Monday, November 5, 2007
Do You Love Your Music?
Posted by David Tucker in "Zune Talk" @ 07:02 PM
“We're less than two weeks before the Zune 2 launch, and our forums are flaring over upcoming changes in how Zune users rate their music tracks. Currently a five-star system is used to rate your Zune music - a time-honored system used by iPod, Netflix, hotels, car safety tests, and Zagat guides everywhere.”
So there’s been a lot said about the new rating system by Microsoft for the Zune. Zunerama’s forum users obviously don’t like it. I know several people here don’t like it. On one hand, I understand everyone’s frustration. You’re used to a five star system and now you have to totally rethink the way you rate songs. I think a year from now no one is going to notice anymore.
Personally I think it’s GREAT. A major complaint has been “Who would have music on their Zune they don’t like?” That’s a fair question. I do, for one. I often load several albums on at a time and may not have listened to any music from the artists or maybe just heard a piece and thought it was good. And found out it’s not. Obviously the music will be coming back off but at least now I know never to get that again.
And who keeps music that’s a 1 – 3 on the rating scale anyway? A 3 is maybe mediocre at best. Do you groan when your songs rated 3 stars pop up? “Oh man, not this one again.” If I’m rating a song a 3, I can’t imagine wanting to hear it ever. At best, it’s just a song I’m ambivalent about and wouldn’t bother giving it a rating just to give it a 3. And if I like it, well, I can distinguish between my favorite songs and songs I just really like. So I can give it a 4 or a 5 easily enough. But either a 4 or a 5 is a great song that I’d be happy to hear.
So really, I think the new rating system makes more sense. If I hear a song that I dislike, I just give it the ‘hate it’ rating and can ditch it next time I sync. If I hear a song I love, I can make sure to give it a heart. And if it’s just mediocre and I really don’t care one way or the other, well, I just can choose to not rate it. Is this starting to make sense to anyone else?
So there’s been a lot said about the new rating system by Microsoft for the Zune. Zunerama’s forum users obviously don’t like it. I know several people here don’t like it. On one hand, I understand everyone’s frustration. You’re used to a five star system and now you have to totally rethink the way you rate songs. I think a year from now no one is going to notice anymore.
Personally I think it’s GREAT. A major complaint has been “Who would have music on their Zune they don’t like?” That’s a fair question. I do, for one. I often load several albums on at a time and may not have listened to any music from the artists or maybe just heard a piece and thought it was good. And found out it’s not. Obviously the music will be coming back off but at least now I know never to get that again.
And who keeps music that’s a 1 – 3 on the rating scale anyway? A 3 is maybe mediocre at best. Do you groan when your songs rated 3 stars pop up? “Oh man, not this one again.” If I’m rating a song a 3, I can’t imagine wanting to hear it ever. At best, it’s just a song I’m ambivalent about and wouldn’t bother giving it a rating just to give it a 3. And if I like it, well, I can distinguish between my favorite songs and songs I just really like. So I can give it a 4 or a 5 easily enough. But either a 4 or a 5 is a great song that I’d be happy to hear.
So really, I think the new rating system makes more sense. If I hear a song that I dislike, I just give it the ‘hate it’ rating and can ditch it next time I sync. If I hear a song I love, I can make sure to give it a heart. And if it’s just mediocre and I really don’t care one way or the other, well, I just can choose to not rate it. Is this starting to make sense to anyone else?
