Zune 3.0 software sneak peek

Click to see the Zune software 3.0 photo gallery.

(Credit: Microsoft)

With any luck, Zune users will be treated to revamped software and firmware tomorrow, compatible with all generations of Zune media players. The PC-only Zune software is now in version 3.0, and includes some practical improvements along with some gee-whiz graphical enhancements. I'll briefly run through some of the new features here, but you can click over to our photo gallery for a more detailed look.

On the practical end of things, Zune user can now use the Zune software browse and subscribe to content channels (similar to Rhapsody Channels), which push new music selections to your device every week. Keeping in the music discovery theme, you'll also see a Picks page in the software offering up personalized music suggestions based on your listening habits. If you've signed on to the Zune Social and have hated jumping back and forth from the Zune software to the Social Web site, you'll be happy to see better integration of your Zune card, profile, and listening stats within the software.

There's also some stunning visual enhancements to the software that may prove useful. For instance, a new Mixview window offers a way to see music and friend suggestions in a Web of connected images. The Mixview feature makes for an impressive demo, but time will tell if it holds up as a music discovery tool. Zune has also updated their software's Now Playing screen with a slowly animated selection of artist photos and related text mixed up into attractive, full-screen eye candy.

[skillingssucks]

Quick, get the word out to the world's 3 Zune owners.

[bhund]

Quick, get the word out that it's time for a new Zune joke.

[skillingssucks]

It may be old, but it is still as appropriate as ever.

[techslut]

Are they Microsuck, sorry, Microsoft employees?

[wmassbob]

hey there super-smart guy, I have a zune 80 and iPhone 3g. Zune software kicks apple's butt- but I guess we should be like lemming and buy what everyone else does. Just because apple does a better job with advertising, does not mean that it makes a better product. ding-dong:)

[tehcoq]

It's funny how apple users claim to be non conformist, yet they are.

i love how people decide apple's better then PC just cuz there ads tell them that and they're more visually pleasing... have you ever thied to delete a file in a mac its not possible

[streamline35]

Agreed bhund. At least zune owners can upgrade their firmware for free, and enjoy the new features everytime, as opposed to ipod owners to have a buy a new one every nine months if they want to enjoy even half the features that zunes (or other mp3 players) have

[PLmike]

Zune is awsome. Can't wait for the update. :D

[PenaltyKillah]

Looks to be pretty niffy. The software has stepped up with the interface, and especially since iTunes 8 has acquired some of those Library features from WMP, it's good to see they're stepping up.

Can you download movies btw? Too lazy to watch the whole thing... :D

[johnqh]

Looks great.

However, there may be a philosophical difference between Zune software and iTunes here.

iTunes is all about organizing. Yes, it does playback - which works great as the mini player, or completely minimized. The playback interface is plain and simple. The animation is focused on organizing (like Cover Flow).

The Zune 3 eye candy looks great, but it is all about playback. Of course this is a design decision, but it makes me wonder how many people and how often sit in front of their computer and watch album arts while playing music.

[David Dudley]

I own both devices and I find Mixview to be more compelling than Genius on iTunes is. Not only is Mixview more visually compelling, but Mixview automatically plays back lots of songs by related artists if you click on the related artist album.

Mixview informs you about other artists inspired by the current one you're listening to and it makes it all so pretty. Genius, on the other hand, does not necessarily let you know the relationship of any songs or artists it recommends.

[garrenq]

Now, if they would only let you minimize the damn app into a tool bar like Windows Media Player, I just upgraded my 30GB Zune to the 120GB Zune and have the Zune Pass subscription. The Zune pass subscription is the best $15/month I have spent, since it let's me listen and download pretty much anything I want.

[atomicbomb156]

I really like the new zune software. I have both the zune software and itunes on my computer and the zune software is easier to use. Don't give me **** about how itunes has more music and video available. I don't buy my music online. I don't have a credit card and I don't want to give itunes my paypal account. I load the music I already have and with the mixview that zune has it is wonderful. Genius is well not so much genius. More like normal. And the view when playing music you can see the album covers you have is an eye-catching feature. I have had the iPod and it used to be unique and interesting. Not so much. The menu hasn't really changed that much, the click wheel is the same (No I am not spending $400 to get a 32GB iPod touch), and the screen is decent. Zune is the better in my opinion. I also own the zune and a sony walkman. I just needed the extra space since I have 25+GB of music. My walkman only holds 8GB whereas the zune has 80GB.

[robvme]

Its a great upgrade and makes Zune more compelling than ever. When you combine these features with Media Center and Xbox 360 you start to get a feel for the convergence we can expect with devices. This is where Microsoft is very strong. It has a long way to go to capture more share, but the disparity between iPod and Zune is quickly shrinking. The value of the Zune Pass is something that made me choose Zune over iPod - for the price of 1 CD a month, I can download as much music as I wish which is a great value. I wouldn't be surprised to see a Zune phone and Zune nanos and other variations of the Zune. Is it original? No, but then neither is iPod. MP3 players have been around longer than both. What makes the device work is the services behind it that's where the real contest is. With the emergence of IPTV and other consumer Cloud services, you can probably expect Microsoft to lead the way over Apple in mashing these devices and services together. The argument that iPod is better than Zune or vice versa is really pointless. What Zune now has to do is capture the mind share of third party accessory producers to get more complimentary devices out on the market. Docks, car sterio, and home audio are all geared towards iPod due to the tremdous success of the Apple product. If MS can get some of these third parties to start manufacturing to integrate with Zune they may see more sales and greater adoption.

[zuner2012]

Agreed, If Zune advertised more, they would dominate the market. It is overall a superior player. It can barely be hacked (trust me, a group of us at zuneboards have tried). As said before, free updates. On top of this, free games. Almost every time we have an update now, we get more and more free games. We can also make our own games for free using XNA gaming studio, integrating with Xbox and Windows games. Zunes can also game back and forth via wifi. for more information go to : Zunited DOT net or Zuneboards DOT com .

[moby1970]

So my girlfriend goes out and buys me a Zune for x-mas, i have an I-pooed but i hate the software... well as far as the zune goes i can't tell you about the software because i can't download it from thier server, all i get is page cannot be displayed message.. so that being said i am now heading out to return the zune and go and buy a creative zen , at least they have enough sense to put the darn software in the box when you buy it ... good luck to all the zune owners, i leave you with this... microsoft still hasn't gotten rid of the bugs in thier software so i don't for the life of me understand why anyone would think that thier mp3 players would be any better... peace

[PureSnipe]

Just bought a Zune 3rd Gen today with the 16gb Flash memory. I was a bit disappointed that there was no EQ settings in it, but when I listen to it in comparison to an iPod I also own, I'm amazed at how much better the Zune sounds. This is all-around a better product. The software doesn't go ballistic when I try and import my collection as iTunes does, and it is so much easier to manage the media on the Zune. Oh, did I mention that the 16gb Zune is about $40 cheaper than the 16gb nano?