So What Should Added on Next Firmware Update?

So What Should Added on Next Firmware Update?

Any Ideas or recommendation to Microsoft Zune Team for Next Firmware Update?

Who knows, MS Zune Team might read this and have implement to next release firmware.

I love to have more Language supporting.

Hi, I'm new here and wanted to share my recommendations for future software and firmware updates.

1. Ability to play music, videos or slideshows directly from the Zune while it is connected to a PC, without having to copy the data to the PC first.

2. Ability to play the FM radio while it is connected to the PC.

3. Ability to do 1 and 2 wirelessly.

4. Ability to record FM radio.

5. A simple clock with alarm and/or timer. Reason: sometimes you're listening to music and can forget things you have to do at a specific time.

6. Ability to store multiple wireless network profiles on the Zune so it can connect to the wireless networks at home, work, and maybe other places.

7. When changing volume, the backlight should turn off quicker than if you were changing music or performing other options on the Zune to save battery. Example: if you have a 30 sec backlight, changing the volume shouldn't turn on the Zune for 30 secs again.

It seems the Zune hardware is capable of doing more than it does now, so why not implement those features?

As a Podcaster and Podcast listener I think, if Microsoft makes a few changes to the software it could be a great media player. Below is my wish list of things that should be changed or added.

1. Delete Podcast Capabilities: There should be a capability from the player to delete or tag a Podcast for deletion right from the player and some sort of a way visually to see it has been tagged.

2. Playlist Support for Podcasts: You can create playlists for music, but why can you not do it for podcasts. There is no reason for and it should be added.

3. Resume on Power-up: You should be able to resume either your music or a Podcast right from where you left off when you power up, the player. This is something, other players have done for years.

4. Audio Books Support: I am a customer of audible.com, and I would very much like to be able to listen to my audio books that I have purchased from audible on my new Zume. Right now I have to keep another player on hand just to be able to do this. There are a lot of people out there who listen to audio books. So the two companies need to get together and work this out.

5. This next suggestion has nothing to do with the firmware, but it can be added to the software. There should be a feature in there to allow you to back up your Podcast subscription feeds so that in the case, you have to reload the Zune software you could restore your Podcast subscriptions from a file. Right now, I subscribe to more than 63 Podcast, and it would take a long time if I had to go back and individually resubscribe and customize the settings for each one.


Mark Vanderberg
Host of the Gun Rights Advocates Podcast
Gun Rights Advocates Podcast

OK, here goes: First and foremost, full support for audiobooks - and that means support for audible.com audiobooks, too. And I don't want to have to fudge around with them, making them appear to be podcasts; I want audiobooks to show up the same way music, videos and podcasts do.

Next, do WiFi right, exploiting it to its full potential. And puhleeeeze, when someone sends me a song I DO NOT want it to expire after 3 plays!!!

Beef up the exclusive Zune download site. As it stands, it pales in comparison to iTunes. Where are the videos???!!! The Zune excels at video, yet you can't even purchase any in Microsoft's Zune store! And again, work out an agreement with Audible.com so we can by audiobooks on the site.

I'm sure I'll add to this list at some point, but this is a great starting place for Microsoft now.

Jim in Bethlehem, PA

phresko;4032 said:

Hi, I'm new here and wanted to share my recommendations for future software and firmware updates.

1. Ability to play music, videos or slideshows directly from the Zune while it is connected to a PC, without having to copy the data to the PC first.

2. Ability to play the FM radio while it is connected to the PC.

3. Ability to do 1 and 2 wirelessly.

4. Ability to record FM radio.

5. A simple clock with alarm and/or timer. Reason: sometimes you're listening to music and can forget things you have to do at a specific time.

6. Ability to store multiple wireless network profiles on the Zune so it can connect to the wireless networks at home, work, and maybe other places.

7. When changing volume, the backlight should turn off quicker than if you were changing music or performing other options on the Zune to save battery. Example: if you have a 30 sec backlight, changing the volume shouldn't turn on the Zune for 30 secs again.

It seems the Zune hardware is capable of doing more than it does now, so why not implement those features?

I think your suggestions are right on the mark!!! Here!! Here!!


I think the ability to broadcast music and radio wirelessly would be a huge inprovement.

It would be really great if MSFT would put several of the features back in the software that were in the previous version. For instance, auto playlists, and improved rating system. I am not much on the heart system, I preferred the star rating system.