Although the iPod users greatly outnumber the Zune users (not just in terms of my blogging audience but also across the world), Zune is making great headway. You can't be the #2 music player and not keep forging ahead.
Yesterday
Zune released new hardware, software and firmware. I've got to say, I'm incredibly impressed. The new features are not just aesthetically pleasing, they are quite functional. Some of the greatest additions are the ability to sync via wi-fi (incredible) and the new top-level organization. I now have a place for podcasting (both audio and video) and it's just a lot more functional in terms of use.
I love the addition of podcasting, it was definitely overdue. I have subscribed to a couple of video podcasts but since I didn't go to the gym today I didn't get to watch them.
Also, they have added Christian music as a top-level category. I think that's pretty cool. I could find it before by searching, but now it's really each to get to. I must admit that the secular to Christian ratio of music on my Zune is probably 5:1, but I do like to have the best of the best on there.
The firmware update went very smoothly, it only took about 10 minutes all together.
I haven't purchased one of the new 8gb or 80gb players yet, I may hold off for a bit. My 30gb is still treating me just fine.
Of course I still love Zune Marketplace. The idea of paying just $15 per month for all the music I could ever ask for works so well for me.
It allows me to experiment with the music that I like, and if I download an album and don't like it after a couple of listens then I simply delete it. It has cost me absolutely nothing extra.
I do have a question for the iPod fans that read this, and only one of them (ONE!) has ever answer me when I ask:
how much do you spend at iTunes every month? Be honest, I just want to know. I'm not going to make fun of you for spending 3x what I do each month.
So, with all the new features,
is it enough to get you to switch over yet?
