It is really easy to put the movies into your Zune as well, as long as they are of the right size and the right format for the player to be able to play them. This means that your movies should be in MPEG4, MOV, or WMV formats. They should also be in a size equal to the size of the screen of your Zune which is 240×320 pixels.

Where Can I Get Videos?

Online Zune – The Zune is something unique in a sense that Microsoft has allowed users to get all sorts of content off of a special site as well. Microsoft has provided its users with a site specifically designed to help users build communities and share content within those communities. The content is specifically for the Zune player device. This means that you can get videos from friends and community members on the site. Of course, if you want to watch a Zune movie, there are monthly subscription sites and some third-party sites that offer Zune content. There are also some sites that give the content for free but they are not too dependable.

Affordable – The great thing about these sites is that you only have to pay a one-time fee. Paying that fee gives you the privilege of downloading Zune content for a lifetime! Other sites will allow you the same privilege on a monthly basis which is still good especially if the movie that you want can’t be found on other sites.

I Want My DVD Collection On Zune

Convert Videos – Microsoft packs the Zune with a converter that will allow you to bring your whole CD collection into your Zune. However, they do not pack software that can be used to convert videos. But there is software that you can get on the Internet for free.

This software is a converter that will allow you to convert your DVDs into a playable format for your Zune! All you have to do is stick the DVD into your compatible drive on your computer and with a few clicks and settings on the software you can convert your favorite movies into a format best for the Zune player.

Sync It – Once you have the converted file, you just have to rename it and place it in the folder that your Zune recognizes as the place on your computer where it should sync all movie files. Then you can show off all your movies to your friends.

What Free Downloads Are Good For

You might ask yourself how people can afford to give away free contents in the first place. Free content is something that can be advantageous especially for media companies. For example, if a movie company wants to advertise a new release that they are about to put into theaters, the best thing to do is put out a trailer.

Promoting Movies – Many movie trailers are free to download these days and it’s just as good as the word of mouth process. A Zune owner can download this content and know exactly what the new movie is all about, therefore deciding whether or not the movie is worth purchasing a ticket for. The point is that the movie company who releases that trailer has reached their intended market.

Music Community – Another area where free Zune downloads can be of help is to the music community. There are many independent musicians who would like to have their music heard by the masses first and this is a great avenue for them to showcase their talents. By allowing people to download their Zune-friendly material off of sites that offer free content, these musicians are giving themselves an opportunity to be heard by a wide and international audience.

Download Safety

One of the most sensitive things about free files is just how safe they are to download. Many free downloads have been known to be infected with viruses or contain spyware that may attach themselves to peoples computer systems. The best way to get around this is to look for sites that are legitimate even though downloads are free.

Membership Sites – Look for sites that require you to be registered before allowing you to download their material. Also, one should equip a computer with antivirus software to make sure that downloaded files are not infected.

Is It Legal?

Piracy is another major issue for free downloads. This is something that Zune users should also be responsible about. Many music and movie files are copyrighted by law so if you stumble upon a download that is free but is obviously pirated, then you should think twice before downloading it. Otherwise, there are some independent groups who do allow the sharing of their original content, such as independent film makers and musicians.

Up To The User – There is no real safeguard against pirated material and even though there are warnings against this kind of material, it still exists online. Again, it is really up to the user to determine whether it is legal or illegal to use free Zune downloads.

Is There Free Zune Content Online?

The first question that may come to mind is: Is there actually free content for the Zune device or for any mp3 player for that matter? The answer is yes. Free zune downloads does not necessarily mean that you will not pay some sort of fee ever.

Pay Once – The real meaning behind the free content is that there is a one time fee involved that will allow a person to access sites that offer unlimited amounts of content for a lifetime. Why is this considered free? Because the consumer only needs to pay once for the access and the content is forever at his or her fingertips.

Test Downloads – There are also some sites that allow you to download limited files as a way to try out their service first. They will allow maybe 2 or 3 files to be downloaded completely free before a user decides whether or not to pay for the subscription. This is a smart way to let users preview a sites service before taking the subscription plunge, which will only really set one back somewhere between $50 and $60.

Where Can I Find This Free Content?

Several third-party websites allow the unlimited downloading of Zune content. These are all accredited sites. Some of these sites can vary in fee and in content.

Videos and Music – There are sites that offer all sorts of content from music to video and images. They give out free unlimited downloads for a one-time fee of about $40. After that, a user is free to download anything and everything that is available on the site for as long as he or she wishes.

Other Packages – Another site lets you avail of a year’s worth of downloading, 2 years worth, or even a lifetime membership. A monthly cost will only set one back less than $3! Imagine being able to download hundreds of movies and tracks just for a mere $3.

Boasting of about 300 million files of movies, TV shows, software, images, and games, this site is really simple to join and also offers a lifetime membership of downloads. A simple sign up and a one-time fee can give one access to free Zune Downloads forever.

Zune Sites – These videos can be downloaded from different sites, including the Zune Marketplace and other sites where you pay a one-time fee for unlimited downloads. But what if you want to turn your current DVD collection into a format that can be played on your Zune? Well, this is possible too and there are things to learn about your Zune so that you can convert your own movies for it.

Knowing The Format

Zune can’t read DVD format so you’ll have to learn just what formats are suitable for the device. There are actually three formats that the Zune can read so that you can watch your own converted movies. These formats are known as WMV, MPEG-4, and H.264.

MPEG and WMV Format – The first two formats are probably the most easy to remember and there are more available converter software for those formats because they are common. The WMV format is the most common for Microsoft, as it is better known as Windows Media Video. This is a compressed format that can be played on the Zune and also can be played on Windows Media Player on your computer. This is probably the best one for your Zune player. MPEG-4 is also an advantage because it can be played on Quicktime player and also on iTunes. It really is up to you which format you want to use.

What You Need

Three Things First – Now, when it comes to making your own Zune movies, you will need three things. First, you will need a PC that has a DVD reader/writer. Secondly, you will need software that will allow you to convert your DVDs into any of the previously discussed formats. Lastly, you will also need a lot of space on your hard drive so that you can store the converted file.

Software Downloads – Now, there is a lot of free software that you can use and these software packages can be downloaded from the internet. A quick Google search will point you to sites where you can download the needed software. You can also buy professional software which will probably be the best thing to do if you want to edit movies the way you want them to appear on your Zune.

Sync It – Once you have converted the DVDs into a format that you are comfortable with, you can simply sync those files into your Zune the way that you would sync files that you have downloaded from unlimited Zune download sites. Remember that the software you use will determine just how easy the conversion will be.

Getting Freebies – Some of the best software that you can use is available for purchase but there are some reliable converters that can be downloaded for free. Just make sure that these files do not also come infected with viruses or spyware that might damage your computer. Follow the simple instructions that come with the software that you purchase or download and you should be set with all your favorite Zune movies ready for the mobile world.

Ultimate Player – It can also hold music, display all sorts of pictures in various formats, and there is also software and games designed specifically on the platform. However, it is watching movies on its large and beautiful screen that affects consumer decisions the most when they are in the market for a new mp3 / video player. Let’s take a look at the advantages of owning a Zune as a video player.

Screen Estate

Big Screen – One of the highlights of the Zune player is its 240×320 pixel screen that is so large that you don’t have to strain your eyes when you are watching a video clip or a movie. This is one of the largest screens on a portable mp3 / video player in the market.

The 3-inch screen is brightly lit and if you were to download or convert a DVD onto this device, the quality would be no different than if you were watching on a television screen. The crisp and clear display is something that many Zune owners look forward to whenever they use this device.

Availability Of Videos

Formats for Zune – Another advantage of the Zune player is that it can play video in one of three formats: MPEG4, WMV, and MOV. These are the major video formats and the most used on mobile devices and computers these days. And because these formats are the most common, it is not a surprise to see the large amounts of video content that can be downloaded off of the Internet through various subscription-based unlimited video providers.

Zune Sites – There are many sites that offer all sorts of options. For about $60 in total (and even less) these sites can give members access to their thousands of various video clips and movies. And the best thing is that members can download them forever. This means that availability of clips for the device is endless.

Mobility

Some people may find it common to watch movies on a mobile device that has such a small screen. But movies on Zune are just such a delight to the senses. Not only does the 30 gigabyte storage allow one to keep at least ten full feature films in the device, the 80 gigabyte version allows even more monster storage!

Sharing Capability – Also, short video clips can be shared over WIFI between Zune users. Now this brings mobility to a whole new level. Imagine sharing your favorite video clips with friends and family so they can take them around showing other people as well. It’s definitely an experience that Microsoft thought about clearly.

Pirates on the Net – This is usually the case if a movie is pirated or is from not so reputable sources on the Internet. Here are ways to make sure that you get quality downloads onto your Zune player every time you sync it up to get a movie.

Study Links

Although once can get quality video clips, images, music, and games from a Zune download site, it is still not a source for big movies that are licensed by huge studios. One will have to turn to third-party websites for full-length movie downloads. There are many third-party websites but not all of them are accredited and licensed to distributed material that can otherwise be pirated.

Get smart. By studying a site, one can see if it is the kind of site that offers legitimate content and if it’s worth spending money for. Then, one can continue to try registering for the site to see what sort of payment options are available. Payments accepted via credit card usually are a sign that a site is legitimate in its services

Packages – The packages give members access to millions of files that can be used on the Zune. When it comes to quality DVD download on Zune, one can expect to pay a little more for access to their libraries of movies as well.

Preview Then Sync

Another way to make sure that you are getting a DVD quality movie for your Zune is to first watch it on you r PC before you sync it on the device. The beauty of the Zune is that it accepts three formats: MPEG, MOV, and WMV.

Correct Format – These formats can easily be played on computers and so you can easily preview what you download to determine if you have a good download. Of course this may be a tedious process because you have to download the whole movie first but at least you will be sure of the quality before going around carrying what may have been pirated.

Convert It – Lastly, the one way to make sure that you have quality movies is to convert your already existing DVD collection into a digital format best suited for the Zune. This is a tedious process but at least you will have back ups of all your DVDs that you can carry around on your portable player. These are the major ways to make sure you get Quality DVD download on Zune.

Monthly Subscriptions – One can also get free or monthly subscription videos from sites but what about all those amateur and funny videos that everybody has been watching on YouTube? There is no way to stream the videos directly on the Zune player but with the right tools and processes, you too can have the YouTube videos played on your Zune.

The Format

Keep in mind that Zune players play one of three formats: MOV, WMV (which is the Microsoft Windows standard codec), and MPEG4. YouTube videos are never on this format. In fact, YouTube videos are more likely to be in the 3GP format that is recorded by mobile devices from phones or in the FLV format that is actually Flash-based video.

This makes the video lighter and therefore easier to stream online. But the beauty of this is that the videos on YouTube can be ripped and therefore can be converted into Zune videos that can be used on the player.

What You Need

Internet Connection – To get all these FLV videos, you will need access to YouTube and thus a computer and an Internet connection. You will then need software called YouTuber Video Downloader. Once installed, right click on the icon and then select the New Download option. You then add a new download by copying and pasting a link of your desired YouTube video into the box next to the word URL. Choose a folder where you would like to save the video and click OK.

Freeware Online – Now, the next thing you need is a freeware and this can also be downloaded for free online. This software can convert FLV files to MPEG4 and it can also convert many other types of formats. All you have to do is configure all the settings so that the output of the video will be MPEG4. Select the flash video that you downloaded from YouTube and drag it into the empty space in the software. Click the Encode button and just wait for the file to be converted.

Connecting Zune with PC – Now, once you have the video converted, all you have to do is sync your Zune with your PC. Make sure that the new MPEG4 is in the folder where the Zune checks for videos. This is one of the best ways to get videos that you want from YouTube and if you can find videos from other sites in the FLV format and download them, you can go through the same conversion process to make them playable on your Zune. A simple sync of the converted files and you can enjoy your new Zune videos downloaded from YouTube!

Playing Movies – Another great thing about the Zune player is that you can sync the movies to be able to play on iTunes or on Windows Media Player which is the default setting. So what is the problem? Well, when it comes to downloading files, there may be a few things to keep in mind when doing so.

Unwanted Software

You will have to make sure of a few things if you are planning to invest a little cash and time into sites other than Zune Marketplace for your downloads. One of these things is that you must know that you risk downloading other elements other than movies when you get these files from third-party sites.

Third-Party Downloads – Downloading from third-party sites exposes your computer to all sorts of harmful software and viruses. You are also exposing your computer to adware, Trojans, and worms especially when you are downloading from free sources and sites that have little or no reputation. What these unwanted software can do is lessen the processing speeds of your computer and corrupt other data that is stored on your hard disk. Keep this in mind when you decide on downloading from third-party sites.

Speed

When downloading, speed matters a lot. This can’t be truer when dealing with Zune movies. Movie files are quite large and so you will want to get these files that are available to serve them to you at fairly large bandwidth levels.

It’s not enough that you have a great internet connection. The site that you are paying for content has to be able to serve fast upload speeds as well for you to be able to download fast. Free and unlimited Zune downloads are usually parked in areas of the Internet that cannot offer these speeds and this can affect the way that you want to enjoy your Zune.

Corrupted Files

Does it play? Ever thought that your file finished downloading and when you tried to play it on your Zune, it just wouldn’t work? This kind of file is known as either a corrupted or incomplete file. These are the kinds of files that you might expect from content providers who offer free Zune content. This means that you re just wasting your time in downloading large files only to find out that they don’t work on your Zune at all.

The Risks – You are also again risking the fact that the files will affect your other PC files and slowing down your PC system. When it comes to movies, the chances are bigger that they are incomplete mainly because the files are much larger. The only way to make sure that Zune movies are complete and working is to download them from reputable sites.

The Microsoft Zune player is probably the best device for music, pictures and videos for Zune. Zune users all agree that the device is of the best-quality build and although it may take some getting used to, the interface is one of the most intuitive and one of the best-looking GUIs on any mp3-player to date.

Multi-Sharing – Coupled with the fact that WIFI can be used to share the files with other Zune users, it makes this one of the best multimedia mobile platforms in the market. But with all the different video playing platforms available on the market, just why should a customer choose to use Zune videos above all others? Here are a few reasons that one should consider.

Availability

One major advantage of using Zune is the availability of that content to the market. The Zune Marketplace alone boasts of thousands of files that one can take advantage of for a minimal monthly fee. Many third-party websites offer millions of different kinds of files and an unlimited supply of videos and movies that one can download on a lifetime subscription that does not break the bank at all.

Just imagine: You can spend $60 at most for downloading all sorts of content and movies for a lifetime! This means that you only have to pay once and old present and new content will be available at your fingertips. This is the beauty of the player and the many third-party sites that are dedicated to providing videos for Zune for a minimal fee.

Format

A large percentage of Zune users are Windows users. In fact, a huge chunk of the market buys computers with Windows already installed.

Zune is supported by 3 different video formats and they are MPEG4, MOV, and WMV. These are the most popular formats on the market today and they can all be played on a Windows device. This is especially true when it comes to WMV files. WMV is a codec that is specific to the Windows Media Player on your computer and on the Zune. So if you get Zune content it can be played on the Windows computer that you have and it can be played on the Zune player as well. This makes it easier for you to choose content that you would like to sync on your device.

Sharing

Another great feature with a Zune player is its WIFI capability. Short video clips and music can be shared between Zune users. The content on these devices cannot be shared on other platforms.

Microsoft has been recently hailed for its release of the Zune player and the many Zune downloads that are available for the small and capable machine. This little player already as many followers in the form of end-users and content providers.

User Reviews – Although it has been criticized as a machine that has a learning curve when it comes to use, it is definitely a lovable machine when people find out just how much content is available to them for a minimal price. But just what is available to the public when they invest in a Zune Player?

Music

It is primarily a music player. This is why it’s not much of a surprise to see that there are millions of songs available in a format that is best suited for the Zune. Sites like the Microsoft Zune Marketplace offer some of the best tracks in the world from many celebrated musicians.

With just a little under $15, you can download unlimited music. The music downloads are various in that different genres of music are available for download from Pop to Country, HipHop, Classical, Instrumental, Heavy Metal, etc. You name the genre, it’s sure to be available.

Multi-Functional – Another thing about the Zune player is that if you are tired of listening of the music that you just downloaded, you can always switch on the FM radio player that is built into the device and surf your local stations. Now that is a feature that everybody can agree with.

Movies

Are you a movie buff or a TV show fan? Zune content providers also have this kind of content available for your player. Also, the content is optimized to play on Zune players already so you don’t have to worry about converting the material to a specific format unless you are making your own downloads off of your PC.

All Genres – Movies are also available in different genres such as Drama, Suspense, Romance, Comedy, horror, Science, etc. Hit TV shows are fast becoming popular downloads as well. The movie playing feature is something that the Zune is famous for and a 30 gig player is enough to keep your hunger for video at bay.

Games

Music and movies aren’t all that Zune can offer. Believe it or not, but you can also play games on your Zune. There are many Zune downloads that are available and there are also different kinds of games. You can find games in categories such as Strategy, Role Playing, Action, Puzzle, Eductional, and Sports formats. These are all specially designed to run off of your Zune player.

Software

Microsoft is all about the best softwares. Zune is no exception. People can download virus protection software, adware and spyware protection, typing software, business software, and most importantly Zune converter software that will help one make their own downloads. There are many software options to choose from and this makes the player a truly capable multimedia device for Zune downloads.