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.
Donald Bell is CNET Reviews' senior editor for MP3 players and portable audio, and one half of the MP3 Insider blog and weekly podcast. He also likes getting his hands dirty with digital audio tools for musicians and DJs.
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Donald Bell is an electronic musician, a veteran record store employee, and a fearless hardware hacker. He's also CNET's Senior Editor for MP3 and digital audio.
Jasmine France is CNET's resident digital audio doyenne, writing and editing product reviews, crave blogs, and feature stories on all things MP3. And if you need advice on headphones, she's your girl.
Can you download movies btw? Too lazy to watch the whole thing... :D
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.
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.