How to Connect a Zune to a Mac
At first glance, the Microsoft Zune and a Mac computer should not make good bedfellows, since, as of February 2010, they don't actually have a direct way to connect to each other. However, as with most computer situations, there are ways to work around technical issues like this. It does require a little extra work, but it's possible to get your Zune and Apple systems talking nicely to each other, welcoming even Mac users to the social.
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Instructions
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1
Download and install your VMWare program. There are a number of options available, including Boot Camp and Parallels. There are even some free options, such as VirtualBox, which you can find more information about under Resources. This software allows you to create a virtual "second" computer inside your operating system, using the same resources and hardware as your main machine. If you already have this software installed and use it, skip to Step 3.
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2
Create a Windows Virtual Machine, using the VM software's included wizard. Consult the help documentation for your VM program if you have questions with this step.
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3
Insert the Microsoft Zune driver disk into your computer, and install it onto your Virtual Machine. The disk should appear under "My Computer," as it does on any Windows machine.
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4
Plug the Zune USB cable into the MP3 player and into an open port on your computer. USB cords are designed to slide into the computer one way, so if it won't fit, try turning it over.
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5
Open the Zune software and begin uploading and downloading your music files to your portable music device.
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Tips & Warnings
This same setup will also work for Linux machines.
If you cannot see the music files through your virtual machine program, consult the help files for how to "Share" and "Access shared folders." You may need to quit the VM program and change some settings on your Mac to make this work.
There is an application called XNJB, which you can also find under Resources, that may also work. At their last update, a recent Zune patch had prevented Mac computers from downloading and uploading to the Zune through XNJB, but the developers are working to fix this. What XNJB can do is allow you to see the files on the Zune in a read-only manner, but not upload or download.
References
Resources
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