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Zune Product manager interview higlights Print E-mail
Written by Kostas Tzounopoulos   
Saturday, 28 October 2006
Robert Scoble of PodTech got a 40 minutes interview from the Zune product manager, Matt Jubelirer. This is a must see for everyone before getting a Zune. We highlight the best parts for you with snapshots...

Matt Jubelirer's interview on Robert ScobleThe title of this interview could be Matt Jubelirer's statement, "Zune is big deal for Microsoft". On another part of this interview he also says: "Zune will be in this business for a long time. There will be a number of devices an a number of different categories and will all focus on shared entertainment experiences". Although Zune for now will start focused mainly on music, TV and movies are also parts of these entertainment experiences.

Robert notices that the Zune building is closer to the Xbox team rather the Microsoft campus in Redmond (10 miles away). Of course by this he also means that the attitude and philosophy of Zune is closer to the one of the Xbox. This is something one can expect, many of the Zune members worked previously on Xbox. Matt: "Zune is a social product and the development team has to be alike". Thus there is music in the Zune building and Matt says everybody in the team loves art and entertainment.

Lets take a look at some snapshots from the Video.

In the music menu one can list the songs based on music genres, albums, artists and categories.
Music list by modes in Zune
When a song plays the user views the album art on the background. If the song has no album art, Zune can get it from the Zune Marketplace looking the meta tags of the song!Viewing album art while listening to a song
The choices one has on a playlist: show song list, shuffle, repeat, send and flag.
Properties of a song
Matt reminds us how to send music to another Zune. The user can keep the song for 3 days or 3 plays whichever comes first and cannot send through Wifi the song again. DJ sharing (one-to-many Zune sharing of a song) cannot be done with, at least for now. This is only a Peer-to-Peer feature.

Send song using wifi

Send song using wifi

Zune has a built in radio tuner with RDBS technology to show on screen info broadcasted by the radio station. Zune radio tuner
When viewing pictures on Zune the screen flips to the side for better viewing experience on the large screen. The Right direction on the 4 directional pad of Zune goes to the next picture, Left goes to the previous, Up & Down are used for volume up & down. (Yes you can listen to music while viewing pictures!). Large Screen mode for pictures
Every picture on Zune can be set as the device's background. Zune has some preloaded pictures so the user can personalise his device right from the beginning. 

Changing the Zune's background image

Changing Zune's Background image

The same goes for Video. The screen flips to the side Right means Fast Forward, Left - Rewind, Up & Down - Volume Up & Down. Video on Zune flips to the side
No more tangle the earbuds. Zune's earbuds have small magnets on their back so they can stick together.
Zune earbuds with magnets on back
The dark side of the Zune box. Did you know there is a picture of Zune on the back of the box?
Zune Box Zune Box
Zune Box Zune Box
Zune Box Zune Box
Zune Box Zune Box
Zune Box Zune Box

Matt Jubelirer also comments on Zune and games: "Experience is centered around music, video and entertainment content. There are no games on Zune but certainly if that becomes an interesting scenario for customers in th future, we can look at it."

Parents can buy fearlessly Zune for their kids, the Zune Marketplace and the PC's software have a parental control system.

Podcast lovers cannot download their favorite podcast directly to the Zune, but they can download it on a folder in the PC which is marked for automatic syncing with the device. 

Another interesting feature of Zune will be the firmware updates capabilities of the device. As new features get included on the platform, old Zune devices may be able to support them through updates. Matt says that they will listen to the community and try to add the most requested features. I guess a more useful Wifi is the number one request !

Download the Video from here. (124 MB, .mov file) 

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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 October 2006 )
 
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