Zune 3.0 hands-on
By Paul Miller 
posted Sep 16th 2008 11:04AM
posted Sep 16th 2008 11:04AM
With 3.0 all ready to go, we wasted little time jumping onto Marketplace wirelessly, which felt especially delicious on a teensy little flash DAP. Naturally, we could've squandered all our Microsoft Points on song buys -- which are quite easy to accomplish, with a cart-based purchasing system -- but we're all about subscription music, and Zune Pass speaks our language. The browsing, selecting and downloading processing couldn't be much easier, and you can pick a song to play from right in the store while browsing other wares. There were a couple hiccups in playback when switching tasks, but they were always brief.
Sadly, the "buy from FM" feature quickly reminded us why we can't stand music radio, and while we could easily get the meta data for the station we tuned to, specific (or sufficient) song data was more rare -- on our fourth or fifth try we finally nabbed Rod Stewart's Maggie May, and the actual download process was painless.
We're less enthused by improvements desktop side of things, not that they're bad, just maybe not meant for us. We haven't played enough tracks yet to use the "picks" recommendation feature yet (Microsoft's Genius killer), but we usually prefer the recommendations of friends and critics to cold, heartless pieces of software -- and Zune has had that locked down with the Social for a while now. The flashy MixView feature is a fun way to browse connections between related artists and albums, but the functionality is nothing new. The general design, usability and stability of the Zune desktop software has indeed come a long way, and we'd have no reservations about using it for all day music browsing and listening. The basic player view is a joy to use, where Apple seems to be taking a step back with iTunes 8.
While Microsoft might not best Apple at every point of audio ecosystem -- and the glaring lack of an iPod Touch or iPhone competitor makes much of this irrelevant for many people -- Apple's refusal to build a subscription service makes Zune Pass one of our few choices for a well-integrated player and subscription software combo. Rhapsody's "mature" desktop player is really starting to show its age, and Zune 3.0's addition of wireless downloads has us ready to make the switch.
United Kingdom Please!
I'm glad the Zune had virtually no snafus in their upgrade. As much as I'd like to get the 120 gigger I think I may wait a while until the price drops. I have other things I need to budget for.
Remind me why he's being lowranked? o_O
Was I?
Does the Zune play WMA Lossless (still .wma)?
Try - http://www.dbpoweramp.com/ -or- http://www.foobar2000.org/
On WMA Lossless - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Media_Audio_9_Lossless
Forgive me if I'm wrong.
Of course the zune still plays WMA lossless.
Well then that should suffice for those needing their FLAC fix.
@Rowdehaj
I gave him a positive and you a negative for your useless and unnecessary comment. Have a good day. :-)
They even released a commecial that advertises the features of the Zune AND looks really cool. Check out the Zune page. If it airs on TV, I think the Zune is going to gain in popularity...
They actually finally get it!! lol
Now all the zune needs is the marketplace to come to canada!!
Just buy Zune points at a BestBuy or something like that online; I'm in Barbados and the Marketplace works fine for me once I put the points on instead of trying to use a credit card.
How about the entire zune system coming out of north America some time soon? Al thought I do see a certain logic in waiting for it to mature before it is fully released.
Ditto. I'm in Mexico and I own a Zune 80, which I love, but the only way I can buy music online is in a few stores that offer DRM-ed tracks. I want amazon music store and Zune marketplace to work here too. I know it might not happen :(
Were you not able to get the 14-day free subscription to Zune Pass? They started offering that again this morning with the 3.0 update. That offer last appeared sometime early last year, it's a smart move to bring it back since so much of the new 3.0 functionality (Buy from FM, channels, etc.) is enhanced with a subscription.
Looks pretty good... a lot like the iTunes store. Nice that all Zunes have wifi built in from the start. However, it could just be the pics but the screen resolution looks like it could really be improved.
Must be the pictures. Go to a store and play with one. It looks bright, sharp, and really easy on the eyes.
These pictures make the screen resolution look awful. It is much better in real life, I've watched full movies on my Zune with no complaints.
Ironically...
OsX is to Windows what Zune software is to iTunes...
You know, I generally like microsoft products but you're right on the money here. Not with respect to features or anything, but I think the zune software has a better style and a more consistent style than iTunes does, which is also probably my main irritation with windows, visually it lacks a consistent visual theme.
Honestly, I want the zune/xbox team designing the visual style of the next version of windows, because it seems like every time they put something out, it's leaps and bounds more polished and slicker looking.
Why doesnt anything have a capital letter? That would tick me off no end.
Good to have decent competition to the iPod though. Creative and Sony have just lost it. Releasing mediocre after mediocre player.
What they should do is capitalize every second letter. That would be the way to co-opt some of that iPod innovation.
The Zune is looking good now..If only Microsoft released it in the UK :(
What the hell is with the lowranking of seemingly neutral and informative comments??
Your comment was neither seemingly neutral nor informative.
I just upgraded my Zune 8 to 3.0. One quick question.
Where the fuck is my device's wallpaper!? It's just black now. There is no more default Zune wallpaper, which I liked. Now I have to find some sketchy GIF of it or something and upload it onto this bad boy.
Other than that, awesome. My album art (that was all screwed up for some godless reason) in 2.5's software is now ALL BACK. I am so happy. That's three hours of re-attatching album images saved. Thanks, MS. : )
On a side note, how come you guys have so many "hiccups" installing things? I downloaded it and installed it the second it came out with no problems on VIsta x64, and have had zero stalls whatsoever. I bet your system tray looks like AOL threw up in it.
"I bet your system tray looks like AOL threw up in it."
So much irony in that statement...
There are now over a hundred backgrounds up at http://www.zune.net/en-us/products/zuneplayers/backgrounds/default.htm that you can download to your device.
@Mike
Hey, that's awesome! I can not believe I haven't seen this page before. Much appreciated. Still liked that super minimalistic default wallpaper, though...
I'm sure they have just as many issues installing iTunes or updating their iPods.
It's just that when they do, they need to make at least 3 posts per issue and put some kind of spin on it.
@Mike
Is it a sin if I use those wallpapers on my iPhone?
FYI, I do think the Zune is a great player and almost (but not quite) bought one this summer.
I got some awesome urban backgrounds that look freakin' great on the Zune. I keep my eye out for high resolution photography and I've got a massive collection. I don't know what color your Zune is (mine is black) but, if you want...message me through the Zune social and I'll send you some.
http://social.zune.net/member/PynkFloydd
I got a few people asking about backgrounds... I put some up on Flickr to make it easier. I've got a lot more but, there's some that look great on the Zune.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pynkfloydd/
I also upgraded to 3.0 this morning, it was awesome for an hour, but for some reason my zune froze around 11 o'clock later in the day, thats the second time its happened to me :( (the last being the upgrade from 2.0 to 2.5) now i'll have to wait for my battery to die or consult the zune forums
finally.... zune getting some recognition. Love the last comment in the story too ;)
Next revision needs to better integrate the xbox and zune
Totally agree - buy once, download and play on any device (that's linked to your account) would be killer. Thankfully, there are some signs that Microsoft is moving in this direction.
I would love to see the new "now playing" mode on the 360 while playing music.
my thoughts exactly. After getting re-addicted to hexic all over again i was left longing with integration with xbox live integration, high score synching, achievements. No doubt this will fit in with zune 4.0, lets just hope we don't have to wait another year for that.
as for the upgrade process, it worked a charm.. software installed hitch free here at work, device upgraded without a hitch (and i'd faffed around with community game stuff prior which i thought might complicate things), and it's all tickety boo (good!).
shame the account sign in page has been broken for a large part of the day preventing us from re-accepting the EULA (why is that stored online??), and there STILL being no sign of a EU marketplace.
Ive got it all set up on vista 64 and my zune 80 painlessly, no problems like you mentioned. ive not been able to try out pix or mix view, cant find them in the zune software. possibly because im from the uk and cant access the social?
Set your region to "USA" in Windows' Control Pannel (under location) - and you'll get Mix View, etc.
ive done that, i can see the market place and stuff, but i cant sign up for social, as the webpage for accepting the terms and conditions seem to use IP blocking or somthing. as far as i can tell mix view only shows up if you have a social account. i may still be missing somthing though!
You might want to try a proxy that goes through the US. They're probably doing a block on any IP that registers outside.
i downloaded the update this afternoon to all 3 (80g, 8g, and 30g) of my devices, the only problem i have is the 8g keeps searching for my wireless network. other than that i'm VERY pleased!!!
I have to say, that review would have turned me off to the Zune.
Wait, I'm already turned off. Picked one up at Best Buy and held it for 10 seconds. It was such cheap junk I had to laugh at the Best Buy salesman who came up and said it was so much better than those lame iPods.
Subscription? Yeah, as if I need to be sending out $16 a month to play someone else's music. I get my CDs for $3 - $7 used and I own the music for life.
Wow, you really put the Zune through its paces in those 10 seconds, you nailed it.
I literally have dozens of CDs I've purchased over the years that I absolutely never listen to anymore. That's a few years of Zune Pass I could have purchased instead, had it been available, and when the old stuff bores me I can dump it and replace with something else.
The most surprising thing about your post is that you met a Best Buy rep who would actually promote the Zune. Every time I've seen a Zune at Best Buy, besides the fact that the reps actively ignore it, the device was not even activated so none of the features could actually be demonstrated.
It's all subjective. Personally, I find the iPods to be cheaper feeling and much more dated looking (minus the Touch of course) than anything but the 1st gen Zunes.
Eric,
You have no idea what you're missing out on. Having the complete freedom to hear any band at any time is the most liberating thing in the world for a music fan. I can't imagine going back to CD stores to buy albums based on how much I liked the band's last effort or what the artist's reputation is or how cool the album cover looks. There is no point to "owning" music anymore. None.
I find that almost everything tethered to the anti-theft devices at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc., feels toylike. I picked up a Canon 50D w weeks back, and thought it felt like plastic crap, which was surprising for a $1,600 SLR camera. My friend bought one last week, and it is solid as a rock. You can't really judge the feel of the devices, especially small ones like flash PMPs, when they are crazy glued to a spring loaded cable with a big chunk of plastic slapped on their back.
mrpoo
You should probably start listening to some good music and not that disposable crap you end up getting sick of.
Wit! You must not have purchased any music during the '80's to be laying out a harsh retort like that.
I buy CDs, I have record companies sending me them and I have a Zune pass. Since radio in my area stinks its a great way to hear new artists and if I like them I buy the albums.
Don't you people get it? He couldn't pass the screen that says "connect your zune to your pc" (or whatever) and got stuck there for 10 whole seconds. he probably said, "what a piece of junk, how can this thing play music when you can't get to it?"
@mrpoo
the guy at best buy tole me that most of the time they don't even have real devices on display, just peices of plastic made to look like the device (that explains why the palm centro's keyboard fell off :-/)
New software is ok, although as I am in the UK I cannot use the online functionality. I didn't have any problems with re-syncing or anything. It would have been nice though if they had a raft of new accessory announcments today. The selection is woeful
"The basic player view is a joy to use, where Apple seems to be taking a step back with iTunes 8."
Ain't that the truth. I am pleased to see the Zune is looking good. Hopefully the competition will result in better products. Shame it doesn't work for a mac/ is available outside the U.S. and Canada.
Still waiting to get the 5 star comment system back, and to be able to use something other than the Zune software to transfer music to my player. When that happens call me, otherwise I'm with Zune guy, I sold my Zune and bought an Ipod :(
I mean 5 star rating system
so u went from zune software to ipod software...fantastic.
Just curious, but what's the appeal with rating music you own? If you didn't like a song ans gave it 1 star, why would you put it on your music player?
I'd like to know.
Don't rank him down, his post made perfect sense: He was getting sick of being tied to a program, simply to transfer music, so he got rid of his Zune and bought an iPod.
HE WAS SICK OF BEING TIED TO A PROGRAM. SO HE BOUGHT AN iPOD.
SICK OF BEING TIED TO A PROGRAM. iPOD.
TIED TO A PROGRAM.
iPOD.
Love the new update! Everything went well; wallpaper and album art are all intact. The marketplace is pretty slick, too! It's the little things like these that made me get a Zune and hand over my iPods to my kids. Now I need to replace my Bose Sound Dock with something similar that works with my Zunes.
My upgrade worked without any major glitches. The only minor glitch I had was that I needed to agree to the new service agreement but the link it gave you to go to from within the Zune software I got a page not available. I had to go to zune.net and login from the main page to agree to the new services agreement to access my zune pass.
Other than that, its great. Awsome improvements, and marketplace browsing within the device wirelessly is definitely one of the best features.
Come on..with the troll factor aside the sheer number of readers/commenters should tell you something. When Iphone 2.1 dropped there were about 150 comments in just a few minutes...zune 3.0 has 20. If you listen closely, you can hear the industry say...who gives a F about a zune.
I'm glad a cynic like you isn't in "My Social".
I'm stunned to read that the number of comments an Engadget article receives indicates the quality or dominance of a product. You're a fucking troll's butt-plug.
On the money Engadget. I have had a Zune since day one and loved it.... however i can understand why people didnt like v1 or v2 .. v3 really brings some great features to DAP players that Apple only offers on high end players... and MS does not forget you a couple of years down the line ... my v1 player is now a v3 player :)
I tried it, but its not for me. The software stinks obviously geared toward the teenie boppers. I'll stick with my smartphone.
I agree. The zune software is totally geared toward teenagers or people who tend to be "showy". Aside from that I think the hardware is decent. Nicely designed. Same with the software on the hardware. But they really need to class up the zune computer app and port it over to mac and linux.
You know that you can turn off (or change) the background and animations, right??
I probably won't use the Marketplace feature all that much--since I mostly listen to Japanese music and local bands--but minor things like the clock and Texas Hold 'Em make me wet my pants... and miss my bus to work.
Seriously, a clock made you wet your pants? I hope you haven't been wearing a watch for most of your adult life, otherwise I want to make sure I avoid the seat you use on the bus.
mrpoo, of all commenters, I would think you'd know about relieving yourself out of happiness... I feel alone... so alone...
touche
dont worry, he misses his buses
i have to agree with you there ColumnBreak about the marketplace...since a majority of the music i listen to is jpop and kpop it would be almost useless to have the marketplace in my perspective, but there are a few songs i like now and then from the states...thats the main thing keeping me from buying the zune, i wish there was some broader way to get music from other countries or the inclusion of it would be nice for users that dont only listen to us music
United Kingdom Please!
+1
Rest of the world please!
i really think microsoft should take a look at the message boards for its new device and see the positive outlook the consumers have for the new stuff. take a step back a year ago and people would be saying stupid crap like "whats a zune" , they've come a long way and the project is no longer an experiment. they need to go worldwide now and open up the market to the same regions the 360 is sold in. it will go a long way!
I live in the US btw.
2nd request is combine Zune / Xbox Marketplaces to one "Live Marketplace" so i can finally start building my hd show library!
Paul Miller great hand-on but to quick to publish. In reference to the desktop software nobody has mention the new search feature. try it out its fast im really fast
Is my browser freaking out or are 90% of the commenters here low-ranked for no reason?
Well what do you know, it was my browser. This new comment system is so weird.
I'm curious - what was it in your browser that had the comments low-ranked? I noticed the same thing with Firefox 3.
Wow. The Zune 3.0 update is amazing..
To fill in the things they couldnt (picks)
Its Amazing. Combine it with the 14 day zune pass. its truley amazing. I love all the music in the picks. (6,000 plays) so it knows me pretty well.
i have no doubt zune is shooting to the top of the mp3 world very fast.
The picks that Zune came back for me was:
1.) Crazy Bitch - Buckcherry
2.) I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry
Zune even knows the types of girls that I date! ...scary.
Update was easy as pie, finally we can exit the games without rebooting.
I'm loving the album view, bigger is always better, is it me or did they make the text on the zune home screen a bit smaller?
i'm loving the update, the clock place men could have been centered with date /month/year but i'll take this for now.
the font is smaller to fit "marketplace" all on one line
My upgrade failed at first ... i had to turn on the firewall service then the install went smoothly. Afterwards I turned off the firewall service again.
Just downloaded and updated my Zune 30 (love the fact that MS still supports the Gen 1 hardware). Looks like it's working without a hitch. I am seriously considering a Pass at this time because of the vast amount of music out there. The desktop client also looks like it will handle playing files a little better than v2.x did. I still prefer the ability to see my folder/file structure easily in addition to seeing the groupings that Zune does, but I'm probably in the minority there.
I see a lot of potential with this, especially now that audible.com is on-board for the Zune. While I may not think this is an iPod killer, I think it's a pretty solid device and the Zune Pass is in a class of its own.
Its 15 min of fame has come and gone. Already the tech news industry has brushed aside this item as newsworthy. Massive servers employed to service dozens of users was a waste of resources. Well at least a clock was added and WiFi ( crippled ) seems to work. FM radio... LOL
Admittedly I don't have FM radio, but I'll be happy using FlyCast or Pandora and read NYT while I'm at.
You made me do it.
http://www.just3ants.com/MilitaryMessageBoard/1_files/troll_b_gone.gif
When feeling popular gets in the way of everything you become absent minded. You are exactly why I have a dislike for anything apple.
Try to better yourself, remove the pessimism in your life, smile a little maybe, you'll add a few years onto your life.
How difficult is it to understand that this product is just born out of arrogance. MS copied Apple. Even the name itself was created to sound like iTunes. This entire endeavor by MS is to "COPY" Apple period. Have you all forgotten?
"Zune's similar sound to 'Tunes' made a great connection for us," Placek said."
Jubei, I think that you've forgotten that NO ONE (with the exception of Zak, another narrow minded fanboy) agrees with you. As a matter of fact, EVERYONE disagrees with you, and this is generally an Apple biased website with Apple fans generally commenting... Except for the fact that they generally have a brain because their eyes aren't being blinded by Steve Job's pubes and can understand how great the Zune really is.
I can only laugh at any post you make, as I know that no one here cares what you have to say, and you'll only be a source of quick laughs and an instant low rank. Move along, buddy- no one gives a shit. You're only wasting your time.
Wait... Are you in some way implying that because Apple used the word 'Tunes' in a product, that word is now off limits to all other music/ music paraphernaila creators?
Or perhaps what you're implying is tha Apple created the word 'tunes', and therefore anybody who uses that word is infringing Apple's copyright. Perhaps ALL words used by Apple belong to Apple.
Damn those Scottish, how dare they steal Apple's name in one of their most famous articles of clothing.
worked great for me. the little eq at the bottom is pretty hot not gonna lie
about to try out the actual zune hardware update now on my 80
Add FLAC support and I'll buy one. Same for Apple's iPods.
Try lossless WMA. Zune plays it, and it's the same quality as FLAC.
I think its worth mentioning that with a wifi connection and Zune Pass, your player can play/stream anything on the Marketplace. So Your 4/8/16/80/120 GB Player suddenly turns into a multi-terrabyte player.
Apple schmapple.
"While Microsoft might not best Apple at every point of audio ecosystem" lol they still managed to be apple biased!