Zen Xtra In need of major software package upd

Question

I don't know about other people, but I have a lot of songs. Lots! Anyway, there are several features that the Nomad Explorer and Suite lack.
To start, let's say I need to update several tags of my songs. I get my computer's tag editor up, and do all that. Now the files are updated, but how do I 'sync' those files with the player? Not possible. I have to delete them from the player and then send them again. Of course I could get into the Nomad Explorer and update them there, but why do that when I just had a program do that for me on my local files? I like using Windows Media Player to 'sync' my files, but that only checks for the presence of a song, not the correct tag information. Something about the player needs to be updated whether it be the firmware or the Creative software. I should not be forced into using MediaSource (I've used it before and it makes my computer run too slowly), because I like having the freedom of not being tied down to dare I say iTunes. But let's think about it, Apple has a good thing goin on that, once you plug your player in, you can see all the files, and you can sync it with your computer including the tag stuff.
Next, would there be any possible way we could actually play the music off our player without transferring the files? My brother has an iPod, and I love it how he can just walk up to his computer, and plug it in and play it thru his speakers like that.
Also what about random play. I would really like it if there were some sort of way to play all songs in random order, but leave some songs (or rather recordings...etc) out of that list. There are files on my player that I like to listen to, but there should be a way to keep some songs on the 'don't play during random play all songs list'. See what I'm sayin? Ok lets make an extreme case. Let's say I have 5k songs, and then 20 audiobooks (I don't really, but just work with me here). When I go to "Play Any Track," there should be some way of excluding those audiobooks.
Thank you for listening to my concerns. I'm fairly sure there are others that would deeply appreciate these features. I can also say without hesitation that iPod customers are very happy with their product because features like these are available. All I'm sayin is you are got me sold on your product, but could you release some software updates?

Answer 1

shields020 wrote:
To start, let's say I need to update several tags of my songs. I get my computer's tag editor up, and do all that. Now the files are updated, but how do I 'sync' those files with the player? Not possible.
The Creative software can't do it, but?the freeware Nomadsync?can.
Next, would there be any possible way we could actually play the music off our player without transferring the files? My brother has an iPod, and I love it how he can just walk up to his computer, and plug it in and play it thru his speakers like that.
Yep. MediaSource does this if you're using USB2. If using USB or USB2 there are other solutions as well, such as?the freeware JBHTTP?and the Xtreamer function in the shareware Notmad Explorer.
Also what about random play. I would really like it if there were some sort of way to play all songs in random order, but leave some songs (or rather recordings...etc) out of that list.
I agree, but currently the only way to do it is using a playlist which you have to setup manually. One easy way would be to have a genre tag that is excluded from this list.