Zune synchronization software coming to Macs?

By on Oct 13, 2010 at 10:30 AM
General October 13, 2010

If you’re getting excited for the launch of Windows Phone 7 handsets, and are a Mac user, you might want to pay attention to this. According to a tweet by Microsoft UK’s head of Windows Phone marketing, Oded Ran, software that will allow Mac’s to sync Zune content with Windows Phone 7 devices may be out soon. The exact verbiage of the tweet, which was quickly erased, read: “ANNOUNCEMENT: I’m glad to confirm that Mac users would be able to use Zune on their Macs to sync with #WP7. More details soon.” The Zune features and functions are heavily integrated into the WP7, so it is good to see Microsoft showing a little love for those Mac Users out there; we’re sure the idea of removing people from Apple’s iTunes ecosystem doesn’t make the company all that sad either. This got us thinking, are there any Mac users interested in a WP7 device?

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  • NancyM

    “If you’re getting excited for the launch of Windows Phone 7 handsets”

    LOL…

  • BoyRetard

    Im not a huge mac fan but I am sure that iTunes will still curb stomp this software any day of the week.

    • Gibson351

      Wow, your name says it all. Have you even used zune player software before? It is leaps and bounds better than itunes. Their subscription service is amazing. I’ve been using it for 2 years. It pretty much immerses you into the world of music music with bios, pics, related artists, and who influenced them. You find so many more bands that you would have never given a chance before. They let you keep 10 songs a month. I know mac users that have been chomping at the bit for a zune player for OSX. If that is what they are releasing then mac users have a lot to look forward to. If it’s just a rinky dink sync program… then I retract my statement.

      • bearleton

        Excellent write up, I’ll give it a try.

        PS: It’s champing at the bit, not chomping, a common error.

        Champing is when the horse is playing with the bit when you’ve come to a stop and there’s no pressure on the bit to the back of the mouth.

  • http://twitter.com/chrispgriffin Chris Griffin

    The Zune software is very well-built. I recommend all Applers to not knock it before you try it.

  • QuickWeevil

    I use a MacBook Pro and am very interested in WP7… I think it has a lot of potential and the gaming looks incredible! My only drawback is the VZW is the only carrier that is reliable in my area so i’ll be waiting for a while.

  • Shexo

    They really are in it to win it :D

  • Jen_Cam

    YES! Finally! I switched from iTunes software to the Zune software, preferring the Zune sofware overall. I own a MacBook Pro and run the Zune software using Parallels to run Windows on my Mac. If this is true, and will be able to sync other Zune devices, I would go out and buy myself a Zune HD. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference and I think for people more interested in software/players focused solely on the music then Zune is wonderful. I would love to be able to utilitze ZunePass/Marketplace as well.

    • Jen_Cam

      …like others, I’m on the Verizon network, so I’ll be waiting to try the new WM7 devices…

    • ?

      just get a PC love…

      • jen_cam

        I would love to have a mac and a PC…don’t have the funds for a decent PC laptop just yet…

  • David

    I’ll admit, I’m a major Apple fanboy, but WP7 looks sweet and if I can use Zune on my Mac I might be interested in getting a WP7 phone, being able to control everything though iTunes is what keeps me with the iPhone.

  • joocee102

    I’ve seen one person with a Zune and that was back in 2008. With Android phones being able to sync up to itunes and all who would want a Zune?

    • BD

      if you have only seen one person w/a Zune in ’08, that must be representative of the whole U.S, maybe even the world? They’re far more popular than you think, if you’ve tried the Zune software before you’ll agree that graphically and functionally it’s a superior product than iTunes. Apple continuing to outsell all its competitors combined thru its iPods doesn’t help the Zune’s case…

    • Steve Jabroni

      The Zune software is great… even aesthetically. While a superficial complaint, iTunes looks like an Excel spreadsheet. Yeah yeah, they got the album flip thing, but thats not practical when you’re doing searches, making playlists, an adding content.

      What iTunes has going for it is the large catalog of movies and TV to rent, much bigger than Zune’s currently. (For example, you’re not going to find Top Chef on Zune). However, what Zune doesn’t have, Amazon does. Plus I hate Quicktime with a passion and how nice to have software that doesn’t force you have other software. (Yes, I know I can uninstall Quicktime later, but still a pain in the ass and last time I used iTunes, movie trailers still needed Quicktime).

  • ?

    Zune is cool on my xbox but a bit expensive. I think they would have a better presence if they competed with Netflix

  • Jarrett

    Whether the software is good or not doesn’t much matter. If your product commands nearly zero mindshare how exactly is it supposed to be purchased and used? Microsoft’s mind share has diminished greatly this last decade. You can not continually produce me too products and expect to gain traction.

    With that said, may Steve Ballmer be left in charge for as long as it takes.

    • reason

      ill agree the Zune itself is done as a product, but Zune as a software is still being used a lot by xbox and anyone who uses it over itunes on their PC… so in that aspect they do have a market.

    • Steve Jabroni

      iTunes is everywhere not because its good, but because of the good hardware that is wildly popular.

      But you’re right… which is exactly why MS renamed the video marketplace on Xbox to ‘Zune’ and made it inter-connect with Zune software. Simply put, what iPod and iPhone is to Apple, Xbox is to MicroSoft. MS needs to utilize their successes to increase presence of their other products. Xbox and Windows 7 are those successes, Xbox more so. Now I can purchase a movie on my Xbox, watch half of it, go to my PC and transfer it to my Zune or WP7 and watch it on the go.

      While Zune players are both awesome and forgettable, the Zune marketplace and software wont be

      • Jarrett

        Now assuming there are 200,000,000 people who use windows (at home), how many of these folks use the Zune software versus iTunes? Apple is on record as saying their are over 200,000,000 using iTunes and of those 160,000,000 have iTunes accounts that are active with credit cards (purchasing things).

        If there are 30 million active Mac users (if, and me included) that leaves roughly 130,000,000 Windows users using iTunes. Again, I haven’t used the Zune software so I don’t know how great it is or isn’t but if 130,000,000 Windows users are not using the software (and assumably more) where will Microsoft get the traction from? Even if every Xbox 360 (720 and 1080) purchaser ended up using the Zune software exclusively it will take at least ten years to catch iTunes current numbers.

        Like I said, regardless of how the software operates it is the mindshare that is important. If the quality of the software matter to everyone involved then the desktop war would still be over but the outcome would be opposite.

      • reason

        i have a Macbook Pro and a few other Apple products, I also have an Xbox…so im in both markets, respectively.

      • Giorgio

        I’ll test out WP 7 and Zune. I just love technology too much not to. If it’s junk, I’ll return it and that is that. iOS and Android are getting old to me, time to play with something new!

  • Paul

    They still make Zunes? Why?

    • sirpaul

      Because people buy them. Duh….

  • DigDug

    It’s a bit like “Cessna 150 technology coming to the F22-Raptor”

  • hey

    i still have my original 3gb zune that i got over 4 years ago and it lasted longer than my ipod i got a year ago.

  • sirpaul

    What kind of mac-owner would ever buy a Zune???

    • ?

      y not? owning a Mac doesn’t hold you to strictly to Mac products..

      • Giorgio

        @?

        Agreed. I have a MacBook Pro, an extremely high end Windows 7 desktop (maybe a little too high end for my needs), an iPhone 4 (personal), a Droid X (work)… and soon to have the HTC Surround (won it).

        To add to my point I also have a PS3 (on a Samsung 9000 series) and Xbox 360.

        I spread the love around :-P

  • Guss

    This is something that i have been looking forward to for a while, since the release of the SDK. I do use a mac and would be greatly appreciative if microsoft would make their zune software available for mac.

  • RealityCheck

    Just FYI, the plural of “Mac” is “Macs”, not “Mac’s”. An apostrophe is used to show contractions or the possessive form. An apostrophe does not mean “Warning! Letter S approaching!”

    When did the ability to write in basic English cease to be a prerequisite for journalism in English?

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