Zune does not allow to share all songs

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 20, 2007
Updated • Nov 6, 2017
Mobile Computing, Music
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Microsoft's answer to Apple's iPod is getting negative feedback lately. It turned out some months ago that shared songs, e.g. songs that you transfer to the Zune device of another user, are only available for 3 days or 3 plays before they can't be accessed anymore. It doesn't even matter if the song uses DRM or not;all songs, even your own produced ones, are limited by this.

This was apparently not enough for the usual suspects. Sony, we do love Sony - don't we, and Universal decided to prohibit even this type of sharing for more than 40% of the songs that one could buy on the Zune marketplace. The first question that comes to my mind is why Microsoft is paying Universal roughly $1 for every Zune sold if Universal does not even allow that some of their songs are shared with all the limitations that the Zune player uses to limit them on the device.

This is probably blown out of proportion by the blogging scene at the moment but I think Microsoft should at least have the courtesy to label songs that can't be shared. Zune owners should be made aware of the fact in the shop so that they know if the song they are about to buy can be shared or not.

Record Companies again show that they do not understand the market at all. The sharing feature offers a great way to make other Zune owners aware of songs they may like. If they cannot share songs at all, it is likely that they may not get exposed to it in first place. What this means then? That it is likely that the song won't be purchased.

You know why I bought some CD`s for the first time in years? Because I was able to listen to the whole tune online (ripped it) and offline before I decided to make the purchase. I personally think that they lose money because of the restrictions that they impose on their customers.

Summary
Article Name
Zune does not allow to share all songs
Description
Customers who bought Microsoft's media player Zune are highly restricted when it comes to the sharing of songs with friends on Zune devices.
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Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Thinker said on January 20, 2007 at 4:10 pm
    Reply

    They so much greedy for money, they will lose more than they gain by these marketing techniques…
    Users can always use emule or torrents, because even if they want to pay DRM-like restriction forces them to use illegal versions :|

  2. yogi said on January 20, 2007 at 2:56 pm
    Reply

    I agree with you.It is impossible to hear as much as you want from an album while you’re in the store, so hearing stuff online or downloading it is a great way to decide if you really want to buy it or not.
    also, I know that I have become acquainted with a wide variety of music because of all the sharing, and as a result, I bought more music.
    why is that so bad?

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