The Zune Pass Has Gotten More Interesting

ACE · 10-26-2008, 11:00 AM

You may or may not have ever had a Zune Pass, but one thing is for sure, you may want to take a second glance. The Zune Pass has never given you the options it has now. You know about the unlimited downloads, but now with the newly added features in the Zune Software and device like Channels, Buy from FM, Picks, and MixView there’s even more reason to consider shelling out $15 per month. Why? Well…read on…

Microsoft has added more value to their all-you-can-eat service. The power to discover and listen to music has never been this good.

One of the biggest issues I had with the Zune Pass was this huge power to download practically anything you wanted from the Marketplace, but you didn’t know what was good (the songs aren’t rated in the Marketplace, which is a little gripe of mine). So you were left trying the Mixed Tapes, pre-made playlists, or stabs in the dark for finding new jams. Some playlists were pretty good and some were horrible. I found a lot of new stuff that I have come to love, but the problem was they’d have a ton of stuff from different genres I didn’t care for (like rap…not that there’s anything wrong with rap…just not my cup of tea). Soon, the playlists would get old and I’d have to go download more.

Suddenly, those issues are gone! With Channels, you have playlists that constantly update by themselves without you having to do the work. You have Channels chosen specifically to your tastes – not just some generic playlist for everyone, but the songs' makeup are specifically for you according to your listening habits. With the Zune Pass, you get them non-stop (provided you keep up the $15/month), and you get to try those new tunes by just plugging in your Zune or opening the software. And what’s even better, the Channel’s songs aren’t even in your collection. If you like a song you hear, simply click to add to your collection from the device or software…it’s that easy!

On top of that, if you’re still out to find new music, the Zune Pass empowers ‘Buy from FM,’ Picks, and Mixview to allow you to have a more educated choice to new stuff.

There are those who may not like subscription services. You are you, and you already know what you like and a Zune Pass, with the music locked with (I’d have to admit) constrictive DRM and a limited shelf life, isn’t what you find appealing. I can see your point, but if you are the one to explore and find new stuff, Zune has put everything in one place, and has the service (Zune Pass) to boot. It really has become more interesting… Don’t believe me? Well, Microsoft has brought back the free 14 day trial** for you to check out (credit card required)…so try it yourself and go find out more by clicking HERE!!

** Free trial available to new Zune Pass users only.

Zach · 10-26-2008, 12:13 PM

It sure has, I am a zune pass user now because of the straight to device downloading, and currently I am using the Funkmaster Flex Channel, I have to say though my 2 week trial worked better than my zune pass subscription, now that I am subscribed I have ran into a few errors. It's all good though

tucsonnative · 10-26-2008, 12:20 PM

The Zune Pass is really awsome. Everything you get is well worth the money if you love music. I like music but love movies and TV shows. If they would come out with a zune pass for movies and TV shows and charge a little bit more I would totally do it. Heck, add in the audiobook with the pass and you'll have me and a FEW friends signing up. They should offer all these as seperate packages or a bundle.

What would you pay a month for these options?

shadowmaster · 10-26-2008, 12:39 PM

anyway to get this zune pass for international users, too?

Locke · 10-26-2008, 01:02 PM

Heh, if this works on the same algorithm as the picks system, it's not gonna work for me. Even though I know there's at least some things I like in the Marketplace, it never shows them.

I suppose it's nice for people trying to discover new music though.

Ricardo Dawkins · 10-26-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadowmaster

anyway to get this zune pass for international users, too?

An International Zune User's Guide - Thoughts Media Forums

zombii Matt · 10-26-2008, 02:00 PM

i have always been a zune pass subscriber ever since they created the zune pass

i just wish that they would add videos to the zune pass
even if they raised the price to like $20 id still be fine with it

creative zune · 10-26-2008, 03:41 PM

damn i was gonna get the pass but i cant atleast not yet cuz im not 18 and ma parents dont want to do....so i gotta wait

DLatestHit · 10-26-2008, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by creative zune

damn i was gonna get the pass but i cant atleast not yet cuz im not 18 and ma parents dont want to do....so i gotta wait

they sell zune passes in best buy. i'm 16 and i have a debit card and i'm able to buy monthly zune passes

Big Fish · 10-27-2008, 12:10 PM

thats neat

ryanriopel · 10-28-2008, 05:51 AM

Bring it to Canada, dammit!

steve500 · 10-28-2008, 03:13 PM

If you have paypal, PM me and I'll add you to my Zunepass for $5.50 US a month (you can have up to 3 people per zunepass + Paypal fees)... I have somewhere between 7 and 9 (can't remember offhand) zunepasses currently so that most of my friends don't have to get their own $15 plan...it's nice since most of them prepaid for a year = interest free $1,440 loan for me!

Draigos · 10-28-2008, 03:36 PM

I tried to get into it but couldn't. I just don't download enough to justify the monthly cost. I own all of my own music and i like it that way. And i got way to many unavalible tracks when i searched for stuff. It got to the point of pissing me off. Whats the point of downloading an album with half the tracks missing. So its back to Amazon for me.

steve500 · 10-30-2008, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draigos

I tried to get into it but couldn't. I just don't download enough to justify the monthly cost. I own all of my own music and i like it that way. And i got way to many unavalible tracks when i searched for stuff. It got to the point of pissing me off. Whats the point of downloading an album with half the tracks missing. So its back to Amazon for me.

Agree about the cost and such....but they have gotten much much better about unavailable tracks. There are many cases where a track is unavailable on the edited version of an album, but available on the parental advisory version.

Find 2 Zune-bearing friends and the cost drops down to $5/month each....that's an awesome deal as far as I'm concerned...so low that it's not even worth using limewire!

Macgyver24 · 10-30-2008, 10:58 AM

I have it and its great well worth the price. If you love music this is for you....if you dont love music like me why did you pay so much for a mp3 player....i know it wasn't for the videos. If you buys cds like every month like me it makes perfect sense to get this.

rivercruiser · 12-02-2008, 07:27 AM

A big "Thank You" to steve500 for a great deal, very cool!

PIE · 12-02-2008, 08:57 AM

i like having the pass and its way sweeter now that u get 10 free songs cause some artists full catalogs are purchase only so i can get some now......ut i dont like stupid channels or zunes picks......the channels just suck in general and the picks never update wats with that

10-26-2008, 11:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
ACE I Scream, U Scream, We... Senior Writer Section Staff Elite Zuner Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fresno, CA USA Posts: 2,237 Reputation: 252 Awards Showcase Total Awards: 1	The Zune Pass Has Gotten More Interesting You may or may not have ever had a Zune Pass, but one thing is for sure, you may want to take a second glance. The Zune Pass has never given you the options it has now. You know about the unlimited downloads, but now with the newly added features in the Zune Software and device like Channels, Buy from FM, Picks, and MixView there’s even more reason to consider shelling out $15 per month. Why? Well…read on… Microsoft has added more value to their all-you-can-eat service. The power to discover and listen to music has never been this good. One of the biggest issues I had with the Zune Pass was this huge power to download practically anything you wanted from the Marketplace, but you didn’t know what was good (the songs aren’t rated in the Marketplace, which is a little gripe of mine). So you were left trying the Mixed Tapes, pre-made playlists, or stabs in the dark for finding new jams. Some playlists were pretty good and some were horrible. I found a lot of new stuff that I have come to love, but the problem was they’d have a ton of stuff from different genres I didn’t care for (like rap…not that there’s anything wrong with rap…just not my cup of tea). Soon, the playlists would get old and I’d have to go download more. Suddenly, those issues are gone! With Channels, you have playlists that constantly update by themselves without you having to do the work. You have Channels chosen specifically to your tastes – not just some generic playlist for everyone, but the songs' makeup are specifically for you according to your listening habits. With the Zune Pass, you get them non-stop (provided you keep up the $15/month), and you get to try those new tunes by just plugging in your Zune or opening the software. And what’s even better, the Channel’s songs aren’t even in your collection. If you like a song you hear, simply click to add to your collection from the device or software…it’s that easy! On top of that, if you’re still out to find new music, the Zune Pass empowers ‘Buy from FM,’ Picks, and Mixview to allow you to have a more educated choice to new stuff. There are those who may not like subscription services. You are you, and you already know what you like and a Zune Pass, with the music locked with (I’d have to admit) constrictive DRM and a limited shelf life, isn’t what you find appealing. I can see your point, but if you are the one to explore and find new stuff, Zune has put everything in one place, and has the service (Zune Pass) to boot. It really has become more interesting… Don’t believe me? Well, Microsoft has brought back the free 14 day trial for you to check out (credit card required)…so try it yourself and go find out more by clicking HERE!! Free trial available to new Zune Pass users only. __________________ I'm an OG Zuner...Do you know what the original ZuneMarketplace looked like? Last edited by ACE : 10-26-2008 at 11:27 AM.

10-26-2008, 12:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
tucsonnative Zewbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 10	Zune Pass The Zune Pass is really awsome. Everything you get is well worth the money if you love music. I like music but love movies and TV shows. If they would come out with a zune pass for movies and TV shows and charge a little bit more I would totally do it. Heck, add in the audiobook with the pass and you'll have me and a FEW friends signing up. They should offer all these as seperate packages or a bundle. What would you pay a month for these options?

10-26-2008, 03:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
creative zune Experienced Zuner Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 110 Reputation: 25	damn i was gonna get the pass but i cant atleast not yet cuz im not 18 and ma parents dont want to do....so i gotta wait __________________

10-28-2008, 05:51 AM	#11 (permalink)
ryanriopel Squirt Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 11 Reputation: 10	Bring it to Canada, dammit! __________________

10-28-2008, 03:36 PM	#13 (permalink)
Draigos Zuner Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 74 Reputation: 10	I tried to get into it but couldn't. I just don't download enough to justify the monthly cost. I own all of my own music and i like it that way. And i got way to many unavalible tracks when i searched for stuff. It got to the point of pissing me off. Whats the point of downloading an album with half the tracks missing. So its back to Amazon for me. __________________ I'm a PC.

10-26-2008, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
shadowmaster Zewbie Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9 Reputation: 10	anyway to get this zune pass for international users, too?

10-27-2008, 12:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
Big Fish Squirt Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 25 Reputation: 18	thats neat

10-28-2008, 03:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
steve500 Jr. Zuner Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 49 Reputation: 7	If you have paypal, PM me and I'll add you to my Zunepass for $5.50 US a month (you can have up to 3 people per zunepass + Paypal fees)... I have somewhere between 7 and 9 (can't remember offhand) zunepasses currently so that most of my friends don't have to get their own $15 plan...it's nice since most of them prepaid for a year = interest free $1,440 loan for me!

10-30-2008, 10:58 AM	#15 (permalink)
Macgyver24 Jr. Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 340 Reputation: 12	I have it and its great well worth the price. If you love music this is for you....if you dont love music like me why did you pay so much for a mp3 player....i know it wasn't for the videos. If you buys cds like every month like me it makes perfect sense to get this. __________________

12-02-2008, 07:27 AM	#16 (permalink)
rivercruiser Zewbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 1 Reputation: 10	A big "Thank You" to steve500 for a great deal, very cool!

12-02-2008, 08:57 AM	#17 (permalink)
PIE Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mass. Posts: 514 Reputation: 34	i like having the pass and its way sweeter now that u get 10 free songs cause some artists full catalogs are purchase only so i can get some now......ut i dont like stupid channels or zunes picks......the channels just suck in general and the picks never update wats with that __________________

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