My Questions about the Zune

[Domino]

1. How does the Zune HD handle podcasts or RSS feeds? Does it wirelessly sync podcasts?

2. What is the Zune social? There's an option for it on the main screen of the Zune HD but I didn't get a chance to play with it.

3. What are the limitations of the browser? What sites does it have trouble with? How does it handle pop-ups or quirky browser things like javascript, activeX, or what have you

4. Is there multi-tasking? Can you play music items and browse the web at the same time?

5. How does Zune handle album art and songs with incomplete ID3 tags? Will the Zune HD download album covers or whatever?

6. How does buying music work on the Zune Marketplace? What are Microsoft "Points" and how many "points" translate into buying a song?

7. How does the Zune Pass work? I've heard that you pay like 15 bucks a month and can download all the music you want. However my friend says that you only get to keep like a few songs a month though. How does that work? If I download a whole bunch of music with the Zune Pass, and then a year from now decide I don't want to cancel my subscription, does all my music go away?

8. For songs you buy with microsoft "points" ... what kind of file types are these? Can I transfer them/play them in other MP3 software? I'm guessing songs you buy from the Zune Marketplace can't be burned to CD. Can someone explain this?


Any help answering these would be greatly appreciated

[ninjaap]

1. How does the Zune HD handle podcasts or RSS feeds? Does it wirelessly sync podcasts?

No wireless sync with podcasts. You must be connected via usb. Music and apps can use wireless sync.

2. What is the Zune social? There's an option for it on the main screen of the Zune HD but I didn't get a chance to play with it.

I don't use it because I don't have friends yet But it looks like you can share your playlists with friends and they can listen in, view your profile and make comments.

3. What are the limitations of the browser? What sites does it have trouble with? How does it handle pop-ups or quirky browser things like javascript, activeX, or what have you

Give me a site and I will tell you how it handles. I'm sure with the introduction of adobe's flash for mobile later this year, this IE will get better.

4. Is there multi-tasking? Can you play music items and browse the web at the same time?

Yes. You can listen to music or play games while listening to music. Using the side button, you can call up a menu where you can adjust volume or skip a song. If however you want to change your playlist, you have to exit the browser/app. I hate this because when you return to browser/app you have to wait for it to load again - a good 5 -10 secs. But at least it starts where you left off.

5. How does Zune handle album art and songs with incomplete ID3 tags? Will the Zune HD download album covers or whatever?

Not sure...

6. How does buying music work on the Zune Marketplace? What are Microsoft "Points" and how many "points" translate into buying a song?

Check out SS below

7. How does the Zune Pass work? I've heard that you pay like 15 bucks a month and can download all the music you want. However my friend says that you only get to keep like a few songs a month though. How does that work? If I download a whole bunch of music with the Zune Pass, and then a year from now decide I don't want to cancel my subscription, does all my music go away?

You get to keep 10 songs a month. Yup - once you cancel all songs disappear, except the 10 free bees per month.

8. For songs you buy with microsoft "points" ... what kind of file types are these? Can I transfer them/play them in other MP3 software? I'm guessing songs you buy from the Zune Marketplace can't be burned to CD. Can someone explain this?

Purchases are in MP3 format. I haven't purchased a song yet, but I'm sure you can burn them. If no one answers this question, I'll let you know at the end of the month when I get my 10 free songs.