Those of you who keep up with gadget news will probably remember hearing about Microsoft’s challenge to that ever-so popular MP3 player back when it was launched. Sadly, we’ve never been able to get a taste of the Zune over here in the UK as it remains firmly for the American market only. So naturally, when I was in Seattle, I bought one.
Lets skip over the standard features. I’ve very briefly shown the thing playing music and videos in the short clip below. I want to show you all some of the features that I think makes the Zune stand out from the crowd.
Zune Software
The first thing you’re aware of is that it’s not iTunes. You don’t have the standard controls-at-top, nav-at-left interface, you don’t have the metallic look and feel, and you don’t have the iTunes store. But then again, it’s not iTunes - it’s a refreshing break from the standard left-nav top-controls interfaces that we’ve just started being able to get away from (thank you Office Ribbon) and, while things are all in different places than I’m used to, all of the features I use (and don’t use) are here in the Zune software.

Zune’s tagline of ‘Welcome to the Social’ is played out through all facets of the software - I can even change the background of the main screen. I can browse through my device and my collection really easily and graphically (and the interface feels like it’d be great on a tablet or multi-touch OS). This also kind of leads on to…
‘The Social’
If you ask Joe Average what he doesn’t like about iTunes or the iPod, the whole DRM thing is likely to be somewhere on the list. Using an iPod can be, at times, a little like saying “This is my music, you can’t see it, touch it, smell it. Don’t even look at me.” Well, the Zune approaches this a little differently. It’s not a file sharing device my any means, and you’re not about to be able to steal other people’s music. You can, however, show people what you’re listening to, what you like, and share snippets of the songs you listen to the most. All wirelessly - device to device, or via the internet. Ladies and gentlemen, my Zune card:

You may notice that there’s an interactive version of this at the side of my blog, showing what I’ve been listening to and what my last played song was etc. A little like an Xbox Live Gamercard, this gives me the chance to show off my (somewhat embarrasing at times) music tastes and connect with others. For example, while we were in Seattle, Dominic also bought a Zune. He’s in my friends list, and so from either my Zune, the Zune software, or www.zune.net I can see what he’s been listening to, play snippets of those songs he likes the most, and send him a message telling him how much I like ‘Death Cab for Cutie‘.
Walkthrough
Other Features
I like podcasts, and I was worried that the Zune wouldn’t handle them like their namesake does. I’m glad I was wrong.

Podcasts are laid out very visually and comprehensively, and sync to my device really well. I love the big thumbnails, which is something that iTunes doesn’t do with podcasts - and it’s an easier process to add podcasts via the Zune software than in iTunes.
Other features
The Zune Store could have gone so, so badly wrong. Trying to go up against something as well-established as the iTunes store is a dangerous buisiness, and using the Microsoft Points currency instead of just plain old run-of-the-mill cash does make it seem, at first, a little odd. Then I realised how great it is for those people who don’t have a credit or debit card - you can just go and load up on MS points at a store, and use them on anything - not just on the Zune store, but on Xbox Live Marketplace and the like!
One other big pull of the Zune for me is FM radio. Sure, you can buy an iPod addon that does that, but I really like being able to laugh like mad at Chris Evans, but still be able to switch back to my own music collection when I get too angry at Jeremy Vine.
I used an iPod again yesterday to see how it felt having lavished so much attention on the Zune… and it was then I realised I’m not going back. The Zune is so nice, so fresh to use, and has so many features that certain other devices don’t have. Ok, so I can’t open up a browser on there and surf the web, and I can’t make phone calls from it… call me old-fashioned, but I have a laptop and a mobile phone for that kind of thing.
So that’s Zune. Roll on deployment in the UK - we need some fresh air and new ideas in a market that’s become dominated by just one contender.