Zune's and Software Update Officially Announced
Monday, 8 September 2008
Microsoft have now officially confirmed the new Zune's and a September 16th software update in a press release:
http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2008/sep08/09-08ZuneFallUpdatePR.mspx
There are some cool marketplace enhancements that allow users to purchase songs heard on the radio - the bad news is there is still no mention of an official UK or European release, so these features will not be available to us!
Of course ZuneThings will have the Zune 120 in stock very shortly for UK buyers, so here are the software highlights that we will benefit from:
"The Zune PC software is a free download at http://www.zune.net that provides rich discovery and media management capabilities to help consumers make the most of their existing music collections, in addition to providing access to the Zune Social and Zune Marketplace so they can add to it.
| • | Mixview. Customers can select an artist, album or Zune Card to activate a dynamic, visual mosaic of related music and listeners. With each click users can take the view in a new direction, creating a fun, graphical way to discover new music. Mixview works with users’ current collection of music, in addition to tracks and albums from across the Zune Marketplace. |
| • | Now Playing. The improved Now Playing view is more interactive and cinematic. Users can sit back and enjoy the combination of great artist imagery, colorful effects, bio information and data from the Zune online music community, all combined in a full-screen view. They can also click to dive deeper into the music behind the picture, providing another great way to interact with their collection. |
A new firmware update will also improve the experience on the Zune device. In addition to the new wireless functionality, Zune will bring new features customers have been asking for:
| • | Games on the go. Two free games, “Hexic” and “Texas Hold ’Em,” will keep users entertained on the go. |
| • | Audiobooks. All Zune devices will feature support for audiobooks this fall from industry leaders in the digital distribution of audiobook content. |
| • | Audible. Customers can visit audible.com to download and sync favorite books from the 50,000 titles available from over 600 publishers and content providers. |
| • | OverDrive. They can download content from sites powered by overdrive.com, including 7,500 libraries’ Web sites worldwide." Not mentioned in the press release, but something very important to us is the confirmation that the Zune 3.0 Software will be including a clock! Finally! |
