RSSZune to make McDonald's into a virtual radio network
By Scott M. Fulton, III | Published September 16, 2008, 6:04 PM
It's no secret Microsoft's Zune player has Wi-Fi built-in, but besides a feature that the company had originally intended to call "dee-jaying," there hasn't been much else you could do with it. Zune owners, you deserve a break today.
With the latest firmware update to Microsoft's Zune music players, the company disclosed last week, listeners will be able to stream music directly from the Zune Marketplace Store without having to download and purchase it first. Today, we learned more about how that streaming capability will be put to use: Wi-Fi services provider Wayport will be working with long-time partner McDonald's Restaurants to implement streaming capacity directly with customers' Zunes over 802.11.
Up to this point, the Zune's Wi-Fi has been somewhat limited -- it can sync with listeners' PCs wirelessly, and it can be used to share music playlists in real-time with anyone else who owns a Zune...in the immediate vicinity. It does not contain a Web browser, and probably won't anytime in the near future.
So Zune's connectivity to the Marketplace Store has depended on its proximity to PCs. As Wayport implements changes to some 9,800 of the approximately 15,000 McDonald's locations in the US for which it provides Wi-Fi service, customers will be able to connect to the Marketplace Store and listen to music directly. One foresees the possibility of "McDonald's Channels," though such services were not announced today.
Music may not be the only thing Zune listeners with super-sized meals will be tuning in. Amazon-owned audiobook producer Audible.com said today it will be certifying Zune's latest firmware update for use with so-called AudibleReady recordings. To celebrate, Zune owners will be entitled to a free download of the suspense novel Black River by Dean Koontz.
There's no word today as to why Wayport is rolling out changes to only two-thirds of its partners' locations. Wayport also provides hotspots for hospitals, healthcare facilities, and hotels nationwide, as well as Hertz Rent-a-Car.
Apple keeps one-upping with each new hardware release. They also make it impossible to upgrade the older players to function like the new ones.
Very smart. People like internetworld7 keep running out and buying the latest model for appearance reasons. In California, you are a nobody unless you have the latest iPod, I guess.
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|I don't know about all of the fruits and nuts in California, but it seems you definitely qualify as a "nobody".
More sour grapes from (apparently) just another one of the fruits who, while lamenting a product he evidently dislikes, utterly fails to present an alternatively compelling reason to the market for his own favorite to be purchased.
But then, remember folks, these same elitist folks are the ones who hold the opinions of the minions is utter contempt as they do not do as the this effete group dictates.
...So smart and yet seemingly incapable to present a more compelling vision to the little people...as they run along, far behind the consuming masses trying to provide leadership and dictate where the masses far ahead of them should be going. LOL!
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|A Hollywood_, hows that "keeping it in the family" turning out for you?
^__^
By the way, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop taking your s*** off in public:
http://farm4.static.flic...906703_dd2bcc7ebf_o.jpg
(That is an actual sighting of Hollywood_)
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|My Edsel has more advanced features than your Honda.
No doubt that after a rather slow start, we will bury Honda any day now.
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|I can stream any music I like over wi-fi right now..with anything but a Zune, of course.
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|Technically, no doubt Zune is better in many aspects that iPod. Unfortunately, MS marketing really, really, really sucks!!!
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|You mean the iPod killer? LOL.
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|Does that mean there is now an actual reason to go to McDonald's????
I can just see the ads: Come to MickeyD's...if not for the fatburgers...then to listen to the music......OK...maybe if they enlisted Seinfeld to do them...
LOL
In fairness to Zune - not a bad feature; provided they can just find a way to leverage it in a useful manner...
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|WOOT WOOT! lol
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|This firmware is what the Zune has always deserved. Its finally used the wifi in an intelligent USEFUL manner. the choice between a non touch ipod and a zune deffo swings towards zune now, even on the old 30gb models. It just needs to not be made by microsoft and itll be cool.
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|The firmware continues to improve and the software does as well. The software is so much better than iTunes. Furthermore, the firmware and software updates were made available to even the oldest Zune players (1st generation). Since when has Apple done that for their loyal customers?
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|If only consumers bought product based upon abstract specs and not the user interface and ease of use as well as image...
How's that Edsel doing? Still holding up?
Its a shame that more here at the 'most erudite tech spot in the universe' don't have a clue as to marketing and business to make their whizbang concepts succeed.
And just having WiFi does little if you don't leverage it into a value added service that people USE and perceive to be of critical value! And sorry folks, but being able to go to MickeyDs and sit and watch the rug rats climb on gym equipment as you eat mediocre at best fatburgers is not exactly a compelling way for anyone to spend their time - let alone money on a Zune - unless perhaps if you are a child predator with lousy eating habits. I can see the marketing campaign now...cue Seinfeld... ;-))
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|True.
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|Completely agree.
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