Will the Zune Work With Windows Media Player?
The Zune is a portable MP3 and video player. Designed by Microsoft, it only works with Windows-based computers. The Zune comes with Windows-based software that is used to sync music, video, photos and data to it on a computer. Microsoft does not provide for using their Windows Media Player with the Zune, although many users wish this could be done. As a result, ways to enable the Zune to work with Windows Media Player have been created which are not sanctioned by Microsoft.
History
WIndows Media Player has been a mainstay of the Microsoft Windows-based operating system and has improved significantly over time. It has fast and flexible playback features and is a very stable software program. This makes it more useful for using with digital files (such as music or video) than other software since it will not damage or corrupt the files.
Identification
Windows Media Player could be used without resorting to any trickery for syncing a Zune prior to the release of the Zune 2.3 desktop software. The software upgrade "broke" the ability of the Windows Media Player to sync a Zune. Windows Media Player is still needed to play any old digital rights protected PlaysForSure music, but now it cannot be transferred to the Zune since Windows Media Player won't work with the Zune.
Significance
Windows Media Player 11 is in wide use among Windows-based computer users. There have been attempts to hack the code of Windows Media Player 11 so that it can be used to sync to the Zune. Besides being illegal, there is the potential for widespread problems with the Windows-based operating system. As a result, few have decided to try and use this method for altering Windows Media Player 11.
Function
To open Windows Media Player, connect the Zune to the computer using the USB port and press the "Add Files to the Device" option when the WIndows "Autoplay" dialog window appears. The "Sync" tab at the upper right corner can be viewed and the songs to sync can be chosen by pressing and holding the "Ctrl" key and dragging the files to the "Sync" pane on the right side of the screen. Clicking on the "Start Sync at the bottom of the program will transfer the files to the Zune.
Benefits
Building in the code from the Zune sync software into Windows Media Player would enable the player to sync Zunes without resorting to hacks or work-arounds. Microsoft has so far refused to consider doing this, citing instead that their Zune sync software is the best way to sync a Zune. Given that there have been many reports of problems with the Zune sync software, many Zune users are hoping that Microsoft will reconsider.
Warning
There is always the possibility of a syncing failure, no matter what software is being used. Having backups of the digital files that are being synced will prevent their loss, should those being synced get corrupted or otherwise damaged.
Related posts
So, you got the Creative Zen MicroPhoto, and you want to fill up the 8 GB memory with your favorite songs. The fastest way is to sync your music collection to the Creative Zen MicroPhoto with Wind...
You can transfer MP3s from your computer for listening on-the-move if you have a Dell Digital Jukebox DJ. You can transfer these songs using the Dell software, but if you are accustomed to using W...
The Creative Zen portable media player can be managed with Creative Centrale, a proprietary software created by Creative, or content can be downloaded to the player with Windows Media Player. Wind...
Windows Media Player 10 (WMP 10) was a digital media player Microsoft developed for use with the Windows operating system. It played both audio and video files of various formats, but was designed...
Many MP3 players have native compatibility with Windows Media Player.Windows Media Player comes pre-installed on most versions of Microsoft's Windows operating system. The software's syncing featu...
