Zune Social: 
7/25/2010 Update: I went through this article, resized pictures, and updated the post to include tips for the newer Zune 4.0 software and Windows 7.
Using the Zune software, I was watching my music play. With the Zune software, this pastime happens to be an engaging and relaxing process. I have started trying a desktop layout where I maximize the Zune software window and let other windows sit on top of it to create a DreamScene-like effect on my PC. While browsing the web, Zune showed a picture in the My Chemical Romance montage that I particularly liked; and a thought struck me.
"There should be more concert pictures included in the artists' photo rotations"
Remembering our previous coverage of this feature, it seems like I am not the first to reach a similar conclusion. Still, there was just something engaging about the picture of My Chemical Romance rocking in this small club. As a result, I took a screenshot. Looking at the result, I realized something cool. I could use resulting picture as a desktop wallpaper. Essentially, I just used the Zune software to make a desktop wallpaper. The process is relatively simple so I thought I would share.
1. Navigate to 'Now Playing' by clicking on on the purple bars to the right of the fast forward button, or by clicking on the album art of the track currently playing in the software.
2. Make sure your mouse is not hovering over any of the play controls such as 'pause ' or 'exit.'
3. On your keyboard find your 'Print Screen/Sys Req' key, it should be right next to the 'F12' key. When you see an artist screen you like, press the 'Print Screen' key. If you did this correctly, you should see the play controls popup after press the 'Print Screen' key.
The resulting screenshot is now on the Windows clipboard. This is the same place your copied text goes before it gets pasted a document or text field you are working with.
4. Now, go into your favorite photo-editing program and paste the stored screenshot, using 'ctrl' + 'V' or simply edit > paste. In the above photo I am showing Adobe Photoshop and Microsoft Paint. Save the resulting screen capture as a .jpg or .png.
5. In Windows 7, Vista and XP open the file location to which you just saved your picture, right click on the photo and select 'Set as Desktop Background.' Enjoy. Below are a few examples for your downloading pleasure.
TECHNICAL TIPS.
Here are some quick tips to get a better picture and desktop look.
Set the taskbar to auto-hide - If your taskbar is not set to auto-hide, then the bottom portion of your screen shot will show whatever programs are on your taskbar at the time you took your screenshot. Follow the steps in this picture to get a better result by telling the taskbar to auto-hide from the taskbar properties applet.7/25/10 Update: Taking a screenshot of the Zune Software is even easier. You do not need to make your taskbar auto-hide because the Zune 4.0 software has full screen mode. I recommend you use the full screen mode mentioned in step 2a instead of changing your taskbar settings.
Remove the bottom two rows of pixels - Even while in full screen, the Windows taskbar is visible, albeit only by two rows of pixels along the bottom of the screen. If you want to be pretty and proper, crop the photo so that it's height is two pixels shorter, cutting off the bottom of the photo. For a 1024x768 screenshot, the result would be 1024x766. For a 1280x800 desktop resolution, your result would be 1280x7987/25/10 Update: Taking a screenshot of the Zune Software is even easier. Because the Zune 4.0 software has full screen mode, you do not need trim the bottom two pixels any more. I recommend you use the full screen mode mentioned in step 2a instead of simply maximizing the Zune software.
- In Windows 7 and Windows Vista, do not use the snipping tool - I have nothing against the snipping tool. However, for what we are trying to do and the way the Zune software behaves it can be difficult to get a decent picture, quickly. The Zune software is mouse aware, meaning as soon as you move your mouse over the program window, even if it is not selected, the software controls popup. For a screen capture program that is based on mouse selections (like snipping tool), the two don't always mix. When you're waiting for the right shot to come along, you may need to click on the screen and sometimes the snipping tool is not fast enough to get out the way and capture the shot (see above). Sure, most of the time it works. However, I want the process of capturing a decent screenshoot to work all the time not just 98% of the time.
- In Windows Vista, color match your desktop - In Windows, the glass that surrounds your windows can be color customized. In this case, use this feature to complement or contrast the colored photos the Zune software generates. Right click on the desktop and select 'Personalize.' From there, select the option to change 'window color and appearance.' Now that you are at the color selection screen, give yourself a full color palate by selecting the option to 'show [the] color mixer.'
- 7/25/10 Update: In Windows 7, color match your desktop – Similar to Windows Vista, you can change the color of you window glass. From the Start Menu, search for the word ‘theme,’ select ‘Change window glass colors,’ finally, choose the color you want to use. It is that easy to change your Windows 7 theme.
