zAlternator opens up your Zune to WMP11, iTunes sync

A new hack and this zAlternator app from PityOnU over at ZuneBoards lets the Zune masquerade as a generic "Windows Portable Device" (gee, imagine that!) or even an iPod, opening the device to new horizons of user-friendly content management. WPD is the real win here, allowing you to use Windows Media Player, Winamp or whatever other popular app you prefer for managing your media. The iTunes features are a bit more untested, but theoretically should work. To get you Zune to cooperate, there's a simple unlock hack to perform, but after that it should be pretty smooth sailing -- let us know what it's like on the other side.

[Thanks, Mike]

[Mike @ Jan 21st 2008 6:11PM]

Zuners Digg!: http://www.digg.com/gadgets/Zune_zAlternator

[siriusfox @ Jan 21st 2008 8:19PM]

Dugg.

Get the iPod support working totally, and make a Mac build, and I might actually go out and buy a Zune.

[LPXXFAINTXX @ Jan 21st 2008 8:33PM]

The whole story was buried, even though it had almost 100 diggs. Proves that Digg is another Apple-worshiping community. Shall we have another go? http://www.digg.com/microsoft/Sync_Your_Zune_with_WMP11_Winamp_MediaMonkey_iTunes

[matt @ Jan 21st 2008 6:15PM]

anyone got a download link that doesn't require registration?

[LPXXFAINTXX @ Jan 21st 2008 6:20PM]

Direct DL: http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/redirect-to/?redirect=http://www.darkzune.com/whiterabbit/zalternator%20installer.exe

[Miguel @ Jan 21st 2008 11:46PM]

DL from link tested spyware free

[wcnghj @ Jan 21st 2008 6:21PM]

Registering is pretty simple.

[Raheem @ Jan 21st 2008 6:21PM]

Openining?

[mattbrown @ Jan 21st 2008 6:32PM]

Sounds nice, I'm just a bit hesistant since I've finally got my Zune to work like I want it to. I wish the Zune software had some power options. I understand dumbing it down for the masses, but, face it, most people who pick up Zunes know what they're doing when it comes to media management.

[Mike @ Jan 21st 2008 8:13PM]

people who pick up zunes are idiots, try and get microsoft to give you any sort of support for that thing i dare you

[Ndisi08 @ Jan 21st 2008 8:37PM]

We've got something better: Community Support.

And I think this is a prime example.

[muyiwa @ Jan 21st 2008 8:38PM]

@mike
should i dare call you an idiot too...because apparently you tried getting support for the zune...oh wait you have to pick up a zune in the first place to get support...and that according to you my friend makes you the bigger idiot...
Unless of course you are one those even BIGGER idiots that talks shit about a product without owning the product..

[Superevil @ Jan 21st 2008 6:34PM]

That's pretty asinine that it doesnt work with WMP out of the box. I'm glad this came out though cause I was planning on buying a Zune this week.

[Dragod @ Jan 21st 2008 6:35PM]

Please, register and leave feedback so we can further improve zAlternator.

[mattbrown @ Jan 21st 2008 6:35PM]

Oh, a quick question: With this software can you view the Zune as a disk in Explorer? That would make it worth it there.

[Ndisi08 @ Jan 21st 2008 6:38PM]

Zuneboards has a Hard Drive Hack too: http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/ztools/10521-zunehdpatch-4-0-a.html

[mattbrown @ Jan 21st 2008 7:02PM]

Thanks! That works perfectly.

[Ndisi08 @ Jan 21st 2008 6:35PM]

I can confirm:
It works with MediaMonkey too!

[Ian @ Jan 21st 2008 6:37PM]

I;ve just gotten used to the Zune app. My only real issue with it is no support for setting sync/compression options. Yeah, I got 80GB, but it seems wastefull to send WMA lossless over to it. Hopefully this isn't some malware.

[Dragod @ Jan 21st 2008 6:41PM]

I guarantee you, it's not Malware, spyware, or a virus of any sort. ZuneBoards is well known for its Zune hacks, and comes from a very skilled programmer who has done many of ZuneBoards' hacks.

[rishi @ Jan 21st 2008 6:45PM]

I still can't understand why anyone would buy a Zune. Having to hack it to make it work with Windows Media Player? That's pathetic. Can you imagine an iPod that doesn't work with iTunes? GET AN iPOD!

[Dragod @ Jan 21st 2008 6:49PM]

One of my main complaints about the iPod is iTunes. It's nothing but white and gray, and looks like a spreadsheet.

Zune software works fine, and the Hardware is great. An iPod not using iTunes would make iPods slightly better.

[chadow @ Jan 21st 2008 6:50PM]

This article is clearly for owners of Zune players. In what way does your contribution here amount to anything other than to tell us to by ANOTHER player?

[rishi @ Jan 21st 2008 6:52PM]

@ chadow: It doesn't amount to anything more than that, you are absolutely correct. It's still true, though.
@ dragod: Sure, iTunes may not be the greatest music management tool out there-but at least it works, and you don't have to hack your device to get it to work with it!

[Dragod @ Jan 21st 2008 6:55PM]

I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not using a single hack on my Zune. This is just a way for Zune owners to have a choice and to use their favorite media management software. I bet you wish you could use your iPod with WMP, don't you?

[Mike @ Jan 21st 2008 6:56PM]

...and we don't have to hack our Zune software to work with our Zunes.

Zune Software != WMP

[John @ Jan 21st 2008 7:00PM]

Actually, a better comparison would be a Zune that doesn't work with the Zune software. WMP existed before the Zune for longer than iTunes has existed at all.

[Guzzie @ Jan 21st 2008 7:00PM]

My main beef with iTunes is that it doesn't know how to autodetect music and add it to the library. Big pain to manually add each folder every time I get a new album.

[Edge @ Jan 21st 2008 7:04PM]

Oooh.... Rishi thinks that the Zune doesn't have it's own music management software or something. The Zune has it's own software just as the iPod does. Getting the Zune to work with WMP is about the same amount of work as it takes to get the iPod to work with WMP. I have five iPods and two Zunes and when it comes to managing music, I dislike both iTunes and the Zune software. I only sync my iPods with iTunes grudgingly.

[Chewy @ Jan 21st 2008 7:05PM]

I just can't wait to see what you say when you have to start paying a monthly fee to use the iPod you bought... What with that Sarbanes-Oxley Act and everthing, because you know that act makes it illegal for you to keep what you buy.

Also, don't forget that there is absolutely no malicious code for Mac systems, and they never have any problems at all... Also, you will instantly be 'cool' if you own a Mac, versus being a suit if you own anything else...

You Apple fan-boys just grow more misinformed by the day, don't you?

[michael @ Jan 21st 2008 7:56PM]

What you're saying is ridiculous. Zune has it's own software to sync and manage music/media with.

How about you actually use a Zune to figure that out.

For that matter, why do iPhone/iPod Touch users need to 'Jailbreak' their devices just to make it do more? That's more ridiculous.

I love WMP 11. Can't wait to try this.

[Junior @ Jan 21st 2008 9:18PM]

@ Dragod:

I Use my ipod with WMP

[m @ Jan 21st 2008 10:51PM]

@Guzzie: itunes doesn't require you to add folders individually, if that's what you're doing now. you can just add the root directory-- it'll go through the subfolders and add only the new songs, without making dupes.

[wixostrix @ Jan 22nd 2008 3:52PM]

obviously u dont kno what ur talking about because if u imagine the ipod without itunes, you'd have nothing at all seeing as itunes came out specifically for the ipod, just as the zune software did with the zune....duhh

[Ian @ Jan 21st 2008 11:00PM]

iTunes was engineered to sell songs to ipod users. As the Zune client was bound to the Zune for the same reason.

I don't see Apple busting out to make the ipod work with other mac audio apps. Oh yeah. Apple users are happy with that POS with its innovative "list box" UI circa 1997.

I like the zune app. It just misses a few features that would be nice to have.

I got a Zune because I despise the iPod (own three). I've since given them away.

[tcc3 @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:27AM]

Media Center sync, bigger screen, radio, better interface. Wifi is cool but mostly useless.

Its the best PMP of its class on the market right now, and that includes iPod.

The drawback is the software is the most worthless collection of bits I have ever had the misfortune of installing on my PC. I dont like iTunes, but this really takes the cake. Looks like this hack will remedy that.

[Chris @ Jan 21st 2008 7:20PM]

Will this hack let the Zune be used as a Windows PlaysForSure device with Rhapsody and the other music services like it? It would be very handy to able to sue my Zune 30 with my Rhapsody account...

[Ndisi08 @ Jan 21st 2008 7:22PM]

I don't believe so. I don't think the Zune has the capability to decode P4S DRM. Might be worth a try though.

[Chris @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:30AM]

sue = use :-)

[D. @ Jan 21st 2008 7:37PM]

This is nice, but it doesn't fix any of my problems. I've used iTunes to fix all of my tags. I just need a way to tag mp4 videos as movies and tv shows so that they'll appear that way on the Zune. iTunes does it, but it isn't embedded in the file so the Zune say's that all of my videos are "movies" and they show up in one long list. It's so frustrating having no video organization when you have tons of tv shows and movies.

[Ndisi08 @ Jan 21st 2008 7:44PM]

Once again, you should really head over to ZuneBoards. We've got a program for that too: http://www.zuneboards.com/forums/ztools/720-tool-zmeta-metadata-editor.html

[D. @ Jan 21st 2008 8:38PM]

OMG. Thanks. I really hope this works. Trying it now. Just joined the site and I'll probably be around a lot now :P.

[D. @ Jan 21st 2008 8:44PM]

Nope. Doesn't work. It doesn't work with .mp4 files which is all that I'm using. I'm using all the videos that were encoded for my iPod on my Zune, but .mp4 files don't seem to hold tags.

[D. @ Jan 21st 2008 8:48PM]

Christ, I keep having to quote myself. Anyway, figured it out. User error. Thanks!

[Vinn @ Jan 21st 2008 7:59PM]

Sweet! Now I know what my next DAP is. Thanks Zuneboards!

[Dragod @ Jan 21st 2008 8:05PM]

It feels good to know that just because of this, another Zuner is born... Hope to see you in the social. ;)

[Anthony Parrott @ Jan 21st 2008 8:00PM]

This is kinda pointless. In order to get this to work, you have to "unlock" your Zune each time. Which means that you have to open up the Zune software, start a sync, cancel the process using the Process Manager and THEN it will let you use another program. That's just obnoxious!

[NickS @ Jan 21st 2008 8:00PM]

Two Questions:

1. Is this reversable?

2. Must one launch the Zune software anyway, or is this just something you do the first time?

[Dragod @ Jan 21st 2008 8:06PM]

You can use the Zune software any time you want after using this, and I believe you have to do it every time you restart your computer.

[Sh4Dow @ Jan 21st 2008 8:04PM]

i'm wondering if Foobar2000 will work?