Zune software: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Discontinued media management software}} |
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| developer = [[Microsoft]] |
| developer = [[Microsoft]] |
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Revision as of 11:46, 17 January 2023
| Developer(s) | Microsoft |
|---|---|
| Final release | 4.08.2345
/ August 22, 2011 |
| Operating system | Windows XP SP3 Windows Vista SP2 Windows 7 Windows 8/8.1[1] |
| Predecessor | Windows Mobile Device Center |
| Successor | Groove Music Microsoft Movies & TV |
| Type | Utility software |
| License | Proprietary software |
| Website | Zune software for your PC |
Zuneis a discontinued media management software forMicrosoft Windows[1]that functions as a full media player application with a library, an interface to the Zune Marketplace, and as a media streaming server.[2]The software is used to sync with all devices with Zune functionality including theZune 4, 8, 16,30,80, 120,Zune HD,Windows Phone 7,andMicrosoft Kin.Zune devices work exclusively with the Zune software, which applies many design principles of Microsoft'sMetro design language.
The software was discontinued on October 16, 2012[citation needed]and replaced with theWindows Phone App(available both as desktop app andWindows Store appversions) and subsequently the "Phone Companion" App built intoWindows 10for PC, which is used for syncing with devices runningWindows Phone 8(including8.1) andWindows 10 Mobile,respectively. The software's role as a music and video player and streaming service has been superseded byGroove MusicandMicrosoft Movies & TV.[3]
Zune online services were completely shut down on November 15, 2015,[4]but the Zune software is still available for download from the Windows Phone website for use with Windows Phone 7 and Zune devices, which do not work with the newer apps designed for Windows Phone 8/8.1/Windows 10 Mobile.[5]
Content
As a media player, the Zune software supports the following formats:
| multimedia | supported formats |
|---|---|
| Audio | MP3,AAC(Low complexity),.mp4,.m4b,.mov,WMA(standard, pro, and lossless) |
| Video | MPEG4(in.mp4,.m4v and.mov containers),H.264(in.mp4,.m4v and.mov containers),WMV,ASF,AVI(in.avi container) |
| Images | JPEG |
The Zune software organizes the media in its library and allows users to add to the library byrippingfrom CDs, syncing with a Zune device, and downloading from the Zune Marketplace. The Zune software also allows one to organize songmetadata.It can automatically download album art and metadata tag data for content in the library.
On the PC, the Zune softwarestreamsfiles to other PCs, theXbox 360,and other compatible devices. The Zune software also connects with the Zune social and keeps track of files swapped with other users.
The Zune software runs only on 32-bitWindows XPor 32-bit/64-bitWindows Vista/Windows 7.[6]Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is not supported. The Zune software is also compatible with Windows 8 and Windows 10 so Zune device users would have continued legacy support on the new operating system, despite the Zune brand's phasing out before the 2012 release of the OS.
History
The 0.1 versions of the Zune software were a modified version ofWindows Media Player11 while versions since 2.0 are built independently with additionalDirectShowdecoders forAAC,MPEG-4andH.264.The current version of the software is 4.08.2345, released on August 22, 2011. Several versions of the software have been released. As of October 16, 2012 Zune becameXbox Music.
Zune Marketplace
Zune Marketplacewas an online store that offered music, podcasts, TV shows, movies, music videos, and mobile applications. Content could be viewed or purchased on Windows PCs with theZunesoftware installed, Zune devices, theXbox 360,Windows Phonephones, or theMicrosoft Kinphones.[7]Zune Music Marketplace has since been superseded byXbox Music.
Music
Initially offering 2 million songs, the Zune Marketplace had grown to offer 14 million songs,[8]all of which were available in MP3 format at up to 320kbit/s and wereDRM-free. Music on Zune Marketplace was offered by thebig four music groups(EMI,Warner Music Group,Sony BMGandUniversal Music Group), as well as smaller music labels.[8]
The home page of the Zune Marketplace shows featured music as selected by Microsoft, and the most popular music. Users can search, or filter by genres including rock, pop, dance, urban, and others.
Prior to Zune Marketplace's music becoming DRM-free, songs were protected by Windows Media DRM however the Zune Software only allowed WMDRM content from the Zune Marketplace to be transferred to Zune devices. Zune Marketplace DRM content could be played by other WMDRM compatible applications and devices.
Videos
Zune Marketplace offers television shows from the following companies:A&E,Anime,Bravo,Cartoon Network,CBS,Discovery Communications,E!,Fox,G4,GamerTV,History Channel,Marvel,MLB,NBC,Paley Center,PBS,Spike,Starz,SyFy,TNA,USA Network,andViacom.
Movies fromParamount,Universal,Warner Brothers,20th Century Foxand other studios are offered for purchase or time-limited rental. Some movies are available in HD. Selected content purchased via Zune Marketplace on the Xbox 360 additionally offers 5.1 surround sound.[9]
Music videos were also offered for purchase. Zune Video Marketplace has been superseded byXbox Video.
Applications
Zune Marketplace included an applications section where apps and games could be downloaded for the Zune HD. The store initially launched with nine apps, all of which were developed by Microsoft and released for free. The selection of apps expanded to sixty-two games and applications over two years. Apps that were available included several games,Facebook,Twitter,andWindows Live Messenger.Applications are also available from various independent developers made usingXNA Game Studioor OpenZDK, which useC#andC++respectively. On August 31, 2012, the apps sections of the Zune Marketplace and users' media collections were disabled within the software.
The Zune software also allowed users to browse, purchase, and install Windows Phone apps from Windows Phone Marketplace.
International availability
Zune Marketplace was originally only available in the United States. In October 2010, certain Zune Marketplace content became available in additional countries in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australasia. The following table shows content availability by country:[10]
| Content | Countries |
|---|---|
| Music | United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Canada, Australia |
| Zune Music Pass | United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, Australia |
| Podcasts | United States |
| TV | United States, Canada |
| Movie Rental | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| Movie Purchase | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland |
| Applications | United States, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Canada, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan |
It has been discovered that there are a number of workarounds for accessing the Zune Pass and other Zune Marketplace capabilities outside of the countries where it has been launched.
Platforms
The Zune software for Windows PCs offers the entire selection of music, podcasts, videos, and applications. The Xbox 360 offers movie and music video downloads, as well as Zune Pass streaming. Zune devices, Windows Phone devices and the Microsoft Kin phones permit the download and streaming of music; Windows Phone devices additionally allow the download of applications.
Pricing
Purchases are made in theMicrosoft Pointscurrency, which can also be used to purchase content from Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live marketplaces. The exchange rate is one United States dollar to 80 Microsoft points. Most music tracks are priced at 79 points or 99 points.[citation needed]This works out to US$0.9875 or US$1.24 per song.
Zune Music Pass
Zune Music Pass is a music subscription service, which allows subscribers to download an unlimited number of songs for as long as their subscription is active. The songs can be played on up to 3 Windows PCs and on up to 3 other Zune-compatible devices, but cannot be burned to an audio CD. Songs downloaded using Zune Pass are provided in WMA format at 192kbit/s and are restricted by DRM. Zune Music Pass subscribers in the United States and other select countries were permitted to keep 10 songs per month even after their subscription ended, however the incentive was ultimately discontinued.[11][12]On October 3, 2011, the Zune Music Pass price was lowered to $9.99/month, and the 10 song credit was removed.[13]On October 15, 2012, Microsoft re-branded Zune as Xbox Music on the Xbox 360 with the promise of a complete rollout on October 26.[14]
See also
- Comparison of online music stores
- Zune
- Zune Social
- Xbox Music
- Xbox Video
- Windows Phone
- Xbox 360
- IPhone 2G
References
- ^abThurrott, Paul(June 11, 2012)."Windows 8 Tip: Syncing a Windows Phone or Zune Device".SuperSite for Windows.Penton.RetrievedMarch 17,2013.
- ^"Media Sharing FAQ".Zune.Microsoft.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2008.RetrievedNovember 21,2008.
- ^Gilbert, Ben (October 15, 2012)."With the launch of Xbox Music, Zune is truly no more".Engadget.AOL.
- ^"Zune retirement FAQ".Support.Microsoft.October 20, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon November 22, 2015.
- ^"Zune software for your PC".Windows Phone.Microsoft.Archived fromthe originalon September 26, 2012.Retrieved16 November2015.
- ^Dhiman, Viney (March 3, 2014)."Zune Software Computer System Requirement".Nerd's magazine.
- ^"Zune Marketplace".Zune.Microsoft.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2008.RetrievedDecember 17,2010.
- ^abStroh, Michael (September 29, 2011)."Zune expands to Canada, drops Zune Pass price in US".The Windows Blog.Microsoft.Archived fromthe originalon February 2, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 19,2012.
- ^"More films, faster with Zune".Xbox.Microsoft.Archived fromthe originalon June 11, 2009.
- ^"Zune to Expand Multiscreen Entertainment Services Into International Markets".News Center.Microsoft.September 20, 2010.
- ^Farivar, Cyrus (September 14, 2006)."Zune Marketplace To Keep Your Zune Player Happy".Engadget.AOL.Archived fromthe originalon April 16, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 19,2017.
- ^"Zune Pass".Zune.Microsoft.Archived fromthe originalon April 12, 2008.RetrievedDecember 17,2010.
- ^Melanson, Donald (September 29, 2011)."Microsoft announces new $10 Zune Music Pass, expands service to Canada".Engadget.AOL.
- ^Gilbert, Ben (October 15, 2012)."Xbox Music heads to Xbox 360 first tomorrow, PC / tablets on Oct. 26, WP8 soon after; we go hands-on".Engadget.AOL.
