[quote name='nintendokid']Ok, I've been doing research the whole damn day. So let me get this straight: iPod users get to download TV shows and movies from iTunes and Zune users get to watch...podcasts? WTF is a podcast?! If you don't have a marketplace for video, why make a portable device that plays video?! Podcast- psh! Is that like watching losers' daily lives like on YouTube or something?
*confused and frustrated*[/quote]
Podcasts ARE Those TV Shows and movies, thrown into bite size lil bits of Audio/video. Most Audio podcasts are kind of like Morning radio show programs (if you listen to the Cagcast on the front page of this site you'd understand) The Video podcasts sometimes feature whole Programs and TV Shows or a condensed version of the show with commentary.
The Marketplace, Just like Itunes isnt free but the download service for the songs is more like a rental...Instead of 99 cents a song...its 14.99 a month or 44.99 for three months for Unlimited downloads. After the month(s) are over the songs are Unplayable until you start up again. however this allows users to be introduced to a wide variety of music during that time. NOTHING IS FREE! The marketplace is an optional Alternative to itunes, all MP3 and videos youv'e downloade Via Limewire or other various programs and sites are all compatible with the Zune software (With excpetion to some video formats)
There will be times where the marketplace offers freebies or free music and downloads (Mostly on certain Indie artists that have signed deals with Zune or Microsoft)
There is also a list of DRM Free songs available on the Marketplace to purchase.
BUT! you still have a choice to buy the songs for 79 MS points a song or buy the whole album.
The Video Marketplace (A feature i havent tried yet) is as I understand where you can purchase MUSIC VIDEO's for at least 100 - 150 MS points a a video. I dont know the restrictions for the Video's you download off the marketplace but I believe that it is licensed. It should be playable on your player, MS Media Player, Xbox 360.
Even with all the Marketplace video restrictions, there is always ways of adding your own video's and movies you downloaded to your PC and converting them to your Zune specs. (If you look at the two previous pages before this one you'll find all you need on the Specs for Video and MP3 as well as certain free of payable conversion software)
Mp3 & Video players are only as good as to what the owner puts into it. make sure when you purchase something like this, that you use it to its full potential.
