RSSTough luck iTunes 9, Zune 4 rocks
By Joe Wilcox | Published September 15, 2009, 3:53 PM
Nine is supposed to be greater than four. But when it comes to iTunes 9 and Zune 4, four is more. You disagree? That's what comments are for.
Microsoft released highly anticipated Zune 4 software today -- New Music Tuesday -- one week after Apple debuted iTunes 9. Zune HD also is available today, but I don't have the music player for testing.
I downloaded the software twice, because of a glitch. The download page offers 32-bit and 64-bit Zune 4 versions. I clearly checked 64-bit, but got the 32-bit version instead. The 64-bit Zune 4 is available here.
My test machine is a Sony VAIO VGN-Z720, with 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 13.1-inch LED backlit display with 1,600-by-900 resolution, 256MB nVidia GeForce 9300M GS graphics, 4GB of DDR3 memory, 320GB hard drive (7200 rpm), dual-layer DVD burner, fingerprint reader, WiFi and Verizon EVDO modem. The computer came with Windows Vista Business 64-bit, which I easily upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit.
Microsoft's official Zune 4 system requirements don't list Windows 7, but I easily installed the software, which runs just fine and considerably faster than Zune 3.
Microsoft has done much to refine its Zune software, which with version 3 raised the elegance but lowered the bloat. By comparison, iTunes is now bloatware; over nine releases Apple persistently traded simplicity for complexity. Forgotten is the simple joy, the simple process of plugging an iPod into a computer and having it sync -- with no prompts or other interference. Starting with version 8 and extended with 9, iTunes is full of clutter. Perhaps clutter is the new Apple fashion -- that and the aggressive sales pitch. Apple Genius is constant salesman, nagging users to buy more, more, more. Where Apple reduced clutter is laughable: Imitating Microsoft. With v9, iTunes Store better presents artist bios, but oh-so reminiscient of Zune Marketplace.
But enough ragging on Apple bloatware. The topic is Zune 4. I'll start with the marketing, which is Apple-like but better. From the Zune Website:
Browse music, not spreadsheets. If you're tired of online music buying feeling more like a bank statement than a record store, you're in the right place. Zune 4.0 software is free, beautiful, and browsable.
Microsoft could have made the same marketing claims about Zune 3, which dramatically changed from its predecessor. Zune 4 is more evolution than revolution, with many refinements geared to Zune HD and, with an update, Xbox 360. My favorite: The new mini-player. Windows Media Player has sported a mini-player for years, as has iTunes. The Zune 4 mini-player whips them both. It's functional and pretty, with album cover overlaying band photo.
For all Zune 4 offers more than iTunes 9 -- mostly by giving less -- the Zune Marketplace doesn't offer enough. This morning, I eagerly signed up for a Zune Pass subscription. I started by searching for Snow Patrol, for which there are three albums and one deluxe single EP. By comparison, Apple sells three albums plus deluxe variants, four EPs and several live singles. For No Second Troy, Zune Marketplace has one EP, while iTunes also has two albums and three singles. For other bands, such as Carolina Liar, Ra Ra Riot, Sum 41 and Ting Tings, Zune Marketplace selection is good enough. But it's not better than iTunes.
Apple's music software and store has long exceeded Zune software and marketplace for music discovery. But Microsoft has hugely improved discovery, without getting in your face like Apple's Genius does. Microsoft skins Zune 4 with Quickplay, which is the new default opening screen. Here, end users can see:
- Pins -- three favorite artists, first picked when setting up the software (I randomly chose Coldplay, Linkin Park and Snow Patrol)
- New -- fresh tracks or albums added to the Zune collection
- History -- recently played music
The approach is surprisingly familiar. Another section, "Welcome," quickly gets the user to his or her collection or to the Zune Marketplace; it's one click, baby. Quickplay also links to "Smart DJ," another new feature. Smart DJ has the smarts iTunes's Genius lacks. Where Genius lacks good social skills -- when enabled, it nags for you to buy something -- Smart DJ comes when summoned. The feature generates related playlists to the select music.
For Zune Pass subscribers, Smart DJ is music discovery on steroids, but without those nasty side effects. Microsoft's software streams related music not in the Zune collection from the Marketplace -- or it can be downloaded as part of the $14.95 monthly subscription fee. Apple's Genius makes suggestions from the iTunes library or content from the music store. With Smart DJ, your library is as big as the Zune Marketplace subscription catalog. Simply put, the feature rocks.
Smart DJ is available pretty much from anywhere Zune software/service catalogs music, whether on the PC or Zune Marketplace. Mixview also gets similiar extended reach. The mosaic-of-related-music feature is much more useful now.
Windows Media Audio isn't something Microsoft would give up, but its role is somewhat diminished. By the default Zune 4 setting, music is ripped as 192Kbps Mp3, rather than 128kbps WMA, but I bumped it to 256Kbps. The iTunes 9 default setting is 256Kbps AAC.
Subscription content remains 192Kbps WMA, because of the DRM. I find Microsoft's WMA encoding to be superior sounding to Apple's AAC. I distinctly can hear a difference, which is more pronounced when iTunes' graphic equalizer is enabled. To my aging ears, Apple's encoding boosts the bass and clips the highs. I hear much more detail in WMA tracks than Apple's ACC but with less punch.
If there is a graphic equalizer, I couldn't find it. Windows Media Player has one -- and, of course, iTunes. It's a shortcoming, damn it.
There are other changes related to Zune content I'll let be for another post. They're better addressed in a discussion about Zune HD. As I will explain later, Zune HD is Microsoft's last stand against iPod touch, which could someday be more important to Apple's mobile platform than iPhone. Microsoft can extend its gaming heritage around Xbox 360 to Zune HD and later to a Microsoft Phone, whether made by the company or partner(s). But there are barriers, such as distribution limited to United States, that Microsoft must remove first.
Again, that's a later post. For this one I'll conclude by praising Microsoft for a job well done. Zune 4's elegance sets it apart from most software that most people use everyday. It's a model for good user interface design. Smart DJ is another reason for everyone to consider Zune Pass, and integration and discovery features are superbly executed. If fat is where you're at, stick with iTunes. If not, Zune 4 is more by being less.
This review seems to be at odds with The Wall Street Journal Personal Technology column author Walt Mossberg's recent iTunes 9 review where he was very complementary:
http://online.wsj.com/ar...574417081655619264.html
It will be interesting to see what impact the Zune has in the marketplace.
Score: 0
|It was amazing seeing how you took so many negatives about the Zune 4.0 Software and made them positives.. /sarcasmoff
Seriously though, you kind of stepped on yourself several times in this article. It might have been wiser to let another author do this article, one that is less bias towards one side or the other.
Otherwise, it is nice though to hear how much effort MS is putting into not only Zune itself, but the software for interfacing with it.
The only thing that's holding me back from grabbing a Zune HD is the storage size. I need more than 32 gigs because I typically use my iPod Classic for software backup now and then and would want to be able to do that with the Zune HD. I know, comparing an iPod Classic to a Zune HD is like Apples and Oranges. I just don't like the looks of the previous Zune models, which of course do come with larger storages. I know the iPod Touch doesn't have huge storage either. But I seriously love the looks of the Zune HD! All reports also show that the audio quality from the Zune HD is better than any iPod.
Personally I don't care who is who, who makes what, I'm going to buy what works for me. I was even looking at the Sony Walkman line of Players, but decided that if I do buy a new player, likely it'll be the Zune HD.
Meh, enough incoherent chatter from me.. Continue flames and or debates ;-)
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|Before you buy a Zune HD, you may want to Google the OLED display issues. I don't know if these issues that involve operation in anything other than a relatively dark room and relatively rapid deterioration of individual colors over time especially blue have been resolved. If they have, this is very promising display technology. I do know that a lot of work is being done to advance this technology.
Score: -2
|You do know it still takes years to burn through an OLED...
although LCD does last longer
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|I don't demand a lot from a music player... low overhead would be an important one. Shiny things that show album covers just annoy me. Spreadsheets are useful for a reason - they display and sort more data much more easily. Same reason we still use folders/files.
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|I find this akin to saying Nikon has the latest and greatest camera now (hypothetically). If a person is already invested in Canon cameras and lenses, he/she is not likely to switch over.
Folks who have already bought a lot of apple format tunes aren't likely to switch over to a Zune now that MS finally has a contender.
Aside from that, much of the article uses terminology that suggests a less than objective evaluation of the two products. (i.e. But enough ragging on Apple bloatware.)
I'll stick to my iPhone thanks.
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|All of them organambizers are junk... I couldn't give a bigger s*** about eye candy... Album art is useless. Gimme 100's of free songs (eMule) a month and a robust player (Winamp with several yummy plug-ins) and I'm as happy as can be...
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|Btw the full offline x86/x64 combined installer is available at: http://download.microsof...A6A6D/ZunePackage40.exe
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|I'm sure Betanews means Zune HD, and not Zune 4 as in Zune 4/8/16. Or it should be called Zune software 4.0.
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|Hahaha, I should have made the connection and pointed it out as marketing flaw. Microsoft is notorious for branding products too closely with like names. Zune 4 and Zune 4.0 is confusing, and I made it a little worse in the review. I'll figure out a fix and update later.
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|Anyone having problems w/ the new Zune software. I d/l it onto my Vista machine and installed it, and during installation, it got stuck at 96% and then failed w/ an error message. I then tried again, and it succeeded. Whenever I run it though, it is really slow, and takes like over 2 minutes just to start up and go to my collection. I'm not sure if this is because I did an upgrade from version 3.0 to the new version or what. I'm gonna try to install it fresh on my Win7 box to see if it works better on there. But so far, I like the new features, but am giving it a thumbs down b/c it is so slow. Anyone else having the same problems, or any tips as to how I can solve why it's being so slow?
Score: -1
|Is your firewall disabled?
If it is, uninstall the software, enable the firewall, re-install the software, and disable the firewall.
Apparently, the install trips up when it tries to add the rules to WF and doesn't recover well from postings I've seen.
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|Na, I'm runnin the Windows Firewall...hmmm
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|I'm a Microsoft devotee through and through but, honestly, I'm sick and tired of MS constantly chasing Apples tail. With all their resources and experience, they should never be in the position of "also ran" but, sadly, Apple's been out-classing MS in almost every category that matters ('cept for perhaps Servers) for years now. Zune is just yet another example - it's frightening how long it's taken them to get anywhere near the ipod ballpark. C'mon Microsoft, time to step up to the plate and innovate and stop being such an Apple wannabee. I'm sick of it - you're better than this.
Score: 1
|They are doing a pretty darn good job with the zune program :)
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|"I'm a Microsoft devotee through and through"
"honestly"
Hehe...yeah...riiiight.
"He" made a new profile, posted that, and used his other profiles to rank it up. Although we don't use Macs, we aren't as stupid as you like to think.
Score: -2
|I always like someone who starts by saying "I'm a Microsoft devotee through and through" and then precedes to trash the company. Shades of Fatty.
But on topic- the Zune is a good device and this along with a good OS in Win 7 and what is generally thought to be a good Office product in 2010 could help MS change the Perception after the disaster of Vista, Me etc.. But there still remains a problem with both this device and non- Apple smartphones in general and that is their online store. Granted, Apple has gone overboard on it's store in available offerings but until MS and it's partners beef up selection, it will be hard to compete. Having said that, I do think MS is headed in the right direction.
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|Zune seems to finally be kicking into gear thankfully. But if were going to stay true I think we'd have to concede a point to LuvMyPC. These days the argument starts "but is it as good as Apple's" and rather rarely the other way around. And to make matters worse, Apple continues to get more aggressive with their pricing.
Score: -1
|I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but it is important to know that if you try to install (on Vista in my case) and receive a cryptic error message referring to "0x80070426" and "a service" not running - plus a link to a completely unrelated error solution description - the solution that worked for me and a lot of other people is to turn WIndows Firewall ON, install Zune 4.0, and then turn it OFF again (if that is what you want). Apparently the installer wants to set access rights in WF and trips if the firewall service is not running... it would be funny if it hadn't cost me 20 minutes of my time to find the answer on the net. Boo, Microsoft.
One other complaint, I can't even participate in the Zune forums even though I have a Live ID, simply because "the service is not available in my region" (Korea, South). I think I better hold off on a hardware purchase (I am normally an early adoptor) until this has been solved.
Wah, if someone from Microsoft is reading this: Even IF you make Zune net available in Korea, or elsewhere: PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE realise that not all people who live in one country, speak or read the native language! In other words, please include an option to choose e.g. "Korea" as my location but "English" as my language. And let me have access to US/English titles, not just Korean ones. That is a fundamental flaw of systems such as Xbox 360, PS3, Itunes... I can't get games that are banned in Germany (I am not in Germany, but my German credit card details tell MS, Sony, Apple that I am), order English audio books (vee haff vays off making yoo talk, but not in English), dadada... oops, drifting off target... anyway, I am trying out the software now even though limited in function now.
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|Agree wholeheartedly, ideally. Too bad this world is far from ideal. ;)
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|Zune 4 rocks and it's true whether the mactards like it or not, iTunes has missed the train...
Score: -1
|This reminds of a Family Guy scene where Carter Pewterschmidt asks Bill Gates if he could help him program his Zune then pulls out an iPod and says oh wait I have an iPod like the rest of the world, funny as hell. And that sums up my thoughts :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnSoEJ7taio
Score: -6
|Before, Zune only had Zune Pass and great software going for it. Now, they have a lot more features that Apple doesn't.
So, yes, the market may remain with Apple for now but it's a lot less of an obvious choice.
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|"Sony VAIO VGN-Z720"
Threw up a little bit in my nose.
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|Because?
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|one shouldn't pay for rootkits ;P
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|Hehe, good response. I thought Sony was beyond that now. Besides isn't that 64-bit kernel hardened to most rootkits. :)
Score: -2
|laughing..good one. I'm sure hackers have bought stock in Sony for giving the world rootkit as a delivery system. That's worth a thumbs up:)
Score: -1
|I am pretty happy with iTunes on Mac. I will give props to MS for a pretty solid improvement on their latest. I would love to see the subscription style service on iTunes, but I doubt the RIAA will allow Apple that luxury in their contracts, this most likely explains the reduced catalog on Marketplace.
Question for anyone that knows, does MS also sell their songs DRM free or no? I understand Marketplace stuff is DRM'd, as well it should be otherwise what would stop you from just keeping it past your subscription expiry. I am more curious about purchases.
Sticking with iTunes as I don't see a compelling enough reason to switch, too much effort to convert existing library, less artists/albums to choose from, doesn't run on the Mac (that one bites me directly since it's what I have the best audio hooked up to), and a few other odd and ends reasons.
Good to see a possible competitor forming though, it's things like that which will cause innovation in the market.
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|The subscription music is DRM'd, but most of the purchased music is 320 Kbps MP3. They still have a few albums that you can only purchase as WMA with DRM that only let you play it on three computers (I hate these stupid restrictions, but that's the RIAA for you) and burn it to CD.
Disclaimer: I am a very satisfied owner of a Zune 8Gb with a Zune Pass.
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|The fact that people consider Zune 4 better than itunes 9 is no surprise. Zune 3 was better than previous versions of itunes. itunes is a garbled mess of software. It has been glued togther and patched than any other software I can think of.
Score: 1
|well people have been saying that for awhile, no one listens
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|yet its so true.
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|Fact...ROFL. iTunes 9 kills this Zune crapware. Just for giggles i downloaded the Zune 4 software and it failed to install on my XP box three times before i gave up. ROFL. What a POS!
Score: -9
|Hi, fatty, done with your usually iCrap stuffs yet?
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|fatty, you are either not telling the truth or really have no idea.
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|ok, next time i will video tape it. give me a break! Just because it is not what you want to hear it must not be true. You people watch far to much Faux News.
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|Yeah... because you always "know" what you're talking about, right? Brutally honest and upright with everything you post, right?
..or maybe it's just that you're always full of s*** and rarely have the slightest idea about the products you're spewing about.
Score: 1
|Dunno, from what I've seen on the Zune forums, the software installation can be pretty hard to install for a few people, but mostly if their NET framework and windows installer files have been screwed up somehow
Score: -1
|No can Zunes use the apple format? IE the .m4a format?
Ya.. the Zune sucked when I had to help a very low tech friend that got one for xmas. and He did not have internet. and the software would not install.. now that sucked.. but we got past that.
Score: -2
|Yeah. The zune software does .m4a. It won't do the iTunes protected stuff though (which is .m4p).
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|Nice! So it does do M4A? I mean alot of the stuff you buy these days on the store (music anyways) is m4a DRM free. So that means I guess it should work? Good to hear if that's true.
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|Yes it will play M4A. You can't make one though. The only options there are the flavors of WMA and MP3.
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|I don't like that after you download 53MB the first thing it does is download updates. It just came out today. Why are there updates already.
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|I haven't downloaded 4 yet but I would guess the updates are not zune. They are probbaly windows related to support zune.
Score: 1
|well, agree with most of this article, Zune 4.0 from what i've seen far outshines iTunes, i noticed the package installer on betanews is 470MB? i have no idea whats up there, i hope its just 32bit/64bit wrapped into one installer or something, someone explain the size of the installer...
i won't bother looking at 4.0 myself atm, from canada so i get no support if i buy a Zune HD, which sucks, i hope they are released internationally soon :S
the screen looks great too
http://imgur.com/3KPAK.jpg
http://imgur.com/nJj8x.jpg
Score: -1
|The download size isn't right. The 32 bit is 53MB and the 64 bit is 55 compared to 89MB for either version of iTunes.
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|yes, i've seen some post saying 53MB etc, gives me hope of non bloat, besides some updates downloaded after install
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|Actually the updates are downloaded before the install.
Score: -1
|That itunes exe also includes mobile device support, quicktime, itunes config utility, software update, mobileme, and bonjour.
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|...which would be great if we wanted something *other* than just iTunes. (Not that anyone *wants* iTunes, that is)
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|Lol yeah, that is rather annoying. That's all crap that I wouldn't want if for some strange reason I was downloading itunes.
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|I haven't downloaded the program myself yet, but have you tried clicking on the pink graphical peaks on the bottom right hand side of the zune program near the play button? That looks a lot like a equalizer in disguise.
Score: -1
|No thats the "Now Playing". I just tried it, it is just fantastic. I had the third version installed for a year and the 4th version is a great improvement. the toolbar mode is sth that I have never experienced before! so much functionality is embedded in toolbar mode I think it did worth mentioning in your article. however I miss the suggestions in the search bar of the third version, I don't know why would they remove it. I also would like it if they put more background options..
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