Ask Dave (A Microsoft Employee)

[effortless]

Originally Posted by DaveMac-MS

Now I forget where on this site, but someone was asking me about whether 16GB units will come in platinum and 32GB units will come in black. I just realized I never got to that question.

Yes - starting Tuesday you'll be able to order any combination of the 5 colours at launch, capacities and custom engraved artwork from Zune Originals.

See http://www.zune.net/en-us/press/2009...hdpreorder.htm for details.

Cheers, Dave.

Dave, thanks for answering my previous question! Is there any time table for when the black 32gb drops though? I do see the blue, green and red available in 32gb at zunehd.net which is a great option.

I'm only looking for one color right now in the 32gb option

[Zimmy]

Hey Dave,
I apologize if any of these have been asked but these are the features that would sway me from getting an upgraded Touch. If you could update on any of the following...

1. Crossfading music - a feature that I would almost kill for yet every mfg ignores.
2. Line-out - I have an aux input in my car, would love to use my radio for volume and not the device or dock.
3. Flash support for web browser.
4. AM HD radio.

I fear the last 2 are no go based on what I have read so far.

[BlindBandit]

Hey Dave, what about the Windows Live app, is it coming soon?

[batkinson001]

not sure if dave even checks here anymore, but can you post a change log for the 3.2 update so people know what's being fixed on their zune 120's?

also what's the hold up on the Canadian release of the marketplace? its been almost a year already...

[Leroy Bad]

Anyone know how to get the clock to display?

Nevermind....

[Zimmy]

Well if Dave isn't going to answer, can anyone else offer feedback on my questions?

For a anticipated device that was released today, the lack of buzz or reviews is shocking to me.
I even went to BestBuy to verify they had one, and they did.

[kindarandomz]

i cant really answer your question. maybe because there's been a lack of TV publicity? zune is pretty much an unknown mp3 brand (along with anything non-apple)

dave, how are the sales looking?

[epithetless]

Since plans for the "Midnight Zune HD PARTY" changed and that thread has now been closed, I'll repost my questions that weren't answered there (and that don't appear to fall within DaveMac-MS' stated set of unanswerable criteria). DaveMac-MS:

-What, to the best of your non-encyclopaedic knowledge, will Microsoft be doing to promote/advertise the Zune HD to increase its chances of success in the marketplace?
-Has gapless MP3 playback been fixed [on the Zune HD and on legacy devices]?

Congrats on the launch!

[Machiventa]

Originally Posted by epithetless

-Has gapless MP3 playback been fixed [on the Zune HD and on legacy devices]?

Yep. But apparently AAC VBR files cause some problems (at least according to one guy on Zune Scene) such as the song titles freezing and not switching and tracks just freezing up, but yes mp3 gapless is working again.

[epithetless]

Originally Posted by Machiventa

Yep. But apparently AAC VBR files cause some problems (at least according to one guy on Zune Scene) such as the song titles freezing and not switching and tracks just freezing up, but yes mp3 gapless is working again.

Good news (on the non-AAC-side at least...)! Thanks, Machiventa.

[DaveMac-MS]

Steady on Zimmy, let a bloke get a breather after a crazy launch cycle! I did have to go to our launch party after all!!

Originally Posted by Zimmy

1. Crossfading music - a feature that I would almost kill for yet every mfg ignores.
2. Line-out - I have an aux input in my car, would love to use my radio for volume and not the device or dock.
3. Flash support for web browser.
4. AM HD radio.

I fear the last 2 are no go based on what I have read so far.

No cross-fading alas, I understand though - would love that feature. The bottom connector does support line out, so accessory vendors can utilize that. Note that our FM transmitter for cars supports an Aux connection.

There is no flash support in the web browser and our HD radio is FM-only, sorry.

Cheers, Dave.

[Curiouss]

Hey Dave, I live in Canada, and I just downloaded the Zune Software 4.0 to my computer. But where is the marketplace category beside the "collection" category? I can't seem to find it.....

[DaveMac-MS]

Originally Posted by Curiouss

Hey Dave, I live in Canada, and I just downloaded the Zune Software 4.0 to my computer. But where is the marketplace category beside the "collection" category? I can't seem to find it.....

The Marketplace is not available yet in non-US regions, sorry.

Cheers, Dave.

[Curiouss]

OH. no wonder. but last Sunday I downloaded the Zune Software 3.0 from.... the US Zune website? and it has the marketplace. Weird.
o.o

[clubdirthill]

I'm having trouble with firmware 3.2 (Build 35), as are many others. Are you aware of the problem, and will there be a fix soon?

Basically, at the end of some songs (It is the same songs each time for me) the player will do either one of two things. It will either stop playing, but continue to have the elapsed time go up without changing songs, or start playing the next song without switching screen and disabling the controls of the device (rendering it unresponsive.).

[Ricardo Dawkins]

Originally Posted by Curiouss

OH. no wonder. but last Sunday I downloaded the Zune Software 3.0 from.... the US Zune website? and it has the marketplace. Weird.
o.o

Set your country to united states in regionals and settings option in the control panel.

[Zimmy]

Thanks for the quick reply Dave.
I'll guess I'll be waiting for Zune HD2.

[epithetless]

Originally Posted by Zimmy

I'll guess I'll be waiting for Zune HD2.

Yes, vaporware always has the best features.

[lostboykev]

Dave do you think Microsoft will develop flash for the ZHD eventually?

[d_headshot]

Originally Posted by DaveMac-MS

Sorry - not ignoring. FLAC isn't supported because it didn't make the feature list. That isn't to say we couldn't add it in later in a firmware update (like any of a substantial list of feature ideas this forum could come up with). We also have really good data on what codecs people are attempting to use, plus what they actually do use - so we can prioritize pretty well should there be future updates.

Originally Posted by epithetless

I'm curious: Where does this "really good data" come from? Software "phoning home"? Partnerships with entities whose software phones home? User surveys? I'm anticipating a cry of "Trade Secret!"...but it's worth asking, no?

Originally Posted by Leroy Bad

So this phantom data says that more people use WMA Lossless over FLAC?
Thats really hard to believe.

Lol something smells BURNED