Windows® 7 Secrets®

Chapter 14. Microsoft Zune: A Digital Media Alternative

In This Chapter

• Discovering the Zune platform: Zune PC software, services, and devices

• Understanding how the Zune PC software works and how it differs from Windows Media Player

• Configuring Zune for your own needs

• Enjoying music, podcast, video, and photo content in Zune

• Sharing Zune content with the Xbox 360

• Browsing Zune Marketplace for music, music videos, and podcasts

• Subscribing to the Zune Pass service

• Sharing your music and tastes with others via Zune Social

• Picking a Zune device

• Installing and configuring your device

• Syncing content between your PC and the device

• Using wireless sync

• Keeping Zune up-to-date

Microsoft surprised everyone in late 2006 by introducing its Zune digital media platform, an integrated set of software, services, and hardware that competes both with market leader Apple and with its own older digital media initiative, the Windows Media Player–based PlaysForSure. The first Zune didn't really take the world by storm, but a second-generation platform released a year later is much more impressive and provides a look at the future of Microsoft's digital media platform. This chapter examines the Zune platform, including the Zune PC software, the Zune Marketplace online store, the Zune Social Web-based community, and the growing family of Zune portable media devices.

Tip

Okay, Microsoft's Zune platform isn't designed specifically for Windows 7—it runs on Windows XP and Vista as well—and it's not included in the box with ...