The newest Zune is just B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

For anyone how needs to be convinced check this out:

No competition I say.

Get a real Job, Steve Jobs! Go work for Microsoft! 

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Although the recent 2.3 software update included a long list of fixes, I'm seeing things that still need looking after. One of them is the way the Zune software seem to struggle with having an accurate index of the content - either that, or it's an oversight in the user interface. If I type "Jars of Clay", this is the research result I get:



I have 15 Jars of Clay albums, yet it only shows me three. Either the Zune software doesn't realize that there are more than three albums, or the user interface designer forgot to add an "Expand" button next to albums to show the user that there are more than three albums. The latter is somewhat unlikely because it says "(3)" after the word albums, meaning there are only three found.

If I look up the artist manually, I see the correct result of 15 albums:



So...this needs to get fixed!

Well, well - it seems that 2.3 software update contains more than just a few little fixes - there's some very significant stuff in the update. I've re-published the list here for your convenience.

"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
* Resolved most cases where retrieval of subscription download history stalls
* 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."

There's not much to say here, because according to Zune Insider there are no new features added to the Zune desktop software, just more "performance enhancements around set-up, sync and as always general reliability". I was really hoping we'd see some improvements in the way of meta-data handling (their current system is what's causing some people problems with albums not being read properly).

So basically, if you fire up the Zune desktop software today, you should be notified about the new 2.3 update. Myself, I'd report first-hand on any changed, but my Vista-based machine that's running the Zune software is completely trashed from a software perspective - I updated the system BIOS and nVIDIA nFORCE drivers and now Vista won't boot. <sigh>

As posted earlier, Microsoft has updated the Zune desktop software to 2.3 today. We've had a chance to play with it around here at ZuneLuv.com and have one very nice response to report.

Wireless syncing works much better now.

Previously, wireless syncing was hit and miss. It 'worked,' yes, but was very flaky as best.

We've wireless synced 2 Zune 30s and a Zune 8. All did well in the network and they got everything they were supposed to get.

Also worked the first time on each.

Great job Zune.

Technorati Tags: zune 2.3, zune 2.3 update, zune wireless sync

ZuneBoards' renowned PityOnU has just dropped his highly anticipated zAlternator software. The hack, currently in RC, cloaks your Zune as a generic Windows Portable Device, allowing it to theoretically sync with WMP, WinAmp, iTunes, or your favorite media management library. The instructions are pretty basic too.


Yes, that's my Zune in WMP... I can view files, sync, and reverse-sync with the device. It's pretty cool.

Get your device into "sync" mode (have it show "syncing..." with the "starry night" Zune logo on the screen), and hit ctrl-alt-del, bring up Task Manager. Go to the Processes tab and end the process "Zune.exe". Now bring up zAlternator. Follow the instructions, setting the Desired Service Provider to "Generic" and then clicking "apply." Now open your program of choice and everything should be golden.

Just keep in mind that for those wanting to use iTunes (blech), the service is still in beta. Use at your own risk.

dvdXsoft DVD to Zune Converter enables you to convert DVD to MP4 for playing on

One thing that most of us like about the new Zune Marketplace software is the clean overall look. With that said, the color scheme for the original software was pretty cool in my opinion. I thought it had a real underground feel to it. Fortunately there are other people out there who liked it enough to make a theme for the current application. WillysJeepMan over at Zunerama has made an awesome adaptation and if you want to use it, head on over and follow his instructions. Its definitely getting set as my new theme.

Zune Data Recovery - Software Software for Zune music recovery restores music,

For those that find their Zune is having USB and wireless sync connection problems, Microsoft looks to have just posted a tool to gather data on those errors. It's free, downloadable and called the Zune Device Diagnostic Tool. The Zune...