apple and microsoft zune?

[pbure0110]

all i want to know if the microsoft zune works with a apple computer?

[Ai Haibara]

From what I've heard so far, no. I'm not absolutely sure, though.

[macuser25]

it works just fine...

set your iTunes encoding prefs to encode into MP3 instead of the proprietary M4A format, and then you can use your tracks on any portable audio player, including Zune and iPod.

[Ai Haibara]

But can the Zune interface with the Mac version of iTunes?

[terryj]

umm, no.
You would have to mount the ZUNE as a USB Ext HD,
and data copy tracks to it. iTunes works only with iPods
due to the way Apple coded the Software. No other
MP3 player will even be recognized in iTunes when you plug it in.

[Ai Haibara]

Actually, that's not entirely true. I've seen plugins for iTunes (OS X) that supposedly allow you to use other players with iTunes. Given that I only have an iPod and the only other player I have access to is my sister's Nomad, I haven't had any reason to try them.

I'm still seeing reports complaining about the lack of Mac support for the Zune, but I think that's mostly regarding a Mac version of the Zune software.

[ffooky]

I thought that the Zune couldn't be used as a USB mass storage device and that this was one of its major failings.

edit: See here.

[willrob]

I have a Nike MP3 player and it's worked with iTunes for the past five years or so. The original software that came with it was Cassedy and Green's SoundJam, which Apple bought and turned into iTunes. So if iTunes only works with iPods, what are all those other MP3 players using to transfer/organize/compress their music? i know purchased music will only play on the iPod...

[AntnyMD]

You could use SyncTunes to sync playlists from iTunes to a USB mass storage device. I dont know how Zune behaves as a USB device. I've read where Zune doesnt recognize Windows XP if you try to download the client software via any browser except MSIE. It is also not supported in Windows Vista. I dont mind the idea of competing products to the Apple iPod, but you'd think competitors would just copy as much as possible the capabilities of the iPod rather than trying to invent a new wheel. I'm still perplexed why a software company (Microsoft) insists on being a gadget company (Xbox, Zune).

[bucho]

it works just fine...

set your iTunes encoding prefs to encode into MP3 instead of the proprietary M4A format, and then you can use your tracks on any portable audio player, including Zune and iPod.

M4A is no more proprietary than MP3. M4A is an MPEG-4 container which generally contains an AAC audio stream (I believe the official extension is MP4). I would argue that AAC sounds better than MP3 (this of course is my opinion), and more importantly, plays just fine on Zune:

http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/howto/play/formats.htm

In any case, to answer the OP's question, iTunes doesn't support Zune (unless of course there is a hack out there), and Zune's software doesn't run on a Mac. Microsoft doesn't appear to have any plans to support the Mac:

http://www.zune.net/en-us/support/howto/start/operatingsystems.htm

Good luck.