I just invented a possibility to type in Microsoft ZUNE digital media player:

When the search or another type field is open, I imagine to be the typing as follows:

>the writing I invented for the ZUNE is more similar to the writing used in mobile phones than to the one used e.g. in Apple's iPods; I thought this would be more seminal because it holds the possibility for the user to get a certain routine through this type of typing so that he or she can learn to write more quickly than in other alternatives

>each direction of the control wheel is assigned to 9 or 10 characters that can be used for typing, jus like the number keys on a mobile phone are assigned to 3 or four letters (in instant messanging there should be more special characters):
>>UP: Space, a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h
>>RIGHT: i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q
>>DOWN: r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z
>>LEFT: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

>instead of the common time-consuming choosing of the desired letter on a pre-defined virtual keyboard, through hitting one of these directions the user can easily browse through the available characters for the respective direction until the desired letter is shown in the center; if this is true, he or she hits the CENTER button or another direction button (or waits for 3 seconds) to place the chosen character in the text field, like he would with a mobile phone.

>to reverse typing a letter, the user just hits the BACK key; the last written letter is deleted
>> pressing and holding the BACK key closes the text field and takes the user back to where he or she was before accessing the type mode

>a character that is just chosen but not yet confirmed appears semi-transparent at the end of the word down in the text field; however, if it gets chosen (just press CENTER, wait for 3 seconds or type another letter), it becomes solid and is now part of the written text

>to end the writing and thus reach the search results, the user just presses CENTER while no letter is chosen; he or she than reaches the results and can choose between the different types of them; of course, a hit of the BACK button brings the user back to the writing mode, just in case he or she hit the CENTER button accidentally

FOR INSTANCE:

Let's say I want to search my device for the song "Paint your Target" (which is from Fightstar, by the way), but I just neither remember the artist, nor the complete title, but just know that "target" was in it, so I have no clue where to search for.
I just start the search feature, choose "by song name" and hit "start search".
I start hitting the DOWN button until the "t" is glowing. So I hit CENTER to place it in the search field. Next letter. Now I hit the UP button twice so that "a" is glowing. That's the desired letter, so I hit CENTER to confirm. Then I hit the DOWN button once, so that "r" glows, and hit CENTER to confirm. Now, "tar" should be in the search bar.
So I push the UP button eight times to select "g" and confirm by hitting CENTER (or waiting for 3 seconds). Now I hit UP again until "e" is selected and confirm it, but this time through just going on typin: I push DOWN three times. This selects "t", which I confirm with CENTER. Now, "target" is written in the search bar. So I hit CENTER again to confirm and start the search.
Through this I reach the result list. I confirm while "songs (116)" is selected. Now I reach a playlist which contains all songs that contain "target" in their names. I look around a bit until I finally find "paint your target". I hit CENTER and confirm "start playing" to enjoy my music.

Short:
-Open search
-hit DOWN three times (T)
-hit UP two times (A)
-hit DOWN once (R)
-hit UP eight times (G)
-hit CENTER
-hit UP six times (E)
-hit DOWN three times (T)
-confirm search with CENTER

Please state your opinion to that...it is the only way of typing in ZUNE that I could make up that is not just a boring copy of typing on any other device.

BTW, there's full view, too.

Have fun and leave comment!