Microsoft beefs up Zune music and community experience
By Ryan Block 
posted Oct 2nd 2007 11:31PM
posted Oct 2nd 2007 11:31PM
- The Zune Marketplace is officially adding DRM-free music support, launching with over a million DRM-free MP3 tracks. As we mentioned earlier, other details (like which labels, whether there is a DRM-free upgrade path is for users who've bought music with DRM, price differences, etc.) are not yet known.
- Zune Marketplace is also getting podcasts and music videos. (Great, but where's the real video content?)
- Microsoft is also launching Zune Social, a free online music community / social network (great, another social network!) which allows users to create...
- Zune Cards, which are web widgets not unlike Xbox's Gamer Cards. Zune Cards let other users track your most played and recently played music (updated each time you sync back to your host machine). Users can also sample music directly from someone's Zune Card.
- You can now share with others music that was shared with you.
- No, the Zune still doesn't analyze the tracks it shares, so Zune Pass unlimited customers still can't share music without DRM.
- But, at very least the Zune's 3x3 DRM no longer has a time limit. Same three play restriction, but it no longer has to be within three days.
Woot
I agree. This is really awesome.
Now, Zunes practically do everything the iPod G5's did, PLUS MORE. That's a BIG leap.
There still needs to be more work done, to make it much more better, but based on these facts alone, this is really amazing.
I mean, compared to the latest iPod, these Zune 2.0's really give you the bang for the buck. I mean, they are way more functional than the iPod's right now.
This is just like the "Xbox to the Xbox 360" jump.
It's that much better. Xbox went form a 'meh' kind of console to a "full-featured, multi-use, gaming console". Xbox 360 does a ton of stuff. Now Zune 2.0 does too. It may have taken a 2nd try, but I can tell where Zune 2.0 is going.
@michael, my xbox1 with xbmc still does more regarding media than any 360. but sure, stock box to stock box it was an upgrade..
Great! Yet ANOTHER post-millennial "design" involving Victorian lace, swirls, and intricacies! Microsoft is trying SO HARD to be hip with the times that it comes off as trite. A product like an MP3 player should promote feelings of stability, durability, and reliability, none of which come through when you're constantly trying to appeal to the current decoration fads. If all else fails, it should at least attempt to innovate design standards rather than copy the same look that consumers have seen for years now!
@Michael
How about stating some facts instead of saying blanket statements like the Zune 2.0 is better than the iPod. In what way is it better??
Yes the Zune is moving in the right direction but I dont see any major feature in the Zune that you dont get with the iPod - There are also many drawbacks with the Zune that still have not been addressed.
Following are things you get with an iPod that are not part of the Zune...
Video Out?
Address Book?
Calendar?
Audio Book support with chapters?
long battery life?
Mac OSX support?
What does the Zune add that we haven't seen in an MP3 player?
I think the iPod has set the bar fairly but also respect any company that manages to push the envelope and come out with something new. I just dont see anthing in the Zune that other MP3 players dont already do.
Umm Carlos, if Im correct I remember seein a set of belkin Video cables for the Zune.. Composite outs using the headphone jack..
Phour ZwanZig
you're right the Zune does have video out - my mistake
My point is that the Zune brings nothing substantially new to the table that we haven seen in other MP3 players
Battery life isn't mentioned which worries me, screen resolution is rather poor which kinda ruins the fact it has a nice size screen etc
The price is great until you realize that they probably just cut corners - oh and guess why the 2.0 software still runs on the original Zune - because these Zune 2.0s are probably sharing the same internals, so really these arent all new Zunes - just a refresh. Makes sense from a money making point of view.
I want to see MS come out with great new products not just play catch up - If MS came out with something that truely was better than what the market has to offer I would be the first in line to buy it.
COMPLAINT ABOUT RYAN BLOCK
Ryan, why do you even post anything about Microsoft? You are obviously a mac fanboy. Recently, people have been complaining about you, your posts and the obvious slant you put on EVERY post. Enough. Report it as it is; if you can't then don't...
Good Job MS! You may now have my money. :)
I do wish that I could have the new zune in Brown.
coverage from the local paper: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2003920832_zune03.html
Very Very nice Microsoft, still why no clock on the zune?
http://www.lockergnome.com/nexus/digged/
yes i say the same but this still have one month to make one
im excited for the flash. i have bin wanting something that was like the ipod nano second gen and this seems like it will be the player for me.
This looks very cool (and the software looks awesome as well).
Quick note: the Zune software was based off of WMP11, not 10.
YAY. Music Videos!! I would assume EMI and thus Kylie's new album X will be DRM free!
I'm a current Zune user, and I must say.. I don't want the new Zunes... They've removed so many things I loved about the Zune. It looks too much like an iPod now.
No more double shot, touch controls, shiny surface, it looks easily scratched.... Everything's changed. I'll just keep my Gen 1, and upgrade it myself, it looks like.
Im still keeping mine a classic I say but I will eventually upgrade to Zune 80
Kudos to Microsoft on this note. If you don't like the new hardware, keep the old stuff. You'll still have all the same features. Take note, Apple.
Exactly, Mr. B
I am going to keep my Zune 30, but I don't feel like I'm losing out on the experience, at all.
And once I'm ready, I'll just pop the casing open. Pop in a better battery and 160gb Hard drive and I'm good.
Good move Microsoft, but I wish it still had the same casing and the double shot.
I loved my v1 Zune for exactly the same reasons, but
you should really wait until it comes out to decide.
A picture doesn't necessarily tell a thousand words - if it's not accurate.
Although it does look like (in the picture) it will be made different. But if it's for real, they probably did so to make it thinner. So people can't cry "bulky!".
So I'd say wait and see for yourself when it comes out. Or you can keep your v1 Zune - the firmware updates will still be supported. One of the benefits to Zune :)
i really like the new zunes, (esp. the 80), but the touch controls kills me.
touching up-down-left-right isn't innovative or intuitive, msft! i want buttons!
Wow! - seriously - that software looks absolutely gorgeous - reminds me a tad of Adobe Lightroom :)
Give a w00t w00t for Microsoft!
I know they never will, BUT if they made it work with Macs then I would buy a Zune. No... TWO Zunes!
I agree they need to support the Mac. It would open them up a lot more to compete with the iPod, which I would assume is their main goal. I have a gen 1 and I love it, but I primarily use my MacBook Pro, so I have to go dig out my desktop just to put music on my Zune. So I find myself returning to the iPod...
WINE?
you can touch or click... when they have them on display on circuitcity i will see how scratch resistant they are because if they scratch very easily then i dont know if i will give up my first gen zune.
hah its so funny you said that. i work at a circuit city and they have a zune and an ipod displayed right next to each other... ipod is scratched to hell and back and the zune has only a few smudges from that fat kid that walked in with food in his hands...... im loving all this news .
Yeah. That's 'cause everybody just walked straight past the Zune.
"The new Zunes will now be able to connect and synchronize content stored on Windows Media Center PCs and will be able to play television recorded on high-end Windows Vista PCs."
SWEET
Cue the suddenly rampant paid shil... er, Zune fanboys praising every little thing MS does and claiming they'll be first in line to buy ten of these new players.
Because we all know Apple fans don't do that....
Seriously people actually own Zunes more then a million people own them thats a significant amount. So go buzz off. We would like to hear some news about our player too its only one day not like we didn't have to sit through monhs of stupid iPhone gushing and iPod gushing.
yeah and we still dont know where Gates is! damnit!!
I have to agree with you. What's with the Zune fanboys. I look critically at the product I review, and see both iPod and Zunes for what they are (both have advantages and flaws).
Zune is pretty average player. Looks like groupthink overtakes reason. On Slashdot they'll bash MS and praise Apple, over here it seems the opposite.
The topic matters not.
i would love to be the recipient of a 3-plays-before-destruction track.
Not only that, I would love supporting the company that introduced it.
Especially when there are so many completely unrestricted (upload and download) devices out there, working on any operating system without proprietary software being a requirement, much like a USB stick.
http://flac.sourceforge.net
http://www.vorbis.com
Wow, I feel curious enough to download the Zune software and try it out myself!
That's awesome. The current Zune software is shit. I have a Zune and I hate using the crappy software.
Engadget - it's a modified version of Windows Media Player 11 (WMP 11). Wikipedia says so : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WMP_11#Zune_Software
Anyways, the new software looks amazing, but...
I would have really preferred that Microsoft ditch the old buggy Zune software.
They could have transitioned the Zune Marketplace store to WMP 11's wide selection of stores, and made the Zune PlayForSure compatible. That way, it's more fair for the PlayForSure partners Microsoft has hurt.
Plus WMP 11 is the best media managing program there is! Compared to crashing iTunes on Windows, WMP 11 works like a charm.
It's beautiful, has a very simplicated UI, comes with awesome ways to tweak it (http://wmplugins.com), many online stores use it, and it just works amazing. Ripping/Burning have never been done so easy. Codecs are easy to find and download.
Zune should have transitioned their store to WMP 11, and let Zune management be taked care of in WMP 11. Microsoft deserting WMP seems really sad.
At least the new Zune software 'looks' amazing.
I'm hoping it just works as nice as it looks.
I think the reason they couldn't/wouldn't is because of the ongoing "monopoly" and lawsuits regarding embedding software within Windows. If the EU would back off, then maybe we would see thing come together a little better.
There is no real reason the Zune can't sync with WMP.
Looks good.
Who cares?
I would call you an apply fanboy... but you totally threw me off by saying "Looks good, who cares?".
Maybe they'll redo the crappy website now...
Honsetly, I don't think there's much any iPod user can complain about here.
Good news is that it appeals to iPod users.
Bad news is that it doesn't appeal to me as current Zune owner...
Except for the no mac support... yea. I mean sure. i have this bigger screen, umm... umm... what else? but i cant seem to get any music or movies on it... well, i guess it makes a nice decorative weight to keep this stack of papers from blowing around.
Did I miss the most important part? When can I download it???
I haven't bought an MP3 player in 4 years.
After Apple started bricking iPhones they lost my potential business.
I am getting an 80GB Zune 2 for my brother and I.
1. Great screen
2. FM
3. Wireless syncing
4. Interesting social network ideas
5. Good storage
6. Thinner, lighter
Apple needs some real comp.
It's about time.
If the two of you share your computer or are on the same network, you can probably share the same Marketplace account. The wife and I get unlimited tunes for $15 on my account.
WHEN?????
Sheesh! lol
Are there any specs on that software? It looks like it might be a WPF application which would rock if it were....
"The Wi-Fi feature is present in the entire Zune line — only high-end iPods got this technology in September"
LOL!!!! WHAT?!?! Comparing the wi-fi capabilities in the zune (or lack thereof) and the wi-fi capability of the ipod (the one that cna browse the web and download songs directly to it)
.....fair enough /sarcasm
so you agree? the zunes have always had wifi ability and only recently have the most pricely ipods have had that feature?
well, at least the iPods are making actual real use of the wifi... All wifi in the zune does is drain the battery faster. wow. wifi fucking rocks in the zune, i can send my all my friends a song that they can play only 3 times. wow. now, if only my friends also had a zune.
maybe ill go find that guy with the 3 zune tattoos, and maybe send him a song while he gets his 4th one.
"so you agree? the zunes have always had wifi ability and only recently have the most pricely ipods have had that feature?"
iPod is around since October 2001 (6 years).
Zune didn't exist in any form before November 2006 (11 months).
iPhone (the first Wi-Fi enabled iPod) has been around since end of June 2007 (4 months).
So, to you, the difference between "always" and "only recently" is 7 months. No further comments.
Disclaimer: not particularly fond of eijther the iPod, iPhone or Zune. Fond of facts and common sense though.
Zune.net is slowly updating- so far "Meet Zune" page is the only one with new images
http://www.zune.net/en-US/meetzune/
Hoping to see a release date for firmware/hardware.
November for new models & updated software. Yuck... Seems so faaaaarrrrrrrr away...
Very interesting. I only hope this compels Apple to finally update iTunes with some meaningful features. Competition is a good thing for consumers, no matter what fanboy camp you're in.
Apple is more compelled by players like Creative Zen which have better success on the market. They actually look at sales, not marketing, to determine what matters to them.
Zune is not among the top players on the market right now. Some have noticed that over a million of Zunes have been sold. One million, honestly guys, isn't a lot for a consumer mass market device.
iPod has sold over 110 million units in 6 year lifespan. Makes around 20 million units per year.
And let's forget iPod since it's rather the exception not the rule (but THIS is who Microsoft targets, right).
Creative Zen is selling 8 million units per year.
And again, Zune has sold one million per year.
Hope this puts it in perspective. Let's hope Zune 3 has something that's worth it to buy over iPod, or Zen, or a cheap no-brand chinese player.
Two questions: what happened to the brown color. I thought it was very hip (and I actually liked it better than the baby green on the smaller models).
And two, "YOU MAKE IT YOU"... This is their official slogan. Previous one was "WELCOME TO THE SOCIAL".
Did they outsource their marketing department to India*? At least try to make some sense in English, guys!
*I'm working in an outsourcing firm so naturally no offense to outsource companies.
What makes you think that Indian marketing firms don't know English?
FYI - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_English-speaking_population
Hopefully your tongue is in check the next time it tries to move faster than your teeny brain
Rajat, what part of "I'm working in an outsourcing firm so naturally no offense to outsource companies" didn't you understand.
It was a joke towards Zune's team, rather than Indian companies. I'm myself not a native English speaker.
Appreciating a joke isn't too hard, try it.
Recorded Television To Go
Great feature, no need to purchase shows. Just use Media Center to record and sync.
I WAS excited about wireless sync, until I went to the website and read the fine-print -- wireless sync only works when the zune is either plugged into the dock or charge --- stupid!
Great point. Except that isn't what it says.
Ahem... "Wireless Sync requires access to a home wireless network and can be manually initiated by clicking “sync now” on the Zune. Automatic Wireless Sync requires AC power to the Zune device via a dock, AC adapter or speaker dock accessory."
This means that it *automatically* syncs when you plug it in or dock it. If you want it to sync when it isn't plugged in, you just have to push sync button on the device. Sounds completely reasonable to me.
The Zune community looks really good. Now we're finally seeing a good reason for MS ditching PlaysForSure.
And Zune and Xbox work together, so if you buy MS Points for one, they work on the other.
Now if we could just take downloaded Xbox TV shows on our Zunes...
Here is something I havent seen imn any press releases "Recorded television content to go [Using Windows Media Center]" http://www.zune.net/en-us/meetzune/holiday2007.htm
I knew from the very beginning that they were going to add some last.fm type feature at some point. Looks like I was right.
I guess i better finish my site soon
http://www.zunecards.net/
No DRM is great. Seriously. I hope more stores keep doing it. Amazon too. It would be great to have so many options to buy your music from different stores so they keep the prices down and you can actually find what you're looking for and not being bound to a certain online store, for instance iTunes.
Anyone able to download this new version of the Zune software and firmware? It keeps saying I have the latest (v1.4 for the firmware)...
The software won't be available until November, along with the new Zunes.
Awwww... I stayed up late for just the announcement only then. No matter, it does revitalize my interest in the Zune though.
I love it how they don't emphasize the cut off "podcasts" on the screen - classic Bill.
hey i hav a question to all the diggers out there
i hav a zune 1
and its soooo tight i luv it more than all the ipods
i got the first nano it was shit
zune ownes ipod
but now the new ipod touch came out and its rely tight
so i preordered it through amazon so they wont ship it for a week or so
NOW the new zunes r anounced and im goin crazy theres so much cool new stuff and its thinner and all the other stuff
i can cancel my order for the touch anytime so plzzzz respond to tell me wat i shood du!!!!!!!
You should tidy your room before your mummy gets in.
hey i hav a question to all the diggers out there
i hav a zune 1 and its soooo tight i luv it more than all the ipods
i got the first nano it was shit
zune ownes ipod but now the new ipod touch came out and its
rely tight so i preordered it through amazon so they wont ship it for
a week or so
NOW the new zunes r anounced and im goin crazy theres so
much cool new stuff and its thinner and all the other stuff
i can cancel my order for the touch anytime so plzzzz respond to tell me
wat i shood du!!!!!!!
o ya also i forgot 2 say
i hav a mac. srry. but me and my dad shared a windows pc before i got the mac and he uses it so i can use that
plzz help
srry for sendin that twice
Is it me or does the Zune really looks rubbish?
If Microsoft was cool they would easily incorporate all their products. They do between like the PC and the Xbox 360, and I guess between the PC and Zune (never used it). But what about the Xbox 360 and the Zune? I know between the Xbox 360 and my WinMo Device theres not connection what so ever. Also, the PC and WinMo connection is sub par when it comes to multimedia.
So it would be really nice if they had all these device work together. Set some standards for WinMo Device (must have Wi-fi and whatever). Then they should get Zune software on for WinMo Devices so you can do all that great stuff Zune does like the Wi-fi syncing and sharing. I mean why not? It's all Microsoft...Also get like syncing contacts with the Xbox 360(future VOIP support idea) and Zune and be able to share music with the Xbox from a WinMo Device and Zune (if not possible already). That would be like the perfect integration, along with ya know...stuff I didn't mention/think of.
For the love of god, Carlos - it's an MP3 player, not a smartphone/PDA. I already have a smartphone (I heart HTC S710), and actually think it's GOOD that this doesn't come with a calendar and/or address book. It's an MP3 player. It plays music, and it plays video, too. That's all I need. Now, if the wireless syncing works as advertised, I think Apple can say goodbye to a large part of its marketshare.
Wow, I'm really impressed. Microsoft actually did something right -- too bad it wasn't last year with the Version 1 -- but big kudos to MS for updating the features of V1s to match the V2s. I still wish they would just eliminate the Zune software and use WMP11, but maybe a compromise MS, how about let us choose?
It would be better and killer if they would go ahead and add Mac OSX support and if they would try to compete with a lower price that Apple, say $199 for the 80 gig or even $225, but at least these features blow away the standard iPod. If only MS had done this 5 years ago, Apple might not be so dominate today, but sadly, MS has been playing catch up in numerous areas for 10 years and now the iPhone is really the gadget to beat now. The iPhone, however, is still too expensive --$99 is the sweet spot on it maybe even $150. But thanks to all those early adopter fools who whined about the price cut, Apple won't be lowering it again anytime soon.
Anyway, back to MS. Media Center functionality is great. They deserve credit also for backward compatibility. The only thing I haven't heard yet is, what about support for Windows Media Lossless?
i totally agree about eliminating the Zune software, but I also thought how chaotic i can get if they use WMP11, but then again i'm sure they could work with it (make WMP11 better). Subscription support would be great too as well as OS X support for a shot at the mac users.
i am really super stoked about the new Zunes, however i most likely will not be getting one cuz i can do music and stuff with my WinMo phone (music and pictures, videos are crap on my 8525 and hopefully will be better on the Tilt, plus support for new gen SD cards and the usb 2.0 will be muchly appreciated) and hopefully sum better MS integration with WinMo and other Microsoft devices is in the near future.
What about Audible support!!!! Please oh please tell me they are including audible support this time around!!!! Why aren't the bloggers asking MS about Audible support? It's one of the most obvious questions to ask I would think as it's one of the most glaring ommissions from Zune 30.
As a MSFT shareholder, J or Bill please answer the following.
How is the ability to play recorded TV shows from Vista driving revenue growth?
How is the ability for iPod users to purchase DRM free music from Zune Marketplace driving Zune device sales?
How will the Zune Social website drive revenue growth? Will the operational expenses be covered by the potential music sales?
Man, if Zune played well with Mac, I would seriously just go buy an 80 gig Zune instead of the next-gen iPods. The software looks a lot better, the hardware design is sleek and modern, and I just love the Zune's versatility. But... it's not MACabble.
but cant u dual boot.
i mean if u already have windows. lol im sure buy vista just to use ur zune is not worth dishin out the bucks for an overly expensive os, but i guess u could just get home basic :D
Why are so many people here enamored with the Zune? It looks very plain, the controls are a pain to use, and it doesn't really break any new ground (syncing over wifi to my PC? So what, I have to plug in a cable to charge it anyway). Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of Microsoft (I'm a lfetime Windows user and XBOX 360 absolutely rocks!!) but the Zune doesn't really differentiate itself from the competition. They are priced EXACTLY like the equivalent Apple products, and they don't look much different either. Basically another "me too" product. "Squirting" my favorite songs to some other dumb ass who happens to also own a Zune? That just a bunch of B.S.! Well, at least they got rid of the poop brown model (how trendy!). Hey, here's one way that a Zune stands out from the crowd: hideapod.com
here's a scenario that i kno for a fact that ppl encounter. you live in a house with a bunch of ppl, you want to put some music on ur mp3 before u leave, and someones on the computer (and siblings are hard to boot off). oh but wait, u have a zune, just get it wirelessly (only of course if ur pc is wifi enabled). also if ur not near ur comp but its on and theres a song u want from it...haha take it wirelessly. personally i think that is an excellent idea. but the really need to get that wireless music store goin.
Good point! I always thought that the chances of randomly seeing three people with Zunes in a room together would be like getting struck by lightning twice. But I guess once they get marked down in price enough, they would make a great group present for a family.
Podcasts as in specially selected by Microsoft podcasts, such as what you can find on the iTunes store? Or podcasts as in any properly formatted podcast feed that you can manually add to the Zune software, as you can with iTunes?
If I can do the latter I'm definitely buying a Zune whenever the new ones land. :)
I'm returning my iPod touch today to Best Buy and waiting for the new 80GB Zune. I have a bunch of dead pixels anyway. I'm also tired of Apple crippling its devices to protect their cash machine. I thought I would be able to manually enter calendar events when I bought it. Apple lied to me... Stick it Steve!
- Still US Only?
- DRM Free MP3s? Are you sure about that. DRM Free WMA, surely.
- Track Price?
- Where's the 160Gb version?
I take it the software/firmware update will be available when the new Zune's launch.......
In any market it's hard to compete with the market leader in the market leader's signature product, so give microsoft a break. I think the new features are a big improvement and A for effort. Also makes for good fodder for funny online comics:
http://www.itgumbo.com/mumbogumbo/2007/10/zune_takes_on_ipod_in_war_over.php
"Where's the real video content?"
It plays mp4 and h.264. The real video content is on the torrentz.
Marshall
---------------------
The Real HT Info Podcast
Never mind, looks like it doesn't specify which type of mp4, might not be divx/xvid compatible (which will be a dumb mistake if true.)
Marshall
-------------
The Real HT Info Podcast
Here's the thing, I'm not knocking Zune or saying that apple is the best. But if Ms wants to beat apple in the mp3 market then they've got to go past apple. Don't look at what apple can do. Do more, have better things included.
At this point the differences between the zune + ipod isn't that great. There are some features that are availabe on the zune not on the ipod and some on the pod not on the zune.
MS wants to win they've got to come in from a whole different approach. They got to say, this is what they have, this is what we want and where we want to take it too.
EX. Apple has the ability to use WIFI for surfing the web on the touch and buying songs via the itunes store. MS could take wifi further and push it into new terroity, allow you to sync wireless to your library. Let the zune become a wifi music/video player, able to stream music/video to any compatible wifi speaker/tv or stereo system?
Apple can tv out but it's only 480p/480I. Zune, why not allow 480i/480P/720P output?
Native support for divx/xvid
User high resolution than the iphone touch.
It may cost MS more $$$ but MS has been late to the game and they need to move into new areas that apple has not gone to. They need to push, be the leader, be the innovator and make apple go, "gee why didn't we do that earlier"
i absolutely, i dont think Microsoft wants to completely put apple out, they'll just end up with the monopoly cases and stuff. but if they want to really compete then they do need to go beyond the apple features. plus, they should have included bluetooth with A2DP support, i mean why would they leave that out with speculation of a bluetooth radio in the ipod touch?
sry typo above, ment to say absolutely agree
Why has no one cracked the 3 days/plays restriction, yet?
Microsoft must be keeping hackers under their thumb. :p
I explored the difficulties MS will have with its ongoing Zune strategy (with links, videos and background) at:
In the shadow of the iPod: Microsoft Zuning out of the Social
http://counternotions.com/2007/11/06/zune-no-longer-social/
"...Zune has no compelling advantage over the iPod, other than being not-the-iPod. With the possible exception of Sony (that apparently cannot write software if its life depended on it), there’s really no other company better positioned to challenge Apple’s digital music hegemony than Microsoft. But is Microsoft being delusional here or is Zune 2 just a bridge to Zune 3 that’ll crush the iPod?"
"So what does Microsoft do for Zune 2? Double the ad budget ($17 million for the next six months), change the ad agency (McCann-Erickson’s new T.A.G. unit in San Francisco) and drop the “Welcome to the Social” strategy."