features are on the way?

4. Can we expect a larger Music & Video selection in the Zune Marketplace in the near future?

1, Can We expect a larger Video and Music selection in the Zune marketplace in the Near future?

2. Will we be getting Library Network Sharing in the next update?

When can we expect the Zune 120gb device?

Hello,

I know this may not be a direct question to the software itself, but I ended up creating a high fidelity prototype for a college assessment based on the Zune.  I created a Zune Mood feature, whereby people can select their mood and the Zune will be able to retrieve the songs based on that genre which is associated with that mood.  Also, the Zune is able to detect the persons mood via a strap which can read one's pulse.  I ended up creating a thread about it in the official zune socials forums under the wish list.  What I would like to know is if it would be possible for a release in the future for something like this.

As in, being able to select your mood (if calm then it may play classical songs).  And along side with that, if the Zune's would have a clear casing and it would change blue if calm was selected - this is done via lights.

Possible?  Not Possible?

I'm a huge fan of the Zune from Australia and still awaiting for the offical release, but I'd love to know if the Zune Mood would be intergratable.  For more info you can check out the thread I mentioned (the link is in my name)

I would like to know why there is no clock. :D

When Zune is gonna get outside of North America ?

Remember us!!!

Lets see what % of questions does she answers.

My bet is less than 40%.

I want to know how hard the zune team is trying to get the zune to europe

1. Are there plans to better integrate the Zune with the Xbox 360?

2. Is the Zune interface team working with the Windows Mobile team to bring the Zune's UI to WM7?

3. Will the Zune software be integrated into WM7?

Heya. I'd love to be able to stream music via wifi to my wii from my zune. Any chance? I guess not as it is Nintendo.... but worth an ask.

Also totally unrelated to software.... When will Microsoft start expanding the ecosystem? The accessories so far are so rubbish. No wonder Zune sales are so low.

Any plans to implement Photosynth into the Zune experience.

As a fellow software developer, I'd love to develop add-ons or plugins to the Zune and the Zune software. Are there plans to release a developer API?

When are movies going to be available for Zune?  It has a huge screen and we need to take advantage of this.  Also, will later full-sized Zunes have a higher screen resolution?  Please, Please, add movies to the Zune Marketplace.

So, when are we going to see movies for this thing?

Hoping for a couple of things.

1) Gapless/Crossfade optional enable/disable

2) How about the Zune sideshow capability with Vista?

3) Wireless capability for Internet radio!

Other than that, I love my Zune!

No one here has mentioned the lack of bluetooth on the Zune, which is a pity because there are some good quality bluetooth headphones available for this kind of player.

Also it would be great to get the Zune in Europe. Better said> it would be good to be able to purchase music from the marketplace out of Europe.

Touch?!? Please tell me if there's going to be a touch Zune coming in November! And also if the wi-fi will become a bigger part of the Zune (web browsing! :D) Thanks

Are we going to see Zune Marketplace browsing and streaming via remote from inside the Media Center interface? Will XP-MCE users be able to use it?

Hey folks - I will not be answering when features will be available. We'll be talking about how the software development process works in general at Zune.

Okay. How about -- How does the Zune team think of the Zune software in relation to similar MS offerings like, Media Center and Windows Mobile? Are they on separate tracks? Or do they see a path to convergence?

I was wondering if there is a way to be part of the beta testing of new releases?

What about a visualizer like WMP? HHD use for the device, XBL integration instead of video x.

Cesar, you mention to Jason Dunn over at 'Thoughts that new things are in the works in the way of the software (and hardware and pricing).  Any way you can clue us in on what's in store?  We'd love you long time!

Jessica, since you're part of the Zune Social team, how about an optional "I'm a fan"at each artists' page so people can have their Zune card listed with artists.

When the hell will the firmware be updated so we can record radio?

What exactly is J Allard's role in the design process?

How have the Microsoft Solutions Framework for Agile Software Development and the Framework for Capability Maturity Model Integration Process Improvement contributed to Zune's success?

How closely do you all work with the developers for XBox (esp. in terms of the Social, since XBox Live has been so successful)? Do you all share ideas or does the Zune team (primarily) work completely separately?

About how long does it take an idea for Zune's software to go from conception to completion? Have you guys been working on new features since last year or is it that each yaer you have to sit down and come up with all new things to add?

Thanks!

When will we get a Zune Mac client? You don't know how bad I need a Mac client. Believe me, there ARE Mac people who prefer Zunes to iPods!

sort of echoing AriesDog - it would be good to at least provide to each artist statistics about sales through ZM so they don't overlook it.

ZM should also provide links (I haven't checked recently, I admit) to the artist's "official" website, as part of the Social experience.

Re: clock - if clock circuitry isn't in the hardware, firmware won't provide it.

That said - if future devices DO include a clock, then a VCR-like time-based recording for the FM tuner should be provided.  There are still some radio shows which run at a regular schedule, and which it might be easier to record than look for a podcast.

One more:

I would like Zune software to allow me to create and save "default" settings for the device settings, so that I can restore them through the sync process if I need to

Hello everyone on the Zune Team, you've done a great job with the Zune hardware and software. Do you see it replacing Windows Media Player in future versions of Windows? If so that would be awesome. Thanks! - Alex

Are we going to see more tightening of integration with other MS products like Media Player, Media Center, etc?

What are the plans (if any) for working more closely with Windows Mobile?

Does she see the Zune staying an exclusively multimedia platform, or does she think it might eventually morph more into an all-around platform with a heavier emphasis on gaming?

Will there be any recording software developed for Zune?  Like a mic add-on?  I would buy something like that in a second.

The Zune desktop software seems to uses a lot of CPU and disk resources during podcast download. Is this problem known by the software dev team?

Is there a process for gathering submitting wish list ideas for Zune?  If so is there also a way to add support for others existing ideas?  

Since you can't talk about new features could you at least talk about past features? specially all those nice features that the new software lacks?

Who took the decision of trying to reinvent the wheel instead of improving the WMP platform or at least integrate and adapt the bunch of great features that makes the competition great and discard the bloat that makes the competition bloated.

Who's beta testing the software? Did you guys investigate listening and collecting habits before designing the software or just did what you thought was cool based on your own listening experience. I ask this because the software doesn't adapt to people's listening habits: You can't shuffle albums, the rating system is basically useless, tag editor lacks, sorting video is terrible and painful, etc... it doesn't seem the software is geared towards collecting music.

I'm not trying to troll. I think the Zune device is great as it is but the software is way behind the device.

Why isn't there any Last.Fm support?

Are we likely to see support for standard mtp for the zune anytime soon, it seems that adding support for standard mtp wouldn't be too difficult- and is there some particular reason why standard mtp isn't used for the zune?

Hey guys, I have a serious question...Does your team ACTUALLY read the Zune fan forums and the official Zune.net forums and incorporate feedback and ideas from posters?

Why is the Zune lacking such basic features like eq and a clock?

As well, why is their a new firmware release only every 6 months? Why not release features as they become available?

I'd just quite like the "shuffle by album" feature to actually shuffle albums, not just shuffle songs as it currently does...  The option to play random yet whole albums at a time would seem to be quite simple to implement...

Hey Buddy ...

I bought 2 zunes(30GB & 80GB) till now . i have no complains with the devices or software .i have built good collection of music .

The only regret i have is ... MS is not trying to get good partner support. i am looking for Bose/Polk/Klipsch/Sony ..like speaker systems and Zune docks for Onkyo/Danon/Polk/etc audio/video receivers.

i dont find a single decent system , this really sucks. If at all , i want to use my zune with my Onkyo receiver , i dont have a Zune dock support with it.

Man ..everything in this world only wanna support iPods and iPhones. why cant any body sell Zune docks yet which can connect to their respective systems for maximum audio quality.

Can we fix the album art issues inside the Zune Software. When you change it, it's like it's permanantly cached and won't ever change.

Can we improve the speed of the Zune. I have 6600 songs on mine and at times it lags really bad.

How about being able to use it as a Hard Drive. It can carry alot of information.

Besides that. I'm really happy with my Zune.

Ok! thanks for the comments and questions! We've recorded the podcast and it will be live

In response to Tim's comment about the clock... I believe there is already a clock built in.  I know the original Zune had one (3 days/3 plays) but I'm not sure why the new one does... either way, XNA clocks have been created for the Zune, and they work perfectly, so the second generation Zunes must at least have one built in.

@Allan - search for my tag in the official Zune forums (jetherealz). Not only do I read them daily, I am one of the top posters (and I don't play forum games or whatever!)

Welcome to episode 2 of the Zune Insider Audio and Video Podcast! Topics covered this week include: Zune’s

Welcome to episode 2 of the Zune Insider Audio and Video Podcast! Topics covered this week include: Zune’s

MS just cut XBox prices to increase market share. MS should do the same thing with Zune3flash, to take market share from SanDisk Sansa.

Hi, I recently sent my dad a zune to Eaurope and would love to give him a sound dock for Christmas. Are there docks out with the plugs used in the Netherlands (220V)?

What about Asian Font Support so that our Asian Songs doesn't comes out as Squares.  (Chinese, Japanese and Korean at least)?

When will the Zune have unicode support? This is important to me because of I have alot of songs with Asian characters. It upsets me that even cheap mp3 players can support unicode but the Zune can't.

Why in the world takes Microsoft so long to support unicode in Zune? I mean there is billion of customers would like to see unicode update so they can buy the Zune. I mean at least, I'm on the them.

I've brought this up before, but the only reason I don't have a zune is cause Apple has Nike and Zune has... I love that integration for my runs. Don't want to have to carry a seperate GPS device

will there ever be support for FLAC file format?