Upgrading to WP8 - Zune, Windows 7 User

[sakendrick]

I've been a long time Zune subscriber/user and heavy promoter of Windows Phone having used an HTC Titan II (WP 7.5) for the past year and a half. Unfortunately my Titan II is on dying a quick death. Long story but hardware seems to be failing, no luck with factory resets - so I may be forced to upgrade to WP8. I say forced because the WP 7.5 and zune user experience for music lovers is the absolute best in the industry and I'm aware of all the changes with windows phone 8. My wife even has a WP8 nokia but because my device allotment for my zune pass is full I've never bothered figuring it all out.

So I'm looking for advice from someone who has managed to get their old zune subscription and purchased music to work in any reasonable fashion with Windows 7 and a WP8 device.

Here's what I've gathered. Am I on the right track?

• I will have to manage my music using windows media player - meaning, create and manage playlists and syncing content to the phone
• I will still need to use Zune software to download subscription music or to buy music through the marketplace on my Windows 7 PC
  • Once downloaded I then manage/sync in windows media player
• I can still browse the marketplace on my phone and download using my subscription (technically xbox music now)

is that all I need to know? What about all the issues with cloud vs. downloaded music? What about xbox DRM vs. zune DRM?

Any help will be appreciated.

 

[PB_H]

Zune won't work on WP8

 

[sakendrick]

yes - I'm aware zune software will not work for WP8 devices. As I noted above - I would need to use windows media player to sync. According to this FAQ the zune subscription files should play on the phone: Syncing music FAQ | Windows Phone How-to (United States).

 

[sakendrick]

OK --- maybe not as straight forward as I thought. Windows Media Player is highlighting zune subscription files as "not compatible" with my device and they won't even sync. So is the FAQ wrong? What am I missing - how do I get my subscription files on the phone?

 

[sakendrick]

oh... just saw the note that I have to use the sync app and not WMP... that sucks cause the Sync App is buggy and not very usable

 

[sakendrick]

Yep sure enough - I can't sync playlists to my lumina 1020. Not with WMP. Not with Windows Phone App for desktop on windows 7. Copies over blank playlists.

BRUTAL!!