Send to KindleWell, as many of you know, the Zune HD was released today. Also released, was the Zune 4.0 software. There are some really cool new features in Zune 4.0! When you first start up the software, you’ll notice a new loading screen:
Once the software has loaded, you’ll see that there is a new welcome screen:
This new welcome screen is called the QuickPlay page. QuickPlay gives you quick access to your media an shows you your history and newly downloaded music. You also have a new feature called Smart DJ, which is basically like Zune’s version of the Genius feature in iTunes. From any artist, album, or song, it will create a playlist of related music from your computer and on the Zune Marketplace.
Zune 4.0 also has a cool new feature called Mini Mode. Mini Mode gives you a miniature window that allows you to change the volume of the song, skip to the next song, and some other basic things. Mini Mode takes affect if you hit the button that says “mini player” in the top right-hand corner:
Another thing about Zune 4.0 that I love is that it takes advantage of the Windows 7 taskbar. If you have a song playing and you minimize the Zune windows into the taskbar, you can simply hover over the icon on the taskbar and you have the ability to pause the song, skip to the next song, skip to the previous song, and favorite the song.
In addition to this, you can add a Zune toolbar to your taskbar that gives you the same options:
Or, as a last option, you can click and drag up the Zune icon on the taskbar and choose a song you would like to play:
There are some other small details that have been updated as well like some improved button styles and the ability to have a wallpaper. Overall, the new Zune 4.0 software is great. You can download it right now at Zune.net
