Zune 3.1 Firmware and Software Released Today

[Jason Dunn]

<p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1227022699.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p>Today, the Zune 3.1 release come out - and for a .1 release, it's looking pretty big! The most obvious change is that there are now <a href="http://www.zune.net/en-us/discover/games/default.htm" target="_blank">three new games</a>, bringing the total to five. There are three new games - Checkers, Sudoku, and Space Battle - along with a multi-player enhancement to Texas Hold 'Em. The three new games, and their descriptions are as follows:</p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1227023331.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p><strong>Checkers:</strong> <em>"Checkers - the eternal strategy challenge you can learn in minutes and play for life. Play the classic game or try suicide mode, in which the first to lose all their pieces wins."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1227023389.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p><strong>SuDoKu:</strong> <em>"Solve Sudoku by filling in all nine rows and columns with the numerals 1 through 9. Each numeral can only be placed once in a given row or column. Play the classic 9&times;9 or a quick 6&times;6 game."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1227023435.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p><strong>Space Battle:</strong> <em>"Survive as long as you can against increasingly aggressive waves of alien attackers! Customize your ship and add weapons to your armory as you progress through the game."</em></p><p><img src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/zt/auto/1227023498.usr1.jpg" border="1" /></p><p>Texas Hold 'Em is enhanced with new multiplayer optons. I don't have any details about this, but I presume it's for local WiFi play with nearby Zunes. There are also new single-player difficulty levels for you Texas Hold 'Em pros out there.</p><p>Other enhancements with this 3.1 release include:</p><ul><li>Zune Social enhancements include a visual refresh to make things easier to navigate, and a new feature called "Like Minded Listeners" that will let you see how compatible your music tastes are with friends and other listeners.</li><li>There's improved stability and performance in both the device firmware and desktop software. One the device they've improved the play count reporting and content synchronization, especially channels and wireless purchases from the device. The device side firmware should also eliminate some of the lag we sometimes see.</li></ul><p>Want to snag this 3.1 release? Just sync your Zune and sometime within the next few hours you should see the 3.1 update pop up. Enjoy, and let us know what you think!</p>

[Jason Dunn]

All the software updates are live, so you should be seeing 3.1 come your way...damn the device update is taking a long time though! :confused:

[Ed Hansberry]

How do these Zune updates normally go? I come from the Windows Mobile side of things, and updating ActiveSync, WMDC and/or the ROM on the device are best left to days when you have 3-4 hrs to trouble-shoot, curse, perform system restores and all manner of upgrade nightmares.

When I got my Zune 8, it must have had 2.x on it and the upgrade to 3.0 was pleasant, but I had no data on the device, no DRM lock with Audible or anything else to get munged. Is it pretty painless, or should I refuse the upgrade until the weekend when I have time to deal with it?

[mcwilliams132]

Awesome... too bad I'm at work. Will have to wait till I get home.

[Jason Dunn]

How do these Zune updates normally go?

They're on par with the iPhone/iPod update experience, as in, the exact opposite of the way it works in the Windows Mobile world.

The upgrade takes about 4 minutes, give or take, and after the update everything should be as it was previously. It just works. :)

Oh yeah...and I'm listening to music with the Zune desktop software while it runs the update. Slick. :D

[riley4077]

Awesome. Man I love how the entire Zune lineup gets the new functionality.

Jason, send Ian a short rundown of the update to include on the next "Media Center Show"

Love his show and you always do a great job explaining the Zune world

[David Tucker]

Can't wait till I get home!

[inteller]

and still no UNICODE support. they could figure out how to cram 3 more games on there, but they couldn't provide a simple font or two for asian characters.

keeping failing MS.

[David Tucker]

I'm surprised it took you this long to complain. :p

Honestly, I can't imagine MS would even think about this until it launches outside of the US & Canada

[Jason Dunn]

Honestly, I can't imagine MS would even think about this until it launches outside of the US & Canada

Well, FWIW, I'm bringing up with issue with them on a regular basis - it has very little to do with launching other countries, and everything to do with supporting the needs of users in the US and Canada who happen to have content in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. That's a big group of people and the Zune team is doing them a huge disservice by ignoring them.

[David Tucker]

I'm a huge anime fan and I have tons of OSTs that don't come up very nice on my screen. ;) Its something that would be nice to see fixed.

That said...I'm just offering my opinion on when MS will actually fix it!

[inteller]

Well, FWIW, I'm bringing up with issue with them on a regular basis - it has very little to do with launching other countries, and everything to do with supporting the needs of users in the US and Canada who happen to have content in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. That's a big group of people and the Zune team is doing them a huge disservice by ignoring them.



well I'm sorry, but you are obviously being ignored. I think the thing that pisses me off more than anything is the fact that for being such a "social" device, there is zero fruitful discussion between the development staff and end users (Mr. Silva I'm glaring at you)

Microsoft has developed a huge bureaucratic system that fails to address core user needs. It takes a massive wake up call like the Vista debacle to get any movement in a positive direction.

The fact that something as glaring as basic font support (the code page support is there as proven by the old unicode hacks) is not being addresses shows a fundamental mismanagement of this business unit.

next time you talk to them you tell them you want to talk to Thamer, and then ask him why in the hell have those fonts from the very publicized zune UNICODE hack not been included in any of the subsequent updates?

[Jason Dunn]

well I'm sorry, but you are obviously being ignored.

I'm afraid I don't have as much pull as you think I do - I'm just one voice, so these things take time...

The question is, what are YOU doing about this problem other than complaining about it here? :)

[inteller]

well considering all of my messages to "the zune team" seem to fall into a blakc hole with zero response on an ETA I have concluded to complain on every zune blog and forum.

If someone from "the zune team" would contact me and fully address my concerns and be more transparent with their plans then I could actually DO something. But I'm not a Zune MVP or whatever cliq they call it these days.

[Jason Dunn]

well considering all of my messages to "the zune team" seem to fall into a blakc hole with zero response on an ETA I have concluded to complain on every zune blog and forum.

If that includes the official Zune.net forums, then you have a good plan. Keep making noise!

[David Tucker]

Keep in mind that while it may sound easy to you there are undoubtably other issues to consider from a software development standpoint. Sometimes when you have core features and bugs you're working on you have to put the other issues to the side. Its not worth breaking something to give font support when the real focus is whatever they've released in the last couple updates, which has been extensive, whether or not you care to admit it.

Microsoft does need to release that font support but I also do understand why it may not be their #1 priority.

[inteller]

Sometimes when you have core features and bugs you're working on you have to put the other issues to the side. .


yeah you are right....things like readability.....who needs that stuff?

[David Tucker]

I'm just coming from this from the perspective of a software developer, which I am. I can only imagine that if all of your messages to Microsoft are peppered with the same sarcasm why you may not get the response you want either.

While it affects the readability somewhat...I would wager a guess that the vast majority of people who have that content on their devices currently can't even read it anyway. I have no idea what it says. So to me its an entirely an aesthetic thing. And I can already hear the argument. Its great if you can read it. Chances are there are far more that can't read it than can. And given the current market for the Zune it just can't be their highest priority.

Its a low-level usability issue until the Zune and until the Zune team needs to put it in, I just don't think we'll see it. If they find the time, that's great, but I'd rather see them continue to work on things like integration with the XBox. Having tight integration there will actually cause a lot more sales than being able to say they have full unicode support. (And if you argue that unicode support is more important than further xbox integration...dunno what to tell you)

[Ed Hansberry]

I never should have bothered.

First, I had to reboot because after installing the desktop software, I couldn't get the Zune to connect. A reboot finished the installation yet the install never indicated I needed to reboot.

Second, now the stupid thing will not remember my password to sign in, despite the fact that all 3 boxes on the sign in screen are checked. Sometimes, it even totally forgets my Windows LIve ID too.

What a pain. Wish I'd left well enough alone. I assure you next time I will. I'll hold off on upgrading until the desktop software refuses to work. :mad:

[David Tucker]

What a pain. Wish I'd left well enough alone. I assure you next time I will. I'll hold off on upgrading until the desktop software refuses to work. :mad:

***long quote trimmed by mod JD***

That's really not how it usually goes :(

[Phillip Dyson]

I've had my Zune plugged in all night and still no prompt for the firmware upgrade. Is it some kind of regional rollout?

[Darius Wey]

I've had my Zune plugged in all night and still no prompt for the firmware upgrade. Is it some kind of regional rollout?

Nope, it should be available for all. Have you updated the desktop software to 3.1 yet? If you haven't, grab it from Windows Update. Once installed, connect your device and you should be prompted to download and install the updated firmware.

[Darius Wey]

The update process ran smoothly for me: no reboots required, and the device itself was up and running in around 5 minutes.

I think it's worth noting that the 3.1 update is 131.2 MB which, if I recall correctly, is almost double that of the previous update. Makes you wonder what they're packing in there. :confused:

[HueMann]

Ya, I installed mine yesterday as well, no troubles for me...

I went to settings, search for updates, a prompt came up, and then i installed it. Not sure what went wrong with yours, but I didn't have to reboot either. :confused:
I am liking the new games though; I especially like the space shooter. Makes me think fullly-fleshed out games may be coming soon... 4.0, anybody?

[Phillip Dyson]

Nope, it should be available for all. Have you updated the desktop software to 3.1 yet? If you haven't, grab it from Windows Update. Once installed, connect your device and you should be prompted to download and install the updated firmware.

Oops! I guess I was expecting some kind of prompt from the Zune software when I plugged in my Zune.

[Jason Dunn]

First, I had to reboot because after installing the desktop software, I couldn't get the Zune to connect. A reboot finished the installation yet the install never indicated I needed to reboot.

Was this an upgrade from the 3.0 desktop software, or a fresh install of 3.1? When I upgraded my 3.0 to 3.1, at the very end it told me I needed to reboot. I was expecting it to reboot after I clicked OK, but it didn't so I rebooted manually. Another Zune MVP said he didn't need to reboot - it relates to software components other than than the Zune software.

Second, now the stupid thing will not remember my password to sign in, despite the fact that all 3 boxes on the sign in screen are checked. Sometimes, it even totally forgets my Windows LIve ID too.

I saw that bug in the 2.x software, but since 3.0 I haven't seen that problem...unfortunately I was never able to nail down exactly what the problems was.

My suggestion? Uninstall the software, reboot, find and run a program called Unzoone, then download 3.1 and install it fresh.

[Jason Dunn]

I think it's worth noting that the 3.1 update is 131.2 MB which, if I recall correctly, is almost double that of the previous update. Makes you wonder what they're packing in there. :confused:

The #1 tech support problem with people who can't get the Zune software installed are from people who have busted Windows Update and they lack components that the Zune software requires...so I think that might be part of the problem.

[Jason Dunn]

Oops! I guess I was expecting some kind of prompt from the Zune software when I plugged in my Zune.

It would have prompted you eventually, but typically the first few days of a new software launch, they don't push it down - it would be a lot of people getting it at once if they didn't do that.

[Ed Hansberry]

It was a 3.0 to 3.1 upgrade.

My suggestion? Uninstall the software, reboot, find and run a program called Unzoone, then download 3.1 and install it fresh.

Seriously? And this is better than Windows Mobile upgrades how? I'd rather type my password in every day than go through the hassle of reconfiguring my podcasts, what is/isn't sync'd to my device, etc.

[Jason Dunn]

Seriously? And this is better than Windows Mobile upgrades how? I'd rather type my password in every day than go through the hassle of reconfiguring my podcasts, what is/isn't sync'd to my device, etc.

Well, myself and many others did the upgrade without a hitch - so it's not like it was designed to be this painful. Something went screwy with your upgrade, or your original install was screwy - who knows? Windows Mobile ROM upgrades are ALWAYS painful and ALWAYS require re-configuration of everything. To me, that's much worse.

[Ed Hansberry]

Well, I did a hard reset of my Zune (it calls it "reloading the Zune image" or something) and it seems to have fixed the problem, so that indicates to me it was on the Zune, not the PC. We'll see if it remembers my sign in when I get home.

[David Tucker]

I hope so...I feel like we told you the food at a restaurant was great and when you went it was terrible and you had bad service. ;)

My experience with the Zune has always been that its a much more solid experience than WinMo. Updates are generally very fast and stable.