I think the Zune is a far superior device to the iPod. I have had several iPods, including the original 5GB Mac version. The biggest reason it was a flop (in my opinion) is that it forces you into the Zune desktop software. It’s not terrible software…ok…it is. It can’t be used as a mass storage device, and it won’t sync with Windows Media Player.
That aside…I just ran a Windows update on my desktop that is supposed to get the Zune software to version 4.2. It is on Windows 7 Home Premium (yeah…I’m a cheap-ass and didn’t fork out the extra $$$) 32 bit. It tells me “Can’t find the media for installation package ‘Windows 7 Portable Device Update’. It might be incomplete or corrupt. Error code 0x80070002.”
Well, that’s no help. I downloaded the full package, ran as administrator, nothing would work. Believe it or not, running in Vista compatibility mode for the setup exe file allowed it to run. WTF? Test your installer much, Microsoft?
Your mileage may vary. The scary part of this is that ActiveSync/Windows Mobility Center is gone as far as the mobile phones go. Windows Phone 7 will be using the Zune desktop software to do local sync/backup. You believe that? Let’s take the biggest cause of the failure of one portable device and force it on our newest failing portable devices. I’m keeping my fingers crossed because the Windows Phone 7 interface looks pretty cool and might allow me to jump off the Apple train and take a sledge hammer to my iPhone.
e81122eb-b916-4894-987f-e305844ddc4c|0|.0
Development
Zune