Editorials

Without the people known as moderators, forums will simply fall apart. It is vital that the site be maintained and run by not only the administrator but a group of individuals that can help contribute to the site and the social, wherever it may be. While moderators have lots of responsibility, they need to meet criteria as well.

There are two different types of moderators. Executives and Standard Moderators

 

Executives

• Have complete control of the front end forum.
• They can edit, move, sticky, de-sticky, or delete any topic or post.
• They are in constant close communication with the administrator.
• They can issue warnings and ban members for offenses.

Moderators

• They can moderate everyboard
• They can issue Post-Moderations
• They handle all inappropriate content, and if necessary request bans.

Executives and Moderators are responsible for a wide variety of things.

• They are responsible for monitoring and editing offensive posts.
• Vote on executive decisions regarding the rules and maintenance of the forum.
• Assisting new members and helping them get settled into the community.
• Remaining fair and impartial to all members and abiding by all the rules of the forum.

Read more: Moderators: What Does It Take?

Ok I know what you’re already thinking. Why am I mentioning Apple on a Zune fan site in a friendly tone of voice? Well I’m here to remind you of something we as Zune fans often overlook- how Apple benefits everyone in the Personal Media Player market today.

Back in the late 1990’s, the portable music player industry was in a state of confusion. CD players were still growing as the proprietary format for music listening pleasure, but other competitive formats such as MiniDisc and mp3 were beginning to gain popularity with consumers. Fliers for electronics retailers advertised various types of portable music devices, and many speculated which format would be the next one to “take over”.

When Apple released their original, Mac-only version of the iPod in October 2001, it ignited the evolution from CD players to Digital Audio Players as the mainstream way to listen to your music. The buzz around the product started to grow, and the release was viewed as the kick-start the DAP market needed to expand.

Read more: Apple Is Our Friend?

Over the past several years, the home television market has experienced a plethora of changes. The days of the classic TV set that we all remember- the large, round-screen contraptions that occupied most of our living rooms are over. In-store displays are being dominated by models that have high- definition plasma and liquid-crystal displays, and cable providers are pushing on-demand digital content more than ever.

One week ago, California based consumer electronics company Roku released a top-box for Netflix subscribers that allows users to stream digital movies and TV shows directly from the internet to their TV or computer. The amount of content allowed to be streamed is unlimited, and there are 10,000 available titles at to choose from at launch. Think of an on-demand subscription service for video.

So what do a television set and a DVD rental company have to do with the Zune? Well the important aspect about this innovation from Netflix and Roku is that a digital video on-demand subscription service can be done.

Read more: The Next Innovation For The Zune May Lie With…Netflix?

Dear Microsoft and the Zune Development Team,

I am enjoying the Microsoft Zune, but feel the need to tell you that it fails miserably on one major point: videos.  Zunes have a 3.2" screen and yet we have to suffer about not having video to play on it?  Does that make sense to you, Microsoft?  Would you like a huge screen and then not have the ability of playing videos on that screen, only because the company that created the product and ecosystem is too lazy does not support video in their Marketplace?  As of yet, Zune users have to waste their time on ripping and converting DVDs and only relying on video podcasts to even get video onto their Zune.  Some have gone to solely using YouTube converters or maybe somone has used a second device for video.

Do you know what that means?  It means that you potentially lost a lot of consumers.  So, what's the deal?  Are you making us yearn for the integration with Xbox, because as far as I know, it could just be a one-button process.  Are you playing hard-to-get with videos?  Just a little hint: it's not working.  Is it a contract deal?  Like that whole Viacom issue?  Where you backed out of Urge which was part-owned by MTV which is owned by Viacom so they won't allow you to put Viacom videos on the Zune?  So why do they allow you to put it in the Xbox Marketplace?

Wait!  I've got it?  Is is that there's some type of code error?  Please tell me, because four months without another firmware and software upgrade has made me believe you guys were actually working on something.  But, can I tell you something?  It really just looks like you're slacking off.

So, take my advice, just stop being so arrogant with contracts, and make VideoX or eLive or whatever else a reality, because we want it, we need it, and more importantly, your competition has it.  Some of us, yeah, we won't mind switching.  Sorry to tell you.

Signed,
Michael Collado
TheMBC, Assistant Administrator
Zunited.net