When Will Zune Use the Full Potential of its Wi-Fi?

Now that we know all the details of what is coming in the new devices and related firmware update for the Zune I have been wondering when we will finally see the full potential of the Wi-Fi capabilities in the device realized. 

That statement is fairly broad and I am sure it could mean a lot of things to different people, but here is what I think the Zune team should work on getting out the door next to make this an even more compelling "social" platform.

  1. Remote Wireless Sync - ANYWHERE, Anytime.  I want to be able to get to any public wi-fi connection and sync back to my home computer.  Logistically I know this is very challenging as it mean the ability to sign into many of the wifi service provider some way.  The remote sync would need to hosted in such a way your device would know how to get to it using DDNS like Windows Home server does, but all this is possible now because all the technologies exist today they just need to pull them together to make this a reality. Have a long chat with the Windows Home Server guys, they can help I am sure.
  2. Zune To Zune Sharing - Rather than wrap the file in a restricting technology when sent from one Zune to another I would like to see a digital watermark added, they have the patent, to the file that contains a virtual paper trail on the file. That way any "leaks" can be tracked back to the original purchaser all the way down to who put it on the Internet.  This would allow users to share content that shouldn't be DRM'd like podcasts and free independent music, youTube videos, etc. but still provide accountability to the record labels should copyright music be shared via the Internet in a a large noticeable way. Today's technology assumes people are up to no good, which is why no one likes it and that perception will not and can not be changed. This assumption of Evil hurts the device in my opinion and distracts from the "Social" message.
  3. Wi-Fi purchases - Apple got one thing right, people want to be able to purchase and download songs on a whim as they are at a public connection or the next time they are at one. 
  4. If you hear a song you like on the radio you should be able to flag that and be able to purchase it the next time you are a public wi-fi connection. Make that a reality too.
  5. Streaming Content - Once you solve the anywhere access to your Home PC it would be nice that rather than take up valuable hard drive space all the time for recorded shows and other video content that the device allow the option of streaming the content when you know you will have a solid connection for an extended period of time like that 2 hour flight delay the next time you are at the airport.

What do you think? Any other uses for the wi-fi you would like to see made possible?


Posted Oct 03 2007, 07:07 AM by Josh Phillips
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Comments

Jaxim wrote re: When Will Zune Use the Full Potential of its Wi-Fi?
on 10-03-2007 6:58 AM

What about the ability to use the Zune as a WIFI remote for your Media Ceneter Computer? Use the Vista Sideshow feature to its fullest potential.

Josh Phillips wrote re: When Will Zune Use the Full Potential of its Wi-Fi?
on 10-03-2007 7:05 AM

Intresting, I hadn't thought of that one.

music » When Will Zune Use the Full Potential of its Wi-Fi? wrote music » When Will Zune Use the Full Potential of its Wi-Fi?
on 10-05-2007 1:59 PM

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