Its been a only few days since Microsoft released Zune 2, the portable music player that everyone hates. I really liked the hype that Microsoft built up for Zune 2 and believe me it does look like a solid Music Player and manages to beat its chief Rival Apple iPod in a quite a few places.

Leave all that apart, I am now going to tell you how you can use your Zune as just another flash drive using the USB port. Please note that this is a registry hack, so make sure you backup your registry before proceeding..

• Make sure your Zune is not plugged in and your Zune software isn’t running
• Open up Regedit by going to the start menu and selecting “run”. Type regedt32 and hit “OK”
• Browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\ControlSet002\Enum\USB\
• Search for “PortableDeviceNameSpace”. This should be contained in the Vid_####&Pid_####\########_-_########_-_########_-_########\Device Parameters within the above …\USB\ The ##’s listed here will be numbers and letters specific to your Zune.
• Change the following values:
• EnableLegacySupport to 1
• PortableDeviceNameSpaceExcludeFromShell to 0
• ShowInShell to 1
• Plug in your Zune, and make sure the Zune Software starts up.
• Hopefully at this point you can open up “My Computer” and browse your device, though it does NOT show up as a drive letter.

This hack seems to be working for quite a lot of people so please let us know in the comments section, if this works for you..

Via Zunerama

Microsoft has just announced the availability of Zune Originals . Users who order from the Zune Originals site will be able to customize their Zune with Laser Engraving on the back of their Zunes.

A series of 27 artworks from the “Artist” series will cover the entire Zune. Alternatively, a series of 20 artworks from the “Tattoo” series will allow for up-to 3 lines of text. Finally, without images, you are allowed a maximum of 5 lines of text. All this right behind the back of your Zune. This offer is free for everyone who orders from the Zune Originals site and is available for all the new models of Zune.

What is disappointing is that people who have already ordered for their Zune will not be able to customize their Zune. Well here is how the ordering process looks like :

Step 1 : Pick the Zune Model(4GB,8GB,80GB) that you would like to Buy.

Step 2 : Select the color for your Zune

Step 3 : Pick the Type of Engraving that you would like to dress up your Zune with.

Step 4  : Choose the Art that you like the most and type in the description.

Step 5 : You’re done. Preview your all new Zune

Looks like Microsoft is finally innovating Zune and positioning it as a serious competitor to Apple’s iPod that is not so sexy to look at when compared to Apple’s iPod. Gizmodo has a brief summary on why Zune might be better than Apple iPod. 

The New Zune looks too good and has pretty good features too. If you are looking to buy a personal Music player this holidays, go buy a Zune.

Via istartedsomething

He Writes “As part of Windows Updates on my laptop today, I installed an optional update called “Driver Update for Zune USB.” It actually installed a pre-release version of the Zune 2.0 software with a version number of 2.1.0522.00. Has anyone else gotten this update? I have it running now, and so far, all it does is list music in my library. When I connect my Zune, the software sees its name and knows it’s connected but will not sync. Just curious if this is Microsoft pushing out a beta, or some kind of accident.”

He further adds that its not a complete software, it connects to the Zune but apparently does not sync. Also it does not connect to the Zune Marketplace. Well JJRules was kind enough to post some screenshots of the new Zune Software, and here they are :

Well, I must say the new UI looks very slick indeed, much better than the all black UI the previous version of the software had. I wonder when Microsoft plans to release the new Zune Software, but I think it is around the corner because the new Zune Player is out too.