Zune Software 2.5 released

Braen · 05-06-2008, 06:19 AM

Lots of great features added and readded, plus TV episodes finally available to DL from the Marketplace.

The Zune 2.5 Spring update launches tomorrow, and with it comes purchasable TV shows and even more social networking functions. The big part is more tightly-integrated social stuff—like being able to see your friends' Zune cards inside of the Zune software instead of heading to your browser—the upside of which is automatically getting the full tracks that your friends have recently listened to if you're a Zune Pass subscriber. This takes up about 100 megs per friend card. There's also improvement in the player itself, like the return of auto playlists and the introduction of gapless playback. Wee!

Other cool social stuff:

• Xbox Live-ish icons on your Zune Card that are like achievements, awarding people who listen to an artist the most or passing a total number of song plays.
• Dynamic friends' list that shows what everyone's listening to. Find out about the band Tokyo Police Club from your buddies.
• Windows Live Messenger "now playing" integration
• Album reviews! Tell everyone what you think about so-and-so's latest album, because the world needs to know.

But the big thing is the video store, which comes now with 4,800 music videos and downloadable TV episodes for $2. Their current partners are NBC, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network. There's going to be future Zune Social integration for video, but nothing yet. Microsoft's also leaving the door open for original content and programming as well, but there's no video sharing/squirting as of yet on the hardware devices.

Other changes to the player include:
• Auto Playlists (smart playlists) are back! They're not as powerful as they were before—or as iTunes is—but they're automatically updating playlists that you can have based on your criteria.
• Gapless playback. Finally.
• Easy drag-and-drop song metadata editing.

The update should go live somewhere between 10PM PDT and 4AM PDT tomorrow.

Sharmai · 05-06-2008, 06:23 AM

Did they overhaul the playlist creation functionality yet? Hows the Audio book support? Can I pause in the middle of any track and come back later?

Braen · 05-06-2008, 06:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sharmai

Did they overhaul the playlist creation functionality yet? Hows the Audio book support? Can I pause in the middle of any track and come back later?

I listen to many audiobooks on my Zune. It's not perfect, but I can pause in the middle of a track and come back.. But if you wait over 2 days I think, your Zune hard shuts off and when you go back it restarts the Zune.

Sharmai · 05-06-2008, 06:46 AM

Well yes and no if I recall correctly. On my Zune if I went and listened to half of audio book 1 then paused it and went to audio book 2 when I was finished with 2 I would not be able to go back to 1 and continue right were I left off without looking for my last place.

Some of my audio books are 50-200+ files big. Sometimes I merge the files but its time consuming and sometimes I get errors in playback when I merge the files.

Eomer · 05-06-2008, 12:43 PM

Quote:

• Easy drag-and-drop song metadata editing.

I've only had my Zune for a week or two, but already I fucking despise how the Zune software handled file tagging. Or rather, how it didn't. My buddy gave me a burned CD of the Raconteurs album, and I ripped it using CDex and it's all tagged properly. But for some fucking retarded reason, I cannot for the life of me get it to show up properly in the Zune software. It's an unknown album by an unknown artist in the Zune software, yet on the Zune player it knows it's the Raconteurs but doesn't know the tracks are part of an album, and so instead it sorts it alphabetically. But if I right click on the files in the Zune software and go to properties, it has the album and artist information filled out properly.

I dunno, maybe I'm retarded, but up to this point I'm thoroughly disapointed with the Zune software in just about every respect. The marketplace looks like it might be nice, but since I'm Canadian, I can't use it until June at the earliest. Fuckers.

Kobalt · 05-06-2008, 12:49 PM

I honestly think the old zune software was better. Aside from it looking better and podcast support, it's the same cept they actually took out features. Like easy drag and drop album art, or syncing.

I don't get it.

Fammaden · 05-06-2008, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eomer

I've only had my Zune for a week or two, but already I fucking despise how the Zune software handled file tagging. Or rather, how it didn't. My buddy gave me a burned CD of the Raconteurs album, and I ripped it using CDex and it's all tagged properly. But for some fucking retarded reason, I cannot for the life of me get it to show up properly in the Zune software. It's an unknown album by an unknown artist in the Zune software, yet on the Zune player it knows it's the Raconteurs but doesn't know the tracks are part of an album, and so instead it sorts it alphabetically. But if I right click on the files in the Zune software and go to properties, it has the album and artist information filled out properly.

Yeah that shit is annoying as all fuck. Otherwise I love my Zune, partially because I have an unreasonable hatred of anything so trendy and ubiquitous as the Ipod.

AngryGerbil · 05-06-2008, 11:34 PM

What is gapless playback?

Eomer · 05-07-2008, 08:32 AM

You won't hear a click or gap between two tracks. Most times it's not noticeable, but say with Frances the Mute where it seems like every track carries to the next, it's incredibly noticeable.

eVasiege · 05-12-2008, 11:27 PM

Is it possible to re download the version before this? I've been having problems getting Zune to open with this version. About 80% into the installation it triggers some sound (the negative sound of when Windows recognizes a new device) and after it finishes refuses to open. It just says, you must restart your system before you can open it, and when I do, still nothing.

Kobalt · 05-12-2008, 11:35 PM

Don't you have the disc that comes with the zune?

eVasiege · 05-12-2008, 11:38 PM

Yea, but I don't want the old ass software. I still want the updated interface, just not the newest one.

eVasiege · 05-13-2008, 08:29 PM

Just tried with the CD's, they make you update to the newest version. Any more suggestions?

Twobit Whore · 05-14-2008, 11:15 AM

So I just got a free Zune and have been playing with it all day. My question is can you browse the marketplace wirelessly on the zune? Or do you need to do it on the computer? I know the new itouch players can browse, shop and buy all from the player. Was hoping the Zune had a similar function. I could be blind and newb to it though.

Smocca · 05-14-2008, 11:54 AM

No the wireless is basically just a toy. You can send files to other zunes nearby or sync it wirelessly... if you computer is nearby and you are too lazy to plug it in but not so lazy that you won't spend 10 minutes setting it up.

Oh and since it has a noticeable effect on battery life, everyone pretty much keeps it turned off so you can't even detect other zunes in the area most of the time.

Pretty much the lamest feature ever

05-06-2008, 06:19 AM	#1 (permalink)
Braen Mistwalkers Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas Posts: 3,580 -1 Internets	Zune Software 2.5 released Lots of great features added and readded, plus TV episodes finally available to DL from the Marketplace. The Zune 2.5 Spring update launches tomorrow, and with it comes purchasable TV shows and even more social networking functions. The big part is more tightly-integrated social stuff—like being able to see your friends' Zune cards inside of the Zune software instead of heading to your browser—the upside of which is automatically getting the full tracks that your friends have recently listened to if you're a Zune Pass subscriber. This takes up about 100 megs per friend card. There's also improvement in the player itself, like the return of auto playlists and the introduction of gapless playback. Wee! Other cool social stuff: • Xbox Live-ish icons on your Zune Card that are like achievements, awarding people who listen to an artist the most or passing a total number of song plays. • Dynamic friends' list that shows what everyone's listening to. Find out about the band Tokyo Police Club from your buddies. • Windows Live Messenger "now playing" integration • Album reviews! Tell everyone what you think about so-and-so's latest album, because the world needs to know. But the big thing is the video store, which comes now with 4,800 music videos and downloadable TV episodes for $2. Their current partners are NBC, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and Cartoon Network. There's going to be future Zune Social integration for video, but nothing yet. Microsoft's also leaving the door open for original content and programming as well, but there's no video sharing/squirting as of yet on the hardware devices. Other changes to the player include: • Auto Playlists (smart playlists) are back! They're not as powerful as they were before—or as iTunes is—but they're automatically updating playlists that you can have based on your criteria. • Gapless playback. Finally. • Easy drag-and-drop song metadata editing. The update should go live somewhere between 10PM PDT and 4AM PDT tomorrow. __________________ Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn - In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming "That is not dead which can Eternal lie, and with strange Eons even death may die" - H. P. Lovecraft

05-06-2008, 06:23 AM	#2 (permalink)
Sharmai In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. ~Barack Obama Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,830	Did they overhaul the playlist creation functionality yet? Hows the Audio book support? Can I pause in the middle of any track and come back later? __________________ Obama is not all talk and speeches. Click to view his Blueprint for Change. Spoiler Alert, click show to read: Wii Code - 8225 0332 4457 7668

05-06-2008, 06:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sharmai In the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope. ~Barack Obama Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,830	Well yes and no if I recall correctly. On my Zune if I went and listened to half of audio book 1 then paused it and went to audio book 2 when I was finished with 2 I would not be able to go back to 1 and continue right were I left off without looking for my last place. Some of my audio books are 50-200+ files big. Sometimes I merge the files but its time consuming and sometimes I get errors in playback when I merge the files. __________________ Obama is not all talk and speeches. Click to view his Blueprint for Change. Spoiler Alert, click show to read: Wii Code - 8225 0332 4457 7668

05-12-2008, 11:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
eVasiege Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 420 -1 Internets	Is it possible to re download the version before this? I've been having problems getting Zune to open with this version. About 80% into the installation it triggers some sound (the negative sound of when Windows recognizes a new device) and after it finishes refuses to open. It just says, you must restart your system before you can open it, and when I do, still nothing. __________________ My blue-jeans is tight, so onto my love rocket climb.

05-12-2008, 11:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
eVasiege Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 420 -1 Internets	Yea, but I don't want the old ass software. I still want the updated interface, just not the newest one. __________________ My blue-jeans is tight, so onto my love rocket climb.

05-06-2008, 12:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Kobalt Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 731 +15 Internets	I honestly think the old zune software was better. Aside from it looking better and podcast support, it's the same cept they actually took out features. Like easy drag and drop album art, or syncing. I don't get it.

05-07-2008, 08:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
Eomer Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 8,888 +4 Internets	You won't hear a click or gap between two tracks. Most times it's not noticeable, but say with Frances the Mute where it seems like every track carries to the next, it's incredibly noticeable.

05-12-2008, 11:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
Kobalt Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 731 +15 Internets	Don't you have the disc that comes with the zune?

05-13-2008, 08:29 PM	#13 (permalink)
eVasiege Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 420 -1 Internets	Just tried with the CD's, they make you update to the newest version. Any more suggestions? __________________ My blue-jeans is tight, so onto my love rocket climb.

05-14-2008, 11:15 AM	#14 (permalink)
Twobit Whore Insert Quarter Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 8,466 -11 Internets	So I just got a free Zune and have been playing with it all day. My question is can you browse the marketplace wirelessly on the zune? Or do you need to do it on the computer? I know the new itouch players can browse, shop and buy all from the player. Was hoping the Zune had a similar function. I could be blind and newb to it though. __________________ I got a list of demands written on the palm of my hand. I ball my fists and you gonna know where I stand.

05-14-2008, 11:54 AM	#15 (permalink)
Smocca Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 160 -1 Internets	No the wireless is basically just a toy. You can send files to other zunes nearby or sync it wirelessly... if you computer is nearby and you are too lazy to plug it in but not so lazy that you won't spend 10 minutes setting it up. Oh and since it has a noticeable effect on battery life, everyone pretty much keeps it turned off so you can't even detect other zunes in the area most of the time. Pretty much the lamest feature ever __________________ Xbox Live ID: Smocka Wii Code: 4250 4436 6536 6872

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