Zune hacks: run it on XP Pro x64, change desktop icon

Gather round, 'cause we've got some Zune hacks to get your Sunday going. First, a fellow named Kristof has informed Zune-Online about a way to get the Zune software running on Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (there's also a Vista hack too, which we saw earlier). The site has exact step-by-step instructions on how to pull off this one, but the short of it is, it essentially involves editing the Zune.inf file. For our next trick, we'll point you to a site that shows you how to change the Zune icon as seen in Windows. For that one, you'll need to first pull off the USB drive hack that we showed you before, and then you'll need to use Regedt (Registry Edit) to find the appropriate registry value, an ICO editing program (like IcoFX), and patience when drawing on an icon that's 48 x 48 pixels. But you'll have our eternal love and respect if you change your Zune icon to the Engadget "e" logo. As usual when trying something like this, do be sure to backup any strings that you edit so you don't end up bricking your Zune.

Read - Windows XP Pro x64 hack
Read - Zune icon hack

[Prodigy1983 @ Nov 27th 2006 4:32AM]

yes i own it and love it. just because you dont doesnt mean nobody does.

stop being so full of yourself.

[Sean @ Nov 26th 2006 2:50PM]

You think that a Microsoft Product would be compatible with every version of Windows XP that's out on the market....

[Bobo @ Nov 26th 2006 2:58PM]

That's assuming you ever get the thing going...
http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/147048,CST-FIN-Andy23.article

[rob @ Nov 26th 2006 3:00PM]

you have to do all that to change the icon? is it really worth it?

i think ill stick with the orange-yellow diamond design thing

[Matt @ Nov 26th 2006 3:01PM]

Is anyone else tired of all this zune crap?

[XiozTzu @ Nov 26th 2006 4:12PM]

I too am sick of this.

What are there a couple thousand Zune users. Why don't you guys post tons of articles on Sandisk Sansa (Amazon #10) or Tickle me Elmo. There are a factor of ten more users of those. Zune is barely in the top 100 of Amazon; currently 94. Creative Zen is #24 for gods sake. Even useless items like digital picture frames are out selling the Zune.

Talk about over hyped flop definitely does not deserve all these posts.

My question is... How much is MS paying you guys to hype the Zune up with all this coverage?

[Shawn @ Nov 26th 2006 5:14PM]

nope. I'm liking it.

[Sy @ Nov 26th 2006 3:10PM]

I am tired of it.

[Aaron @ Nov 26th 2006 3:28PM]

Wow! Sounds just like things the first gen iPods could do 5 years ago. Imagine: being able to change an icon. Thanks, Microsoft!

[Ralph @ Nov 26th 2006 3:49PM]

Who on earth would actually buy a Zune? What for? Why? I don't understand why. I see absolutely nothing superior about the Zune, but I see a lot of deficiencies that make me want to laugh and barf at the same time.

This is an excellent review of the Zune, by the way:

http://www.suntimes.com/technology/ihnatko/147048,CST-FIN-Andy23.article

[sbono13 @ Nov 26th 2006 4:38PM]

In what way is the SunTimes article an "excellent" review of Zune? OK, he had some trouble installing the software, a legitimate gripe. Other than that, it's not even clear that the reviewer even turned on his review unit. It's fine to rail against Microsoft if that's your thing (the reviewer is a longtime MacWorld columnist), but don't pass it off as a product review.

[Derrick @ Nov 26th 2006 8:58PM]

Hahaha, I love it. Sounds just about right.

I basically say, if you want a $250 paperweight, but a Zune.

Even the name is corny.

[lt.milo @ Nov 26th 2006 4:09PM]

Hey can anybody tell me if i can use a zune on my mac with parallels? I have heard mixed rumors but no real proof. Can anyone help?

[The Downer @ Nov 26th 2006 4:24PM]

You must understand that it is not only a weekend, but a slow news weekend. Please don't be so closed-minded when it comes to what makes for suitable material. By your standard, we wouldn't hear any developments from Phantom Entertainment.

We get it. Nobody is buying the Zune. Really, you people can stop pointing that out now.

[Karl @ Nov 26th 2006 5:44PM]

///Sandisk Sansa (Amazon #10) or Tickle me Elmo.

you got any news on those two? Submit some news, and I'm sure if it's worthwhile, it'll appear on Engadget. That's what I do with the news I find that I feel should be shared. That's what you should all do instead of bitching.

[LPXXFAINTXX @ Nov 26th 2006 4:16PM]

Lmao. Right now, seems like the Zune is getting more attention than the ipod... jelous, eh?

[Vern Lincoln @ Nov 26th 2006 4:19PM]

@Ralph

I bought one. I got rid of my 5th Gen iPod and picked one up. And I will never look back at another iPod. I absolutely love my Zune. It looks 100 times better, feels much better in my hand, and has a much nicer interface. Everything set up perfectly and works great. I could care less who makes it, I just think it's a much nicer product. And it's a great first generation product, I'm excited to see where they take it. It seems like all the people who have actually bought them, love it. But it's the Apple fanboys who can't resist making fun of something that is competing against their beloved iPod.

[Michal G @ Nov 26th 2006 4:51PM]

I don't get it. Who spends 300$ on a 30GB iPod 5G (About) and then throws it away for a 1G Zune crap? Zune has a lot of limitations from what I've heard, crashes a lot but basically just a new design and interface over the GREAT interface and design the ipod 5G's had. So like in all what's the point? Most people already have some sort of MP3 player, sansa, apple whatever... Point is they have one so why would anyone waste MORE money for an item that does the EXACT same thing as what they have. I have a 5G ipod with movies, music, pictures and some files since you can use the ipod as a usb drive for files (at least I do) so honestly I would not think of buying a Zune even when my battery dies.

[jessew @ Nov 26th 2006 4:24PM]

I'd buy a used one to try an put linux on it (^_^)v

[Vern Lincoln @ Nov 26th 2006 4:42PM]

http://gear.ign.com/articles/746/746470p1.html

That's a much better review.

[Vern Lincoln @ Nov 26th 2006 5:02PM]

Obviously I would know more about it since I've owned both and I honestly will never look at another iPod (unless they finally release that full screen, touch screen one). It runs very nice and look amazing. Don't diss it unless you've tried it. I've had problems with my ipod and itunes before too, doesn't mean I'll say it's a crappy product. I don't hate Apple, I really liked their ipod and I like their macbooks (don't own one) but I just like the Zune better than the iPod. I don't have any company loyalty, whichever company comes out with a better product, I'll buy it.

[MarkZ @ Nov 26th 2006 7:40PM]

Crashes a lot? Listen bud, I don't know what meth pipe you've been smoking, but I've had more than my share of problems with my 5G iPod Video. Many of them have been corrected now, but the thing still freezes on me occasionally, and I often am unable to turn it off even with a few restarts. My favourite issue was the firmware "upgrade" from Apple. When I first got the thing in December of 2005, I could hold the menu button to toggle the backlight for when I needed it. After they "upgraded" my firmware, they removed that feature and refused to correct it for about 6 months, and wouldn't admit it was a problem on their end. That was wonderful.
I think you mean iTunes doesn't work with Vista, as I've tried installing iTunes on it at home to no avail, while I've seen Zunes working flawlessly on Vista.

The video feature was probably the worst implemented thing I've ever seen. It plays very few video formats, and the transfer method is abysmal (at least was, they've fixed things a lot in recent months). If for some disgusting reason you enjoy using QuickTime, at least you'll have MOST of your video compatible with the iPod. Then you can sort of drag it onto your iPod icon and pray it actually transfers. But for the other 97% of the world, you'll have to either buy the whole QuickTime application to convert your video to their format, or find another application online to do it for you, which also may or may not work. Because iTunes sure as hell won't help you out and actually include a conversion codec for you.

It scratches way too easily, and to "protect" it you have to buy one of those retarded cases for it that make it both ugly as hell and bulkier than the Zune, which completely defeat its aesthetic appeal.

Replacements? If you want another set of shitty podestrian headphones you broke (without even a gold-plated 3.5mm connector), that'll be 30 bucks.

Admittedly their customer service is decent, though nothing extraordinary. They'll usually replace your iPod if it stops working (within the 6 month warranty), but after that you have to buy the Apple Care before they'll look it.

iTunes is really up to opinion, I think it's pretty mediocre, besides the download feature. I have never bought a song off of iTunes, and I don't plan to, as all you're getting is a DRMed low-bitrate version of the thing. I'm sad to see Zune go down this same path, but it is a lucrative business opportunity and Eddie Punchclock w/iPod usually doesn't care about sound quality anyway, so I guess Microsoft doesn't see a reason to deviate.

Before you go slagging the Zune, use your damn mind and stop glossing over the problems with iPod. Unless of course, you've sunk down the money to buy everything Steve Jobs wants you to buy to keep your iPod "running smoothly".

[Jeff Lewis @ Nov 27th 2006 1:29AM]

As much as I love Andy Ihnatko, and I'm not saying that just because he once gave one of my MacOS shareware apps a really glowing review, he can be a bit caustic when he doesn't like something.

Andy is a Mac fan. A really dedicated Mac fan. In the 'Microsoft is the focus of evil and cannot conceivably do anything right' kind of dedicated Mac fan.

Ironically, he's trotted out every single 'flaw' that every other Mac fan has trotted out - and he's made the exact same errors that they have as well. But the essence of his review ends up being one thing: the install of the Zune software failed - badly. That is a valid criticism.

Almost everything else is either wrong, subjective, misleading or irrelevent to the average DMP purchaser.

Equally ironically, he misses the other completely valid criticism of the Zune - that it can't be used as a pocket drive. The hack we've seen doesn't really count since you'd have to install the entire Zune software package (see earlier about ease of installation) and then hack it to use it.

[jlh @ Nov 26th 2006 5:00PM]

It's truly pathetic how some people feel the need to troll every Zune thread posted on this site. If you don't like Zune that's fine, but there are other people who have the unit and appreciate the news. And really how many times is that suntimes review going to be posted by the 'anti-everything but Ipod trolls', interesting that they passed by every other review to post one that is so over the top anti-MS to back up their ridiculous posts.

To get back to the article, I love how the community is hard at work hacking the hell out of the unit already. Pretty soon we are going to start seeing some really, really useful stuff coming from the hackers. I think it'll be a matter of two to three months tops before those stupid wifi limitations are bypassed. Come on hackers of the world don't let me down.

[Vern Lincoln @ Nov 26th 2006 5:07PM]

Actually the WiFi limitations have already been cracked. Although it's not the easiest thing to do, and it's more of a bug than a crack. But in short, basically you patch the Zune so you can use it as a harddrive, then make a zip with any songs you want to send and rename all the .mp3's to .jpeg's. And you can then send it to anyone, and they can plug the Zune into their computer and take the zip off and the restrictions won't be on the files. But like I said, it's not the easiest or prettiest way to transfer songs. Would probably just be easier to email them.

I'm mostly excited about how the Zune will be updated. Firmware updates for the Zune should add alot. If the Xbox Live updates show anything about how Microsoft is updating their hardware, the Zune should continue to improve.

[rob @ Nov 26th 2006 7:08PM]

I bought one also, and love it.
People that have not used the Zune appear to bash it outright, based on the fact that it's a Microsoft product, or having a 'it's not 1000 times better than the ipod so why bother' mentality.

In my opinion, the Zune is a fantastic product. The software works like a dream after dealing with itunes updating itself every 20 minutes and getting more and more bloated. The zune marketplace is a breath of fresh air. I can rip cd's, download from the marketplace and sync to the device simultaneously, without a hiccup. Where is the all-you-can-eat monthly service for the ipod? That alone is worth getting a zune over an ipod.

Also, there are different people in the world with different aesthetics. I don't like the ipod being shoved down my throat because it's the top selling mp3 player. I don't like how it looks and I don't like the interface, my own personal taste. I also think they are status symbols to most people that get one.

I've never owned an mp3 player of any kind. I've wanted one, but never found one to my liking. I bought the Zune the day it was launched. And it's never left my pocket since.

[jlh @ Nov 26th 2006 6:51PM]

I saw that posted but like you said it is a rather cumbersome way to share. I'm waiting for the day when I can send a couple of my songs to another Zune without the stupid 3 day rule or having to go to the trouble of making zips.

[Mike @ Nov 26th 2006 5:08PM]

Is it me or are stores sold out of the Zune? I have yet to actually see a for sale unit at retail.

[XiozTzu @ Nov 26th 2006 6:55PM]

Yes, like news on a icon change and the ability to run a MS product with Windows is so noteworthy! I wouldn't submit that kind of crap if someone paid me... Wait, maybe MS IS paying someone to submit crap. I wonder?

Tickle me Elmo story suggestions:
http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=D7298674-FD81-4015-AAC3-56B920B7C2C7
http://popsci.typepad.com/popsci/2006/09/rotflol_the_tic.html

Sansa story suggestions:
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2062432,00.asp

[Aaron Burgard @ Dec 6th 2006 2:15PM]

The 3 day rule exists because of copyright infringement. There's no way around that. Distributing music to people who haven't purchased it is illegal.

What should happen is this:
If someone has an unlimited Zune marketplace account, they should be able to keep the transferred song indefinately if it is purchasable from the marketplace. You shouldn't have to download it again.

The only problem is see with this is sound quality because far too many people rip music at 128.

[Kendall Ananyi @ Nov 26th 2006 8:31PM]

i dont get this whole fanboy thing (i dont own a zune and i never ever fancied an ipod i stick to my pocket pc-dell axim ) but instead of loving a product becos X made it or hating a product becos Y made it, actually ask urself wat u want from the product and if it can do wat u want then buy it.

[Robert @ Nov 26th 2006 8:49PM]

did you know you can "mod' it to use a 80 gb DRIVE??? navid?

[Gregersonk @ Nov 26th 2006 10:29PM]

I dunno.... I bought a ZUNE. I hooked it up. Compared to my sansa, ipod, and gps/mp3 player... Its faster to load up even thought he software can take a little to load which it did with no issues whatsoever. The copying of music from my pc which I have around 10 gigs worth was quick, easy and painless and took about half the time that it did on my sansa for twice the files.. The Movie files took a little while to convert though. It lets me charge my zune while playing it.. Incidently feels more Comftorable in my shirt pocket than my sansa e260. Its got great sound output(better than the sansa). However marketing for this product is a tad on the sucky side... You'd never know what it is from the commercials alone. I'm hearing rumors that the functions that the ZUNE currently does are being greatly expanded later. So in time the firmware updates should bring me even greater functionality.

[MOCKBA @ Nov 27th 2006 12:05AM]

Is somebody interested in development a program to manage Zune on Linux using Java? I've created such program for iPod. It's MediaChest hosted on sourceforge. Zune is my next goal. We could split price of test unit of Zune. I have $40 coupon off.

[nDee @ Nov 27th 2006 6:57AM]

If you look at iPod gen1
You would think
as a gen1 product
Zune sucks
It's nothing innovating.
iPod gen1 was different.
It's iTunes on mac didnt crash
MS, why cant you just do better?

[Aaron Burgard @ Dec 6th 2006 2:07PM]

I totally agree, the firmware updates should add a lot of usability/features to the Zune. I bought mine the day it came out. 30GB music + built in FM tuner (people never mention that) which reads station info to boot � that did it for me.

I didn't have any trouble with the software install. I'm not entirely sure what would cause a problem. Click Next a few times. Done.
The Zune doesn't use iTunes. Thank God. Why is that an issue?

The Zune doesn't interface with Media Player but other mp3 players do. Okay, legitimate gripe. I think this is due to anti-trust issues more than product limitations. We all know what happens when Microsoft makes a product that works to well with Microsoft.

The Zune isn't Plays-for-Sure, but neither is the iPod. I rip my own music so this doesn't affect me. The iPod doesn't support all DRM music either. I do with it used the Urge marketplace instead of its own proprietary market place, or that we could use the Zune marketplace in Media Player 11 � But see my previous comment about why it isn�t implemented.

The Wi-Fi. Streaming wirelessly is not currently supported, nor is wireless synch to your desktop. This doesn�t mean that a firmware update could implement it. The hardware is there though. Sadly I see this coming with Zune version 2, but the current release. On a side note, your Creative/Apple/iRiver doesn�t even have a chance of being able to do anything wireless with their current hardware set.

Size and Weight. Legitimate gripes again. I wish it was thinner and weighed less. The size is fine for jacket use, or back pocket use. It is not so great for running or front pockets, or ladies� jeans � We all know how tight those are. iPods probably wouldn�t fit either.

My other major gripe with the Zune is their use of hard drive based storage. Flash memory would have been a much better option. iPods all use it now and so do most other players. I�m unsure why Microsoft would go this route. The failure rate, especially for runners, doesn�t look good.

[Fred @ Dec 9th 2006 6:54PM]

When I compare Zune vs. Ipod, I like the 1/2" bigger screen and the FM radio add-on. I'm on the verge of purchasing a Zune, but I have a few questions I'd like answered first...

1. I haven't been ablet of find the "Zune Marketplace" online where you purchase music from. What's the url? I'd like to check out the selection of music to see if I can find all the top "Christian Rock" artists I enjoy listening to.

2. If you buy that $15 pass for the year, does that mean you can download and keep all the music you want for no additional charge?

3. Will I run into any problems transfering or copying MP3's from "Real Player" to the Zune, and will it let me keep playlists intact?

4. Is it true that if you drop a Zune it's toast?

[badgirl707 @ Jan 7th 2007 1:40PM]

First of all, if you don't have a Zune then Shut The Up!! I own one and I love the fact that my library, (or whichever library I choose to temporarily sync to), is so compatible with different formats at the same time. I like the wireless capabilities, as well as the sound and graphics qualities. I don't understand why some people are acting like Microsoft bit the big one with Zune. I absolutely Love It! I haven't experienced any crashes or syncing issues or any of the things people rumor happening with Zune.
As far as sales goes, come on people, think about it from a logical standpoint.....let's see.....Apple was the first to come out with this type of device and it is noticed as a "trendy" device. Do you know any school kids that don't want a friggin Nano? That is a huge market, lil' Joey NEEDS an Ipod...."but mom, all the kids at school have one!" So, Mr. & Mrs. Kid pleaser run out and buy this trendy status symbol for their kid. This child isn't concerned with what the product offers, all he knows is that if he doesn't have it then he won't be part of the cool kids club.
With that in mind, I believe it's fair to say that you can attribute a high percentage of Ipod sales going to children as well as any other new & popular toy. Another thing is that once a new exciting device hits the market it's all about who was here first. Especially if a company is the one and only! It will take a minute for people to get comfortable with it, especially since there are several other competitors.
The bottom line is: DON'T KNOCK IT TILL YOU TRY IT!
I own both and I like Zune ALOT better!