Redmond, Wash., — Microsoft on Tuesday said that it has released a new upgrade to Zune 3.0 software, and entered into a new partnership with McDonalds that would allow users of Zune to get wireless access to the Web free of charge from over 9,800 McDonald’s restaurants across the United States, including the original first-generation Zune.
Microsoft is collaborating with high-speed Internet access provider Wayport on the venture, and has also added a Zune Marketplace tab on the main screen of the device for easier navigation to the online music store.
With the latest firmware update, listeners will be able to stream music directly from the Zune Marketplace Store without having to download and purchase it first. Microsoft also revealed new Zune colors and announced that Wi-Fi services provider Wayport will be working to implement streaming capacity directly to Zune customers’ over 802.11.
“Wayport is delighted to be working with Microsoft to make it easier for Zune users to access music on the go,” said Dan Lowden, vice president of business development and marketing for Wayport, in a statement. “Our ability to enable and manage applications and devices over unified networks creates exciting new opportunities for our clients to attract new customers whose digital lifestyle extends beyond their home and office.”
The partnership with McDonald is highly appreciated because although every Zune already has built-in Wi-Fi, the devices can only access a free Wi-Fi hot spot that does not have a browser interrupt. The McDonald’s deal adds nearly 10,000 locations from where people can access the Zune Marketplace store.
Zune 3.0 enhances Zune owners as a 30 MB download, which installs a new version of the Zune media jukebox application on a PC and upgrades the software on Zune players. In addition, version 3.0 of the software makes it uncomplicated 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 Wi-Fi hotspot.
The two independent installs work one after another to enable new features like the ability to wirelessly stream and download music from the Zune Marketplace store on the go and “Buy from FM” feature that enables Zune users to tag and purchase songs from the built in FM radio, directly on the device. And, furthermore, if the device is not connected, 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.
Other latest features include Zune Channels, a podcasts and play-lists combination that allows users to subscribe to channels such as Billboard, The Fader, radio station channels and celebrity channels. New music is pushed to subscribers’ collections each week. Zune 3.0 also comes with two games, highlighting Microsoft’s first careful steps to enable gaming on its Zune players.
And, down the line with music-to-own, Microsoft offers a subscription service called “Zune Pass” that allows subscribers the ability to stream any tune or album from the marketplace through an Internet connection. The service costs $15 a month. Moreover, the Zune Marketplace offers more than 4 million songs, with 80% available without digital rights management technology. DRM-free tunes can be played on other devices. The store also offers a total of 17,500 music videos, episodes of TV shows, and audio and video podcasts.
Microsoft also announced that new Zunes will be available in new colors, in addition to the black color model announced for the flash-based Zune 16 GB and the HDD-based Zune 120GB model. New colors available for the Zune 16 GB include blue, red, pink and green. Microsoft said that the new colors are offered only at the Zune Originals website that also lets customers customize their Zune device with laser-engraved art and personal text. Also, there are more art designs that can be applied to a Zune: Microsoft added 14 new artworks from artists such as Rolito, Matt W. Moore, Ippei Gyoubu and Aya Kato.
Microsoft also released pricing for new Zune players. Pricing starts at $130 for the 4-GB model, $150 for 8 GB, $199 for 16 GB, $230 for 80 GB, and $250 for 120 GB. The software upgrade is available at no charge to current Zune users and can be downloaded through Microsoft’s Zune site.
The software release followed a week after rival Apple launched an upgrade of its operating system for the iPod Touch and iPhone 3G. The upgrade fixed a number of nagging bugs in the devices. In addition, Apple refreshed the iPod line with new designs and lower prices expected to attract buyers during the holiday shopping season.
Music may not be the only thing Zune listeners with super-sized meals will be tuning in. Amazon-owned audio-book producer Audible.com said today it will be authorizing Zune’s latest software update to be used with so-called AudibleReady recordings. To celebrate, Zune owners will be entitled to a free download of the suspense novel Black River by Dean Koontz.