Zune software update coming September 15th alongside Zune HD launch

Unless Microsoft's playing a nasty trick on its loyal fanbase, the latest Zune newsletter confirms a feature-laden software update, very likely what we've been calling Zune 4.0, is due out on Tuesday, September 15th, the same day as Zune HD takes its place among its fading peers. "All-new Zune software packed with exciting new features," you say? We'll be looking forward to more HD video options and an apps marketplace, all the while bemoaning our cut in HDTV Media Center recording capabilities. As for any other surprises, looks like we'll just have to wait and see -- for now. Full Zune newsletter reprinted after the break.

[Thanks, Daren]

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:21PM]

Huh, I had already assumed this was the case. Didn't realize this was newsworthy.

[Giantenemycrab Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:23PM]

Good thing you're not a writer here then because I didn't know this! Thanks Engadget.

[enhuman Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

Assumption is the mother of all f***ups.

Just rejoice in the confirmation of goodness that is Zune HD and Zune 4.0(?).

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:40PM]

Yup, just like there last article.... Hd Movies on Zune Marketplace!!!

Its like, no shit...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 7:56PM]

I didn't know there is a such thing as zune software. They are still selling zune?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 10:50PM]

hahahahahahahaha omg they even pictured the zune just like the ipod touch!

Its like saying: "Hey, we copied it, might as well advertise it the same as well!"

LMAO This is ridiculous.

[KeegdnaB Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:21PM]

Way to skirt by actually telling us what's gonna be new in 4.0 microsoft.

Now you're just teasing me even more.

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:27PM]

Weird... all replies to me seem to be going to KeegdnaB...

[bjsguess Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:35PM]

Ike Turner ... you couldn't be further from the truth. A properly tuned 6.5 is a top OS for mobile phones. I sincerely doubt you have ever used it.

[Zodiac Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:19PM]

Zune with 2% marketshare, Ballmer isn't teasing anyone. Not even your neighbors! :)

[uwaga dude Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:22PM]

KeegdnaB @ Sep 3rd 2009 4:21PM

Way to skirt by actually telling us what's gonna be new in 4.0 microsoft.

Now you're just teasing me even more.

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Joe @ Sep 3rd 2009 5:19PM

Zune with 2% marketshare, Ballmer isn't teasing anyone. Not even your neighbors! :)

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He just said it was teasing him. What do you mean "isn't teasing anyone"? Are you some kind of illiterate chimp or something? BTW, its 10% marketshare, which is still higher than Mac's pathetic 8%.

[One Love Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:56PM]

It will turn your old zune into a ZUNE HD.

[MrDiSante Posted Sep 3rd 2009 9:31PM]

So I have a Zune 80 and for me one of the major reasons was that Microsoft kept publishing update for the devices even after the next gen was released. What I want to know is: what goodies do I get out of it?

[Puggs Posted Sep 3rd 2009 11:21PM]

@Truth Bringer. I know it hurts.

"hahahahahahahaha omg they even pictured the zune just like the ipod touch!"

Errrr, so since when did Apple patent photo shoots and product layouts?

Its called optimum product arrangement! ;o)

[Decoy Posted Sep 4th 2009 1:56AM]

"Errrr, so since when did Apple patent photo shoots and product layouts?"

You damn fool. If they don't have a patent, they 're-invent' it. When 're-inventing' is too far-fetched, they 'popularize' it. Or 're-imagine' it.

If it just ain't popular, they make it ready for 'mere mortals' or 'everyone else'.

[Jerry Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:22PM]

Zune HD + Zune pass, please come to Canada! =(

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:16PM]

Zunepass maybe not, but dude. Just import a Zune HD.

[Someoneishere Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:33PM]

Um, the ZuneHD is coming to Canada. Are you stupid?

Also, the zunepass should work as long as you set your location to America!

[RioRyan Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:40PM]

@Someone is here
I think it is you that is stupid, my friend.
Google search "Zune HD in Canada". That's what I thought.
And regarding Zune Pass in Canada, you need to pay for it with an american credit card with an american billing address.

Other than that, your post made perfect sense :)

[pittronics Posted Sep 3rd 2009 8:51PM]

Just get an iPhone - don't buy in to Microcopys attempts - who cares about HD in your Pocket anyway -

[JorgeS18 Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:23PM]

September 15 can't come soon enough, I love my Cowon A2 but after 4 years it's starting to show it's age and it's time for me to Upgrade

[kurisutofu Posted Sep 4th 2009 12:49AM]

Exactly my thought!
I have the Cowon A2 and I really love it but I'm really interested in the Zune HD. Problem is, will they sell it in Japan too?

[CT Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:24PM]

Wait... I'm confused. Steve Jobs told me all firmware updates cost at least $9.99 and never work on older versions. What's the catch?

[Dafrety Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

This is software. Computer software. Not firmware, at least, not yet.

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:26PM]

Stepping aside your snarkiness- This is desktop software, not firmware.

[NaeemTHM Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:31PM]

...way to fail at a flamewar.

[tavisjohn Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:43PM]

It is because Apple wants you to purchase new gear all the time.

My Zune 30 has the same firmware as my Zune 80. MS gave my Zune 30 some new features (And sofware abilities) without charging.

[Mmmm Donuts Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:13PM]

I assume they can do that because of the monthly subscription thing... If Apple just offered that for the iPod touch, the world would be perfect and all you Zune users could finally switch to Apple products.
/Sarcasm

PCs are PCs, Macs are PCs, and PCs aren't Macs.

[derspiess Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:43PM]

@Mark There could very well be a firmware update along with the software update. If memory serves, they usually update the firmware whenever the desktop software is updated.

[pittronics Posted Sep 3rd 2009 9:08PM]

Wow No respect for innovation - How can all of you guys aimlessly follow Gates- Crazy - he steals code form Apple to Create windows - he wanted nothing to do with the internet back in the day you might be to young but watever - then he steals every other idea after it has proven market success and calls it his own - none of you poorly informed wanabie techs now the difference - c-mon do some research Micropoop doesn't deserve our money - they'r TWATS - real hippy rebels use linux - and the sudo hacktastics use Macs - Microsoft is poop just join the Apple team you will have to eventually as they will eventually win your heart - they make better stuff. - if its too expensive for your cheep ass - build a hackintosh I have one of those too its sick !!

[rickumus Posted Sep 4th 2009 12:04AM]

Steve Jobs = greedy elitist

[Dafrety Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

:(
I'd like to know about a firmware update for my 120...

Unicode support, please? :(

[llama21 Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:03PM]

I don't know why you aren't high ranked by now. Unicode support is one of the biggest failures in my opinion for the Zune franchise. It doesn't take much effort, but opens the Zune to millions if not billions of more potential customers. I don't anything more frustrating than having to listen to the beginning of a song to know what it is, because I'm not skilled at reading giant empty boxes in place of foreign characters.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:39PM]

Don't listen to J-Pop?

[Jander Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:47PM]

Unicode support has been officially confirmed for Zune HD + previous models

[Sisyphus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:25PM]

Yayyyyy.

I will continue to entertain guests and stump my Apple-loyalist friends when they come over and enjoy the Zune software in all its glory on my 30" screen, mirrored on my living room's HDTV.

"Hey, how'd you get iTunes to do that???"

[socrates Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:26PM]

You know what's hilarious about a Microsoft-loyalist making fun of an Apple-loyalist? Me neither.

[Sisyphus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:28PM]

Leave it to Socrates to pose irrelevant questions in public.

Now, if you're finished, I have a rock to push up a hill.

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:29PM]

@Socrates: As far as I can see, he wasn't making fun of anyone. In fact, he even called them his friends. He just said he was gonna show it off.

[socrates Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:29PM]

That's right, I forgot you can't make fun of friends.

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:34PM]

@Socrates: Do you always miss the point? He wasn't making fun of anyone. Go away.

[socrates Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:36PM]

"and stump my Apple-loyalist friends when they come over and enjoy the Zune software in all its glory on my 30" screen, mirrored on my living room's HDTV.

"Hey, how'd you get iTunes to do that???""

Sounds to me like a flame.... but I could be wrong.

I guess I'll just... go away... now?

[Sisyphus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:40PM]

Its not a flame, just a funny anecdote (at least I think its funny).

Most of my friends use iTunes and Apple products. It didn't occur to them that other people actually make really cool products.

I don't care what people use, I just enjoy showing people technology. My custom-built PCs usually get a lot of OOHS and AAHS too.

The world is bigger than whats inside the Apple store (and any other store, obviously).

[MarcusMaximus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:40PM]

Yes, you were mistaken. All that says is that his Apple-loyalist friends haven't used anything else so they assume everything cool is iTunes. And he looks forward to wow-ing them with a really cool product from Microsoft and then shocking them with the fact that it's the Zune software.

[Sisyphus Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:42PM]

Now that I think about it...

Shouldn't I win like 1,000 copies of Windows 7 for hosting all these house parties?

[socrates Posted Sep 3rd 2009 4:50PM]

As I said, I could be wrong- and was.

My apologies.

I'm just a PC and Mac guy who gets discouraged when someone from one group decides to flame the other group for liking the products of their choice.

I use and enjoy Windows, Linux, and OS X. Each has it's ups and downs, just like a Zune, Zen, or iPod.

I was in no way trying to incite a flame war or piss anyone off.

[mikeweezer Posted Sep 3rd 2009 5:58PM]

They'll be be really impressed when you can't set the equalizer in the software...

[r34p3r Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:05PM]

Until they realize he has a really good equalizer in his sound card software that is in his sweet, custom-built PC....

[uwaga dude Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:06PM]

@MikeWeezer

Because so many people care about setting the equalizer in the software right? Oh wait

[Kamokazi Posted Sep 3rd 2009 6:07PM]

@Sisyphus

"Leave it to Socrates to pose irrelevant questions in public."

F-ing LOLed at that. Very clever, kudos.