Zune 4.0 software is out, ready to fulfill your dreams (update: kills "squirting")
By Thomas Ricker 
posted September 15th 2009 3:05AM
posted September 15th 2009 3:05AM
P.S. Looks like older Zunes are getting a version 3.2 update -- screengrab after the break.
Update: The new Zune software is fully Windows 7 optimized as you'd expect. That means it supports Windows 7 Jump Lists (for quick access to your music controls and playlists from the Taskbar), Previews letting you glimpse and control media by hovering your mouse over the Zune button on the Taskbar, and Aero Snap auto-resizing of the Zune software window. Here's a quick overview of what else is new:
- Quickplay menu: quick access from your Zune HD to your favorite media including those you most recently added or played
- Smart DJ: Like Apple's Genius, Smart DJ creates like-minded music mixes. It also adds music from the Zune Marketplace if you have a Zune Pass.
- Mini Player Mode: Keeps a mini version of the player on top of your PC apps
- Download to own: For the first time you can download-to-own or rent full movies and TV shows in SD or HD formats.
[Thanks to Mario H., Travis, and everyone who sent this in]
I can still send songs, so I doubt the sharing feature is dead.
Does Zune 4.0 support Unicode in Zune 30gb? Thanks!
Ok. I'm downloading the Zune 4 software for my zune 8gb.
I have to ask this question.
Does the software have to be 465 MB? I mean really, almost have a GIG for a media player application that syncs a pmp.
I know it is all cool and slick but come on. BLOAT is obviously in full force here. I hate comparing things to apple but in this case i think it makes sense. iTunes 9 is under 90 MB. What is it about the Zune software that makes it 5 TIMES the size of itunes?
I remember reading one of Paul Thurrott's reviews of Windows 7 and he stated that Microsoft desided to make performance a major platform issue when developing Win7. Umm, Microsoft, shouldn't performance always be a goal when developing software? How about putting Zune 5 on a diet when you start developing it. Software this fat can't perform well on older systems.
Ummm...what are you talking about???
The download size for Zune 64 bit is 58 MB, the final install size is 63 MB.
The download size for iTunes 64 bit is 90 MB, the total install size is 285 MB. That's 4.5 TIMES the size of Zune.
I've never seen the Zune software use more than 87MB of RAM, but unfortunatley I've never seen iTunes dip below 300MB of RAM. I could go on and on about how much Apple doesn't care about performance but I'm not.
The only thing I see "missing", a feature I would like to have seen, is the ability to sort Artists alphabetically in the MarketPlace. True, I can search for an artist, and it is interesting to see what others are listening to, but I believe the ability to browse an A-Z list might allow me, and others, to rediscover artists that we have forgotten about, and that aren't at the top of the "Most Played" list because others have forgotten about them, too.
I suppose I can still hope for this in the 4.1 release. Otherwise, nice update.
THE CRITICS HAVE SPOKEN! ZUNE 4.0 IS THE FEEL-GOOD TRIUMPH OF THE YEAR!
Seriously though this pretty much fixes all the things I felt were sorta on the right track but just badly implemented in Zune 3.0. The cover art viewing mode no longer looks like some 14 year old kid's attempt to remake the iTunes screensaver from OS X using only Visual Basic 6-and heck it even has a much more useful song navigation system. Not sure if I like the constant color shifting thing since it would be nice to have the option to actually see my album art in normal colors but the collage style look and FINALLY having the album art tiles randomly do something/change makes it a lot more attractive.
Oh and finally a FULL SCREEN mode that hides the start bar (bizarrely missing in Zune 3.0). I do wish there was a way to swap between albums without backing out of the now playing mode though. But all things considered I could almost swear the Zune people like...actually read my complaints about the interface and pretty much went through and addressed the issues one by one.
And man the now playing mode looks fantastic on albums/artists they have data on.
Seriously though congrats Zune team, definitely great work.
Have tried to install 4.0 six times now - keep getting error messages telling me that files are corrupt. Have downloaded recommended MS fixes - no difference. I guess I'm going to have to wait to experience the magic.
It's pretty dang slick, switched me from media player to it. Definately never touching iTunes again, iTunes seems about 10x slower than the Zune software. I did a quick first impression/new feature review on youtube you can check out the new features and exactly how fast it seems here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeKqt7aSgVM
I don't think "squirting" has been disabled. I've updated both my Zunes, and they still show "Send" on the menu of what to do with songs. It is also still referenced in the online help manual at Zune.net.
As for what HAS changed, I still haven't noticed anything.
Looks like the tagging is still the same; i.e. you can't add artwork to the video files.
seems i didnt notice: did zune 3.0 already have its own mini toolbar for the taskbar?
either way: this feat alone made the upgrade worthwhile =)
I tried downloading a song today. Download failed. Error C00D12F6. Zune nevertheless charged my account 99c even though download failed. (The downloading, producing the error message, charging my account, is all done by the same software.)
Called Zune.
On hold for 25 minutes. Finally, answered.
Zune: Thank you for calling Zune, ...
Me: I purchased a song about 20 minutes ago. It's not in my collection.
Zune: Well, let me take a look ...
We try various things together. Takes another 20 minutes ...
Zune: Well, you have to update the Zune software to the latest version.
We try updating, another 10 minutes .. I get the error "Windows needs updating".
Zune: You have to update Windows.
Me: I can't. I have other software running on this system. Then, that will not work.
Zune: There is no other way. You must update Windows first.
Me: That's fine. Just refund the 99c for the song that I can't download anyway.
Zune: I can't do that.
Me: Fine. Can I talk with the supervisor ?
Zune: Can't do that either. The suprevisor has no more information than I do.
More conversation ... I tried to convience Zune that updating the operating itself is not that simple ... Another 20 minutes pass in this conversation.
Zune: Uninstall Zune from this computer. Install the new version on another computer.
Me: What's the guarantee that Zune would later not require an update on that computer either ?
Zune: SILENCE
Me: That's fine. Just notate my account that 1. I called with a download problem. I was charged despite Zune found an error downloading the song. 2. You refused to give me credit. 3. You refused to allow me to talk with a supervisor.
Zune: Notated so. Do you still want to talk with the supervisor.
Me: No, you already told me I couldn't before. We wasted a lot of time because of that.
Zune: Here is the case number. Case #
Status: Still unresolved. Zune kept my 99 cents without giving me the song. I may just start buing music from another outfit. That outfit may also do some boo-boo. But, I am hoping that they will at least have a strategy to back out if they made a boo-boo.
Message to Zune:
1. 99 cents is not important. 99 cents multiplied by several users is important.
2. Any Zune upgrade you create must work with all versions of Windows out there. This stipulation applies to makers of all software products. Why should it not apply to products made by Microsoft ?
3. If a boo-boo is made, quickly create another version that will solve the problem, instead of forcing customer service to say things like, "No, refund", "Too bad you couldn't download, we keep your money anyway", "No supervisor", ...