Zune 3.0: Microsoft's iPod Killer?

Zunes also have built-in FM radios. Now, if you're listening to the Zune radio and hear a song you like, you can press a button and "tag" it for later purchase from the Zune Marketplace.

Zune also allows you to be "social" with friends by networking using your wireless Zunes. Microsoft suggests you "set your favorite tracks, update your profile, change your status, and search for other Social members -- all from within the new software." There are also two new games that come with the new 3.0 player firmware.

Zune is most importantly a music player, and as that it excels. Sort of. I've always thought Zune audio quality was terrific. The hard-drive models sound better than their flash-based ones but overall, I prefer the Zune sound quality to most of the iPods I've ever heard.

I know those are fighting words, but I'm not alone. A number of people who I've spotted using Zunes on the subway or in the street say they prefer the way their Zune sounds to any iPod they've ever heard. It might be the Zune's audio circuitry or it might be the difference between the sound qualities of ripped AAC (iTunes) files vs. WMA (Windows Mobile Audio) files.

On the other hand, Microsoft should be ashamed of itself for not offering the option of ripping your music into WAV files. These uncompressed music files sound much better than any of the Zune options, including "lossless" files. Compressed music sounds like it has been compressed.

You wouldn't settle for compressed, lousy-looking videos -- so why accept what Microsoft offers? Kudos to Apple who allows users to rip music into larger, superior-sounding AIFF (Apple's version of WAV) files. I figure these big files are why they offer 120GB portable music players in the first place.

That said, the Zune is a viable option if you're in the market for a portable music player. Aside from the ultimate sound quality, Zunes offer good value for the money and are actually terrific playback machines. Get yourself a good set of portable earphones (Klipsch, Shure, Stax) and begin enjoying the music. Recommended.