Workaround found for three-play rule on Zune

Finding yourself unhealthily frustrated by that annoying "three-play rule" still included in the latest firmware update for the Zune? Fret not, as a solution easier than easy has been discovered. Apparently, users can simply accept a shared track, go into Windows and switch the genre to "Podcast," and play the tune over as many times as they'd like. Granted, any files which this trick is used for will show up in the Podcast section, but hey, you can't get everything, right?

[Thanks, Michael, image courtesy of Zune]

[Jons @ Dec 9th 2007 3:44PM]

Uhm, have i missed out? If so, enlighten me, whats that 3 play rule all about?

[Andrew Davidson @ Dec 9th 2007 3:45PM]

If you find another Zune'r you can share songs with each other, but it will only last 3 plays then it deletes.

[ez17 @ Dec 9th 2007 4:50PM]

The keyword is "IF" you can find another zuner so this story is kind of irrelevant.
heres Cnets attempt at it across San Fransisco....
http://www.news.com/Desperately-seeking-Zune/2100-1041_3-6142291.html

[David Piatek @ Dec 9th 2007 5:33PM]

Not a big Zune fan myself, but in all regards ez17, that linked article to cnet isn't completely relevant either. As of this Tuesday, it was published exactly one year ago so I assume things have changed slightly since then.

[Constable Odo @ Dec 9th 2007 6:22PM]

And exactly where are you going to find another Zune user to share songs with? I live in New York City and 95% of the metro population uses iPods.

[N30 G30 @ Dec 9th 2007 6:39PM]

1. It's an added feature. You don't have to use it. Even if you don't, it's not like it'll be a waste of money.

2. Buy a Zune. I have one and I'm in New York. I'll share with you. Happy?

[DeoWulf @ Dec 9th 2007 9:28PM]

That's funny, because I know 2 people in one class that have a Zune.

[Jander @ Dec 10th 2007 3:25AM]

@Constable Odo

The whole random sharing experience isn't really the feasible use of the Zune's sharable wifi. In fact, it'll hardly ever be. The real usefulness of the Zune's sharable feature is sharing with people you know. A close friend, a family member. What has happened as far as I've seen, especially with the commercial Holiday season in full force, is people who bought Zunes this year, are selling them to family and friends. It's becoming inclusive, like cell phone plans. It's highly beneficial for Zune owners to know other Zune owners. Even more so with the Zune Pass, which can support up the three Zunes per subscription. It's actually pretty savvy, and it's working. My Dad just purchased one, and my aunt had gotten me to buy 2 players because of the subscription service. Families seriously benefit from owning Zunes and subscribing to a Zune Pass.

[drtarantula @ Dec 10th 2007 10:34AM]

@ez17

That article is a year old. Even though it may still be relevant more and more people are buying Zunes this year compared to iPods. I wouldn't say they are taking over iPods cause that would just be a lie. But it's doing better than last year. Next time post a more recent article then something thats dated.

[Andrew Davidson @ Dec 9th 2007 3:45PM]

I wonder how many updates that will last...

[computer.dude.28 @ Dec 9th 2007 5:49PM]

For microsoft to block it, they'll have to block changing the genre of transferred songs, cause the only other way around it is to include the 3 play rule on podcasts, which would be stupid.

[DaMan09 @ Dec 9th 2007 5:58PM]

Microsoft is not in the pockets of the music industry, they will most likely just turn a blind eye to the problem.

[rndmnme @ Dec 9th 2007 6:07PM]

At the rate Microsoft updates the Zune? 6-7 years.

[shamrock593 @ Dec 10th 2007 1:55AM]

@rndmnme

At least Microsoft updates old hardware with new firmware.

I'm not trying to take a stab at Apple (I've owned iPods for years), but kudos to Microsoft for supporting outdated hardware.

[ammi @ Dec 9th 2007 3:49PM]

*eyeroll* this has been up at other tech blogs for hours. Get with the program, engadget.

[metal @ Dec 9th 2007 4:17PM]

maybe, but it could still be useful to the people that dont check five other weblogs on an hourly basis.

[Irfan @ Dec 9th 2007 9:08PM]

i thought it was sarcasm

[derX @ Dec 9th 2007 9:37PM]

Yeah, it was pretty damn obivious that this was sarcasm.

It was actually pretty damn good sarcasm, too.

We've found a workaround for the three-play rule, now if we could fine a workaround for humorless Engadget commenters...

*light bulb goes off*

*hits [-]*

[Garst @ Dec 10th 2007 3:57AM]

Yes, and body language is easily read over the phone.

Bart: May I be excused, Mom?

Homer: Oh, so now you're quitting dinner, too.

Marge: Homer, please!

Homer: I didn't raise him to be a quitter. It must have been you. You quit every job you've ever had. Cop, pretzel vender, church counselor, professional gambler.

Marge: He's doing what he thinks is best.

Homer: Well, if quitting is the best, maybe I should just quit my job!

Mr. Burns: Ahoy-hoy?

Homer: Mr. Burns? This is Homer J Simpson, the father of the big quitter! Well, I just wanted to tell you I'm a big quitter, too! And I quit!

Marge: Homer, Mr. Burns can't see you winking.

Homer: So...aaaaargh!

Oh, wait! It doesn't work in type either! It might have something to do with the fact that the reader is in full control on where to put the emphasis. So when I read ammi's post, I took it as Engadget being slow and off the ball, which is a reasonable seems how when people "eyeroll" it taken as the equivent of saying "Whatever."

[ammi @ Dec 10th 2007 4:01PM]

and now I am simply amused at the comments this generated.

*begins plans on a more blatant sarcasm broadcaster*

[MacVicta @ Dec 9th 2007 3:51PM]

I also found some workarounds for the Zune itself.

http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch

http://www.apple.com/ipodnano

http://www.apple.com/ipodclassic

[Dylan K @ Dec 9th 2007 3:54PM]

Too bad you could only find bad ones.

[Phoenix Sanders @ Dec 10th 2007 7:50AM]

Thats so funny because i always thought that the zune was way better than the ipod classic and nano, and you cant even compare the itouch to the zune because microsoft isnt in the touch market.

[Jon @ Dec 9th 2007 3:58PM]

Cool! I didn't know Apple had a player with a 3" screen and an 80GB HDD!

Oh wait..

[Saad Rabia @ Dec 9th 2007 4:12PM]

What a nice combinations! :)

I have the option of "iPod Classic + iPod Touch" or "iPod Nano + iPod Touch", And duck tape with some wires and a software engineering team; simple. Of course it'll cost me a little much a lot more, but hey, it beats the Zune.

Thank you for enlightening me, us, the world.

[metal @ Dec 9th 2007 4:23PM]

really? did you find any workarounds for retards who think that only one brand of mp3 player is acceptable and that anyone who uses any other player is morally inferior?

[ez17 @ Dec 9th 2007 4:58PM]

no I dont think they will go for it (iPods) , they rather a player without, smart playlist, on-the-go playlists, star ratings, extras.. including games, notes, clocks, lap timer....ect nor do they want a EQ or a 45 hour battery life theyd rather 20 on an inferior looking product with inferior software and marketplace that sells only half the songs and no videos....wait whats that screen for if not videos??? oh and that whole myriad of ipod accessories, who needs em' theres like a whole 5 cases to choose from for the zune.....

[Kax02 @ Dec 9th 2007 5:13PM]

Indeed ez17 they wont go for it. They would rather variety rather than stagnant rehashing. They'd rather know their stuff can be transfered to newer models instead of having to repurchase it all (ipod classic)

If I want games on the go in small factor, I'll use my DS, I dont think scroll wheel missle command is very much entertainment but you may find some incredible depth there that defies you know, normal gaming.

The things you just cited are not for Music / Video players, they're reaching too far to cater to an audience that seems to function in mass with the idea of, "well... well... well my ipod can read stories to me when I go to sleep so there!!!"

Notes, a clock? a lap timer? *laugh* yes I'm really going to do proposals on an ipod, or break out an ipod when I have a watch right there. The lap timer is a good one though, yeah, right like I need wires dangling around if I try to actually make a run. Maybe for the power walker in you that might be a great idea.

I really do have to take a lot of joy in your ramblings though. Yeah everyone on earth goes to the zune marketplace to buy videos when programs can dump out wmv's in no time just like they can for the ipod. If that's your attempt at a fight to show how much the itunes store is succeeding then you've established how silly it is. Have fun watching your NBC shows on there, wait. You can't because they pulled the contract. I guess everyone else that's remotely savy will be able to still enjoy them though.

[MacVicta @ Dec 9th 2007 5:33PM]

It's pathetic the way Zune fanboys make up excuses for its shortcomings.

"Notes, a clock? a lap timer? *laugh* yes I'm really going to do proposals on an ipod, or break out an ipod when I have a watch right there. The lap timer is a good one though, yeah, right like I need wires dangling around if I try to actually make a run. Maybe for the power walker in you that might be a great idea."

I don't care if you have a watch on each wrist, you can NEVER have enough time telling apparatuses around you. It's like saying you have too much money or gas in your car. There are very few things more relevant throughout the day and evening than knowing what time it is and a sneak peek while you scroll through a playlist always comes in handy.

No calender, no contacts, no EQUALIZER. What's your ZuneScene PR line for that one? "Who needs an EQ when I only ever listen to one genre of music," LOL! The damn thing doesn't even have a Sleep Timer, one of the most useful functions I find in my iPod.

But hey, at least you have the staticky, commercial-filled FM radio I bought an iPod to get away from in the first place!

[dave @ Dec 9th 2007 6:03PM]

Actually i really like my iPod, i dont use it for anything but music. besides, i use a mac, and Zune doesn't play nice with it, for whatever reason.

Heh, they say no one ever gets fired for going with Microsoft, but try suggesting to the CEO of your company that they should get their beautiful wife a Zune, instead of an iPod Touch, see how that flies. not saying one is better than the other, but there is a public perception with the iPod, and there is a look of absolute confusion when you say the word "Zune" and i dont see that changing anytime in the next year or two

[metal @ Dec 9th 2007 6:37PM]

You know, in general ipod users are in no position to criticize other digital audio players when it comes to features.

What about bluetooth, fm , fm recording, line in recording, microphone recording?

Oh wait I forgot, you'll just come up with some excuse about how no one wants those features.

But then again EVERYONE uses the sleep feature on the ipod, EVERYONE wants to play tetris on a click wheel and EVERYONE wants to put someones phone and email address into their ipod.

NEWS FLASH.

contact info goes into the cellphone. I'd rather put someones phone number into my cellphone using the 12 buttons there than using the 4 buttons on my ipod.

and for Gods sake if you'd get a real watch you wouldnt need a time piece on every piece of hardware you own.

I've owned two ipods in my lifetime. Both were nice pieces. But I'm not owning anymore ipods. Owning an ipod no longer means I own a nice functioning mp3 player, it means I'm associated with people who buy ipods to enhance their negative self image, and have to attempt to degrade other people who choose other mp3 players. I'm not so insecure about who I am that I have to try to pick a fight with other mp3 player users just to get a good nights sleep.

[Argot @ Dec 9th 2007 8:24PM]

But those are iPods, the polished turds of media players... Try again.

[ez17 @ Dec 9th 2007 10:12PM]

@kax02, Ok so maybe YOU dont use some of the functions I mentioned but you conveniently left out some of the shorttomings in your rant like the EQ I sure as hell use it, the on-the-go playlists...... the smart playlists....... the star ratings....... come on how the hell can you manage your music library without these???? These are things people use ALL THE TIME. And what about the battery life cnet rates the ipod classic 80gb 45 hours which is 15 MORE then apple claimed and the zune has what 20? And another thing you left out is the iTunes factor show me a better music organizer.......

[itsinthecave @ Dec 9th 2007 11:50PM]

Admit it Ez17, you've lost. You're grasping at straws and you know it.

[seoultrain @ Dec 10th 2007 12:58PM]

you dudes need to actually use a zune before you say it's missing features. The zune does have an equalizer, and it does do "on-the-go" (quick list on the zune). And it does have a rating system, though it's admittedly simpler (love/hate).

And consider that I got my zune 30 for $80. apple won't have anything approaching that kind of value for money for about a decade.

[ez17 @ Dec 10th 2007 8:37PM]

@seoultrain, wow you (who has a zune) are telling me (who does not have a zune) that there in fact IS a EQ when Cnet and just about every other review says there is not one..... wow... see this line you wrote..."you dudes need to actually use a zune before you say it's missing features"........
you should change it to "you dudes need to try your own zune before you say its NOT missing features"

CRAVE ON THE EQ: The recent Zune's EQ (or rather, the lack thereof) had me shaking an angry fist at the ceiling. Why did Microsoft decide to release the Zune 4, 8, and 80 without any EQ control? No presets, no bass boost, no five-band graphic EQ...nothing.

CRAVE ON SOFTWARE: the software leaves power users with zero advanced tools for smart playlists, in-depth ID3 tag editing, or drag-and-drop album artwork (it's also experiencing some big hiccups at the moment).

http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9816926-1.html

[seoultrain @ Dec 11th 2007 1:10PM]

Admittedly the provided literature on the zune is pretty much non-existent, but it does have preset equalizer settings. Nothing customizable like a full 10-band EQ, but it does have presets. Just because some reviewers (most of whom don't spend enough time living with products) couldn't find it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Don't believe everything you read on the internet.

For those who do have a zune, it's in settings>music>equalizer.

And nowhere in that review does it say the zune doesn't have on-the-go playlists.

As for your whole line correction thing, that was way too unintelligible to be any kind of jab at me.

[medik @ Dec 9th 2007 3:52PM]

what if you switch the track back to music afterwards ?

[Adam K @ Dec 9th 2007 3:56PM]

It'll still work. The receiver just needs to sync with their computer and then correctly tag the song.

[bluesky_v2.01 @ Dec 9th 2007 4:09PM]

I wish I didnt have that iPod video i got for my birthday a couple of months ago. Zune is so much better.

[Attillia @ Dec 9th 2007 4:09PM]

'but hey, you can't everything, right?'

Come on Engadget, shape up on your English!

[UKNigel @ Dec 9th 2007 4:17PM]

Exactly. That was the only thing I remembered from the whole article after reading it. I suppose it's true though, I can't everything.

[Taylor C @ Dec 9th 2007 4:53PM]

I'm not sure what you guys are saying,

I everything all the time...

[snitch @ Dec 9th 2007 4:09PM]

these measures are not needed because The Social offers you unlimited downloads of all the MP3s you wanna hear for Just $14.99 a Months, but if your planning on skipping a month without paying and you have a extra Zune it might come in handy, if you can transfer all of them Before M$$ Nukes your entire Playlist and set you back to square one

[dave @ Dec 9th 2007 5:58PM]

WAIT, WHAT? if you dont pay the subscription price, everything you have downloaded, while paying the subscription, gets axed?? are you serious?

[snitch @ Dec 9th 2007 6:47PM]

I hate to say it my friend but that's the way it works. What's funny is how retailer are beasting for people to sign up, but don't tell you about the catch

[DeoWulf @ Dec 9th 2007 9:26PM]

If you re-subscribe you get it back. Otherwise you could just sign up for a month and pay $12 for all the songs in the marketplace.

[Fruition @ Dec 9th 2007 9:31PM]

Bah, I'd rather use Amazon.com's MP3 downloads. They are made of win.

[Matt @ Dec 9th 2007 4:10PM]

Although I don't have a Zune, my favorite workaround is generally the analog hole. DRM only hurts the honest people.

[John @ Dec 9th 2007 4:11PM]

I want to see someone hack the firmware to just skip the whole limit thing altogether.