Microsoft rolls out Zune 2.3 software update with fixes aplenty

Not to be confused with the Zune 2.3 firmware update, Microsoft is today pushing out the Zune 2.3 software update, which brings with it a whole slew of fixes but no real new features. If the rundown of those fixes given by the ever-helpful Cesar of the Zune Insider blog are any indication, however, it seems that there are few areas of that software that aren't touched by the update. Among the problems getting ironed out are various Marketplace issues, as well as some nagging podcast problems (like not being able to subscribe to anything larger than 10MB), setup issues, and UI mishaps, not to mention a whole mess of sync issues that have supposedly now been sorted, to name a few things. In other words, the sort of update you probably want, and no doubt wish you never needed.

[nxtiak @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:31PM]

Sweet, hopefully this fixes the podcasts automatically being unsubscribed every other sync.

[Simon @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:31PM]

And you can bet your ass it doesn't cost $20.

[iPriest @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:44PM]

Never had to pay 20$ for an update of iTunes either or did you mean the update for the iPod Touch? Free as well!

[comp2 @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:51PM]

"Look at me! I'm using instances taken out of context to make me feel better about myself!"

[Simon @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:25PM]

lol @ you idiots

[no1 @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:32PM]

does it make it good?

[Argot @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:18PM]

No, not really. It is still only 3-4 times better than any Crapple iPod.

[Abuzar @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:22PM]

He got you there. Dude face facts, the Zune is better in every way than the iPod Classic. It looks much better, has a glass screen, it weighs less, it has Wifi Synching, and a much nicer UI on the desktop and the Zune itself.

[Scott @ Jan 24th 2008 5:46PM]

Sorry, but FAIL.
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3204

[Jordan @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:34PM]

I loved the old Zune software, but when the released the new Zunes I might as well have shoved it up mine. WORST SOFTWARE EVER making the product itself not that great. With the old software it WAS AMAZING.

[Dragod @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:03PM]

Check ZuneBoards.com, under the "Completed" section of "Hacks and Mods". There is an in-depth guide to downgrading to 1.4 firmware and 1.3 software.

[Peppie @ Jan 23rd 2008 1:53AM]

No offense Jordan, but the old software reminded me too much of WMP 11. I definitely like the new software. Much easier to use, I can customize the background, and everything in general is just much smoother in transitions (I kinda already said this, oh well).

[Jordan @ Jan 23rd 2008 9:17PM]

Yes but it doesn't have an editor so I can't change track numbers, album release years, and other things. I might downgrade or just use a different software with this new program I heard about that allows you to use other programs.

[nxtiak @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:35PM]

Here are the changes/fixes:

Thanks for the intro, lil! Here's the list of fixes in this update-

* Fixed top crashing bugs submitted by users
* Fixed bug where Zune software thinks the device memory is full (but isn’t)

Key Marketplace fixes

* Allow users to view top music videos in marketplace
* Misc improved error messaging including splitting sign-in issues into 4 separate errors for customer and support benefit
* Retrieval of subscription download history no longer stalls if the content is revoked
* Better handling of accounts that have expired credit cards
* Podcasts with spaces in their name can now be subscribed to
* Marketplace no longer blocks explicit content purchases when parental controls are set to allow
* Points balance label is now updated when user purchases new points

Key Player UI fixes

* Allow zooming in/out (2x, 4x, fullscreen) during video playback to prevent stretched playback
* Ability to switch Zune to GDI mode through command-line parameter

Key Podcast fixes

* Allow subscriptions to podcasts larger than 10MB
* Fixed some parsing errors that prevented some podcasts from syncing to the device
* Fixed bug where podcasts were unsubscribing themselves

Key Setup fixes

* Fixed numerous bugs affecting build to build upgrades
* Improved installation for users accessing from corporate networks
* Fixed driver uninstall failures
* Included device 2.3 firmware in client download
* Failure in creating system restore point no longer blocks client installation

Key Sync fixes

* Fixed issues with reverse sync
* Fixes issues with sync meter UI showing incorrect information as to what is on the device
* Fixed issues using wireless sync with multiple devices to the same PC
* Fixed a few different issues setting up wireless sync
* Device is no longer being reported as full even after deleting large file from device
* Device content is no longer being turned into guest content when it shouldn’t be
* Content with bad metadata now shows properly so it can be removed from device
* Turning off “autolaunch when a Zune device is connected” no longer prevents “Sync Now” from working from a wirelessly connected device
* Podcast bookmarking is now transferred/saved to the device
* Wireless sync connection continues to work after rebooting host computer
* Unsubscribe podcast from device now works properly
* Changing album art in the client now updates the device as well
* Duplicate tracks are no longer synced to the device twice

Key Xbox Streaming bug fixes

* Xbox Streaming now monitors the rip folder if user changes default location
* No need to reinstall client to fix Xbox Streaming when upgrading from XP to Vista

Key Infrastructure fixes

* Vista x64 customers can now get to web help from error messages
* Client no longer crashes if database is corrupted

Key Library fixes

* Changes in pictures or video metadata made outside client will now get updated in the library
* UI is now smoother during file groveling
* When a track is added to an album we will now always update the track on disc
* User can now update album art for marketplace tracks
* 'Unknown Artist' metadata is no longer written to files when writing out user edit of album name
* Renaming an artist now more reliably keeps the change
* Two different copies of the same album no longer get duplicated down to one when it shouldn’t
* Access violation no longer occurs when checking song properties in the burn list
* Multi-disc albums imported from iTunes no longer show in the client as a single disc album
* Thumbnails for video content now extract on XP properly

[tamoghno @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:00PM]

wow ! zune had so many bugs! who bought them at first place with all these bugs ?

[Carbonize @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:37AM]

Same people who bought OSX Leopard with it's 100 bugs that have yet to be fixed as Apple hasn't released the update yet.

[qd @ Feb 22nd 2008 10:02PM]

no more duplicate tracks has me jumping for joy on the inside

[timatl @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:44PM]

will the software automatically update or do you have to go to the website and download it?

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:45PM]

When you open the software, it should show that there is a new version out, automatically, and confirm the update with you.

[nxtiak @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:46PM]

Manual Download. Just go to Settings/Software/General then click Check for updates. It's pretty quick.

[timatl @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:53PM]

thanks guys. i will check it out as soon as i get home.

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:59PM]

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure thats what my Zune software did when the version 2 software came out...

[Thunderbuck @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:45PM]

*sigh*

No word on the Canadian launch yet, eh?

[iPriest @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:46PM]

I would call that good news for canadian consumers!

[Ruben @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:23PM]

Did you miss this?

http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/06/finally-zune-headed-to-canada/

[computer.dude.28 @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:58PM]

I got a Zune shipped up from the states, and I used a proxy server to sign myself up for Zune account, but songs I play don't show on my Zune card, and my xbox account says I live in the states, cause my Zune card has to. It will be nice when it comes here and I can fix all that.

[squirgle @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:49PM]

Does the fix warp space time so they actually released this ten years ago and therefore did something original? Because then I'd be impressed. Otherwise not.

[Erik @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:58PM]

Does the fix make your Apple fanboyism any less apparent? No.

Apple's not the king of originality. I'll give you a hint about who is: Nobody. Every company copies something from other companies.

[Backlin @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:33PM]

Well, I know for a fact that the iPod doesn't include that feature...

[squirgle @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:36PM]

No, it doesn't, because it doesn't need it.

[comp2 @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:52PM]

ERIK: WORD.

[squirgle @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:05PM]

Yeah, you guys are right. Microsoft is a totally amazing company that comes out with totally revolutionary products. Like, you know, iPods that look like the scroll wheel has melted. There's a big difference between being influenced by products and saying "Oh, hey, make one of those but, um, fuck up the circle thing in the middle so we don't look like hacks. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go see how the 'Leopardization' of Vista is going." Even the people at Microsoft would never dare pretend the Zune was anything but a knockoff so just stop.

[Argot @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:20PM]

Just keep drinking that koolaid squirgle....

[squirgle @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:40PM]

Nah, I'll wait for Microsoft to come out with their version "KulAyde Extreme" a year and a half from now. By the way, the ranking thing is killing me.

[Mark @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:26PM]

lol I love the "leapardization of vista" part which would be pretty hard to do since leapard was essentially a vista-ization of Tiger with a bit of linux thrown in for flavor. Or saying that the squircle copied the scroll wheel because it's kind of like a circle which is the general shape of the scroll wheel. By that same genius logic the ipod copied about 80-90% of things ever made since it's roughly a rectangle. Never mind that ms came up with a totally revolutionary ui that beats the pants off of anything else out there or put in a nice big screen so you can actually see videos without a microscope or threw wifi into its music player. Good job squircle, now go back into that hole you crawled out of.

[Backlin @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:26PM]

Fanboy comments are frowned upon arounf here, fool.

[derX @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:46PM]

Damn iBunnies.

Shoo!

[michael @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:51PM]

@Mark: I so agree! I've looked at Leopard before, and to me, it seemed like a rehash of several OS's.

Things most prominent are:

Vista : The translucent glass effect in the menu bar (but done awfully!)
Linux : Spaces, when virtual desktops have been in Linux for such a while already.
Sun Microsystems - the 3D dock. Though it's nothing at all like the Project Looking Glass that Sun did.

And there's other minor updates to other products within OS X that I've seen in other places for quite a while.

In that case, Apple also seems to have been 'copying' lately.

[squirgle @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:51PM]

Nah, I'll just go back to watching guys put together Zune ads on Mac Pros while listening to iPods and taking calls on iPhones. Oh, wait, that was a few months ago. Guess I'll have to wait for the next round.

[Zeus.:God @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:17PM]

Squirgle, do you think you're being clever or witty? Well, if you do, then you're the biggest fool known to man.

The Zune is a great product, and the Apple iPod is not original in the least. By your logic the iPod touch is a carbon copy of the Archos 604 WiFi or some shit.

Stop being such a dumb ass, and grow up.

[Carbonize @ Jan 23rd 2008 2:45AM]

I wouldn't worry about Squirgle. He's just an Apple obsessed troll. He posted the same inane rubbish in a story about a Samsun phone with touch screen. because we all know that every touch screen phone is an iPhone rip off because the iPhone was the first touch screen phone. Oh damn, no it wasn't.

And we all know the Zune is a rip off of the iPod because the iPooed (not a typo) was the first digital audio player. Oh wait that's right, Creative had been making them for years before the iPlop came out as had Samsung. In fact the concept of a digital music player was patented by an English man back in the 80's but he couldn't afford to renew the patents and couldn't do anything with his concept because the technology wasn't up to it. Memory was just to damn expensive back then.

My advice is just to mark down the silly little troll and not reply to him. Let him live in his Apple world where he has to buy a new iPod and iPhone when the battery gives up. Where he has to pay to get the 100+ bug fixes for Leopard. While those of us in the real world know that the only thing Apple can do well is marketing.

[squirgle @ Jan 23rd 2008 10:42AM]

Oh my god, I just figured it out. You guys all work for Microsoft. It's the only explanation. As one of the world's largest companies they've paid a bunch of dungeon crawlers to patrol these forums and bash anybody who dares speak ill of their mighty empire. It all makes sense now, 'cause, you know, actually being passionate about Microsoft would be like being passionate about a Beatles cover band or something. You guys should make it a little less obvious though, I mean, the Zune not a knockoff? Pffft. Like anybody's going to buy that. Lowest rated! Lowest rated! Lowest rated! Hahahahhahahahahahah! Hilarious.

[DeoWulf @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:49PM]

"Turning off “autolaunch when a Zune device is connected” no longer prevents “Sync Now” from working from a wirelessly connected device"

Thank you! I've been having trouble wirelessly syncing, and I guess that was it. Glad I don't have to worry about that anymore.

[Eto @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:51PM]

The only thing stopping me from buying a new Zune is the lack of Linux support.
I had a 1st Gen 30GB Zune, and it was a great player, but it was way too much of a hassle having to use a Windows installation in VMware just to sync my music.

[michael @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:00PM]

Well what music player does have official support for Linux?

Seriously, are there any major ones that do?

[derX @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:50PM]

Yes, Linux, in fact, is gay, because you totally witnessed two (or more) Eee PCs getting it on--they were the pink ones, no less.

And from that picture, how could you tell there's a thumb up Eto's ass?

....better yet, please don't answer that.

[Jubei @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:52PM]

I'm a big fan of HD Video PodCast. Why even bother with this wannabe device. Plus giving a dollar to the music industry for every Zune sold, sounds like another form a payola to me.

[marc @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:03PM]

You'e right. It sure is important to have HD on your 3 inch screen.

[nxtiak @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:25PM]

The Zune 80gb supports 720 pixels x 480 pixels up to 30 frames per second (or 720 pixels x 576 pixels up to 25 frames per second)
http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zune80gb/specs.htm

The iPod Classic and iPod Touch only does 640x480!
http://www.apple.com/ipodtouch/specs.html
AHHAHAHAHA LOOK WHO'S LOW RES NOW!

[mvan @ Jan 22nd 2008 4:57PM]

What no 20 dollar cost! Microsoft the new apple!