Zune hacks – Inside the Zune/USB Protocols

MAKE author Erica Sadun dropped the d0cs on the USB protocol for the Zune, the protocols inclcude: Device certificate, folder and device properties specifically Zune, plus its supported filetypes, sneak around bitrate limitations imposed by the Zune software, playable File/Object types and the object properties supported for each one, supported operations and other USB protocols.

Read’em and start hacking:

• Inside the Zune/USB Protocol: Part 1 – Link.
• Inside the Zune/USB Protocol: Part 2 – Link.
• Inside the Zune/USB Protocol: Part 3 – Link.
• Inside the Zune/USB Protocol: Part 4 – Link.
• Inside the Zune/USB Protocol: Part 5 – Link.

Previous Zune hacks:

• XNJB lets you see your Zune on the Mac – almost use a Zune on a Mac! – Link.
• WentNet’s open-source free XNJB – Link.
• HOW TO – Copy data off a Microsoft Zune (use as a hard drive) – Link.
• HOW TO – Use a Zune with Windows Vista – Link.
• HOW TO – Add a 40gb drive to a Zune – Link.
• HOW TO – Rip DVDs for your iPod, PSP, Zune – whatever device… – Link.
• Windows XP Pro x64 hack – Link.
• Zune icon hack – Link.

Busy weekend, not sure if it will take off as a music player, but the Zune just might end up being a fun hacker toy… It’s probably a good idea for someone to start an “OpenZune” wiki and start putting all this together along with some how-tos. If this pace keeps up the Zune will be an open Wi-Fi sharing music and video player capable of doing a lot (more) – just don’t update it ever I guess (reminds me of the PSP when it first came out and each update seemed to take away more homebrew activities).

One more update from Erica – I recently stumbled across yet-another-great-Zune-hack while browsing the forums at ZuneScene.com. Apparently, by renaming a file’s extension to .jpg, and moving the file into “received pictures”, you can beam the file between Zunes. You send the file like you would send a photo, which means sending all the contents of the “received pictures” folder at once. When the target Zune syncs with its home computer, Zune Scene reports, the file is transferred off the Zune. Having access to only one Zune, I have not yet been able to test this hack out myself.