Zune wireless amounts to less than a hill of beans (Updated)

Dave Horvath
3 Oct 2006 7:33

A recent article snatched from Microsoft employee David Caulton has given some insight to the new Wi-Fi enabled Zune player. Poised to be the one true competition for the iPod juggernaught, the Zune appears not to be living up to the feature hype.
In a list of things that the wireless connection built into the Zune can and cannot do, David Caulton opens our eyes to how Microsoft views it's consumer's needs.
What the Microsoft Zune's Wi-Fi CAN do:

• Connect to other nearby Zunes
  
• Transfer songs to other Zune users on a 3x3 policy. Plainly stated, the media will last for 3 days or 3 listens before it expires. As an added benefit to you, the media will remain catalogued if you choose to buy it later.
  
• Send and receive image files for unlimited viewing. It seems that license holders for copyrighted images aren't as important as license holders for copyrighted music.
  

What the Microsoft Zune's Wi-Fi CANNOT do:

• Connect to the Internet. Let that one sink in a little bit.
  
• Download songs directly to the Zune via the Zune Store
  
• Sync to your PC via Wi-Fi
  

So it seems that Microsoft has officially crippled any worthwhile feature within the Zune's wireless connections. It can be assumed that this was to keep it's DRM loving counterparts happy that a broken wireless antenna is a lot safer than giving consumers features they can actually use.
Update: It seems that the reporters have been somewhat trigger happy in shooting down Zune. According to SlashGear the 3 plays / 3 days limitation applies only to DRM crippled songs sent by a friend from his Zune. MP3 songs sent by friends will play forever. That is certainly good news. Thanks to anubis66 for the update!
Source:
Engadget