**End of Line**
May 13, 2012 4 Comments
** This blog post intentionally left blank **
How Syncing a #SmartDJ playlist to Windows Phone can be a counterintuitive mess!
May 1, 2012 2 Comments
So, I posted this on my Facebook and I thought I’d share it here too:
Create a Smart DJ playlist using the Zune software and make it a mix of local and marketplace music. Then sync that playlist to your Windows Phone.
Go to the Music+Video hub and hit the “Shuffle All” button. None of that synced Marketplace music is part of the now playing playlist. To get *that* music to play you have to play each individual Smart DJ playlist. Plus, that “synced” marketplace music has the streaming symbol next to it.
So: 1) Why isn’t sync’d marketplace music part of my shuffle all? 2) If that music is going to be streamed anyway then what’s the purpose of putting an actual DRM’d file on my device?
It’s things like this that make me just want to have my Smart DJ playlists pull locally since that will all be part of a complete shuffle…yet, that takes away from the ‘discovering new music’ aspect. And God forbid, you have a SmartDJ playlist that pulls ALL of its songs from the marketplace.
Sheesh, I tell you. That Zune HD is looking mighty nice again.
The post where I warn you about Skydrive and data caps.
April 27, 2012 1 Comment
So the new Skydrive app is great in that it allows me to use natural means of getting data from my PC into the cloud. Of course, users also know that when you install the Skydrive app, on any PC, it automatically downloads eveything in Skydrive locally to that PC. For the average consumer this might not be a big deal, but I’m a guy who has a great deal of video, photos, documents and music. Plus, I wanted to put Skydrive through its paces so I uploaded several forms of media to my desktop and notebook PCs.
Turns out when you do that you may run into a little AT&T data cap. I received an email yesterday from AT&T stating that I ran against a 150GB data cap. They’re waiving the over charge because it’s my first time, but for every 50GB I go over it’s another $10. Interesting.
I know you’re probably thinking “Wow, you hit that data cap.” But let’s not forget I also use Zune Music Pass, download Games on Demand/XBLA from Xbox 360, Apps from Windows Phone. So again, average consumers might not even deal with this, but you power users might want to be extra careful of how you test this Skydrive app and how you use it on a routine basis, at least until it has more granular controls like Live Mesh does.
Understanding my psyche and why I’m retiring my Zune HD
April 17, 2012 Leave a comment
Yeah, I kinda thought this would slip under the radar. I’m voluntarily retiring my Zune HD. Of course people know me as someone who couldn’t see himself using his Windows Phone as a primary media device, but let me help you quickly understand where I’m coming from with this decision.
It boils down to this: I don’t like sitting in front of my Desktop PC, anymore.
I rarely find myself sitting in front of my Desktop anymore. Of course, you could say that Zune HD can be wirelessly sync’d and through WiFi connected to the marketplace, but so can my Windows Phone. Podcasts are also managed directly through the phone as well. Video I rarely sync anymore. I just use the YouTube, MSN Video, or Netflix apps to get that kind of fix. Plus, it’s time to consolidate the number of devices I carry with me at any given time.
Of course there’s still battery issues and space limitations on a Windows Phone, but through Zune Pass streaming and more use of my Xbox for music, those limitations have become much more tolerable and manageable.
I’ll take this a step further about my desktop: When Windows 8 comes out, I won’t be surprised if all I have at home is a notebook computer and a tablet. No desktop to even speak of. If Skydrive does what it’s supposed to do then I won’t need some gigantic box sitting anywhere in my house to get stuff done. I can have great mobility. 
My Zune HD hasn’t died on me, it’s simply going into a drawer and will be used for emergencies or long road trips. For now, it’s my phone and Xbox. The PC will have *some* role, but limited in minutes.
That’s all. You may go back to squealing about the Halo 4 launch date announcement.
The post where I talk about Consumer Camp: Cambridge’s music request.
April 16, 2012 Leave a comment
One of the dreams of Consumer Camp was to spread it across the U.S. As much as I love having so many done, up until this point, I don’t like that a majority of them were done in California. This is why I’m glad that there are folks who are stepping up to bring Consumer Camp to their areas. In particular, I’m amazed at the hard work that Neville Williams is putting into Consumer Camp: Cambridge.
He and I had discussed on the phone that a great event would involve people using Microsoft tech to create little keepsake gifts for Mom. Right now we’re still putting a few of the pieces together, but I have confidence that this event will come off fantastic. In that sense of “BooyahBam!”, Neville is requesting some songs that work well for Mom.
If you know of songs that could work with a Mother’s Day playlist, send them along to @Solar257 on Twitter or email them to Consumer Camp and I’ll pass them along to him. If you want to tell your friends on the East about the Consumer Camp: Cambridge, event here’s the RSVP page.
Current XBOX Live Look:
Over @ Inside the Circle:
- So we're officially ending the run of Inside The Circle. May 16, 2012
- Get Behind the Tiles at Best Buy & Win a Lumia 900 Windows Phone April 4, 2012
- Interested In A March Madness Bracket Battle? Join In! March 12, 2012
- Consumer Camp Goes East February 28, 2012
- What Did You Think Of @Con_Bro_Chill’s @Zune Takeover? February 22, 2012
