How to "hide" your videos on your Zune HD

[FreddyFruitcake]

So for reasons we won't get into, I would like to be able to put videos on my Zune HD without a certain special someone stumbling across them while trying to flip through songs while riding in the car

So I've come up with a solution but I'm hoping others will share their tips because my method seems overly complicated, but what I found to be a great hiding spot is under the Podcast directory. Here's what I do:

1) The video has to be .MP4 format
2) I use Mp3Tag program to add a label to the "Album" category, this will be the name of the Podcast 'show'
3) Using Windows 7, I right click on the file in Windows Explorer, select Properties, select Details tab, and under Genre I type in "podcast" without quotes and click Apply.
4) Put the file in your podcast folder and bingo! you have a video on your Zune with text only that you select and no thumbnail image. Just make sure you set the podcast settings for your custom show so it doesn't delete it after you watch it. You might also want to create a custom thumbnail of the video for Windows Explorer which you can also do with Mp3Tag program.

Now, I have only gotten this to work with MP4 files, Mp3Tag doesn't seem to cooperate with WMV or XviD files. Also, I don't know what to do if you have XP or Vista. Does anyone else have any tips or advice on hiding content on your Zune? I hope people don't feel this is too wrong

[CrowdAds]

[2fast4u5]

That sounds so complicated lol. I just want them to make it an option on "Settings" whether we want it to show Music, Videos, Marketplace, Apps, Social on the Main Menu lol. But VERY good idea FreddyFruitCake. I will do this since I have porn on my ZHD :O

[lem7]

Wow you really gave this one a great big thought! +1 for you. and where is the podcast folder... Lol at my school if you don't have porn in your mp3 player your pretty much "gay". But its a different story with parents.

[theholybull]

Porn rules, just wait till the day your 4 year old walks up to your wife with porn playing on your zune and asks "Mommy what are those ladies doing to each other?". only to hear the answer "Something daddys not gonna get to do for a long time."

[FreddyFruitcake]

Originally Posted by lem7

Wow you really gave this one a great big thought! +1 for you. and where is the podcast folder... Lol at my school if you don't have porn in your mp3 player your pretty much "gay". But its a different story with parents.

you should be able to set a folder that the Zune software checks for podcast files, just like you can have it set to look in a certain folder for Music or Videos.

This won't stop someone determined to look through your Zune for stuff but it can keep someone from accidently stumbling across it. Just make sure you're subscribed to a dozen or so other podcasts and name your special podcast something boring & uninteresting.

[grommet]

Originally Posted by FreddyFruitcake

Now, I have only gotten this to work with MP4 files, Mp3Tag doesn't seem to cooperate with WMV or XviD files.

Xvid in .avi has no standard metadata to set... so can't be saved in the file. Mp3tag doesn't officially support .WMV files; you can ask the author to support them in the future, though.

[Zendude]

This is "yet another" feature that my Zen Vision M had that the Zune HD doesn't have (and the Zen is a few years old).

Since the Zune does not support folders (ie drag and drop), maybe we could be allowed to prefix the filename with something that flags it as protected content (or allow a protected folder thru the zune software) and then when someone clicks on that content, the user is prompted with the existing PIN password screen or have a separate one specifically for protected content.

But since this is probably at the bottom of the Zune team's list (or maybe not on their list at all!), I'm betting 100% this feature will never be implemented. If the Zune team won't implement other basic features, why would they do implement this one?

I know I sound like I'm bashing again, but I've basically "accepted" the Zune HD for what it is. I use it everyday and enjoy it.. but it has so much more potential (software-wise). However, any "useful" features the team actually implements (in the near future.. not YEARS from now) will tickle me silly! :P

[FreddyFruitcake]

A password/PIN would be awesome for specific content. It wouldn't necessarly help in my situation since if my gf was prompted for a PIN when she clicked on a particular folder, I'd still be in trouble! lol. but a PIN would be great for those with nosey mothers

[2fast4u5]

Originally Posted by FreddyFruitcake

A password/PIN would be awesome for specific content. It wouldn't necessarly help in my situation since if my gf was prompted for a PIN when she clicked on a particular folder, I'd still be in trouble! lol. but a PIN would be great for those with nosey mothers

That is the best idea I've heard all day... if you could tap/hold the Video and click "Enable Password" and then set your password it would be awesome. And YES! we must find a way to keep our top secret private stuff away from nosey mothers and raging gf's.

[Oswald]

I like this! Hahaha. just as a random question.

where do you get your vids? im worried that they will be full of viruses or something lol.

[FreddyFruitcake]

you can get videos any where. just make sure you have your computer set to show file extensions so that you can see what type of file it is. and make sure it's not labeled something like "video.mp4 .exe" You don't want any files ending with EXE, BAT, VBS, SCR and i'm sure a few others. lol. Don't worry, if you get a virus you can always reformat, unlike real life Good luck!

[thygriever]

Originally Posted by FreddyFruitcake

you can get videos any where. just make sure you have your computer set to show file extensions so that you can see what type of file it is. and make sure it's not labeled something like "video.mp4 .exe" You don't want any files ending with EXE, BAT, VBS, SCR and i'm sure a few others. lol. Don't worry, if you get a virus you can always reformat, unlike real life Good luck!

LOL Nice one!

Thanks for the tips, I'll definitely have to try this out. I currently place my "stuff" in the videos under the Series section and title them XXX, YYY, or ZZZ to put them on the bottom of the list. However, your idea is better since people barely scroll to the podcasts.

I used to own a Zen and they had a great "flag" system and then you could hide all marked items. This also includes photos.. Photos would be nice to hide since I do have some beautiful women in there that others shouldn't see..

[chrisw142]

3) Using Windows 7, I right click on the file in Windows Explorer, select Properties, select Details tab, and under Genre I type in "podcast" without quotes and click Apply.

how do you change mp4's to podcasts in vista? anyone know?

[FreddyFruitcake]

When I was reorganizing some of my 'hidden' videos tucked away in the neglected podcast section of my ZuneHD, I was annoyed how my created podcast 'show' didn't have it's own thumbnail. This kind of made it stand out among the other various podcasts thumbnails.

I realized you can subscribe to a legit podcast from the zunemarket place, and then at step #2 where you name the 'album' for your video with mp3Tag, use the exact same name as the podcast series you subscribed too. It will safely tuck away any video you want into the depths of some boring video podcast (with equally boring thumbnail) that no one will bother to browse through.

Have fun!