While most of the world's eyes are glued on today's Apple "Let's Rock" event, Microsoft yesterday announced its third-generation Zune MP3 players with some exciting new features.
Starting September 16, Microsoft will offer a "Buy from FM" feature allowing users to tag songs they like on the Zune's built-in FM player and purchase them on a Wi-Fi connection. Songs tagged for purchase are queued and begin downloading once Wi-Fi is detected, and the Zune can access private and public hotspots. Over 450 radio stations will be available on this service--with some help from radio giant Clear Channel--with more in the wings.
Another added feature is "Mixview," a Pandora-like service that visually maps an artist's influences and similar-sounding contemporaries. Mixview's algorithm scans your current library and generates lists of music you might enjoy.
Naturally, there's a catch. Microsoft wants $14.99 per month for unlimited Buy from FM downloads and the option to listen to more than 30 seconds of any Mixview-recommended song. Mixview will be a free Zune- and PC-specific software download, though Sony and other MP3 player manufacturers hope to strike a deal with Microsoft, broadening Mixview's scope.
Prices on the third-generation Zune have dropped considerably, too. The new 120GB model will sell for $249, compared to Apple's $349 160GB iPod. The new 16GB model is priced at $199.
Even with the price drop and these new features, Microsoft will be hard-pressed not only to compete with the national attention Apple will garner today, but with its ubiquitous iPod, which consumes more than 70 percent of the MP3 player market.
Both of these new "features" sound stodgy, behind the curve and undesirable. The Zune is a good-sounding and good-looking player, but Microsoft seems slow to deliver itself from the old highly-restricted way of distributing music.