How to sync your Zune with a Mac

Zune and Mac compability is a problem for those of us who sit on the Microsoft/Apple fence

Some people might question the necessity of this article. After all who owns a Mac AND a Zune. Doesn't that contradict all natural laws? Well, maybe. As one of these mythical individuals, I can only assume that there are others out there. Here's to you.

Things You'll Need

• Desktop or notebook with a Mac Operating System
• Microsoft Zune MP3 Player
• Virtual machine software

Instructions

1. While it seems silly that Zune and Mac compatibility hasn't been introduced yet, there are ways to bypass this problem. What we will be doing is using software to essentially make the Zune think that it is connected to a PC. This is done through virtual machine software.

2. The first step is finding the VM software for you. There are many to choose from. Some notable ones are Parallels, VMWare, and Bootcamp; however, if you don't want to purchase one you can download a trial version of these or try a free VM software like Virtual Box (http://www.virtualbox.org).

3. Once you have installed the software, you need to download the Zune software to your virtual machine. Zune software can be downloaded from the Zune website.

4. Now you can sync your Zune as you typically would. Connect your Zune to the Mac with the USB cable. If the Virtual Machine doesn't recognize the device, it may be because the USB is not turned on for the virtual machine. On Parallels there is a menu at the top called Devices. Opening this will allow you to turn on the USB and the Zune will connect.

5. If all of your music is placed in certain folders on your Mac, you can import the music by locating that folder from the Virtual Machine. On Parallels, the contents of your Mac are contained in the Z drive. Other Virtual Machine software might utilize Shared Folders. That way you can choose which folders you want to be able to access from both your Mac and your Virtual Windows.

Tips & Warnings

• If you need to right click on your Virtual Machine, typical controls are Ctrl+click or placing two fingers on the touchpad while clicking