Rocking Team

Zune is the Mp3 player launched by Microsoft to copete with Apple Ipod in the field.Microsoft also has added a Zune Marketplace tab on the main screen of the device for easier navigation to the online music store.Microsoft update the version of their Zune players..yes the third generation Zune is launched.

Microsoft’s Zune is staking its claim as a legitimate alternative to Apple’s Ipod line of MP3 players. Last year, Microsoft focused its efforts on overhauling the Zune’s hardware and public image. This year, Microsoft has turned its attention to improving the Zune firmware and desktop software, while updating the storage capacity and pricing of new models to stay competitive.

Microsoft on Tuesday released a Zune software upgrade that provides wireless access to the Web at no charge from more than 9,800 McDonald’s restaurants across the United States.In addition, version 3.0 of the software makes it easy to buy music heard on the portable media player’s FM tuner by letting users click on a song they hear on the radio, and then immediately buy and download it on the device from a Wifi hotspot. If the device is not online, then songs are stored in queue and are purchased the next time the player is on the Web, either through a wireless or wired connection. New Sizes and prices include:
Zune 120– $249
Zune  16 – $199
Zune    8 –$149

Design
The design of the Zune 120 is almost entirely unchanged from the Zune 80 we reviewed last year. The back of the Zune is now black instead of silver and the face of the player is covered with a glossy plastic that, although pretty, is more prone to smudges and scratches than the metal finish on last year’s model. We’re happy to see that the increase in the Zune’s hard-drive capacity doesn’t translate into a thicker design. The Zune 120 measures the same 4.3 inches high by 2.4 inches wide by 0.5 inch deep as the Zune 80. Also, no changes have been made to the Zune’s navigation controls, headphone jack, hold switch, dock connection, and 3.2-inch glass-covered LCD.

Features
The bulk of the third-generation Zune’s improvements are found by flicking through its main menu. New menu items for Games and Marketplace have been added alongside existing selections for Music, Videos, Pictures, Social, Radio, Podcasts, and Settings. The Zune’s primary purpose as a high-quality portable music player hasn’t changed. If anything, the enhancements offered by the third-generation firmware have bolstered the unique music-discovery and sharing features that have differentiated the Zune from the very beginning.

One of the more notable new features on the Zune is a Marketplace selection in the main menu that allows you to browse, preview, and download music directly from Microsoft’s Zune Marketplace online store. Within the Marketplace submenu you can choose between browsing Top Songs, Top Albums, and New Releases, or search for specific music by keying in a few letters. Songs can be previewed for 30 seconds with the option to add them to your virtual cart or purchase and download immediately. By signing up for Microsoft’s Zune Pass music-subscription service (a free 14-day trial is available), you can download unlimited music to your Zune for a flat fee of $15 a month. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase songs a la carte by setting up a payment account in the Zune desktop software.

Zune vs. iPod
The Zune still has a hard road ahead if it wants to catch up to the iPod. Microsoft is doing an admirable job, however, of carving out a niche of music fanatics who value the Zune’s emphasis on music discovery and subscription-music gluttony. When it comes to high-capacity MP3 players, Apple and Microsoft are the two best options available, offering comparable features, file support, and audio quality. But, unless you have a grudge against Apple or are tempted by the Zune’s subscription-music service, the iPod’s superior battery life and accessory options make it a better option for most users.