ZdNet's Mary Jo Foley has recently blog about a project referred to a Zune VideoX.  Her source described it as such, "It would be a single hub where Zune users could buy and download music, videos, TV shows and more entertainment content."  One interesting note is that Joe Belfiore is said to be behind this project.  For those who don't know, Joe is the corporate vice president responsible for Media Center/Media Extender.  This question for Joe is...will there be anything in it for the growing Media Center customer base?

Does the question of "Will there be anything in it for the growing Media Center customer base" refer to such functionality as enabling the Zune as a media center extender?  I am not even sure if this is possible, but with built in Wifi and some new streaming functionality in Figi, I can see myself sitting on my porch watching what I recorded on my Media Center from my Zune.

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VMC: Intel D865PERL, 2.8 Ghz HT, 2 GB, 80 GB IDE, 200 GB IDE, 500 GB SATA, Hauppage 150 MCE, HD HomeRun, GForce 6200 Video, Yamaha HTR-5730

Extenders: Xbox 360 Wired - Sony KDF-42WE655 HDTV; DMA-2100 Wired - Sony KDL-46W3000

JenkTJ27, its unclear from the provided quote that the word *hub* implies hardware or not.  I suspect it is something other than hardware.  Many are saying within the Zune user communities that this looks like an upgrade to the Zune MarketPlace to include Video (from XBox Live Video MarketPlace).  But I have my doubts..why would a non-XBox/Zune corporate vp, Joe B., get involved with this unless it had a much broader reach.

btw, adding Media Extender/UPNP Media Streaming capabilities to Zune is something that I have been requesting since the original Zune launch.  For exactly the scenario you describe...not to mention, it would minimize the need for syncing when you are home.  Just enjoy the content that is stored somewhere centrally on your home entertainment network

Paul Thurrott was also talking about this in his blog at www.winsupersite.com... I believe that Joe B.'s Media Center team is actually the same team that developed the Zune Marketplace.

From Paul's blog:

"The only thing I can add to this is that I do know the Media Center guys essentially took a year off to work on, yes, the UI for Zune 2.0. This explains a few things, I think, including why the "Fiji" update to Media Center was delayed."  Posted Apr 16 2008, 01:37 PM by pthurrott with 10 comment(s)

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Niveus Rainier 500HD Media Center PC
4 tuners (2 CC, 2 OTA)
64" Pioneer Elite (PRO-720HD)
Marantz, Parasound, Mirage, Definitive Audio Equipment
Logitech 890 Pro Remote
Linksys DMA-2100 Extender
HP MediaSmart WHS
3 Xbox 360s
Zune
Sonos

If they offer something like this (Streaming to Zune via MCE / VMC / WHS) I would buy a Zune in a heart beat,…..I’d also kick my iPod in the rear of its shiny metal casse ;)

***edit***

You know, it may be wishful thinking but if Microsoft were to also add “Sideshow” features to the Zune and allow the Zune to function as a “Sideshow” enabled Media Center Remote,……….. I’d be in a state of nirvana.

 

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Q6600 | Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R | Corsair XMS2 DDR2 2x1GB + OCZ DDR2 2x512MB | eVGA 8800GT | 2x 650GB HDD | LG GGW-H20L | 2x AVerTV Combo PCIe | Coolermaster 650 Extreme SLI PSU | XBox 360 | XBox 360 HD DVD Drive | Vista Home Premium | WHS | Hauppauge HD PVR

Great idea Octavean!  Sort of like the what the Sonos Remote is to Sonos Network, Zune could be to Media Center.  I wonder how something like that would work with Media Extenders.

Yeah, I didn’t really mean to sidetrack or highjack the thread,…thus going into another direction.

I just feel like the Zune line needs better integration and a specific feature set in respect to Media Center Edition and Vista Media Center. Its just logical from my point of view and conspicuously absent IMO. I recently bought a “Zune 80” but I returned it because it just didn’t really seem special in any particular way. I may buy another one later but this time it will likely be a cheaper Zune 4GB model. For now I’ll stick with the multi-touch iPod Touch which has some degree of uniqueness.

However, I do agree that the Zune could benefit a lot from an updated portal / media hub with more content (especially video) and perhaps even programs / updates for the Zune (new features,….come on!). But still I don’t want it to simply be a buy, buy, buy / sell, sell, sell type of virtual tourist trap. Some free new weekly or daily media (even if its DRMed to hell and back) would be nice.

The Zune is a great little portable music / video device but I feel like it can be a lot more then that.

There are also a lot of decent portable music / video devices out there already and Microsoft really needs to differentiate the Zune in some way,…… preferably unique to MCE / VMC.

But yeah, are you kidding me,….who wouldn’t want a portable Media Center eXtender in the palm of their hands or who wouldn’t want to be able to control their MCE / VMC system with their Zune V2 with Sideshow features,….?

 

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Q6600 | Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R | Corsair XMS2 DDR2 2x1GB + OCZ DDR2 2x512MB | eVGA 8800GT | 2x 650GB HDD | LG GGW-H20L | 2x AVerTV Combo PCIe | Coolermaster 650 Extreme SLI PSU | XBox 360 | XBox 360 HD DVD Drive | Vista Home Premium | WHS | Hauppauge HD PVR

This would be awesome functionality.  I do love the new social stuff they added - especially nice for ZunePass subscribers.  I have to imagine that they will incorporate with Xbox Live quicker than the Media Center content... but who knows.

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Niveus Rainier 500HD Media Center PC
4 tuners (2 CC, 2 OTA)
64" Pioneer Elite (PRO-720HD)
Marantz, Parasound, Mirage, Definitive Audio Equipment
Logitech 890 Pro Remote
Linksys DMA-2100 Extender
HP MediaSmart WHS
3 Xbox 360s
Zune
Sonos

Zune 2.5 Review

http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/zune25.asp

Is this what people were talking about?

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Q6600 | Gigabyte GA-P35C-DS3R | Corsair XMS2 DDR2 2x1GB + OCZ DDR2 2x512MB | eVGA 8800GT | 2x 650GB HDD | LG GGW-H20L | 2x AVerTV Combo PCIe | Coolermaster 650 Extreme SLI PSU | XBox 360 | XBox 360 HD DVD Drive | Vista Home Premium | WHS | Hauppauge HD PVR

Yes... that's the latest update at least... pretty good stuff.

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Niveus Rainier 500HD Media Center PC
4 tuners (2 CC, 2 OTA)
64" Pioneer Elite (PRO-720HD)
Marantz, Parasound, Mirage, Definitive Audio Equipment
Logitech 890 Pro Remote
Linksys DMA-2100 Extender
HP MediaSmart WHS
3 Xbox 360s
Zune
Sonos