Now Playing Wall: Improved Readability

The Now Playing "wall" displays the album cover and data over a changing collage of album covers. The song and album data, in white, is often difficult to read. I suggest adding a deeper drop shadow to fix this.

Click on image for larger version.

Simple Slideshow

Slideshow in both firmware and software is so basic that it could be called "Simple Sideshow". It can be improved in many ways:

• Give image (or video) title and date taken. The info could be put right above or below the slideshow play controls as this image shows. (click image for larger view.)

And might as well add these two other suggestions:

• Add a Zoom function. It could be a slider added to the Play Controls, and assigned to middle mouse button or wheel.


• Add left-mouse Copy to my collection, it is when we see an image in full-screen that we want to do something to it.

From Which Playlist (2)?

Suggestion:

Add From: Playlist name (when applicable) to the rotating info above the timeline icon of Now Playing song.

I'd like Zune to give me the name of the playlist the current song was called from, as I sometimes have songs that are part of different playlists, and for instance I'd sometimes like to know if it was chosen automatically or by me.

From Which Playlist?

Suggestion:

Add From: Playlist name (when applicable) to the song list that is available on the Now Playing album wall.

Scroll to Now Playing

Suggestion:

Add button to any Collection/Music views (Artists, Genres, Albums, Songs, Playlist) that will scroll all the columns of the list to the Now Playing song. This button could be added to the left of the music play controls, at bottom right of screen.

Zuning It

Zune, the MP3/Video player from Microsoft is a pretty nice device.

The player itself is slick, sturdy, the capacity (80 or 120 Gb) is more than sufficient for most, the ZunePad is fun to use and the firmware on the device even though incomplete and in ways immature, flows very nicely.

The Zune software on the computer is a nice departure from Microsoft's usual convoluted and overwhelmingly confusing UI. I even heard that the design philosopĥy behind Zune might influence next generation OS for other Microsoft products and services... It is not however devoid of bugs or incomplete features.

But both firmware and software can be much better. The on-line support team seems to be very responsive and I have posted many questions, ideas and suggestions in the forums. With this blog, I'd like to go one step further, with graphic examples or more extensive descriptions than would be acceptable in the forum.

I like Zune and I'd like it to get better.