After reviewing this new 2.5 update, I have to say that this is good update. 2.5 is what 2.0 should have been right out of the gate. There are still features I would like to see in the software and firmware, but all those feature would be gravy. The 2.5 update fixes all the things that were blaringly wrong or lacking with the 2.0 update.

Good job!

Now on to the "gravy" features. For example: being able to view photos by tags instead of folders, stopwatch/clock, use Zune as an external harddrive, be able to delete files directly from the Zune, bookmark MP3 audio books, cross fade music, main menu item for "currently playing", Ability to modify the main menu to add/remove items, use Zune as a "sideshow" remote control for Media Center, ability to subscribe to RSS article feeds,audible alerts when a fellow Zuner tries to send you something, etc.

So Vista has built in rating support across the OS based on the 5 star system. Can someone remind me why the Zune doesn't follow the same conventions? And can someone also tell me why ANYONE would put music on their Zune they didn't like?

The rating system HAS to be fixed. I don't understand how Microsoft could set standards across their flagship products and a smaller division, Zune, is free to ignore them. It makes no sense.

2.5 is an awesome update. Again, great job to the Zune team!

we need movies!! :D

@Kris

I think the thinking is that the heart rating system is ideal if you have with the "all you can eat" Zune Pass. When you're using the Pass, you're more likely to put a song on your device you may not like since you're probably not listening to every new song before you sync your Zune. So when you hear a song on your Zune that you don't like, you can assign the song the broken heart.

This rating system makes sense if you use the Zune Pass, but if you don't have a music subscription, then I agree with you that it makes little sense.

Cesar - thanks for the software tour.  Helpful to see some of the stuff in action.  I'm going to rant one more time, directly on your blog, instead of the forums this time.  The social aspect is definitely better now, but my problem is with the accounts not being linked to the Zune Pass. My wife and I share a Zune Pass, but not an account. So because its on her account, if I'm signed in and looking at my friends songs, I can't download them directly. I have to sign out of my account, sign into hers, and then remember what I want to download.  This definitely needs to be addressed, so I can get the full benefit of the new social features....  

I'm going to drop this in the forums too, just for reinforcement...

I love gapless playback, video marketPlace and multi-device sync.  Hopefully the Zune team is free & clear to work on the next update in fall.  None, of this user feedback stuff right now...you've done plenty of that before and users have provided enough suggestions for a solid 2 year roadmap.  Keep the forward progress going from here on out.  Great job with 2.5!

You may have addressed this in the video, but the Silverlight installer doesn't seem to work with Firefox 3... so my apologies if this is redundant:

Is there a secret to making gapless playback work? I've tried it using both WMAs and MP3s ripped from CD, and still get a short dropout between tracks.

Really like the update.  Won't say that this is what 2.0 should have been, but, you know.  Also, saw that my 'friends' get a little prepopulation from the software.  I like the idea, but these should really be 'neighbors', not friends.  Ala emusic.

thanks for the update 2.5 is now upgraded to version 1.0 capability and functionality. i felt sorry for tina while she was trying to act enthused over very basic features just now being implemented. i am not trying to be overly sarcastic, i really am excited that the software is going be usable again.

Big improvements, can't say much different from what has already been said.  Yes, this is what the Zune 2 should have been like.  My biggest gripes still have to do with video.  I'm not as much a music guy as I am a video guy.  ATSC needs to work (I haven't heard one way or another if this has been fixed).  Secondly, videos, TV, movies, that needs to be part of the Zune pass.  This change alone would move so many folks away from cable/sat over night.  Build the marketplace for those items and distribute them at the same subscription rate... by watching a show on our Zune, we're already sacrificing the resolution and clarity that an HDTV shows, why are we expected to pay an arm and a leg for lower quality content?  It makes sense that it should be subscription based just like music... it is after all content either way you look at it.

Anyone know what the deal is with Gapless playback?  Is there some sort of switch to enable it?

Nice video. I didn't realize that you can drag the friends ZuneCards to your device, I was wondering how the Zune Cards worked on the Zune.

How about just posting a bullet list on the new features so I don't have to install silverlight.

Gemini Ace, Silverlight is basically the equivalent to Flash. It installs very quickly.  Beside ZuneInsider, I think you will see more online services and software start using it in the coming months.

@Gemini Ace

I'm with you. I don't want to install silverlight either. Flash is sufficient, thank you very much.

However, you can click ont he link below the silverlight video and it'll take you to a page where you can view the video in multiple formats, including wmv.

cool man. now we have got "show listen on messenger" but we wanna radio in the software jejej

I have no problem with the heart rating because I'm constantly adding new music on to my "Recently Added" playlist. I have music that I may or may not like in that playlist and if I dont like it I'll just give it a broken heart and delete it next time I sync my device.

Also, all the songs I dont like go on my "Recently Rejected" auto playlist so I can delete them when I sync up as well ;)

I must say Zune is on the cutting edge right now....people who hate on zune don't know what they're missing!

I am having a problem with song playback on the PC since updating to the 2.5 release. It seems that occasionally in the middle of a song my track will "pitch shift" and change tempo. One song right now is by Matt Maher, from the Empty and Beautful album, called "Great Things"

They are all songs I have downloaded from my Zune pass subscription. License file says

DRM: Yes - license expires 6/9/2008 (has sync rights, no burn right)

It may be of interest that the songs were downloaded under the previous release on Vista. Then transferred to my XP notebook via the Zune. Love the new interface, but this effect is starting to get worrisome.

Any one shed some light? Contact me bill [dot[ kunkel [at[ gmail [dot[ com if you need more info Zuneinsiders.

WTF?  All my sync groups - deleted by the upgrade.   All my played/unplayed status on podcasts - reset to unplayed.  Anyone else?  :-(

I'm not sure where to submit comments/suggestions for the Zune, but I figured here was a good place to start.

I'm just wondering why the Zune firmware doesn't recognize/sort by disc number tags. I have a several albums with multiple discs, where I have the album name for the each disc the same, but I have the disc number for each disc (with the track count starting again at 1 for each disc, like it is usually displayed on the back of the cd case).

The reason this is a problem, is when I go by album view i'll have something like this:

1 - track

1 - track

2 - track

2 - track

3 - track

3 - track

instead of this (how it displays in the Zune software):

1 - track

2 - track

3 - track

1 - track

2 - track

3 - track

Obviously the first 1-3 from disc 1 and the second 1-3 from disc 2.

Had 3 more songs exhibit the pitch change problems during playback. It is not on the original records. It is a very strange phenomenon.

Has anyone else experienced this playing back Zune pass tracks?