Microsoft Announces New Zune Lineup, Wireless Syncing

— -- Microsoft announced a new slate of Wi-Fi-equipped Zune players today, including $150 4GB and $200 8GB flash-based players, and a $250 80GB model that's slimmer than the original Zune. All of the new models feature touch-sensitive controls and wireless syncing with your PC, a much-demanded feature that Microsoft will also make available on the original 30GB Zune when the new models debut in mid November.

The software giant will also update the look of its Zune software player and add new community features and DRM-free music sales to its Zune Marketplace music store. The updated Zune players aren't yet available for testing, but here's what we know about the new models:

Despite its first-generation flaws, I actually sort of liked the . The specs for this new generation of players offer some indications that Microsoft may be on the right track.

All three new players are built around a rounded touch-sensitive control that also doubles as a clickable d-pad-style controler, much like the Click Wheel on . That should allow you to skip backward and forward through songs or adjust volume withoutlooking at the player. According to Microsoft, the Zune's touchpad is more gesture-based than the Click Wheel--you'll flick your finger across the pad to navigate, rather than circling around it to scroll through tracks.

Microsoft didn't provide full height and weight specs on the 80GB player, but it should be considerably thinner than the 30GB Zune. The Zune 80GB also carries a 3.2-inch, scratch- resistant, glass screen that's a bit larger than the original Zune's 3-inch display.

The 80GB hard drive player is available in black and ships with a set of "premium" in-ear headphones. Microsoft will continue to offer the original 30GB hard-drive-based Zune player (even the ) for $200, though it's hard to see the appeal of that model with a smaller, sleeker successor available with more than double the capacity for just an extra $50.

Time for some increased portability. The 4GB and 8GB flash-based Zunes come in black, green, pink, and red. Each sports a 1.8-inch glass screen and the same touch-sensitive control as the new hard drive player.

As flash players go, they're fairly full-featured. Both models let you view photos or play video, share or sync tunes using their included Wi-Fi connections, and listen to FM radio. If you own a Media Center or Vista PC that records TV, any of the Zune players will be able to automatically sync those recordings as well.

Ever since Wi-Fi-equipped media players like the Zune and the came out, users have been clamoring for wireless syncing. Few players have delivered, so Microsoft will undoubtedly make some waves by adding it to the Zune lineup.

At the same time, the company's making a few tweaks to the Zune's wireless music sharing feature. Originally, shared tracks could only be played three times over a period of three days and couldn't be passed on. After the new players arrive, you'll be able to pass along shared tracks to other users and play them up to three times over any time period you like.

Break out the ice cream. The Zune's oddly named Social is heading for its own set of upgrades, which take a page from the Gamer card feature on the Xbox's Xbox live online service. Zune Cards will allow you to collect and share information about the music you're playing, much like services such as Last.fm.

Rounding out the list of Zune updates are some significant changes to the look of the Zune software and the Zune Marketplace music store that goes with it. The app and the store come with a cleaner look (right), and when the new version launches in mid November, Microsoft will add a selection of over one million DRM-free MP3s to its catalog.

It's clear that Microsoft has at least attempted to address many of the concerns about the original Zune. As soon as we can get our hands on the new hardware, we'll let you know if their updates can turn the player into a real competitor to Apple's iPods.